Industry Support

Germany - The greenroof industry is well established, documented and supported in Germany, representing approximately 7% of all new roof construction with 140 million sf of greenroofs (Dawson, 2002, National Geographic News). According to the 2003 report by English Nature: Green Roofs: brown is the new green - "Green roofs: their existing status and potential for conserving biodiversity in urban areas - Report Number 498," 13.5 million square meters of greenroofs were installed in Germany in 2001.

Part of the isolation problem for the English speaking population has been that until the early 1990s, little information had been translated and made available in English. A growing roof greening industry has been emerging in the United Kingdom with the promotion of the ecological benefits, and thankfully more technical data has been available from several sources.

One example of the German groups is the Deutscher Dachgartner-Verband (German Roof-Gardening Association), which has been advocating greenroofs since 1984 and provides up-to-date information on new developments in vegetated roof cover design in Europe to its many members. Link here to see which German cities are involved in their coalition, and to learn more about their research and lobbying efforts in German.

Another technical support association is the Forschungsgesellschaft Landschaftsbau Landschaftsentwicklung e.V. or the FLL (The Landscaping and Landscape Development and Research Society). Headquartered in Bonn, Germany, it has established a standardized method for investigating and determining the root penetration resistance of waterproofing products used throughout Europe. Click here to link directly to see the recommended guidelines of the highly informative FLL German site. See the English page here.

Were it not for specific conditions found in Germany, the higher costs associated with the initial construction of greenroofs may have precluded their widespread application (Charlie Miller publication, 1998). Federal environmental laws require mitigation or compensation for the destruction of natural open space caused by development. Because of high urban density to real estate values, Germany provides indirect and direct subsidies and ordinances for the installation of greenroofs. In 1996 a survey done by Zentralverband Gartenbau e.V. (ZVG), the Gardening Central Association, revealed that approximately 50%, or over 80 cities in Germany offered incentives to building owners utilizing greenroofs. According to Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, 80% of the greenroofs are extensive, involving low growing media, plant diversity and lower costs.

Taxes are collected on anticipated storm water control or usage fees, and are used to cover constructing, maintaining and replacing stormwater management facilities. A 100% utility surcharge is levied against owners of impervious roof covers (Dr. Michael Krebs, 1999), and thirteen German cities allow a reduction between 50% and 80% of the utility fee for using a greenroof. Over a 36-year period, the reduction in the usage fee alone can compensate the building owner for as much as 50% of the additional capital cost (ZVG, 1996).

Another type of indirect subsidy lets developers use greenroofs as mitigation for the provision of open space. Depending on the type of proposed plant material, local land development ordinances allow greenroofs to compensate for lost open space at a ratio of .50 to .70. This creates a very attractive alternative in areas of high real estate prices. Alternatives for mitigation include the restoration of existing impervious surfaces to create open space or improving the biodiversity of existing open space (Charlie Miller publication, 1998).

Twenty-nine German cities in the ZVG survey provide a direct monetary subsidy to developers who use greenroofs. The amount of the subsidy varies widely, ranging between $0.51 to $6.20 per square foot ($5.5 to $67/m²). Most cities have adopted a financial aid ceiling for individual projects, ranging from $280 to $11,250 per municipality. The subsidies are based on estimates of the avoided costs associated with infrastructure maintenance and replacement. The subsidy structure provides the greatest incentive to residences and small building owners (Charlie Miller publication, 1998).

According to Penn State's Dr. Dave Beattie, by late 2002, 15% of all of Germany's flat roofs are now greenroofs, with 22% of Stuttgart's roofs being greenroofs, and all new roof construction will require greenroofs (personal communications, September, 2002). In 1989, twenty-seven cities had established zoning districts that require greenroofs to be installed on flat roofs. Such a requirement on flat-roofed industrial buildings was included in Stuttgart’s 1989 Law of Building Book (The London Ecology Unit, 1993).

Since 1982, the greenroof industry in Germany has grown an average of 15-20% ( www.peck.ca).

Since 1984 Munich has included greenroofs in its building ordinance, and in the subsequent 15 years approximately 4.2 million square feet of rooftops have been greened. In 1992 a direct subsidy program was started, providing $3.13 per square foot ($33.70/m²), paying up to 50% of the capital cost of installing a greenroof (Charlie Miller publication, 1998). By 1996, over 10 million square meters of greenroofs were constructed in Germany alone (Green Roofs For Healthy Cities).

The ZVG has estimated that the lifetime cost of an extensive greenroof (based on a 36 year service life) in Germany is 15% lower than a comparable bituminous roof with gravel ballast. This estimate includes savings achieved through the elimination of stormwater detention basins, and takes into account higher real estate and construction costs than those present in the U.S. (Charlie Miller publication, 1998).

Due to the legislative and financial support of European state and municipal governments, the greenroof industry has grown into a vibrant, multi-dollar market in Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland among others. This public support recognizes the many tangible and intangible advantages of greenroofs, and we in North America could certainly benefit from this forward thinking.

Switzerland - 2005: Through 2005, there were approximately 200 greenroof projects in Switzerland, totally about 10,000,000 - 15,000,000 m2. The cities of Basel, Zürich, and Luzern, for example now require that every new flat roof be planted per building code. Dr. Stephan Brenneisen of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences says, "We work together with authorities to develop standards for green roofing according to their planning and construction laws." As of the end of 2005, approximately 20% of the flat roofs are green roofs within Basel in the city of Basel in a year there will be around 80. This equals about 80 city projects totaling 480,000 m2, with the outlying countryside projects also around 80, estimated at 500,000 m2 (Dr. Stephan Brenneisen, 2005).

