Green Roof Infrastructure - City of Oklahoma City

Green Roof Infrastructure: The
Business Case for Policy Support &
Lessons Learned
City of Oklahoma Green Roof Symposium
July 12, 2012
Steven W. Peck, GRP, Honorary ASLA
Founder & President
Green Roofs Healthy Cities
www.greenroofs.org

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Background
To increase the awareness of the economic, social and environmental benefits of
living architecture through education, advocacy, professional development and
celebrations of excellence.
Big Sur Residential Green Roof, Source: Fred Ballerini
2009 Award of Excellence Winner (Extensive Residential)
San Francisco Living Wall-Green Wall, Source: Steven Peck

Association Membership Services
Marketing & Promotion, Branding, Tool Development, Collective
Performance Research, Training, Advocacy Services, Networking
Corporate Membership
Green roof and wall product manufacturers, suppliers, or service providers.
Individual Membership
Individuals practicing the art of living architecture.
Supporter Membership
Individuals with a personal or professional interest in living architecture who
wish to subscribe to the Living Architecture MonitorTM magazine.

Professional Development & Accreditation
Green Roof Professional (GRP) Accreditation Program (2003)
Training in ‘black arts’ combined with
‘green arts’
Encourages multi-disciplinary
collaboration
Four day training – boot camp!
Industry-driven, exam-based
accreditation
GRP exam launched in June of 2009 in
Atlanta
Over 525 GRPs in the marketplace

Why Green Roof Professional Accreditation?
Enables GRPs to differentiate themselves & improve their projects
Increases customer confidence in green roof technology
Protects the industry from inevitable failures based on
inappropriate sales, design, installation & maintenance practices
GRP can be used by governments to support better practices –
i.e., requiring GRPs required on design/installation teams
Allows for continuing education of GRPs as industry evolves

Specialized Leading Edge Training Courses
for Continuing Education – and Advantage

FUN – Networking, Receptions (www.citiesalive.org)
Policy, Design & Case Studies, and Research - Concurrent
Tracks (Peer selected and reviewed)
On the Roof With - Industry Discussion Panels
Awesome Trade Show
GRP and specialized half-day training courses
Green Roof and Wall Expert Tours
“Its unlike any conference you’ve ever been to!”

Celebrations: Awards of Excellence Program
2011 Award of Excellence Winner – Nathan Phillips Square.
Source: PLANT Architect

Food is a rapidly emerging green roof and wall application
Conference – More than 75 Policy, Design & Case Studies,
and Research presentation tracks
Trade show and Training – Bees, Mushrooms, Integrated
Water Management, Rooftop Food Production
GRP and specialized half-day training courses
Green roof and wall tours
(www.urbanagsummit.org)

Online Education Program
Online learning 24/7 365 Day Learning
Five green roof courses plus specialized half-day workshops
Conference proceedings – papers and audio synched
presentations

Communications & Tools
Quarterly Living Architecture Monitor magazine
www.greenroofs.org. contains resources such as:
• Tree of Knowledge (research and policy
database of 200+ paper abstracts)
• Living Architecture Toolbox (members only),
which contains:
• GreenSave Life Cycle Cost-Benefit
Calculator
• Green roof funding sources and more.
• Searchable Member Directory/Contact
Green Infrastructure Webinar Series
Annual Awards of Excellence Winner Profiles
Living Architecture Monitor TM magazine.
Published quarterly in digital and
hardcopy formats.

Advocacy & Technical Standards
Lobby and educate for supportive policies
Ambassador Program
Local Market Development Symposia
Develop a number of standards in support of the further
development of the industry with SPRI
External Fire Design Standard for Vegetative Roofs
Wind Design Standard for Vegetative Roofing Systems
Procedure for Investigating Resistance to Root Penetration on
Vegetative Roofs
Toronto’s Green Roof Construction Standards
Living Architecture Tool Project

GRHC Industry Survey: Green Roof Industry
Growth
Source: GRHC Industry Survey.

Green Roof System Basics

Green Roof Systems Basics
Modular Systems
Source: Green Roof Blocks
Source: Green Grid
Source: Eco-Roofs
Source: Mule-Hide Products

Green Roof Systems Basics
Loose Laid Systems
Source: Rooflite
Source: Stancils
Source: American Landscape

Four Proven Reasons To
Develop Policies to Encourage
Green Roofs
in Your Community?

