Funding for Green Roofs
Green roofs can be up to 60% more expensive than traditional roofs. Although funding may be available through various grants, many state grant programs say their funds are exhausted.
Federal grants are awarded to state and tribal agencies through the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA’s Pollution Prevention and Source Reduction grants provide funding for a wide variety of projects aimed at eliminating pollution at the source. A green roof could qualify for one of these grants based upon its air quality and/or water quality benefits.
The EPA’s Region 9 office awards 2-3 Source Reduction grants annually not exceeding $50,000. The Source Reduction grants are available for public or private sector entities. In contrast, the Pollution Prevention grants are only available to state agencies. These grants offer funding up to $200,000. A private green roof might be able to gain access to the Pollution Prevention grants by partnering with an air quality district (Katz, 2004). For more information, consult the EPA’s Pollution Prevention website (www.epa.gov/p2/).
Section 319 of the Clean Water Act allots funds to states according to a state-by-state allocation formula set up by the EPA; however, many states have halted funding. For example, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection rolled out a series of water quality restoration grants that included green roofs projects as potential recipients. This state grant program, along with others, has halted activity due to lack of funding.
Additionally, tax rebates and credits are offered in some cities and states. For example, New York City offers a tax credit for 55% of the installation cost for a roof garden not exceeding $5,000. More information on state tax credits and rebates can be found at www.dsireusa.org.
RATIONALE
Monies provided by the government or credited back to the purchaser through tax credits and rebates alleviate the financial burden that sometimes precludes an organization or local government from undertaking a project. Green roofs aid in stormwater management, reduce runoff, absorb solar heat gain and are aesthetically pleasing.
EFFORT REQUIRED
Researching available grants and submitting a request for proposal can be a very time sensitive matter and will therefore require constant updates of the most recent available grants. A request for proposal may require a comprehensive design plan and cost estimate, which will require more time and resources. A third party design team may be necessary to incorporate all of the components of the most appropriate design for the building.
BENEFITS
Searching and applying for grants can be a difficult and tedious process, but, depending on the projected size of the green roof, a matching grant can be very significant. For example, the Seattle Justice Center has 7,300 square feet of green roof area. At $19.25 per square foot, this project is a $140,525 venture.
RISKS
The only drawback of applying for a grant is the risk of not receiving the grant after much time and resources have been spent on the application process. Overall, the benefits far outweigh the costs.
ACTION AGENT(S)
- Grant writers
- Researchers
COSTS
The cost of a green roof varies considerably depending on the type of green roof and factors such as the depth of growing medium, selected plants, size of installation, use of irrigation and whether they are to be accessible or inaccessible - intensive, semi-extensive or extensive. Intensive green roofs typically require greater investment but confer the benefits of accessibility. An installed extensive green roof with root repellent/waterproof membranes may be installed for $10-$24 per square foot.
While green roofs typically require a greater initial investment than conventional roofs, they can extend the life of the roof membrane and reduce the heating and cooling costs of the building.
