Urbanites, consider this. While green roofs are very widespread in Europe, they are becoming increasingly popular in modern home extensions in the U.S.
As Elle Decor reports, sustainability experts everywhere are rejoicing, as these rooftop additions are known to improve air quality, help lower heating and cooling costs, absorb rainwater, and provide a habitat for wildlife, among other benefits. In fact, the broader benefits are so great that some cities are offering tax incentives for homeowners with green roofs.
Of course, the aesthetic benefits provide their own reasons to implement this trending home addition. Having a rooftop garden is a luxury for urban dwellers who have less access to green space and just might possibly be losing their minds some days. “Where we can, and it’s possible, we believe that enlivening our interiors through access to nature is always beneficial,” says Elle Decor A-List designer Leyden Lewis. Even if that means vertical escapes.
But the beautiful aesthetics and sustainability aren’t the only reasons to go green. Getting a green roof improves your home’s resale value, so the ROI alone makes it a worthwhile endeavor. The green roof market in the states, valued at $1.9 billion in 2023 is poised to grow from $2.21 billion in 2024 to $7.32 billion by 2032, eCommerce marketing agency Skyquest found in a report. “Major cities in North America, such as Chicago, Portland, Toronto, and Washington, D.C., have added a large number of green roofs in recent years,” Kendall Elfstrum writes in a brief for the Princeton Student Climate Initiative.
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