Green Roofs for Healthy Cities North America (GRHC)
Organization Background and Objectives
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n 1999, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a small network consisting of public and private organizations, was founded as a direct result of a research project on the benefits of green roofs and barriers to industry development entitled "Greenbacks from Green Roofs" prepared by Steven Peck, Monica Kuhn, Dr. Brad Bass and Chris Callaghan. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities - North America Inc. is now a rapidly growing not-for-profit industry association working to promote the industry throughout North America. In 2004, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities became a formal industry association registered as a not-for-profit 501(c)(6). It is managed under contract to the Cardinal Group Inc., the firm that originally established the organization, and run by an independent board. Our Board Members include:
- Chair: Jeffrey Bruce, Jeffrey L. Bruce & Co. LLC click here for bio
- Immediate Past Chair: Peter Lowitt, Devens Enterprise Commission click here for bio
- Treasurer, Chair, Corporate Membership Committee: Rick Buist, Bioroof Systems, Inc. click here for bio
- Secretary: Dan Slone, McQuire Woods LLP click here for bio
- Chair, Policy Committee: Hamid Karimi, Ph.D., Government of the District of Columbia click here for bio
- Chair, Membership Committee: Peter D'Antonio, Sika Sarnafil click here for bio
- Chair, Research Committee: Dr. Brad Bass, Environment Canada click here for bio
- Chair, Green Roof Foundation: Michael Krause, Kandiyohi Development Partners click here for bio
- President: Steven Peck, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities click here for bio
Our Mission
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reen Roofs for Healthy Cities’ mission is to increase the awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roof infrastructure across North America and rapidly advance the development of the market for green roof products and services.
Although the current market does not value many of the tangible public and private benefits of green roofs to their full potential, we are striving to facilitate changes that will bring green roof technologies to the forefront of high performance green building design, implementation and maintenance. The development of the green roof market requires that we:
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Research the public and private community building and community-wide benefits of green roofs in various cities and climate zones across North America.
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Develop and provide value added products and services to our Corporate, Individual and Supporter membership base.
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Engage a wide variety of stakeholders and educate the general public on the many social, economic and environmental benefits of green roof infrastructure.
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Establish cost effective public policies to recognize the public benefits and fund the widespread implementation of roofs thereby helping to reduce the higher upfront capital costs associated with green roof technology.
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Develop professional training and accreditation courses to facilitate excellence in green roof design, implementation and maintenance.
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Facilitate the international exchange of information on policies, products, science and research.
Our Products and Services
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reen Roofs for Healthy Cities and its members are dedicated to developing the market for green roof infrastructure products and services in North America. To achieve this goal, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities:
- Markets the goods and services offered by its Corporate and Individual members and works to raise the profile of its non-profit and government members on the website.
- Develops consensus on key training and accreditation requirements, and develops and delivers courses, such as Design 101, which support our Corporate members through product samples and descriptions in our participants manual and future course materials.
- Generates project referrals for its members – directly and indirectly through our website on an ongoing bases. Our website features a searchable database of Individual members, which tracks their professional development and will help generate project leads.
- Gathers data on industry size and composition from Corporate members.
- Presents the Green Roof Awards of Excellence to celebrate the six most integrative green roof projects in North America and to recognize a champion in the public service for their support of the industry.
- Organizes an Annual International Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show – 2010 will be in Vancouver, British Columbia from November 30th to December 2nd. The conference is co-hosted by the local city, which helps to develop supportive policies for green roof market development.
- Collects and publishes technical data on green roof performance and project, policy, and industry developments in the Living Architecture Monitor™, published semi-annually. Provides discounted advertising for Corporate members.
- Facilitates business-to-business networking and joint ventures.
- Acts as a catalyst to establish research and demonstration projects and promotes comprehensive approaches to green roof research and cost-benefit analysis at the local government level in part through our Research Committee.
- Promotes the development of supportive green roof public policies through our Green Roof Symposia in partnership with local governments and other stakeholders while providing opportunities for Corporate members to display goods and services.
- Produces an annual Conference Proceedings CD-ROM showcasing the policy, project and research information presented at our Conference. This CD includes member directory and exhibitor information.
- Establishes positive working relationships with related professional associations in North America and internationally such as CaGBC, USGBC, ASLA, RCI, AIA, US Composting Council for cross promotion of events and continuing education.
- Provides general information on green roofs to the public through media relations and by visiting related trade shows, such as the ASLA, USGBC, and the AIA.
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