The City of Portland wants to give its citizens the resources and know-how to make their urban landscape a little greener. As part of Portland’s Grey to Green initiative, the city is offering incentive programs and ecoroof seminars to teach property owners the fundamentals of building their own green roofs.
Encouraging the incorporation of green roofs into the cityscape is part of Portland’s comprehensive stormwater management plan. Green roofs benefit the city by absorbing water that would otherwise wash into the sewer systems. By lowering the amount of water that needs to be treated, the amount of public funds spent on the operation and maintenance of stormwater system infrastructure can be reduced. Green roofs also provide the city with improved air quality and more habitat space for native wildlife.
The city estimates that the installation of ecoroofs can cost anywhere between $5 and $20 per square foot. The city’s incentive funding program covers up to $5 per square foot of a proposed project. Applications that are eligible to receive the incentive funding include green roof projects located within Portland city limits that effectively manage stormwater and whose construction will be underway within the next two years. The total cost, ratio of the ecoroof square footage to the total roof area and overall sustainability of the project are specific criteria that the city evaluates when reviewing the applications.
The free seminars will give more details on the incentive program and provide resources to those interested in building their own green roof. They will take place on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 at the Multnomah County Building, located at 501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. in Portland (the building has a green roof of its own).
The city’s website offers a number of resources for building green roofs and the seminar materials for the workshops. The deadline for the next wave of incentive applications is Dec. 1 (online applications can be found here). To register for the workshops, email ecoroof@bes.ci.portland.or.us with your information.