U.K. - 2008: The Mayor of London and Design for London published a technical report on Living Roofs and Walls, supporting the new London Plan policy. The report was launched on February 29, 2008 at the Ecobuild conference by Design for London and Alumasc Exterior Building Products, sponsors of the research which led to the report. The report was written by Dusty Gedge, John Newton, Karl Craddick et al.

The London Plan (consolidated with Alterations since 2004) contains a policy to promote living roofs and walls.
Living roofs and walls - Technical report: supporting London Plan policy PDF
Living roofs and walls - Technical report: supporting London Plan policy RTF

The New London Plan includes the following policy statement, click here.

Policy 4A.11 Living Roofs and Walls
The Mayor will, and boroughs should, expect major developments to incorporate living roofs and walls where feasible and reflect this principle in DPD policies. It is expected that this will include roof and wall planting that delivers as many of these objectives as possible:

• accessible roof space
• adapting to and mitigating climate change
• sustainable urban drainage
• enhancing biodiversity
• improved appearance.

Many people here in North America are interested in promoting greenroofs as part of a city's infrastructure, so that their costs may be included in city budgets right from the start, as is the case in much of Germany and other parts of Europe. At the moment, the cities of Chicago, Portland OR, Seattle, Toronto, Canada, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and areas around Washington, D.C., are looking into different types of incentive programs, and movements are underway in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Vancouver, B.C. and many others.

Greenroofs.com - We are non-membership based, and are the greenroof industry resource portal. We share information pertaining to all the key players in the greenroof community, market, and world. Search The Greenroof Project Database for specific projects by name, year built, location, greenroof type, application type, test/research, by keyword(s) and more. New projects are added and updated all the time!

ASTM - In October, 2001, the American Society for the Testing of Materials (ASTM) established a Green Roof Standards Task Group, and their focus is to provide national standards for greenroof technologies. Members have defined greenroofs and reviewed the established German documents listed above to provide guidelines for further U.S. study. This Task Group has been set up under the E06.71 Subcommittee on Sustainability in Buildings, part of the 1946 ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings. Access the WK575 Practice for Assessment of Green Roofs dated 2.7.03. For further information, contact Michael F. Gibbons, Head of the Green Roof Task Group, ASTM, at 972.960.8726 or archsys1@aol.com.

Insurance Policies: At present, only a few major insurance U.S. companies are addressing greenroofs:

Affiliated FM, September, 2008: A member of the FM Global Group, Affiliated FM specializes in commercial property insurance for business and industry. Affiliated FM’s Green Coverage Endorsement provides coverage for those additional costs incurred in rebuilding physically damaged property associated with being or going “green.” This includes enhanced property and business interruption coverage to help clients establish and maintain sustainable, environmentally friendly businesses. These new coverages and costs are in addition to the broad replacement cost coverage already provided in the client’s proVision policy.

Among other items, the new coverage also includes additional costs to replace damaged roofs with green roofing systems, including vegetative roofing systems as well as costs to hire an accredited green consultant to assist in green design and reconstruction.

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, July and March, 2008: Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is set to launch the first-ever green insurance for U.S. homeowners this summer 2008. Green roofs are covered by the policy. Read:

Travelers Insurance: The Commercial Property Division of Travelers, one of the largest providers of property and casualty insurance products in the United States, has launched Green Building Coverage Enhancements, covering the additional cost and restoration time for green building alternatives, expenses related to green building reengineering and recertification, and greenroofs. Read:

Travelers Expands Property Coverage to Support Green Building
GreenerBuildings, by Staff
March 18, 2008

U.S. "...The company's Commercial Property Division has launched Green Building Coverage Enhancements, covering the additional cost and restoration time for green building alternatives, expenses related to green building reengineering and recertification, and green roofs. The coverage is for mid-sized businesses and allows environmentally preferred building materials to be used after a covered event or loss..."

FM Global, January, 2007: They help safeguard clients' properties through cost-effective insurance coverage, risk transfer solutions and loss prevention research and engineering. FM Global's 2007 Resource Catalog has educational materials based on their cutting-edge research and engineering. These products, available in a wide variety of languages and formats, help to effectively manage property-related hazards, prevent facility damage and minimize business interruption.

See FM Global's Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 1-35: Green Roof Systems, updated 1.07. Its 26-pages include Scope, Loss Prevention Recommendations, and Support for Recommendations. Costs, and order information here:

FM Global insurance clients - US$25.00
Municipal and volunteer firefighters - US$25.00
All others - US$75.00

U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) - The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization and is the developer and administrator of the LEED™ Green Building Rating System, a leading-edge system, design guideline and measuring tool for designing, constructing, and certifying the world's greenest buildings according to a stringent set of standards. The USGBC serves its members and the community through the development of industry standards, design practices and tools, policy advocacy, information exchange, and education.

The four levels of certification include LEED™ Certified, Silver Level, Gold Level and Platinum Level. The U.S. Green Building Council awards points out of a possible 69: LEED™ certified (at least 26 points for new construction), silver, gold, or platinum (at least 52 points). For the basic rating system document and complete information regarding LEED™, see www.leedbuilding.org., click on "Rating System and Resources." The website also offers an introductory PowerPoint presentation as a primer on LEED™.

Currently, the green building rating system is used for commercial, institutional and high-rise residential new construction and major renovation. LEED™ certification is quickly becoming popular with government agencies, municipalities, institutions and businesses, and benefits include qualification of a growing amount of state and local government incentives.

