Green Roofs for Healthy Cities – North America, Inc. was founded in 1999 as a small network of public and private organizations and is now a rapidly growing 501(c)(6), not-forprofit industry association for green roof experts in North America. Our mission is to increase the awareness of the economic, social and environmental benefits of green roofs and green walls, and other forms of living architecture through education, advocacy, professionalism and celebrations of excellence.

The association is holding its 8th Annual Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia November 30 and December 1, 2 and 3, 2010, where experts from around the world will gather to network and share information on new policy development, designs, research results and products and services.

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) has over 800 Corporate and Individual Members. The Association implemented an accredited Green Roof Professional (GRP) program for green roof designers and installers in the spring of 2009. GRHC delivers professional training courses throughout North America. This program will help to support quality green roof design and construction practices and allow green roof professionals to differentiate themselves in the market.

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities has a Local Market Development Program through which it works with a wide variety of policy makers to develop research, policies and programs in support of widespread green roof implementation. This program has been implemented in over 25 cities to date and has resulted in significant improvements in the level of awareness, technical performance, research, economic valuation research and policy support.

Green roofs are an important component of green infrastructure. They provide valuable public benefits related to stormwater management, reduction of the urban heat island, improvement of air quality (including removal of particulate matter), and general improvement of the quality of life in communities. Studies have shown that widespread green roof implementation can generate tens of millions in cost savings associated with reducing energy consumption in buildings and reducing the urban heat island. Green roofs are also excellent at helping to retain, delay and slow stormwater thereby helping to improve water quality in our rivers and streams. See the “Green Roof Tree of Knowledge” at www.greenroofs.org for information on technical reports and policy developments.