Sustainable Facilities Tool General Services Administration

Leaks are generally caused by poor workmanship. Unless the problems are ubiquitous, a project failure will not result. However, the process of ident...

Planted Roof Professionals can offer unique insights into the the best practices for optimizing planted roof benefits according to project goals. Th...

Planted roofs can have positive health and well-being impacts on both building occupants and the general population.

Human behavior and interaction with the building space plays a critical component in achieving holistic sustainability. Benefits can only be achieve...

Consider coupling photovoltaics with a planted roof to optimize performance (see Solar/Photovoltaic).

Determine which planted roof type is appropriate for your building project goals.

Provide placards where planted roofs are accessible to educate occupants on sustainability design and operation principles.

Locate ventilation intakes near planted roofs to promote cleaner indoor air quality.

A “roof over our heads” is an essential part of a building envelope, protecting occupants and building structures and systems from the e...

When making roofing project decisions, you should compare the life cycle cost of the proposed planted roof to the conventional option for your facil...

Planted roofs reduce building energy use by cooling roofs and providing shading, thermal mass and insulation. Building-Level Energy Reduction The ...

The Structural Engineer, in collaboration with the Landscape Architect, determines structural loads associated with planted roof renovation and ensu...

Intensive planted roofs can vary in their maintenance needs. A professional planted roof designer should establish the required number of maintenanc...

Many institutions outside of the federal government are creating guidelines and standards for planted roofs. ASTM International has developed standa...

Green Globes for NC emphasizes the benefits of a planted roof on other systems within the building. While it only mentions planted roofs directly on...

LEED Operations and Maintenance (O+M) for Existing Buildings addresses many of the benefits that planted roofs provide. Planted roofs have a positiv...

While there is no unique credit that specifically addresses the construction of planted roofs, LEED for Building Design and Construction (LEED BD+C)...

Consider not only how the construction materials are managed but also how management of planted roof materials will continue in the future.

A minimum of three maintenance visits per year is recommended for an extensive planted roof during the establishment period.

Maintenance costs will be higher any time a planted roof includes a landscaped design, as workers will also need to spend time maintaining the desig...

The design of the vegetative roof profile should encourage plant roots to grow to the base of the profile.

Design your planted roof layers to include a low-voltage leak detection system in order to pin-point leaks in the membrane.

The Roofing or Waterproofing Consultant determines the best waterproofing system and strategy for the design of the planted roof. These Consultants ...

Planted roofs contribute to improved air quality by capturing greenhouse gases, particulates, pollens, and molds. The vegetation on a planted roof c...

Plants have long been used in the urban environment to remove air pollutants like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, smog-forming compounds and par...

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Planted Roof The decision of whether to install a planted roof should be considered o...

Be sure to consider the impact of a planted roof on your facility’s risk, as this is often not captured in a life cycle analysis. For example,...

In many areas of the United States it is possible to design vegetative roofs without irrigation, including much of the Midwest and East. Even in ari...

Reduced temperature fluctuations reduce thermal stress.  Benefits of a planted roof are realized through the extended life of the roof membrane...

Planted roof systems have a significant impact on the building's overall energy and material consumption. Take into consideration these impacts when...

Planted roofs have synergistic benefits that result in energy saving and stormwater management; they are an attractive alternative to traditional ro...

U.S. Tax Court Planted Roof After Establishment U.S. Tax Court Planted Roof Before Establishment The first years of a planted roof’s...

A planted roof is a system just like mechanical or plumbing, and should be thought about in the larger context of the holistic building.  As it...

The vegetation on a planted roof removes fine particulates (PM), black carbon, and pollen out of the air, which lends well to incorporating solar pa...

The Architect leads the planted roof design team. Since the roofing system is integrated into the building as a whole, the Architect should design t...

The Landscape Architect is responsible for site analysis and can provide the design, layout, plant, and growing medium selection for the planted roo...

The Civil Engineer determines the drainage capacity of the roof and its impact on stormwater. The Civil Engineer should work with the Architect to d...

The Mechanical Engineer conducts energy modeling and optimizes the HVAC system. The Mechanical Engineer’s perspective is important at the plan...

A planted roof enhances the performance of existing building systems (see System Bundling). This lowers the operating costs and, when replaced, resu...

The President issued a memorandum directing U.S. government agencies to take additional steps to protect and restore domestic populations of pollina...

The Environmental Policy Act of 2005 offers tax incentives for many energy and sustainability improvements that planted roofs can provide. A tax inc...

Green Globes for Existing Buildings asks project managers primarily about the rooftop design in general. Building a planted roof can ensure that man...

SITES is an interdisciplinary partnership to transform land development and management practices through voluntary guidelines and rating system...

Both intensive and extensive planted roofs can create an attractive space for building occupants, and views for those in neighboring buildings. Inte...

Planted roofs are better at absorbing sound than conventional and concrete roofs. When used on buildings without ceiling insulation, they can reduce...

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) requires projects involving any Federal facilities with a footprint that exceeds 5,000 square feet t...

The term "biophilia", meaning love of nature, is increasingly being used in high-performance building design. The goal of biomimicry is to recreate ...

Moisture can enter the office building in a number of ways, including leaks in the building envelope and plumbing systems or excessive moisture in t...