IF YOU HEAD TO GOOGLE AND DO A QUICK SEARCH ON GREEN ROOFS, YOU’LL IMMEDIATELY PULL UP THOUSANDS OF HITS, WITH DOZENS OF OPTIONS RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDWEST.
Which begs the question, of course: Is Ecogardens any better than those options? Do you actually have a reason to choose us over The Other Guys?
Well, we like to think so. We’re smart. We’re funny. We have decent taste in polo shirts.
But more to the point, we are paving the way to a different kind of green roof. One that combines form and function, balances environment and aesthetics, and pays itself back as quickly as possible.
Whether your rooftop is 50 feet up or 500, we’ll design the perfect space for your vision and needs.
What exactly IS a green roof?
While roof gardens and green roofs come in a fantastic array of styles, meeting a wide range of needs, both comprise a rooftop space that has been transformed into a green system. That might mean:
Extensive: In this scenario, the green roof grows in 6 inches of media or less, and typically consists of low-growing succulents, herbs and grasses. The main goal is to manage stormwater, though extensive green roofs also provide cooling benefits, pollinator habitat and protection of the building envelope.
Intensive: These roofs use growing media or soil anywhere from 6 to 24 inches deep - or even more, though weight is a constraint. In this scenario, gardeners can plant large shrubs or even trees, for a true rooftop paradise.
Whichever kind appeals to you more will depend on your particular space and goals. Either way, and at risk of sounding a little self-satisfied, we dare you to find a more knowledgeable green roof and rooftop garden expert in the Chicago area. With 30 years’ experience under our belt, you’re unlikely to find anyone who knows their stuff better than we do.
We’ve installed green roofs on top of garages and dozens of stories in the air. We’ve built rooftop gardens for homeowners and companies alike. Our approach to stewardship is legendary (like, seriously).
Bottom line: We'll help you envision the perfect use for your space, from giving birds a home to helping those native bees, reducing water waste to creating a sweet outdoor hangout.
You know, for you. And the birds.
Interested? We thought so.
We’re Always Searching for a Leaner, Meaner, Greener Roof
A plant, a component or a system can work just fine, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a better option. And we’re here to find the best dang green roof option, period.
With every project we take on, we ask ourselves:
What could be more efficient? More effective?
Is the roof really and truly green, as in: environmentally friendly? Or does it just look green?
Is a sedum really the right plant for the job? What other plants can we use alongside it, or instead of it?
Will the roof be able to drain effectively?
How can we save more water, reduce more energy, make it even greener?
These questions might sound exhausting, but hey: We’re shooting for the greenest green roof, and we’re not above a little nitpicking to get there.
THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE STRIVE TO ANSWER EVERY DAY.
Want to answer some of them together?
Green Roofs Represent Untold Opportunities for Environmental Healing
The first and most important service green roofs provide is a first line of defense against stormwater.
Each rainstorm deposits billions of gallons on a city the size of Chicago, Columbus or St. Louis. The sweet little sedums, native grasses, wildflowers and growing media that line our green roofs, both intensive and extensive, snatch that water out of the air and keep it out of city streets and sewers during peak runoff times.
Plus, they create a heck of a lot more green space than exists on the ground in a typical city.
Green roofs exponentially expands the area available for habitat formation, so we can open our arms to the birds, butterflies, bees and Bambis that make living in this world so awesome.
(Fine, so we haven’t seen any deer on our green roofs. Yet.)
A Wealth of Other Benefits
Oh, you thought that was it? Nope. Green roofs are basically magical, they offer so many perks.
For instance, they can make a substantial dent in the urban heat island effect. They can extend the lifespan of a building’s roof by two or even three times, reduce energy consumption on the level below, and soothe the humans who get to view them every day.
Be honest: Couldn’t you use more soothing? Couldn’t your company benefit from a bottom-line reduction in roof maintenance? Wouldn’t you just love a bit more green in your world?
Whether you’re a company hoping to improve a building or an office park, or a single individual looking to do a bit of service to city and squirrels, green roofs are the perfect contribution.
Don’t wait to go green.