July, 2007: Originally published in the July 2007 issue of GreenSource Magazine,
Architectural Record's Sustainable Roofing Strategies Continuing Education of July 2007 states: "The U.S. Green Building Council’s Green Building Rating System, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®), is a voluntary certification program for sustainable buildings. LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations (LEED-NC) Version 2.2 allows credit for several roofing types and related strategies.

"Green roofs can contribute up to 14 credits with LEED-NC, Version 2.2. Between one and two points can be earned in the following categories: Storm Water Management, Landscape and Exterior Design to Reduce Heat Islands, Recycled Content, Reduced Site Disturbance, Water Efficient Landscaping, Local/Regional Materials, and Optimized Energy Performance. Typically, plant choices for green roofs are native to the area, and the growing media is locally sourced, so that soil is not shipped far."

Compliance is performance-based, not prescriptive (Tom Dietsche, LEED™ Program Associate, April 2002). Greenroofs can contribute to at least 6 LEED™ points (more are possible) up to a possible 15 or 16 in the following sub-categories:

Reduced Site Disturbance, Protect or Restore Open Space;
Landscape Design That Reduces Urban Heat Islands, Roof (SS Credit 7);Energy Efficiency (EA credit 1);
Stormwater Management (SS credit 6);
Water Efficient Landscaping;
Daylight & Natural Views (EQ credit 8);
Innovative Wastewater Technologies;
Innovation in Design.

As of September, 2007, two U.S. federal agencies, 22 states, and 75 localities from Seattle to Boston have instituted policies to require or encourage LEED have agreed to follow LEED building principles. According to 2004 USGBC figures, in the United States buildings: account for 36% of total energy use and 65% of electricity consumption; generate 30% of greenhouse gas emissions; represent 30% of raw materials use; generate 30% of waste output -- some 136 million tons annually; and consume 12% of potable water. Learn more about USGBC here. As of January, 2005, approximately 155 buildings had been LEED™ certified nationwide with another 1,600 awaiting certification. About 4% of new U.S. commercial buildings are LEED certified, and that is increasing by 1% each year (Taryn Holowka, communications manager for the U.S. Green Building Council, 2005).

LEED-certified green buildings also have opportunities for national, regional and local utility rebates, tax credits and subsidies.

The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive writes in its September 2003 Federal Green Building Report PDF, "Many agencies require LEED™ Certified as a minimum requirement; others encourage LEED™ Silver as a goal. Some agencies have stated that at least 20 percent of all major construction shall be selected as LEED™ pilot projects by fiscal year 2004 (FY 2004), with increasing percentages of projects until FY 2009, when all construction projects are to be capable of achieving LEED certification. However, while several Federal agencies are embracing LEED™ as their standard of performance, neither LEED™ nor any other system has yet been adopted government-wide."

For example, the Department of Defense and General Services Administration (GSA) now mandates that all new government buildings follow green building protocols developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (Markham and Walles, 2003, Environmental Design + Construction).

11.28.06: Montgomery County's new "Green Building Law" which was passed November 28, 2006 and will become mandatory by September 1, 2008, will require nonresidential buildings over 10,000 square feet to achieve a LEED Silver rating (Earth Times).

In June 2005, Portland, OR, - see below - joined Scottsdale, Arizona as the second city in the U.S. to require LEED Gold certification for City facilities. Vancouver, BC also requires all of their municipal facilities to achieve LEED Gold.

11.02.04: San Francisco has announced the adoption of a Green Building Ordinance, which requires that all new projects, including city-owned facilities and leaseholds, achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

In 2000, the City of Seattle adopted its Sustainable Building Policy requiring new city buildings to attain a Silver LEED™certification rating. City departments were instructed to design and construct both new and renovated City facilities greater than 5,000 square feet so that they achieve a Silver LEED rating.

New York, New York - PlaNYC, December 16, 2008: New York City released its PlaNYC Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan. The sixth initiative under PlaNYC's Water Quality goal calls for an Interagency Best Management Practices (BMP) Task Force to coordinate stormwater planning issues. They will be releasing their draft rules for our green roof tax abatement in the near future.

You can download the Plan and appendices here. Formed in May 2007, the Task Force brings together all relevant City agencies to analyze ways to incorporate source control stormwater management techniques, known as BMPs, into the design and construction of both public and private projects to reduce pollution from untreated discharges and combined sewer overflows.

The Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan is the culmination of the Task Force’s efforts. To see the plan, click on the following links:

Download the Final Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan (in PDF).
Appendices to the Final Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan (in PDF).

August 8, 2008: GOVERNOR PATERSON SIGNS LAWS TO HELP SPUR INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY - The A.11226 Diaz R/S.7553 Lanza bill was signed by New York State Governor Paterson and deals with the tax abatement for renewable energy, providing a tax abatement for construction of green roofs in New York City. Read the Press Release.

June 24, 2008: Building owners in New York City who install green rooftops will now receive a significant tax credit under a bill (A.11226) sponsored by Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. that passed the state legislature on June 24, 2008.

Under this law, building owners in New York City who install green roofs on at least 50 percent of available rooftop space can apply for a one-year property tax credit of up to $100,000. The credit would be equal to $4.50 per square-foot of roof area that is planted with vegetation, or approximately 25 percent of the typical costs associated with the materials, labor, installation and design of the green roof. Read the Press Release from Sustainable South Bronx.

Bronx Borough, New York - September, 2006: Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr., and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC) have established the Bronx Initiative for Energy and the Environment (BIEE). This initiative has created three separate partnership funds: The Bronx Partnership for Electric Transportation, the Bronx Partnership for Environmental Benefit, and the Bronx Partnership for Residential and Commercial Energy Efficiency and New Technology. The goal of the initiative is to demonstrate pathways to a greener Bronx.

