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Whether “intensive” ones, such as roof gardens, or “extensive” ones, on which plants such as succulents and grasses grow, green roofs are increasingly being used to protect roofs, reduce the “heat island” effect, and minimize the impact of water runoff.
Green roof square footage grew by 72 percent across North America between 2004 and 2005, according to a recent survey. Much of that growth has been in the United States, where the increase was measured at 80 percent. The survey was conducted for Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a non-profit industry association whose mission is to increase the development of the green roof industry. The survey was of the corporate members of the organization and was independently administered.
The survey also identified the top ten cities by square footage planted in 2005. Topping the list was Chicago, which offers encouragement and incentives for green roof installations. Washington, D.C. and four of its suburbs took five of the top ten spots. In total, the D.C. area added close to 750,000 square feet of green roofs in 2005, mostly on buildings for the federal government. The General Services Administration’s green roof projects included the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s new facility, which features a 150,000 square foot green roof, and a new building for the Department of Transportation with a green roof of about 70,000 square feet.
The survey results and methodology are available by going to www.greenroofs.org and scrolling down to “First North American Green Roofs Industry Survey.
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