Mindy Basara of WBALTV11 writes:

Like many regions of the country, the Baltimore area struggles with its share of environmental concerns, such as flooding and pollution in the watershed and air. Some say a solution is right above our heads. Proponents argue the greater upfront expense is worth it for the environmental benefits, especially in this region of the country where we've experienced devastating flooding.

“A green roof is a way to put natural growing systems up on roofs, and it’s about taking advantage of benefits that nature provides and using that wonderful, unused space of rooftops. Green roofs, such as the one atop the ASLA building in Washington, D.C., have been common in Europe for decades, and the concept is growing here in the U.S…” ~ Nancy Somerville, CEO of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

“The real driver to the industry is the stormwater, but green roofs can be very effective at reducing the heat island effect, if we had enough of them to make a difference. What they’re trying to do in Washington, D.C., is create enough economic incentive to make it attractive to do a green roof when not obligated by regulation. There is conversation about making that happen (in Baltimore City).” ~ Michael Furbish, President and Founder of Baltimore company Furbish.

Furbish is a living systems company that develops innovative technologies for the built environment. We design, supply, install and maintain green roofs and walls in the U.S. We perform R&D in-house at our Baltimore facility, including materials testing, plant propagation trials, water retention tests, and wind testing.

Read more: Are 'green roofs' the next eco-friendly initiative for Baltimore?