The Bronx Environmental Revolving Loan Fund is designed to provide zero interest loans to Bronx businesses and building owners that implement energy efficient measures and/or new technology, which improves the air quality of our borough.

Eligible Companies:
For-profit companies, non-profit organizations and housing corporations operating in the Bronx.

Eligible Uses:
Implementation of energy-efficient measures, including
Electric/alternative fuel machinery and equipment;
Boiler retrofit;
New technology to reduce air pollution and/or cause energy savings, e.g.:
Green roofs and other greening measures;
Solar technology:
Wind technology
Customized energy surveys
Size of Loan:
Minimum $10,000; Maximum $500,000

Example of how the Environmental Revolving Loan Fund could be used for subsidizing a greenroof:
Company B needs to replace its roof. A green roof (a roof planted with specific vegetation) lasts twice as long as a conventional roof, reduces the cost of cooling the floor underneath it by 40% and reduces noise and air pollution. A conventional roof costs $8-$10/sq. ft.; a green roof costs $12-$20/sq. ft. The Environmental Revolving Loan Fund will cover the difference.

Read more at the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC) website.

City of Annapolis, Maryland - 2008: The county will offer up to a $10,000 tax credit for people who try to reduce stormwater pollution on their property, allowing people to deduct from their property taxes the cost of installing stormwater reduction technology, including greenroofs. Read:

Stormwater tax credit passes
Annapolis Capital, by Erin Cox
January 14, 2008

Annapolis, MD. "The county will offer up to a $10,000 tax credit for people who try to reduce stormwater pollution on their property...The tax credit allows people to deduct from their property taxes the cost of installing rain gardens, green roofs, pervious pavement and other types of technology that help stormwater seep into the ground instead of rushing down slopes and roads, picking up pollutants and carrying them into the Chesapeake Bay..."

City of Chicago, Illinois - 2008: Currently the city of Chicago, IL is leading the way in the U.S. with aggressive sustainable design measures which include promoting greenroofs, with over 300 projects totaling 4 million square feet planned or built (July, 2008). Policies and Incentives: MISSION STATEMENT. "In general, Chicago promotes green buildings through awards, grants, design competitions and fairs. For example, It expedites the building-permit process for approved builders of green buildings, waives a service fee for developers installing green roofs and provides a series of guides for homeowners renovating or rehabilitating their homes. In addition, any public or publicly funded building has to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification standard, set by the U.S. Green Building Council," (Chicago Derives Many Benefits from Green Buildings, NewsBlaze, by Andrzej Zwaniecki
May 29, 2008). See the website devoted to Chicago Green Roofs - Guide for Building Green Roofs in Chicago.

The City of Chicago stimulates demand for green buildings and green roofs by creating policies and incentives targeted to developers, building owners and managers, homeowners, insurance providers, and the financial community. To facilitate adoption of green building practices, they pledge to educate the larger community of building professionals and the general public about the benefits of sustainable building for individuals, neighborhoods, and the city.

September, 2007, 2006, 2005: The Green Roof Grant Program 2006 for Residential and Small Commercial Buildings: Since 2005, the Green Roof Grants Program helped realize more than 20 green roof projects throughout Chicago per year. Building on this success from 2005, the City of Chicago Department of Environment is giving an increased number of $5000 grants to assist with residential or small commercial green roof projects. "Small commercial" is a building with a footprint of less than 10,000 square feet.

Sessions on the Program are held at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 North Sacramento Avenue. Successful projects are announced in December. Grants will assist in realizing new green roof projects throughout the City. Projects are selected in a ‘blind’ process and evaluation criteria included project location, visibility, project type as well as overall environmental benefit. Read about them here, at the City of Chicago Department of Environment website. Read more online or from the Department of Environment, 30 North LaSalle Street, 25th Floor, Chicago, IL. Questions? Call 312.744.7606.

May, 2006: The city began a pilot program entitled the "GRIF TIF" - Green Roof Improvement Fund Tax Increment Financing - offering matching funds up to $100,000 to put green roofs on downtown buildings, drawing $500,000 from the Central Loop Tax Increment Financing District. "At $10 per square foot, that's enough to fund five to 10 projects," said Michael Berkshire of the city's Department of Planning and Development. Applications were accepted online until September 1, 2006. Read "City Hall's spreading the green: Will help fund more planted roofs" in the June 29 Chicago Sun-Times, by Gary Wisby.

2005: Green Roof Initiative: Over 120 public & private greenroof projects totaling between 1.5 and 2 million sf were constructed in Chicago, and these numbers exclude Millennium Park and Soldier Field.

Density Bonuses - According to EPA Smart Growth Policy Information, "To create attractive commercial and business districts, the City of Chicago increases development square footage, known as floor area premiums, when such developments include public amenities. Public amenities include plazas, pocket parks, block connections, greenroofs, transit improvements, and wider sidewalks among others." The Chicago Department of Zoning states, "A floor area premium shall be granted for a roof that is covered with plants that reduce the 'urban heat island' effect and storm-water runoff of buildings in the central business district. To qualify for a floor area premium, a minimum of 50 % of the roof area at the level of the green roof or a minimum of 2000 square feet (whichever is greater) shall be covered by vegetation and shall meet..." certain standards.

