Green Roof Design 101

What can you do with a green roof? The photo at right is an example shown at Live Roof where the city of Grand Haven, Michigan, planted their garbage container covers. These roofing systems provide storm water management, cooling effects and insulation that decrease energy costs, wildlife habitat for insects and birds, and they improve air quality by absorbing pollutants.

There are already a number of lovely installations in the Carolinas, and it will be growing, as more people learn about the benefits of green roofs, walls, and other forms of living architecture. A not-for-profit industry association offers a Green Roof Design 101 Introductory Course on Thursday, September 18, in the Hampton Inn at Charlotte, NC. This is part of an accredited program that works with diverse professions. You can get a discount on the course if you become a member of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.

If you prefer to hire a professional rather than become one, you might find a company like Living Roofs, Inc., the first in North Carolina specializing in green roof services. They work with landscape architects, architects, artists, and structural engineers. Their site shows existing projects, including many local buildings. They also have interesting before-and-after views of our cities to give us more ideas.