Why Green Roofs Haven't Taken Root in Saskatchewan
Sourced from CBC News
Nearly 7,000 square feet of succulents and native grasses sheath the College of Law building roof at the University of Saskatchewan. The drought-tolerant, low-maintenance species were selected for their ability to survive harsh prairie winters.
Planted in 2007, the green roof was seen as an improvement that would help the building achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification. It would also help insulate the roof, make it last longer, and reduce stormwater runoff.
Despite these benefits — on top of being an effective tool overall to mitigate the impacts of climate change — green roofs haven't caught on in Saskatchewan.
Michael Molaro is an accredited Green Roof Professional, who was involved in the College of Law roof and has one on his own home north of Saskatoon. He estimates there are only about 20 green roofs in the province. He attributes that low number to a few factors, including lack of awareness.
"Green roofs, for the most part, aren't accessible. People aren't able to experience them."
He adds that green roof professionals often aren't involved early enough in the building design process — the extra load of a green roof needs to be planned.
Municipal governments also haven't prioritized green roofs through mandates or incentives, says Molaro. None of Saskatchewan's three biggest cities have green roof mandates or rebates in place.
From the Living Architecture Monitor
