Green Roof Research in North America: A Recent History and Future Strategies

Abstract

Since the year 2000, green roof and living architecture research has progressed significantly in North America. For future growth in the implementation of living architecture, there is still a great need for additional and expanded research on green roofs and as yet undefined innovative J. of Living Arch 7(1) Feature 28 green infrastructure. This paper provides an overview of priority topics that have been critical to past success in green roofs, and those that are promising but need future investment, including urban heat island (UHI), energy savings, stormwater (quantity and quality), substrates, carbon budgets, plants, biodiversity, ecomimicry, biodispersal, long-term dynamics, urban food production, synergy with solar panels and financing green solutions.

Seasonal variation in preference for green roof vegetation

“…An argument could be made here to choose sedum species with fewer red shades and/or attempt to influence the way which the roofs undergo succession, which could improve how the public experience green roofs. This approach would be in line with the ambition to create and improve harmony between physical environment, human experiences and ecosystems (Bhadouria et al, 2023). The results from this study build on recent studies (Yilmaz et al, 2018;Thorpert et al, 2023), showing that from a cultural ecosystem perspective, landscape professionals have an opportunity to influence the visual expression of green installations through conscious planning and design and thereby influence the viewer´s aesthetic satisfaction.…”

“…The options for establishing new ground vegetation in cities are often space-limited, so green roofs and green walls provide an important approach for enhancing urban vegetation. While the contribution to various ecosystem services from green roofs and walls is often more limited compared to green spaces and large street trees, they do provide vital ecosystem services that could contribute towards improving quality of life for the urban population (Oberndorfer et al, 2007;Bousselot et al, 2020). This is particularly true for densely built areas where space is limited for other types of vegetation, and green roofs and walls provide the only means for regreening.…”

Green Roof Enhancement on Buildings of the University of Applied Sciences in Neubrandenburg (Germany) in Times of Climate Change

“…In addition, it is essential that methods between research institutions are aligned so that results can be more easily compared [65]. More long-term ecosystem studies can ensure better understanding of the variation in the integrated biological solutions.…”

Drivers of fungal diversity and community biogeography differ between green roofs and adjacent ground‐level green space

“…Despite studies showing that fungi can impact green roof health and function (Fulthorpe et al, 2018;John et al, 2014John et al, , 2017Marttinen et al, 2020;Young et al, 2015), there is a lack of research on drivers of microbial diversity on green roofs (Fulthorpe et al, 2018). In fact, Bousselot et al (2020) recently identified microbial populations in the substrate and their responses in the green roof system as a key gap in green roof research in need of addressing. Green roofs are an example of a relatively novel ecosystem (Hobbs et al, 2006), characterized by low diversity and heavily managed plant communities grown in engineered substrate (Dunnett & Kingsbury, 2008).…”

“…Despite studies showing that fungi can impact green roof health and function (Fulthorpe et al, 2018 ; John et al, 2014 , 2017 ; Marttinen et al, 2020 ; Young et al, 2015 ), there is a lack of research on drivers of microbial diversity on green roofs (Fulthorpe et al, 2018 ). In fact, Bousselot et al ( 2020 ) recently identified microbial populations in the substrate and their responses in the green roof system as a key gap in green roof research in need of addressing.…”