Greenscapes are popular for reasons that are obvious and not so obvious. First of all, the park-like atmosphere is aesthetically pleasing and provides a feeling of being in the country while living or working in the city. It may offer a tranquil respite for building occupants, stressed out from the daily grind of urban life.
For building owners and managers, the benefits also include energy savings resulting from having a mass of greenery growing on rooftops — savings that can add up to hundreds and thousands of dollars each year.
At a recent “Greenscapes on Rooftops Workshop,” sponsored by the Roof Consultants Institute (RCI) of Raleigh, NC, and held in Romulus, MI, a group of experts on greenscapes discussed the public and private benefits of green roof treatments and the various types of greenscapes that have been developed.