Green Roofs Growth In The United States

Any review of current trends reveals an energized market defined by a number of demand factors.

Green roofs growth in the united states.

The growth of green roofs in the us mirrors their use in other countries like germany where they are more commonly seen. Chicago which now has more green roofs than any other u s. The growth of green roof markets gives new job opportunities related to manufacturing plant growth design installation and maintenance. City last year added 600 000 square feet of green roofs and has some 600 projects that will bring its total to 7 million square feet.

As a general rule potentially suitable species can be found by looking at the microclimate media depth solar levels water availability etc of the green roof in question and comparing it to a plant s native habitat. Aerial view the chicago city hall green roof on the west portion of the city hall county building. The general services administration gsa has designed and maintained green roofs for decades and finds them to be economical amenities that make fiscal and environmental sense. Annually 500 million square feet or 8800 football fields of lost nature by building new warehouses in the united states alone.

The variability of green roof designs and climates in the united states makes it impractical to list every possible plant candidate for extensive green roofs. According to the organization green roofs for healthy cities in 2012 the washington dc metropolitan region installed the most green roofs in north america with 1 326 872 square feet. Added 190 000 square feet in 2009 and has set a goal of 20 percent green roof coverage by 2020. American rivers suggests that a usd 10b investment could create 190 000 jobs by building 48 5 billion square feet of green roof area or just one percent of the united states roof space in every community over 50 000 in population.

The demand for green buildings and environmentally friendly roofing solutions is driving fast growth in the roofing systems market which is expected to top 157 billion by 2021. Replacing black asphalt and. The toronto based organization green roofs for healthy cities estimates an increase of about 15 percent in the number of green roofs in north america since 2013. Today s living green wall market.