Green roofs lower temperatures, reduce energy needs, and provide access to nature in urban environments
ASLA Green Roof at the ASLA Center for Landscape Architecture / EPNAC
Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07) introduced the Public School Green Rooftop Program Act with support from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).
“Energy savings, heat mitigation, and a nature-based learning environment that supports local wildlife makes the Public School Green Rooftop Program Act a victory for students and budget-conscious administrators alike. I can say from experience with ASLA’s Green Roof on our headquarters in Washington, D.C. that our roof is up to 59 degrees cooler than neighboring roofs in the summer, and we save on energy costs in the winter as well. For students living in dense urban environments, a green roof at school also provides access to nature, which research shows has a direct impact on well-being. The American Society of Landscape Architects supports the Public School Green Rooftop Program Act and urges Congress to pass it,” said Torey Carter-Conneen, CEO of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
ASLA has experienced numerous benefits from the green roof on its building in Washington D.C., for example:
- The roof produced a 10 percent decrease in building energy use over the winter months.
- The temperature on the green roof on the hottest summer days can be as much as 59 degrees cooler than conventional roofs on neighboring buildings.
- During a 10–month monitoring period, ASLA’s green roof prevented 27,500 gallons of stormwater — nearly 78 percent of all precipitation hitting the roof — from flowing into D.C.’s overburdened sewer and stormwater system.
- Water quality testing shows that the green roof water runoff contains fewer pollutants than typical water runoff. Most significantly, the roof is reducing the amount of nitrogen entering the watershed.
- Except during repeated heavy rains, the roof only creates runoff during rainfalls of more than one inch.