Two recent interviews expound upon the current growth in the green roof sector around the world, as highlighted below.
The Green Roofing Revolution Sweeping the World | Columbia Green Technologies
In this interview, Roofing Contractor Managing Editor Chris Gray spoke with Vanessa Keitges, CEO of Portland, Oregon-based Columbia Green Technologies, who provides insight on how this once-niche sector of roofing is quickly becoming a sought-after roof by companies and building owners around the world.
With an ever-increasing focus on sustainable practices and environmentally friendly roofing, now is the time for roofing contractors to enter the green roofing market, says the company.
“A lot of what we’ve done over the last decade has been focused on development, but in the last six months, I’ve gotten so many calls on existing buildings,” remarked Keitges.
Keitges said the explosion of green roofing is partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused many buildings to become virtually empty as people work remotely. Now building owners and businesses are seeking ways to bring people back into the office by giving them green spaces to enjoy.
Keitges points out that green roofing is expected to be a $14-billion global business, not only in new construction, but for buildings looking to increase their water management so as not to overwhelm drainage infrastructure when severe storms blow through.
In addition, hospitals and school districts are looking to create green roofs on their buildings to promote mental health and well-being. This is based on the idea of “biophilia,” a hypothesis stating humans have an innate instinct to connect with nature. One study found that there is “solid environmental evidence for the value in biophilic architecture,” including research from 1984 showing increased healing rates in hospitals with views of nature and daylight.
“The data is actually so profound that the medical industry adopted it, and now I hardly doubt you’re going to see a hospital built without using biophilia,” Keiter said.
Columbia Green Technologies offers innovative green roof, amenity deck and blue roof systems, from the roof, down the wall and to the ground. In addition to various green roof systems, the company is a complete amenity deck provider offering pavers, pedestals and foam. Also, Columbia Green products are now helping create parks on top of structures.
The company’s green roofs solve a variety of problems associated with aging infrastructure and urbanization by bringing nature back into the urban landscape. Its products help designers and developers achieve nature-based designs in buildings and neighborhoods, which improves wellness and helps building owners, managers and investors improve asset value.
Columbia Green’s comprehensive solutions can help save time and money, from bidding to shipping to long-term maintenance. The company says it is committed to not only successful installs but also to the long-term success of its projects, and asserts, “The green revolution is here, and the time to act is now.”
The Roofing Contractor interview video is available on YouTube.
Tats Talks’ Specified Growth Podcast: The Green Building Movement with Rick Buist of Bioroof
Tatsuya “Tats” Nakagawa is an accomplished entrepreneur, author, and expert on innovation and marketing. He is the co-founder and CEO of Castagra Products (high-adhesion roof coatings manufacturer) and the host of the Specified Growth Podcast.
Each week, host Tats Nakagawa talks to experts from inside and outside the roofing industry about how to make meaningful change. The goal is to make a positive difference in the building materials and construction industry.
Are you curious about the green building movement and green roof systems? What’s new in the industry? Listen to Rick Buist, president of Bioroof Systems, as he discusses these points and more.
In this episode of Specified Growth Podcast, Rick talks about how he got into the green roof space and what some of the challenges were when he was starting out. He also discusses some of the exciting trends he’s tracking in the industry, unique practices that make Bioroof stand out in the green roof space, and much more.
Bioroof Systems is a North American green roof systems manufacturer that was established in 2006 with headquarters in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Bioroof’s systems have been designed for quality and performance — striving to go above and beyond the standard green roof offerings of other companies — and all of the company’s products have been developed and understood in relation to the diverse North American climate.
Bioroof has millions of square feet of green roof systems installed throughout North America, including what is reportedly the largest modular green roof installation in the world. For more information, visit the company’s website.
The Tats Talks interview video is available on YouTube.