The City Zoning Ordinance is available online - click Article 8: Business Districts, Section 8.5: Floor Area Ratio, scroll down. Contact Information: City of Chicago Planning Department, 121 North LaSalle Street, #1000 Chicago, IL 60602 Phone: 312.744.9476 Fax: 312.744.2271

2004: Building Green/Green Roof Matrix - Allows “Fast-Tracking” of Permitting to encourage green building for builders who commit to green standards, including greenroofs. The City of Chicago's Building Green/Green Roof policy applies to construction projects that receive public assistance or are subject to review by the Department of Planning and Development as a "Planned Development" or a "Lakefront Protection Ordinance Development." The policy is summarized in the matrix (see above). The matrix illustrates what projects are subject to the policy and what green strategies are being promoted through the policy.

June, 2002: The Chicago Energy Conservation Ordinance went into effect on June 3, 2002 and includes a chapter from Chicago's Urban Heat Island Reduction Initiative which states minimum ASTM standards of solar reflectance and emissivity. The ordinance requires all new and refurbished roofs to install greenroofs or reflective roofing. The ordinance had originally been set for implementation for January, 2002, but the City allowed additional time for public awareness and offered workshops to developers, designers and other interested parties. The Ordinance is based on requirements from the International Energy Conservation Code (Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor, Winter 2002). For additional info, please contact environment@cityofchicago.org.

City of Los Angeles, California - 2006: The City of Los Angeles Environmental Affairs Department (EAD), established in 1990, is the chief advisor to the City on environmental matters. It proactively brings together people and resources to educate and develop ways to improve the Los Angeles environment. By restoring habitats, creating innovative alternatives, assisting businesses and revitalizing communities, EAD makes LA a better place to live.

Read the 64-page PDF entitled "Green Roofs - Cooling Los Angeles, A Resource Guide." This resource guide has been prepared in partial response to Los Angeles City Council motion CF#04-0074, Incorporate Rooftop Green Spaces as an Energy Efficiency Mechanism. This motion directed the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) to lead the formation of a City task force for the purpose of developing and implementing “…a process, program, or procedure that will require City facilities to incorporate rooftop green spaces as an energy efficiency mechanism…” To support the Green Roof Task Force, the EAD researched green roof options and assembled information on numerous case studies and guideline development efforts in North America, Europe, and Japan. EAD subsequently utilized consultant assistance to expand and summarize the available research, determine its applicability to potential projects in the Los Angeles area, and incorporate practical and procedural information from the Task Force members into a plan for the development of green roofs in the City of Los Angeles. This document is intended to serve as a reference guide to facilitate green roof development by the City as well as other public entities and private building owners within Los Angeles.

For more info, please contact: Environmental Affairs Department, City of Los Angeles, 200 N. Spring Street., Suite 2005, Los Angeles, CA 90012, or visit the website: http://www.lacity.org/EAD or E-mail: eadinfo@lacity.org

City of Portland, Oregon - September, 2008: City of Portland to Offer Ecoroof Incentives
The ecoroof grant program is part of the City of Portland's Grey to Green effort to accelerate the City's work to increase Portland's green stormwater management infrastructure, protect sensitive natural areas and improve habitat. The city currently has about nine acres of ecoroofs scattered among more than 90 buildings. The Grey to Green goal is to add 43 acres of new ecoroofs in five years.

The city will spend about $300,000 on grants in this fiscal year, and will make grant funds available over the next five years. The incentive grants will pay up to $5 per square foot for new ecoroof projects. Industrial, residential, commercial and mixed-use projects are eligible for the incentive program. The grant application packet will be available October 28, 2008 online at www.portlandonline.com/bes/ecoroof or by calling 503.823.7914. Read about the Ecoroof Incentive Program here.

Ecoroof Plant Report Now Available
The ecoroof plant report presents information about the most sustainable ecoroof plants in Portland, Oregon and gives guidance on the plant selection for various ecoroof site conditions. This report presents information from the 2003 Plant Survival Findings in the Pacific Northwest report and from recent assessments of 15 ecoroofs and 18 plants in Portland. The report also describes experiences of local designers and maintenance personnel with ecoroofs.

Copies are available online at www.portlandonline.com/bes/ecoroof.

2007: See the City of Portland, Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) website, portlandonline.com, and see the Ecoroofs page. As of mid April 2007 over 130 ecoroofs have been installed in Portland since 1996.

Portland Policies and Incentives that Support Ecoroof Installations (Tom Liptan, April, 2007):

1. City Public Works Code 17.38: Stormwater Management 1999;
2. City Zoning Code 33.510 FAR Bonus: Ecoroofs added in spring 2001;
3. City Resolution passed in 2005 requires all city owned buildings to install Ecoroofs when re-roofing or on new buildings;
4. BES -Watershed Stewardship Grants have funded 8 Ecoroofs;
5. OSD -Green Investment Grant have funded 9 Ecoroofs;
6. BES distributes EPA Grant money for demo projects; $40,000 for ecoroof;
7. BES has contributed $275,000 for ecoroof demo projects 1999-present;
8. Clean River Reward –Ecoroofs potentially qualify for full reward;
9. BES and Office of Sustainable Development provide technical assistance, Planning Bureau staff also provide some assistance;
10. BES, PSU, Metro and Multnomah Co. are monitoring Ecoroof performance.

June, 2005: On Page 11 of Portland’s Green Building Policy: A Status Report and Recommendations PDF see "Ecoroofs: Require design and construction of all new City-owned facilities to include an ecoroof with at least 70% coverage AND high reflectance, Energy Star-rated roof material on any remaining non-ecoroof surface area; OR, Energy Star-rated roof when an integrated ecoroof/ Energy Star-rated roof is impractical." On Page 12 see "Ecoroofs: Require all roof replacement projects on City-owned facilities to install an ecoroof AND high reflectance, Energy Star-rated roof on any remaining non-ecoroof roof surface area; OR, when an integrated ecoroof/Energy Star-rated roof is impractical, install an Energy Star-rated roof." Read the entire PDF of Portland's new recommended LEED Gold program for all new, city-owned facilities construction projects, increasing LEED certification from “Certified” to “Gold.”

