A green roof is defined as a “a contained green space on top of a human-made structure below, above or at grade.” In other words, a green roof is a roofing system that has green foliage planted on top of a current building’s roofing system. Every green roof is unique in its design, objectives, and performance results. Until there are more incentives and government programs, green roofs are about twice as expensive to install and maintain as most other types of roofs. At this time, they are best suited for owner-occupied buildings, corporate headquarters, government buildings, and city showcase buildings. Despite the additional costs, green roofs provide multiple benefits to both the building owner and the environment. Some of these benefits include:

• Aesthetically pleasing roofing
• Diversion of waste to landfills
• Reduction of urban heating island effects
• Less energy usage to heat and cool buildings
• Improvement of air quality
• Creation of local jobs
• Reduction of storm water and run-off
• Improvement of water quality
• Reduction of noise pollution

The future of green roofing systems is continuously changing and growing. The field of green roofing has already seen some major changes in the last few years including lighter tray systems, innovations in system design, improvements in irrigation systems, and improved soil and plant composition. As individuals become more environmentally aware and as the government provides more legislation and incentives, the future of green roofing systems is sure to show growth and improvement.