Definition: A green roof is a roof of a building which is partially or completely covered with plants. It may be a tended roof garden or a more self-maintaining ecology like a green wall or breathing wall.

Wikipedia Definition: Green Roofs

Green roofs can be used in many applications, including commercial, industrial, goverment and residential applications. In Europe, they are widely used for their storm water management and energy savings, as well as their aesthetic benefits.

Green roof systems may be modular, with drainage layers, filter cloth, growing media and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking grids, or, each component of the system may be installed separately in layers.Green roof development involves the creation of "contained" green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at or above grade, but in all cases the plants are not planted in the "ground'. Green roofs can provide a wide range of public and private benefits.

In North America, the benefits of green roof technologies are poorly understood and the market remains immature, despite the efforts of several industry leaders. In Europe however, these technologies have become very well established. This has been the direct result of government legislative and financial support, at both the state and municipal level. Such support recognizes the many tangible and intangible public benefits of green roofs. This support has led to the creation of a vibrant product and service in Germany, France, Japan, Austria and Switzerland among others.

Green roof technologies not only provide the owners of buildings with a proven return on investment, but also represent opportunities for significant social, economic and environmental benefits, particularly in cities

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