2003: The City of Portland developed a 12-page Questions and Answers brochure on green roofing, which can be found under How To's.

July, 2002: The City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development (OSD) introduced "Portland LEED," the first U.S. Green Building Council approved local supplement to the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. To view the entire City of Portland's 2002 Stormwater Management Manual click here: http://www.cleanrivers-pdx.org/tech_resources/2002_swmm.htm. Or click on the following for Chapter 2 only: "Chapter 2.0 - Simplified Approach to Stormwater Management."

Tom Liptan, ASLA, a landscape architect and stormwater specialist for the City of Portland OR, Bureau of Environmental Services, has been the advocate for ecoroofs in Portland. He may be contacted directly at 503.823.7267 or toml@bes.ci.portland.or.us for more specifics on what he and his department is planning and have accomplished in the area of greenroof subsidies.

The City of Portland also has their greenbuilding website - www.green-rated.org, to inform people on the various city programs now available to promote sustainable development, including eco or greenroofs. Ecoroofs are included under the Technologies area; for further info, please contact: Rob Bennett, City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development G/Rated - Green Building Program 1120 SW 5th Ave, Room 706, Portland, OR 97204; Phone: 503.823.7082; Fax: 503.823.5370; bennett@ci.portland.or.us; www.green-rated.org.

City of Seattle, Washington - 2007: Seattle Mayor Greg Nichols is one of the greenest mayors in the U.S. and a champion of high performance buildings. The City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development has an excellent website devoted to green building and specifically greenroofs here, including the following topics:

What Is A Green Roof?
Seattle Incentives, Technical Guidelines and Research - of particular interest, see below.
Green Roof Monitoring and Evaluation
Green Roof Case Studies
Green Roof Design and Research Resources

Seattle Incentives, Technical Guidelines and Research:

Incentives
Seattle currently has an impervious surface reduction credit that lists green roofs and roof gardens as acceptable strategies. See Appendix B of the Flow Control Technical Requirements Manual. Additionally, the LEED green building certification program offers a point for a green roof. Given the proven marketing value of LEED certification, this too could be considered an incentive for green roofs.

Seattle Green Factor
As of January 21, 2007, the new Seattle Green Factor requirements (for 30% equivalent plant coverage on commercial developments in Neighborhood Commercial (NC) zones) can be met in part through use of green roofs. Learn how at the Green Factor design and permitting page.

Technical Guidelines
Technical guidelines for building green roofs in Seattle are currently in development, and will be posted here when complete. Meanwhile, please find links to existing resources, design and case study examples below.

Ongoing study and modeling for stormwater code development
Green roofs have the potential to reduce roof runoff and delay peak flows during storms. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is attempting to quantify the stormwater benefits, to help us credit green roofs in our city stormwater code.

SPU is helping to standardize green roof modeling methods through use of the Western Washington Hydrologic Model (WWHM), commonly used by stormwater design engineers. The WWHM model has been modified to include a green roof/eco-roof modeling element, which has been calibrated using monitoring data from Portland. In a few years this model will be further updated using local monitoring data. See Eco-roof Stormwater Modeling Memo.

SPU is currently collecting rainfall and runoff flow data on several city buildings (the Zoomazium, Ballard Branch Library, Ross Park Shelterhouse starting in fall 2007, and possibly the new Fire Station 10 starting 2008). SPU is also conducting limited grab-sampling of runoff water quality to see if new green roofs are likely to add nutrients to stormwater draining to streams, lakes and Puget Sound.

As a result of stormwater modeling, Seattle currently has a trial Stormwater Code Exception Policy for the South Lake Union area, that allows green roofs to partially satisfy stormwater code.

April, 2006: Commercial Incentives and Assistance from the City of Seattle are offered to LEED projects, tailored to developers who incorporate green features into new commercial projects.

The Density Bonus Incentive - On April 12, 2006, Mayor Nickels signed new downtown zoning legislation updating rules for the central office core and adjoining areas, including Denny Triangle and a portion of Belltown. Changes in the new regulations were made to provide greater heights and/or greater floor area for commercial and residential buildings. To gain greater height or density, projects must achieve a LEED Silver rating or higher, as well as contribute to affordable housing and other public amenities. The zoning changes also offer greater transferable development rights for historic structures.

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota - 2001: The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services has issued the "Minnesota Urban Small Sites BMP Manual" and it includes a chapter on greenroofs. The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning agency for the seven county Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area who also operate the wastewater, transit, airport and regional parks systems. The BMP manual is intended for the nonpoint source technical assistance program, and will be used by the 180 or so communities in the region. The chapter was prepared by Barr Engineering Company as one of 40 BMPs that the metro area is focusing on (Gary Oberts, personal communications, May 2001).

Salt Lake City, Utah - 2006: The Salt Lake City Council passed an ordinance requiring new buildings that use city money to be environmentally friendly. The ordinance requires city-funded buildings of at least 10,000 square feet to become certified by the U.S. Green Building Council under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

New York State - 2008: Building owners in New York City who install green rooftops will now receive a significant tax credit under a bill (A.11226) sponsored by Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. that passed the state legislature on June 24, 2008.

Under this law, building owners in New York City who install green roofs on at least 50 percent of available rooftop space can apply for a one-year property tax credit of up to $100,000. The credit would be equal to $4.50 per square-foot of roof area that is planted with vegetation, or approximately 25 percent of the typical costs associated with the materials, labor, installation and design of the green roof. Read the Press Release from Sustainable South Bronx.

