Chicago Hot Blog

The City of Chicago is promoting environmentally friendly buildings through two different programs that encourage environmentally friendly roofs - Green Roof Grants and Cool Roof Grants.

The city will be providing $100,000 (20 grants worth $5,000 each) for building owners to add Green Roofs on residential and commercial buildings. A Green Roof is installed on top a waterproof membrane and includes lightweight soil and plants. The roof absorbs rainfall which helps reduce flooding in the local area and improves air quality. Having the plants on the roof also helps reduce coolings costs during the summer.

In addition to Green Roof grants, The City of of Chicago will also be providing $185,000 (55 grants worth $6,000 each) for the construction via Cool Roof Grants. A Cool Roof does not use soil and plants, but rather uses special materials that reflect the sun’s heat. These grants will be available to building owners that wish to meet or exceed EPA Energy Star Cool Roof Standards. The Cool Roof Standards are designed to reduce the “urban island effect” - the warming caused in cities when heat is absorbed by pavement and dark roofing material. Cool Roof Grants will be distributed on an ongoing basis.

One report that I found claimed that Green Roofs will reduce a building’s cooling cost by about 10% and Cool Roofs will reduce a buildings cooling cost by 10-20%. I couldn’t find any specific information about the cost of implementing and Green or Cool Roof, but the same report also said that if Green Roofs were installed on every building in Chicago, it would produce an annual energy savings of $100million. (read report). Perhaps the most famous Green Roof in Chicago is that of the Michigan Apple Store.

I do have to wonder, with all of this talk about reducing cooling costs, do Green Roofs cause the buildings to spend more on heating costs? I don’t know about all the physics involved, but I think it’s an interesting question.

Application forms for Green Roof Grants and Cool Roof Grants are available on the City’s website, or at the Department of Environment, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2500. Applications for Cool Roof grants will be accepted and awarded on an ongoing basis, subject to funding availability. Applications for Green Roof grants are due January 11, 2008. For more information on these initiatives, visit the Chicago Department of Environment or call 311.

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