Reason #1
TO REDUCE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF
TRADITIONAL ROOFING!
Remove or retrofit black/grey roofs that:
Represent 5- 30% of the land area of a city!!!
Cause stormwater problems (flooding, CSOs)
Contaminate water/collect water (West Nile Virus)
Eyesore for onlookers
Waste energy and water used to make it
Contribute landfill waste (10-15 yr replacement)
Contribute to urban heat island effect
Are sterile/lifeless environments

Reason #2
TO CREATE OPPORTUNTIES FOR
MULTIPLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS!
Green roofs are able to:
Improve Stormwater Management
Reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect
Improve Air Quality
Improve Energy Savings and Reduce Noise
Improved Livability/Education
Improved Aesthetics/Active Recreation
Membrane Durability and Waste Diversion
New Uses - Food Security/Biophilic Benefits
Support/Enhance Biodiversity and more…

Improved Stormwater Management
Source: National Research Council , Institute for Research in Construction

Reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect
UHI is the temperature increase in urban
areas associated with the replacement of
natural vegetation with pavements, buildings,
and other structures necessary to
accommodate growing populations.
Urban Heat Island Around Lake Ontario
Source: Remote Sensing Advanced Technology
UHI effect impacts:
Greater energy use for AC
Greater water use to produce energy
(it takes water to produce electricity)
Greater water use for landscaping
Negative impact on human health
Negative impact on tourism
Greater stress on energy
infrastructure

Air Quality Improvement
Plants remove fine particulate
matter
Plants metabolize pollutants
(NOX)
Cooler Cities Means Less
Smog Formation
A 1 degree C reduction in UHI
can result in a 4% reduction in
peak load demand. (DOE,
2005)

Energy Benefits from Evapotranspiration,
Shading, Thermal Mass Transfer, Insulation
Energy Efficiency/Solar Integration/Cool AC Intake Air
Can reduce summertime demand by 70-90% (NRC)
Google “Green Roof Energy Calculator”
Source: National Research Council, Institute for Research in Construction

Noise and Sound Benefits
Noise Reduction
Green roofs outperform conventional roofs in
transmission loss.
Improve property values – Noise depreciation index.
Produce Nice (Biophilic) Sounds
Wind through grasses or babbling water features
Source: Living Architecture Monitor, Fall 2008, British Columbia Institute of Technology, M. Connelly

901 Cherry, San Bruno, CA
Property value:
$55,545,399
69,000 sq ft
extensive green
roof
Close to SF
airport
Estimated sound
attenuation
benefit:
$783,000

Biodiversity Public Benefits
Biodiversity corridors in urban areas – for insects/birds
Green roofs have been shown to support sizable bee populations, provide
safe places for endangered plants
Design for biodiversity also improves resiliency of plants, thermal and
stormwater performance
Pollinators support food production
Birds help plant sequester GHGs
City of Toronto developed first NA
Biodiversity Design Guidelines for Green Roofs
Basel Switzerland has regulations requiring
biodiversity design of its green roofs
Pollinator Research on Green Roofs
Courtesy: Steven Peck

Less Waste and Longer Life Span Due
Increased Membrane Durability
Green roof reduces the impact that harsh rooftop
environments have on a membrane (radiation, thermal stress)
Saves replacement costs & reduces landfill waste
Source: National Research Council, Institute for Research in Construction

Economic Benefits of Green Roofs
Properties with accessible green roofs are subject to a
11% property value premium
Higher property values generate higher tax revenues
2011 Award Winning Biodiverse Residential Green Roof, Washington Source: Hadj Design

Aesthetic/Economic Benefits
Higher Property Values for Adjacent Properties
Less Office Worker Sick Days/Faster Patient Healing
Millenium Village, Vancouver, 2011 Award of Excellence Winner (Intensive Residential): Courtesy Xero Flor

Reason # 3
Leverage Private and Public Resources
for Local Employment and Investment
A Natural Public-Private Partnership
Govt’s can use direct investment/grants
to leverage private resources:
Precious urban spaces turn to public and private
good
Additional capital expended on roofs to stimulate
local/regional employment – green jobs
Ongoing maintenance jobs for urban youth
New uses of roof space, like farms that
generate even more intense employment
Community infrastructure and new
local and regional businesses
Green Jobs

New Business - New Uses of Roof Space
Food Production: Brooklyn Grange - Leases Roof Space
from Building Owner & Produces Fresh Food
Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm, 2011 Award of Excellence Winner (Intensive Commercial): Courtesy Brooklyn Grange

