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Form and function should play nicely together in green roofs, but an industry trend toward “instant green” is muddying the philosophy and giving consumers the wrong impression. 

Many people are confused whether green roofs are supposed to prioritize beauty, transforming a barren landscape, or function, providing important environmental services.

For some reason, this leads people to believe they have to choose one or the other, and thus is a stereotype born: Do you want a scrubby, ugly, environmentally conscious green roof? Or do you want a blingin’ rain garden, which is pretty but focuses less on the whole sustainability thing?

This, to us, is silly. Do you have to choose between peanut butter and jelly? Macaroni and cheese? Tea and biscuits?

No. No, you do not. (And obviously you like tea and biscuits. We asked your coworkers.)

The thing is, form and function play very nicely together on green roofs … but you have to take a different approach to green roof aesthetics. It’s important to understand what green really is, as well as what you can do to ensure your roof prioritizes urban ecology, stormwater and other values in addition to beauty.

While the word “monoculture” conjures up images of endless wheat fields and rows of soybeans, the problem is severe inside our cities as well.

If you spend about three seconds in Michael Pollan’s head, you’ll get a raft of invective against monoculture.

Seriously, we do not want to be within five miles of the cage match between him and GMO corn. It’s just not pretty.

Yet though important, this highly publicized debate has had an unintended negative consequence: It has left the lingering impression that rural agriculture is the only sphere in which we must worry about monoculture.

That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Monoculture affects our cities significantly as well – and more importantly, the plants and wildlife that used to thrive there.

Think stormwater retention and detention are interchangeable terms? Think again … here’s a brief crash course in the differences between the two. 

If ever two terms were created to confuse, it’s stormwater detention and stormwater retention. I mean, come on … someone was just playing a cruel joke on us.

It’s critical we push past any English language befuddlements, however, because these two terms are extremely important to creating a better, happier ecosystem – both here at home and across the world.

Stormwater, see, is an incredibly problematic fact of urban living. The extremely high percentage of paved-over surfaces in the city – think asphalt, cement and concrete – water doesn’t have anywhere to go once it descends from the sky.

Long story short: It pools in streets and sewers, it picks up pollutants and disease, it transmits them to wildlife and waterways. In short, stormwater sucks and we need to do something about it.

First, though, we need to know what we’re dealing with vis-à-vis solutions. So what exactly are stormwater detention and retention? Let’s clarify both terms, then take a quick look at how you can employ each.

Wondering what principles go into green roof design and why they matter to urban environments more than ever? Read on.

While almost everyone has heard of green roofs at this point, the fundamentals of green roof design are a little fuzzier for most. 

The basic tenets of green roof design include combining various components to create responsive, living rooftop systems. While such systems bring a wealth of perks to our urban spaces, there is one thing they do better than anything else:

They bring the natural world into the city. They begin to heal the divide between where we live and where they live. “They” being the thousands of organisms that human activity has displaced over the last several centuries.

We want them back. And green roof design is one of the best ways to achieve that goal.

What is urban ecology? Simply put, it’s the exploration of relationships between plants, animals, you and me – right here in our cities.

Pop quiz: What do you call the combination of squirrels and bees, grasses and wildflowers, your rooftop, a glass of Prosecco and you?

No, it’s not “a really dope summer afternoon.” Although that too.

The phrase we’re looking for here is “urban ecology,” which refers to the study of ecosystems within cities. If your immediate response to this is something along the lines of, “Wait, what is urban ecology? And also can we get back to that rooftop drinks thing?”

… then we don’t blame you. It’s a confusing concept, mainly because while most of us learned the basic meaning of ecology in school, there exists a sharply perceived divide between city and countryside. Sure, there’s all sorts of wildlife out there, but here within the figurative city walls?

Notsomuch.

Luckily, that’s a misperception. There’s all sorts of good schtuff going on here in our urban spaces. Even better, if we learn to cultivate and safeguard wildlife right here in the city, we’ll see benefits to ourselves, to animals and to the world.

While we often enjoy a soft drizzle or thrilling thunderstorm, the water pouring from the sky during these events usually does more harm than good in the city. 

Ever looked out the window to see your kids playing in puddles and said to yourself, Awwww cute! Look how much fun they’re having.

*insert smiley face*

The problem is that puddle is not nearly as cute as your little beans. In fact, the very fact that water is pooling in your yard proves you need a stormwater management plan.

Why? Because stormwater brings with it a wide variety of ills. It is environmentally damaging and dangerous to public health, and thus far our cities aren’t doing nearly enough to combat it. The good news is, you can.

Common perception holds that there exists a fundamental divide between city and wildlife, but is that true? Let’s talk ways to keep urban ecology sustainable.

Pop quiz: What do you and the American mink have in common?

Hopefully not a full-body pelt, because that could harm your chances with the ladies.

Nope, the correct answer is you’re both denizens of midwestern urbanized areas. (Or at least, we assume you are, since that’s where most loyal members of the Ecogardens community live.)

The real answer we’re looking for, though, is that you both make up a vital part of your local urban ecology, and you both contribute to keeping urban ecology sustainable.

At least, that’s the goal, and the subject of today’s post.

Green roof systems help to heal the breach between urban environments and the wildlife they’ve displaced, and offer many other environmental benefits as well. 

Let’s play a quick game of “Would You Rather.”

Would you rather: Living or dead? Barren or green and lush? Environmentally destructive or ecologically beneficial?

Cleveland Cavaliers or LA Lakers?

Wait, that doesn’t matter. LeBron already made his decision.

Point being, we’re pretty sure that given the choice, you would choose urban spaces that buzz with pollinators, wave prettily in the breeze and surround you with a feeling of green serenity. 

That environment is totally possible on rooftops, from the tallest building to the humblest residential roof or deck. All it takes is a thorough understanding of green roof systems.