Green roofs transform urban rooftops into environmentally-friendly green space, which improves air and water quality and provides an energy cost savings so significant that government subsidies are available to businesses to help with installation costs. Our Urban Landscape Division’s experience with the challenges of vertical landscapes enables us to custom match green roof project needs with the best available technologies. Unlike traditional rooftop gardens that rely on individual containers and heavy planters, our green roof systems allow extensive plant cultivation over a wide expanse of the roof.
The Benefits of a Green Roof
Green roofs, also written as greenroofs, provide many environmental benefits and an opportunity to help alleviate some of the damage we’ve done to our natural resources by overdevelopment. Natural green space is essential to densely populated urban areas.
A growing trend in so many city centers, green roofs help to restore the ecological benefits that have been lost in these areas in a variety of ways, including the provision of a micro-habitat for birds and insects. Green roof design and technology provides a practical and worthwhile method for addressing some of our environmental concerns due to urban sprawl.
A green roof assists with city stormwater management, relieving overstressed sewer systems by reducing and delaying stormwater runoff and absorbing pollutants in rainwater. A number of heavy metals found in rainwater, such as lead, copper, and cadmium are reduced in the runoff, making a difference in water quality through drainage channels that run into nearby waterways. Sediment transport and soil erosion is reduced by lessening and slowing down the rate of runoff.
Natural landscapes help reduce the urban heat island effect by lowering air temperatures. Artificial surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete cause air temperatures to rise in crowded urban areas.
Another benefit of a green roof is the filtering of airborne dust and toxins. Carbon dioxide, for example, is absorbed through the grass and/or natural foliage, working to help clean the air. Even very small urban roof areas can make a difference. Sponzilli Landscape Group’s goal is to help to make that difference with our green roof design, organic landscaping and organic lawn care.
A most important benefit of green roofs is the reduction of heating and cooling costs. Due to increased insulation, the building will stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, reducing energy costs and consumption. Sponzilli Landscape Group specializes in green roof systems and green roof construction in New York and New Jersey and have worked on projects such as JP Morgan Chase, Brooklyn Navy Yard Museum, Barclays Center, The New School University Center, Goldman Sachs Hotel, and Bushwick Inlet Park.
Sponzilli Green Roof Design Projects
Sponzilli has been active in many green roof design projects in New York and New Jersey.
- Conrad Hotel – Battery Park, NY
- Bushwick Inlet Park – New York, NY
- JP Morgan Chase – New York , NY
- Staten Island Courthouse – Staten Island, NY
- Brooklyn Navy Yards Museum – Brooklyn, NY
- The Link 310 52nd St – New York
- Yankee Stadium Parklands – New York
- Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York
- James Hotel – New York, NY
- Planted roof terrace – Hoboken, NJ
- NFL Headquarters – New York
- Carnegie Hall – New York
- NYU Law School –
- Barclays Center – New York
- 250 West 55th St – New York
Our Green Roof Design and Installation Team
Working with the design team (landscape architects, LEED consultants, engineers, and architects) is our specialty. We understand the critical submittal process from shop drawings to LEED certifications, project coordination with general contractors, and have coordinated city permitting and green roof installation in some of the toughest, most sensitive areas in NY and NJ.
Green Roof Maintenance and Warranty
As certified installers & contractors to ALL roofing manufacturers, Sponzilli provides cooperative, single-source or custom warranty to ensure all work above the membrane is water tight and parallels the specified warranty. Every Green Roof Program is customized to include:
- Irrigation System Maintenance
- Weeding – Soil Infilling – Sampling
- Drain and Edging Maintenance
- Seasonal Plantings and Holiday Decorating
- Fertilizing, Pruning, and Replacement
- Documented Tracking of Services Performed