The rooftop at 10 G Street is about to get a lot greener—3,000 square feet to be exact. In real estate-scarce cities, commercial property owners nationwide are turning roof space into green space.

On this project, WRI and the property owner, the American Psychological Association [2], are soon to break ground (or roof) on its 8-story office building near Union Station in Washington, DC. Green roofs are a great idea in general, but what makes this one especially cool is the labyrinth at the center with its 7-circle design, like those found in some ground-level parks.

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_{Architectural Drawing of the Green Roof:  Source: American Psychological Association}

Green roofs are advantageous not just for their aesthetics and the improvement they make to the urban landscape. Commercial property is a major energy consumer, and in the United States is responsible for 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions [4]. And considering the amount of time most people spend at work, environmental improvements to the workplace equate to better human health and well-being.

_{Before the Green Roof A rooftop garden will replace parts of this roof.}

Here are a few green roof benefits:

• Green roofs are, in effect, a second roof. They reduce wear on the roof structure, extending its life by as much as 50 years. They improve insulation and reduce energy costs year-around. One study estimated that green roofs on all Chicago city buildings [5] would save 720 megawatts annually (equal to several coal plants or one small nuclear plant) for a cost savings of $100 million.
• Green roofs also provide accoustic insulation, and can reduce noise pollution by as much as 50 decibels.
• Green roofs produce oxygen, absorb air pollutants and greenhouse gases, and reduce water loss due to run-off. 1,000 square feet of green roof provides enough oxygen for 110 people, and removes 41 pounds of airborne particles a year.
• Urban rooftops can reach 175 degrees fahrenheit in the summer. Green roofs can lower ambient air temperatures and reduce the heat island effect.
• Square footage is a valuable urban commodity. Green roofs reclaim space for personal use and relaxation, and provide habitats for wildlife.
• Green roofs can counteract “big box development” to make retail and commercial properties more valuable and attractive. In 2006, Wal-mart built a 67,000 square foot, self-irrigating green roof [6] on top of one of its Chicago stores.

Green roofs are but one option that businesses are employing to green the workplace and urban environments. APA recently announced a 2½-year agreement with Pepco Energy Services [7] to provide 100 percent green power [8] to the building. And last year, WRI completed a LEED-CI Gold Certified [9] 7,000 square foot buildout of its green office space [10] to increase energy efficiency, reduce materials waste and improve its work environment.

The 10 G Street project is a partnership between APA and WRI, with funding and support from the TKF Foundation [11] and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation [12]. Contact me, Nancy Kiefer [1], for more information or to schedule a tour of WRI’s office space.

Related Links

• APA Online: Going Green (from the CEO) [13]
• Pepco Pepco Energy Services Provides Green Energy to the American Psychological Association’s Headquarters in Washington, DC [8]
• Building Green Office Space (LEED Certification) [10]
• American Psychological Association Greens Two D.C. Buildings [14]
• WRI's Green Office Space [15]