New Community Rooftop Resources
Children Get A Lesson on Collecting Seeds at Glide Community
Church Rooftop Garden, San Francisco
Combat Nature Deficit Disorder
Glide Community Church, Rooftop Vegetable Garden: Courtesy Steven Peck

Reason # 4
Exercise Quality Control & Maximize
Regional Benefits
Govt’s can use public policy to:
Develop minimum construction/maintenance standards to help
avoid common failures and reflect regional climate/weather
Examples: GRP required on projects, minimum growing medium
depth, maintenance requirements, roof inspection requirements etc.
Adapt green roof benefits by designing policies that reflect local
social, economic & environmental priorities
Examples: focus on new and/or retrofit, areas requiring new
development, areas where there are CSO issues, need for jobs, air
quality challenges, need for additional green space etc.

Top North American City/Regions
Source: Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

How To Get The Ball Rolling?
Six Key Lessons Learned from Policy Makers!

Lesson #1: Local Champions Required
To Inspire & Overcome Barriers To Change
Jeffrey L. Bruce, Chair, GRHC Overcoming Obstacle. Courtesy: Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

Lesson #2: Support Research & Training
- Set Construction/Maintenance Standards
New markets - players enter with no training – others bid too low
Research regional needs & adapt existing standards
The performance of green roofs depends on weather/climate
Maintenance required – a major cause of plant failure
Support research and training because the roof environment is NOT
the same as the ground environment !!!

Lesson #3: Lead by Example &
Communicate With Stakeholders
Chicago City Hall Demonstration – 2001
Green government facilities – create demonstration
Different buildings have different economic models
Chicago City Hall. Courtesy: City of Chicago

Lesson #4 Use Multiple Tools - Existing
Funds & Regulations
Adapting Existing Funds and Regulations Much Easier
Green Roof Mandatory Requirements – New Buildings
Examples: Toronto Green Roof Bylaw, Chicago Standard, Tokyo Heat Island
Allowance for roofs to meet green space allocation
Examples: City of Minneapolis Alternative Compliance Clause, Seattle Green
Factor
Stormwater minimum requirements – 1 inch rainfall
Green Roof Procurement Policies
Examples: The City of Toronto, Chicago, Minneapolis, Washington DC
Density Bonusing – Floor Area Bonus
Examples: Portland, OR, Austin Texas

Additional Policy Tools – Incentives
Fast-Track Permitting Process
Example: Chicago Green Permit expedites permit process to
less than 30 days, Washington DC
Direct Grants
Example: Washington DC Green Roof Rebate Program
($5/sq. foot, up to $20,000)
Stormwater/CSO Clean Water Act Related Funding
Tax and Fee Rebates
Example: Portland, OR Clean River Rewards
(Up to 100% off Stormwater Management Fee)
Low Interest Loans
Example: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency offers loans below market
rates – up to $5M available – loan size varies.

Toronto Green Roof at City Hall
Green Roof Bylaw and Eco-Roof Incentive
Toronto Green Roof Bylaw came
into effect January 31, 2010
All City Owned Facilities Must
Install Green Roofs unless
technically unable (structural)
Applies to all new construction
over 2,000 sq. m GFA (except lowrise
residential and industrial)
Toronto City Hall Award Winning Accesable Green Roof:
Courtesy Steven Peck

Toronto Green Roof Bylaw (Cont’d.)
Coverage requirement based on building size –
bigger buildings more coverage
Available roof space does not include HVAC, Solar
Panels etc
Builders can opt out with cash-in-lieu process
($20/square foot)
Gross Floor Area
(Size of Building)
Coverage of Available
Roof Space
(Size of Green Roof)
Money goes towards Eco-Roof Incentive
2,000 – 4,999 m 2 20%
5,000-9,999 m 2 30%
Eco-Roof Incentive gives $50/square m, up to
$100k per project
Bylaw has generated 2 million sq. feet of green
roofs resulting in more than 200 FTE jobs thus far
10,000-14,999 m 2 40%
15,000-19,999 m 2 50%
20,000 m 2 or
greater
60%

Toronto Green Roof Bylaw Contains A
Construction Standard
Governs all green roof construction
Designed to improve practice, enhance plant survival and maximize
stormwater, urban heat island benefits
Establishes minimum growing media depths
Requires maintenance plans
Requires leak detection
Currently under review
Google “City of Toronto Green Roof By-Law”