Pennsylvania State - According to the Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor, "the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts identified greenroof infrastructure as a stormwater best management practice in their 'Pennsylvania Handbook of Best Management Practices for Developing Areas.'"(GRIM Autumn 2000). See Charlie Miller's “Vegetated Roof Covers: A New Method for Controlling Runoff in Urbanized Areas.” publication in the "Proceedings of the 1998 Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Symposium" (October 21-23, 1998): 1-10.

2000: The City of Seattle adopted its Sustainable Building Policy requiring new city buildings to attain a Silver LEED™certification rating. City departments were instructed to design and construct both new and renovated City facilities greater than 5,000 square feet so that they achieve a Silver LEED rating.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - The U.S. EPA, with state and national partners, released a comprehensive plan to reduce runoff and increase environmental and economic benefits for communities on 1.17.08. The strategy will help reduce stormwater runoff and sewer overflows by promoting “green infrastructure” approaches, such as green roofs, trees and tree boxes, rain gardens, and porous pavements. Read Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure Action Strategy 2008 (PDF).

December, 2007: The EPA released "Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Development (LID) Strategies and Practices" - a report (PDF) providing information to cities, counties, states, private-sector developers and others on the costs and benefits of using Low Impact Development (LID) strategies. This report summarizes 17 case studies of developments that include LID practices and concludes that applying LID techniques can reduce project costs and improve environmental performance.

Readers interested in increasing their knowledge about LID and Green Infrastructure should visit their following pages: Green Infrastructure and LID links.

The U.S. EPA issued a memo to highlight opportunities for EPA Regional Administrators to increase the development and use of green infrastructure in water program implementation. The report, "Using Green Infrastructure to Protect Water Quality in Stormwater, CSO, Non Point Source, and other Water Programs" recognizes the value of green infrastructure techniques and encourages their use in reducing water quality problems. Common green infrastructure approaches include green roofs, trees and tree boxes, rain gardens, vegetated swales, pocket wetlands, infiltration planters, vegetated median strips, reforestation, and protection and enhancement of riparian buffers and floodplains." Read more, PDF (March, 2007).

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities - Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is the North American professional green roof organization, who in addition to promoting the industry, produces the annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards, and Trade Show as well as the regional Symposia, and the Green Roofs 101 and 201 courses.

4.13.06: Green Roofs for Healthy Cities conducted a study which "asked corporate member-companies to report on their completed 2004 and 2005 green roof projects in North America. Results indicate a 72% growth in green roof square footage across North America between 2004 and 2005, and over 80% growth in the United States. North American green roof infrastructure implementation increased from 1.3 million square feet in 2004 to 2.5 million square feet in 2005..." Read the "Green Roof Industry Posts Greater Than 80% Growth: First-of-its-kind industry survey shows tremendous growth in going green" Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Media Release. Read the GRHC Survey Report Here. The actual number was much higher as only 30 or so companies were polled, but the report is a great representation of the North American marketplace.

June 2007: The City of Toronto released its 58-page PDF entitled Green "Vegetative" Roof Building Standard for the City of Toronto on June 20, 2007.

Scope and Objectives of this Study:

The Toronto Green Roof Design Standard is to provide City Staff with the technical foundation necessary for the development of a Green Roof By-law consistent with the City of Toronto Act, and to provide certainty and clarity for the green building industry active in Toronto.

This standard is not intended to be a textbook on the design of green roofs but provide certainty and clarity for builders, developers, manufacturers and designers when designing and building green roofs in the City of Toronto.
The scope of the Standard shall provide recommendations for design requirements of a Toronto green roof building standard and include analysis of how identified potential green roof standards will support the City’s key policy objectives and performance criteria. The Standard is to address:

a) New construction and retrofit;
b) Small and large scale residential buildings; and
c) Industrial, commercial and institutional buildings.

October 2006: The City of Toronto, Canada - The city's Green Roof Pilot Program application/agreement form is now available online. A new 2-year pilot program has been created to encourage green roof construction in Toronto. Subsidies of $10 per square meter and up to a maximum of $20,000 Canadian ($18,000) are available to private property owners for new and retrofit green roof projects.

The application deadline for grants with the City of Toronto Green Roof Pilot Program was October 15, 2006. Find out more about the Green Roof Pilot Program.

March 2006: From the City of Toronto's greenroof website: "City Council committed to greening of Toronto Roofs - City Council approved a Green Roofs strategy promoting the use of city rooftops to grow gardens and other vegetation. The strategy includes a commitment to install green roofs on new and existing buildings owned by the City whenever practical. Council also endorsed initiatives to provide financial incentives for the creation of green roofs. Follow the Green Roof strategy's progression from consultation to adoption." Read the 42-page PDF "Making Green Roofs Happen" and the Consolidated Clause in Policy and Finance Committee Report 1, which was considered by City Council on January 31, February 1 and 2, 2006."

On February 1, 2006 City Council approved a commitment to install green roofs on new and existing buildings owned by the City, whenever practical to do so. For example, green roofs are to be considered for existing municipal buildings when roofs are due to be replaced. For new City-owned buildings, the Green Roofs strategy sets a target of green roofs covering 50 to 75 per cent of a building's footprint. Council also recommended that a pilot program of financial incentives be initiated this year for the construction of green roofs - read the City of Toronto Press Release here.

2001: The City of Toronto continues to work on their "Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan," which should include greenroof infrastructure as stormwater mitigation. In May of 2001 members of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities provided a tour of the Toronto City Hall Green Roof Demonstration Project to participants in the Plan (GRIM, Spring 2001). For more Plan info, please contact Tracy Ehl, Senior Public Consultation Coordinator at 416.392.2996; 1.800.465.4056 or at tehl@city.toronto.on.ca.

