PAINTING THE SKYLINE GREEN: A CALL TO ACTION
Adding more green roofs to NYC’s urban landscape is one realizable way to help stem the causes and effects of climate change, and this is a call to action! You don’t have to own a building or have deep pockets to help get a green roof built - sometimes, you just have to speak up. At work, at school, at home, you have the power to reach out to landlords and building managers, and introduce the idea of putting a green roof on your building. Read on to learn more about how you can take action and make cities more resilient to climate change! 
A green roof doesn’t have to be high maintenance to have a positive effect on the surrounding environment.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Where to begin? First, educate yourself. There are so many benefits to converting your building’s roof into a green roof. Depending on who the key decision makers are in your building, you can strategize on how best to open the conversation.
Of course, our favorite talking point is the one most critical to our future; green roofs are an incredible tool in building our city’s resilience to climate change. Cities account for more than 70% of global CO2 emissions, they often contaminate local waterways through Combined Sewer Overflow, and suffer from public health issues caused by urban heat island effect and air pollution.
Green roofs are an impactful and measurable way to respond to these challenges. Green roofs improve energy efficiency, reduce urban heat island effect, mitigate stormwater runoff ,and improve air quality. For cities in particular, the benefits of green roofs are extensive.
AN AMENITY THAT GIVES BACK
Residential green roof overlooking the Williamsburg Bridge.
Of course we understand that for some, the environmental benefits alone may not be enough to invest in the change. Lucky for all of us, green roofs are incredibly versatile and the possibilities for their use are manifold. So, why else should you install a green roof? Since the pandemic, outdoor spaces have skyrocketed in value. Installing a green roof in an office building, school, or a multi-unit residence creates a safe (and beautiful) space for folks to gather. In addition to the vegetation, added seating and table space transforms an unused barren roof into an amenity hugely benefiting the people in the building – plus, rooftop views of the city are an undeniably enormous added value.
And while we at Brooklyn Grange are deeply passionate about rooftop farming, understandably, not everyone has the time, knowledge, and resources to install a rooftop farm that requires extensive ongoing maintenance. Green roofs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. From sedum green roofs that largely maintain themselves, to green roof meadows which require seasonal maintenance, there are a variety of options that can accommodate a range of budgets.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR GREEN ROOFS IN NYC
How much does a green roof cost? The answer varies depending on the type of green roof you’re interested in, but In New York, a number of financial incentives exist to make green roof installations more accessible. New York State offers a property tax abatement program reimbursing building owners up to $5.23 to $15 per square foot depending on location of the building. The Department for Environmental Protection offers a Green Infrastructure Grant Program reimbursing building owners up to $30 per square foot for green roofs at least 5,000 sq ft in size. Finally, you may be eligible for PACE financing for your green roof project from institutions who offer specialized loans such as Nuveen Green Capital.
NEXT STEPS
Green roof at Vice Media featuring a vegetable garden.
After educating yourself and your building owner generally about green roofs, it’s time to dig in and make moves! Getting a holistic understanding of the cost, and whether or not your project is eligible for the various incentive programs is objectively complex and time consuming. We recommend reaching out to a local green roof company and provider to help guide you in the right direction.
Brooklyn Grange’s Design/Build team has designed, installed, and maintained green roofs for a number of residential and commercial buildings throughout New York City. The diversity of our projects has allowed us to work with a range of clients with different visions and goals in building a green roof. If you’re thinking about taking the next steps in installing a green roof, don’t hesitate to reach out! In the meantime, feel free to use our Green Roof Pitch Deck as a tool when talking to your building owner and/or various stakeholders.