Philadelphia Green Roof Tax Incentive & Direct
Investment Related To Green Infrastructure
Stormwater Management
Philadelphia – 25% off business privilege tax up to $100,000 for
commercial buildings – Must cover 50% of roof and maintain 5 yrs.
Green City, Clear Waters – developing 9,000 green acres to
manage storm water/reduce CSOs and rejuvenate the City.
Spending 1.67 billion over 25 years – EPA Approved
Focused on job creation
Photo courtesy of City of Philadelphia

Lesson #5 Match Policy Tools – Incentives
To Local/Regional Needs & Concerns
Austin Texas, New Density Bonus – Floor Area Bonus
Offers up to 8 bonus square feet for each square foot of green
roof installed
Community wanted more rooftop green space so
greater bonus provided for accessible green roofs
Brings cooling to dense,
particularly hot downtown
areas
Austin City Hall. Courtesy of American Hydrotech

Lesson #6 – Reimagine Your Community
& Communicate
Photos courtesy of City of Philadelphia

Lesson #6: Commit To Continuous Improvement
- New York City Tax Incentive
New York State Tax Incentive for Green Roofs – 50% of one years
taxes up to $100,000 or $4.50 per square foot.
Minimum 2 inches growing media and 50 of roof space
Not been well received – too many bureaucratic requirements
Can’t stretch out tax break beyond one year.
Under review.
Incentive needs to be greater than $4.50/sf

Selected North American Policies/Tools
• King County (WA) Impervious Surface Cost Share & Credit Program - 2004
• Portland (OR) Ecoroof Incentive - 2005
• Minneapolis (MN) Stormwater Utility Fee Credit - 2005
• Chicago (IL) Green Permit Program - 2006
• Portland (OR) Clean River Rewards - 2006
• Port Coquitlam (BC) Green Roof Regulation - 2006
• Washington (DC) Green Roof Rebate Program - 2007
• Philadelphia (PA) Green Roof Tax Credits - 2007
• Seattle (WA) Green Factor – 2007 (Includes green walls)
• Richmond (BC) Green Roof Bylaw 8385 - 2008
• Anne Arundel County (MD) Stormwater Management Tax Credit - 2008
• State of New York Green Building Construction Act - 2009
• Toronto (ON) Green Roof Bylaw and Eco-Roof Incentive Program - 2009
• Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Green Roof Loan Program - 2009
• Milwaukee (WI) Metropolitan Sewerage District Regional Green Roof Initiative - 2010
• Onondaga County (NY) Green Improvement Fund - 2010
• State of Wisconsin Vegetated Roof System Guidelines - 2010
• Devens Enterprise Commission (MA) Policy for the Construction of Green Roofs - 2011
• Austin (TX) Green Roof Density Bonus - 2011

Conclusion
Green Roofs Provide Many, Many Benefits
A Natural Public Private Partnership
The Business Case for Public Policy is Compelling
You Can Turn Your Roofs into an Community Asset

Conclusion
When you have champions - lead by example
Conduct research to understand regional issues
and set quality control standards
Support training and the GRP program
Use multiple tools, existing regulations & funding
Reimagine Your Community & Share The Vision!

Conclusion
We’ve barely started to realize the full
potential of living architecture!
Thank you!
www.greenroofs.org
www.citiesalive.org (October 17-20)
www.urbanagsummit.org (August 15-17)

Green Infrastructure Status –
How Are North American Cities Doing?
NRD: Rooftops to Rivers II

Lesson #1: Support Research To Understand
Regional Bio-physical Issues – Set
Construction Standards
British Columbia Institute of Technology (Burnaby, BC)
Cold Climate Housing Research Center (Fairbanks, AK)
Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO)
Earth Institute at Columbia University (New York City, NY)
Great Lakes Stormwater Management Institute at Lawrence Technological University (Southfield, MI)
Guelph University (Guelph, ON)
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at University of Texas (Austin, TX)
Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
North Carolina State University (Goldsboro and Kinston, NC)
Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture at Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR)
Penn State University (University Park, PA)
Portland State University (Portland, OR)
Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (Edwardsville, IL)
St. Mary’s University (Halifax, NS)
Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)
University of Colorado –Denver (Denver, CO)
University of Georgia (Athens, GA)
University of Maryland (College Park, MD)
University of Nebraska – Lincoln (Lincoln, NE)
University of Toronto (Toronto, ON)
University of Washington (Seattle, WA)

Conclusion
Thank you!
www.greenroofs.org