2002: In December, 2002, the offices of noted landscape architect Cornelia Hahn Oberlander were commissioned by the Public Works and Government Services
Canada/Travaux publics et Services gouvernement aux Canada to write the "Introductory Manual for Greening Roofs for Public Works and Government Services Canada" (37 page .pdf). Compiled by Cornelia Hahn Oberlander, CM, FCSLA, FASLA, Elisabeth Whitelaw, CSLA and Eva Matsuzaki, MAIBC, FRAIC, hon FAIA, the manual is an excellent greenroof resource.

Government of Hong Kong - 2007: The Architectural Services Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has issued a Study on Green Roof Application in Hong Kong Final Executive Summary (PDF/750KB, by Urbis Limited). The 12-page document includes a Green Roofs Overview, Design & Technical Guidelines, and Recommendations for greenroof directions for Hong Kong and the way forward.

In a concerted effort to combat the ever rising urban heat island in Tokyo, the new "Tokyo Plan 2000" was implemented on April 1, 2001, requiring new buildings greater than 1,000 square meters (10,000 sf) or over one-quarter acre to green at least 20% of its useable roof space. The Plan was designed by the municipal government to provide a set of development guidelines for future administrative and financial management of the city. Plans are in place also for the city of Kobe, but not until 2003, and other Japanese cities are considering similar measures (Yumi Habuka, Personal Communications, May 2002).

Also known as the "Green Tokyo Plan," the ordinance describes the metro area's present ecological state of Tokyo, addressing topics such as the natural environment, greenery in Tokyo, urban greenery and the heat island phenomenon, and global warming. According to the website listed below, "the plan outlines goals for greening projects and the direction measures should take during the next 15 years." In the Green Tokyo Plan (see Page 36), the target for rooftop and other greenery is 1,200 hectares by 2015. Garden roofs are highly touted as an excellent measure to bring nature back into the city and ease various ecological problems. Six effects of rooftop greenery are listed: 1) Mitigating the heat island phenomenon; 2) Serving as a greenery dam to temporarily store rainwater; 3) Easing air pollution; 4) Preventing global warming; 5) Softening a barren urban landscape; and 6) Supporting the existence of various living creatures.

"According to the ordinance on natural preservation, greening areas must be provided on the premises and on rooftops when buildings are newly constructed or extended in an area larger than 1,000 m2 for private facilities and in an area larger than 250 m2 for public facilities. Plans must be also submitted to include rooftop greenery for new construction with a total floor area exceeding 10,000m2 according to the Ordinance on Environmental Preservation. (English version)" The entire English version of the site can be accessed here, and specifically the "Green Tokyo Plan" here.

According to an article in the New York Times, over the past century Tokyo temperatures have increased five times as fast as global warming. Certainly black rooftops and concrete buildings bear a large portion of the reason, but reports say the city is greatly lacking in greenspace. Only 14% of central Tokyo has any planted or green areas, which is less than New York City or London (Brooke, New York Times, 2002).

The city of Tokyo would like to green 1,200 hectares of roofs within the next 10 years, and with the additional green roofspace expects temperatures to lower by at least one degree Celsius. Currently the plan only applies to flat roofs with fences, but further investigation into tax and other financial incentives should encourage more greenroof development. From 2000 to 2001, over 4 hectares (40,000 square meters) of rooftops were greened (GRIM, Winter, 2001).

U.S. EPA: According to Architectural Record's Deborah Snoonian, P.E., "Buildings that incorporate green roofing elements may be eligible for grant funding under the EPA's Clean Water Act Section 319, which addresses nonpoint source pollution to lakes, rivers, and streams. Matching funds from local government agencies may also be available." You can read her short article in NEWS LINKS. In case you haven't already done so, also read the online article in NEWS LINKS by Katrin Scholz-Barth, as it addresses some subsidy possibilities. She also mentions that funding for green roofs can be obtained through the EPA grant program, and in fact, in 2001 Katrin secured a 319 grant for the Montgomery Park greenroof project in Maryland.

According to the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities website, in most states greenroofs can be funded as demonstration projects under Section 319, and can be used to mitigate the impacts of stormwater and combined sewer overflows in developed areas. Contact your state's nonpoint source (NPS) coordinator for specifics of the EPA grant funding process.

According to Elevated Landscape Technologies (see below), the EPA may fund projects under these following programs:

For a complete rundown, read the EPA's 2003 Funding for Source Water Protection Activities PDF publication noting federal funding examples for various water protection activities, such as polluted runoff control, resource protection and restoration, and wastewater as well as contact information.

Canada - The City of Toronto: Read about the City of Toronto Green Roof Pilot Program for subsidy information.

Elevated Landscape Technologies (ELT) has posted (July, 2005) a very large database of green roof funding for both the U.S. and Canada on their website regarding grants, and project and research funding. ELT has put a lot of effort into this section of their site and will be constantly adding to it. If you have any questions regarding the funding itself please forward them to Paul at: paul@eltgreenroofs.com as he is the resident funding expert.

For more information regarding Canadian funding read the following article from NewsLinks:

Again, many individuals and cities have asked me for this type of specific financial aid information, and many of us here in the U.S. and Canada (Toronto in particular) are further researching this area of extreme importance to forwarding the cause of the many benefits of greenroofs, especially because incentive programs have been so successful in Europe. Several U.S. undergraduate and graduate students are concentrating research efforts in this area, and I hope to share their information when completed.