Green roofs are sprouting up in cities across Canada. They improve energy consumption while lowering cooling costs in the summer.
Because they can retain more rainfall than conventional roofs, green roofs also reduce runoff into storm sewers and form a protective layer that extends the life of a roof membrane.
Green roofs reduce the visual footprint of buildings, making urban centres an attractive place to work and live. They provide habitat for insects and songbirds, bringing nature closer to city dwellers. Transpiration by plants and surface evaporation also has a cooling effect in the immediate vicinity, reducing summer temperatures and turning rooftops into usable public spaces.
