Green Roofs Becoming the Rage in Green Buildings

May 2006 Boston, Massachusetts - by Jared Markham and Melissa Spence

Driving through the streets of Boston, Massachusetts on the way to the 4th Annual Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Conference you can’t help noticing the lack of “green space” that New England is otherwise known for. Boston, like many cities, does have some beautiful public and private parks and green spaces scattered throughout the area. Unfortunately, while great for recreation, these spaces cannot replicate the natural, pre-built environment. As a result, stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces and the Urban Heat Island effect remain problems. Boston, like most older cities, relies on a massive and antiquated stormwater management infrastructure that is prone to overflowing and releasing untreated waste into local waters. With regards to increased urban temperatures, air conditioning is the primary approach to keeping people cool, but this only exacerbates the heat island effect.

One can only wonder, what if Boston, (or Hartford or New York or Providence) was more like Chicago, where “Green” is quickly becoming the way to build, and where green roofs in particular have become one of the preferred green building options. They help minimize the stormwater runoff from buildings, easing the burden on sewer systems, and at the same time, they dramatically decrease roof temperatures – lowering surrounding air temperatures and limiting heat flow into a building, which also reduces air conditioning requirements. From the mayor’s office down to the big box stores like Target and Home Depot, green roofs are being installed throughout the city of Chicago, and the building owners and the entire city stand to benefit. The fact that they are beautiful is an added bonus!

Today in Boston hundreds of people gathered to discuss how to further promote and create Green and Healthy Cities around the world using green roofs and other sustainable approaches to construction. Attendees not only included those local to the Boston area, but from New York, California, and as far away as England, Australia, and Canada. They are here seeking to learn about various green roof technologies, educate themselves on cutting edge plant selection and aesthetic design, and to create an international dialogue about how to promote green roofs in their cities, states and countries.

People seemed to find the answers they sought through more than 50 presentations and courses, 40 vendors and keynote speakers including Boston’s own Mayor Menino. Seminar topics included “Aesthetics and Cooling- Green roofs and Walls”, “Fast Track Permitting and Incentives for Residential Green Roofs in Chicago”, “Storm Water and Green Roofs, Beyond the Benefits” and much more. Attendees were able to gain valuable knowledge and practical advice on some of the most recent and innovative technologies being used to build green.

Products on display varied from different built-in-place green roofing systems and the GreenGrid® modular green roof to Vertical Gardens for the sides of large buildings, storm water recycling systems, plants from local nurseries and even traditional roofing products. Overall it is apparent that the green roof industry is growing by leaps and bounds, and this once European technology is finding a home right here in the United States.

For additional information on Green Roofs for Healthy Cities please click here>>.

Melissa and Jared work for Weston Solutions, Inc., an environmental engineering and redevelopment firm in Glastonbury that also provides the GreenGrid® green roof system.