Green Roof Resource

November’s Building Operating Management has a good introduction to green roofs by Greg Zimmerman. The five part article covers the industry, the energy and stormwater benefits of green roofs, and the new professional certification program. Plus the article cites some of my work while at Michigan estimating air quality benefits from green roofs.

In addition to the public health benefits from air quality, the article links patient health benefits with green roofs. Zimmerman cites Roger Ulrich’s study, which found that patients with window views of nature required less pain medication and fewer days in hospital than patients with only a brick wall window view. While the economics is important in the decision-making, it is also valuable to remember the benefits (both economic and other) to the occupants of the buildings.