Articles

Upheaval and Innovation: The Legacy of Toronto’s Green Roof By-Law and the Threatened Green Standards

Learn how Toronto’s award-winning Green Roof By-Law and the Toronto Green Standard shaped resilient, climate-positive cities, improved air quality, supported pollinators, and provided energy savings, and why their loss could impact Toronto’s future livability

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Substrate Innovations for Growing Green Roof Plants

Green roof substrates are the foundation of successful living roofs, yet they are often misunderstood. This article explores how evolving guidelines, industry-led innovations, and ongoing research are reshaping green roof growing media, revealing why substrate choice is critical to plant performance, long-term durability, and the future expansion of green roofs in diverse urban climates.

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Winter 2025, Feature, Jason Brown Jason Brown Winter 2025, Feature, Jason Brown Jason Brown

New Trends in the Green Roof Industry: Four Innovations for the Future

Learn why engineered green roof soil is essential for long-term performance and plant health on rooftops. This article explores lightweight, durable green roof growing media, flexible soil systems for diverse applications, deeper soil solutions for amenity-focused roofs, and science-backed product development that meets industry standards and evolving design goals.

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Winter 2025, Case Study, Vera Enzi Vera Enzi Winter 2025, Case Study, Vera Enzi Vera Enzi

Award Winning Vertical Greenery in Graz, Austria

Discover how UNIQA’s award-winning green façade in Graz transforms a 1980s office building into a vibrant vertical ecosystem. This case study explores the project’s modular living wall design, innovative planting and irrigation systems, environmental benefits, and its role as a scalable model for urban green infrastructure retrofits across Europe.

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Winter 2025, Feature, Joe Dakin Joe Dakin Winter 2025, Feature, Joe Dakin Joe Dakin

Monitoring Green Roof Membranes

Discover how leak detection systems protect green roofs and the waterproof membranes beneath them. This article explores common construction-related membrane risks, explains passive and automated leak detection technologies, and demonstrates through a real-world case study how early detection reduces repair costs, minimizes disruption, and safeguards the long-term performance of green roof systems.

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Winter 2025, Research, Wenxi Liao and Jennifer Drake Wenxi Liao and Jennifer Drake Winter 2025, Research, Wenxi Liao and Jennifer Drake Wenxi Liao and Jennifer Drake

Sky-High Sustainability: The Long-Term Success of Toronto’s Green Roofs

Toronto’s green roofs improve in plant health over time, with roof size, building height, and vegetation type driving long-term success. Insights from NDVI remote sensing guide sustainable, resilient urban green infrastructure planning.

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Winter 2025, Research, JLIV JLIV Winter 2025, Research, JLIV JLIV

Preliminary Assessment of Saffron Production in Different Growing Systems in Kentucky, USA

This research explores saffron’s potential as a high-value, sustainable crop for Kentucky by comparing multiple growing systems and biofungicide treatments. By examining how different environments influence yield and plant health, the study offers new insights into optimizing saffron production and expanding its viability in regional agriculture.

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