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Older green roof systems in Europe incorporate grasses and other plants. "The possibilities are not close to being fully explored," he said. "By using taller plants, more solar radiation is absorbed and radiated outwards away from the roof. This is a great positive for reducing energy bills." Magill, on the other hand, sees the largest trend as modular green roof systems, including those from manufacturers Liveroof, Greengrid, Firestone, and others. He has also noticed an increase in retrofit and residential markets using green roofs. These smaller-scale green roofs allow for much more flexibility in design and a closer relationship with the building owner during the design and installation process. The preliminary design of the Colombian Garden for the 8th China Flower Expo scheduled to take place in Changzhou, China, in Fall 2013. — Photo by José L. Magán, RLA, GRP, ASLA, Accent Urban Design. that each component of the green roof system works well; if one component fails, then the entire system will fail." Before beginning any green roof project, consult with structural engineers to determine the best system for the building. "Often though, the imagination of the designer is limited by two things; weight and money," said Magan. "Thicker media green roofs (intensive) are capable of supporting a much wider range of plants, while the thinner and lighter systems are more limited in plant selection." Top trends in green roofs Since designing his first green roof nearly 30 years ago in Cali, Colombia, Magan has watched the green roof industry evolve. Most recently, he has seen the use of green roofs in combination with solar panels increase significantly. He also sees more green roofs used for urban agriculture. Urban farms such as the Brooklyn Grange in Manhattan, New York have established lease agreements with landlords www.landscapeirrigation.com in New York City. The Brooklyn Grange leases the rooftop of a six-story building on Northern Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens. The one-acre rooftop hosts a farm that has produced more than 40,000 pounds of vegetables. A second 1.5-acre site atop a building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard provides additional acreage for growing the farm's most popular crops. In both cases, the building owner has capitalized on gaining new revenue for income while also receiving tax credits for "going green." Magan has also observed an increased use of diverse native plant species in green roof design. "In many cases, designers choose to limit themselves to plants from the genus Sedum, but many plants have proven themselves in the Midwest on thin (4-inch deep) green roof systems, including Talinum calycinum, Opuntia humifusa, Sempervivums, Alliums (shoenoprasum, senescens, cernuum, stellatum), Koeleria (glauca or macrantha), and many others," he added. Get involved with green roofs Interested in getting involved in the green roof industry? Learn as much as possible. "Read any information available, visit green roofs and walls, talk to professionals and construction people that design and install green roofs, and ask many questions," said Magan. Find a green roof and get involved. Magill was drawn to the industry after a rock climbing experience in which he saw the most unusual plants growing on the rock faces. While working on a Master's degree at Southern Illinois University (SIU) at Carbondale, he learned about a green roof being installed on the one of the campus buildings. "I became fascinated with the concept of creating plant life where once there was only an extremely uncomfortable environment," he said. "Through my advisor, Karen Midden, I helped to install and maintain the green roof system for a year (at SIU Carbondale)." Explore all the options. For professionals interested in the green roof business, Magill suggests deciding which path is the right fit. An individual can work in sales, design, installation or the maintenance of the green roof. Landscape architects are becoming LI more and more involved as well. Katie Navarra is a landscape industry professional based in New York. She is also an accomplished author and freelance correspondent with more than 200 articles to her credit. She can be reached via e-mail at katienavarra@yahoo.com. Landscape and Irrigation 11