How to Green Your Roof in DC

• July 29, 2014

by UrbanTurf Staff

Courtesy of DC Greenworks

This article, originally published in 2012, has been updated to include new links and additional information regarding green roofs in DC.

In 2011, 800,000 square feet of green roof was installed in DC, more than any other city in the country. Green roofs offer a variety of benefits to the resident and the city, including lowered energy costs, an extended roof-life, stormwater retention and improved air quality.

So how can interested homeowners start the process? One way is by contacting the Anacostia Watershed Society, a non-profit that facilitates the District Department of Energy’s Green Roof Rebate Program, which covers a certain cost per square foot of your green roof. The program is open to existing buildings of all stripes — residential, commercial and institutional — and sizes. Starting in 2014, residential properties smaller than 2,500 square feet in what is known as the Bloomingdale Watershed may qualify to receive up to $15 per square foot.

DC greenworks is also a resource; the organization has installed 125,000 square feet of green roof since their inception, and was involved in building DC’s first green roof in 2000. Capitol Greenroofs is one of the main green roof installers in the District for those that have done the necessary research and are ready to go.

Mayor Gray’s sustainability plan includes a goal of installing 1.5 million square feet of green roof in the city over the next few years, and there is some talk of turning at least some of that space into urban farms. So along with the sunbathers and loungers, we may get a new population of urban farmers hanging out on DC rooftops.

Update: AJ’s comment below does a very good job of going into detail about the types of green roofs and their benefits to lengthening the life of your roof.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/how_to_green_your_roof_in_dc/5692