Green roofs, and living walls: a future with more plants for cities!

There are few trends in green building as exciting as green roofs and living walls, which, by the way, are doing much more than merely providing some eye candy.

Here’s why green roofs and living walls are awesome, and why they’re such a big deal:

1. Cutting Energy Costs

Green roofs provide an additional layer of thermal insulation, which makes buildings cooler during hot summers and warmer during cold winters. Fewer trips to the air conditioner or heater = less energy consumption, and therefore, less money spent.

2. Helping with Stormwater

Ever wonder why city streets fill up with water after a heavy downpour? Many green roofs retain a good portion of that rainwater, which eases the burden on city drainage systems and helps avoid flooding. They can also purify some of the pollutants before the water reaches the ground.

3. Cooling Down Cities

Cities tend to be hotter than surrounding areas due to the abundance of concrete and asphalt. Green roofs combat this by evaporating moisture, which cools the air, in direct contrast to standard roofs that reflect sunlight and raise temperatures.

4. Improving Biodiversity

Green roofs attract birds and insects, creating microhabitats that blend with the local environment. In places where natural green space is scarce, they become small urban oases for wildlife.

5. Cleaning the Air

Plants can pull in pollutants and dust while absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. This allows green roofs to improve air quality in densely populated areas more effectively than deteriorating natural landscapes.

Why Living Walls Are Making a Big Difference

Living walls, also called vertical gardens, are created by planting greenery directly on the surface of buildings. Like green roofs, they offer a range of benefits:

1. Assisting in Thermoregulation

Living walls function like natural insulators. They regulate the heat that enters or escapes a building, making them useful in both summer and winter by reducing the need for artificial climate control.

2. Blocking Out Noise

These plant-covered walls also act as noise barriers. The vegetation absorbs sound, which is especially helpful if your building is located in a noisy area (like New York, for example).

3. Mental Health Perks

Research shows that areas with greenery reduce stress levels and enhance mood. In other words, living walls aren’t just ecological—they’re beneficial for mental well-being too.

4. Cleaner Indoor Air

Indoors, living walls help filter the air. They eliminate harmful particles and release fresh oxygen, creating a healthier indoor environment for occupants.

5. Smart Use of Space

Space is tight in cities, but living walls offer a way to add greenery without occupying ground-level real estate. They bring the benefits of a green space without sacrificing square footage.

The Downside (Because There’s Always One)

While green roofs and living walls are amazing, they do come with a few challenges:

1. Cost

These systems aren’t free. Installation requires specialized materials and irrigation systems. The structure may even need reinforcement to support the added weight. Still, long-term energy savings and increased property value often justify the initial investment.

2. Maintenance

Plants need care, watering, pruning, fertilizing, etc. Without proper maintenance, green installations can deteriorate quickly, which could become costly.

3. Extra Weight

Green roofs can be heavy due to the vegetation and soil. A structural engineer must evaluate the building to ensure it can support the additional load before installation begins.

The Big Picture

Green roofs and living walls aren’t just beautiful ways to add greenery to buildings—they’re practical solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges cities face. From reducing energy use and improving air quality to combating urban heat and supporting biodiversity, these green systems are helping shape better, healthier cities.

Incorporating plants into architecture is a win for everyone: it’s a gift to the planet, a benefit to people, and a smart investment in the future of building design. In the background of every growing city, we should be seeing more and more green roofs and living walls becoming part of the solution.

Five Impressive Examples of Green Roofs and Living Walls

1. Bosco Verticale – Milan, Italy

The world’s largest vertical garden, this pair of residential towers hosts over 20,000 plants. They help renew the air, reduce energy use, and support urban wildlife—an inspiring model for cities worldwide.

2. Vancouver Convention Centre – Vancouver, Canada

Seventy percent of its roof is covered by a six-acre green roof complete with plants and bird habitats. It helps insulate the building, regulate power consumption, and manage stormwater runoff.

3. One Central Park – Sydney, Australia

Known for its iconic vertical gardens hosting over 250 plant species, this building improves air quality, mitigates the heat island effect, and reduces energy use in dramatic fashion.

4. ACROS – Fukuoka - Japan

This government building integrates a massive green roof with over 35,000 plants. It offers insulation, passive cooling, and even serves as a public park and leisure space.

5. The Edge – Amsterdam, Netherlands

A standout example of a smart, sustainable office building, The Edge features a green roof, solar panels, and intelligent energy systems—an innovative space that optimizes both environmental impact and user comfort.

Living Walls

The beauty of the Net Zero concept is that it’s adaptable.

You can design a house, an office, or even a mixed-use development—the principles stay the same. Of course, each project requires its own unique approach.

Urban centers, in particular, are especially “cool” when it comes to Net Zero innovation. Dense cities have the potential to significantly cut their emissions through sustainable design practices.

The idea of a building that produces as much energy as it consumes doesn’t belong to the movies anymore. It sounds like a futuristic concept—but it’s not. It’s a fast-growing reality in architectural design. Very cool, in my opinion.

By the way… According to the World Green Building Council, there are roughly 500 Net Zero commercial buildings around the world—and that is pretty cool!