A Petworth neighbor shows how installing a “green roof” yields multiple benefits
/Petworth resident Annette Olson on her green roof.
by Cesse Ip
What happens when you turn your boring row house roof into something beneficial that grows, adds beauty and helps the environment?
One of our Petworth neighbors, Annette Olson, has taken an age-old idea for using the otherwise unused space on her roof and updated it with modern science to save energy, water and money over time — as well as helping to fight climate change and flooding. This was Annette’s goal 10 years ago when she installed a green roof on her rowhouse and it’s been paying off in many ways for her.
A green roof is exactly what it sounds like: a roof filled with plants and greenery. Green roofs are stormwater management practices that capture and store rainfall. They are multi-layered to support plant growth and drain water towards a downspout.
The structure of a “green roof” (courtesy DCBOEE)
According to DC’s Department of Energy and Environment, green roofs have benefits for building owners and the wide community. They lower the urban island effect, increasing building performance and expand stormwater capacity and increase stormwater retention. The plants on the green roof filter airborne particulates, produce oxygen and offer habitat for wildlife.
Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they also give building owners discounts on their DC Water bills. Green roofs are eligible for the RiverSmart Rewards Program that offers discounts on your DC Water bill. The DOEE also will reimburse you $15 per square foot for your green roof if you live within the municipal storm sewer system. Most of us in the Petworth area fall in this area, but you can check online.
Annette says she loves her green roof for the tranquil view from the bedroom and loves seeing the life that her green roof provides — not only from the plant life, but the haven it has become for bees, butterflies, insects and baby squirrels.
If you are interested in installing a green roof on your rowhouse, go to the DC Department of Energy and Environment’s Green Roofs page to learn more about them.
