The Green Roof Subsidy Program is back and BETTER than ever! 

This program is funded by the Government of the District of Columbia, District Department of the Environment, Watershed Protection Division.

The Green Roof Subsidy is now $5.00 per square foot, up to $20,000.00 per project for any eligible green roof project in the District!  The subsidy funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Get your application in as soon as possible!

Not only is there more money per square foot, the application process has been streamlined to make the funding process easier to navigate! Click here to register your green roof project and DC Greenworks will send you an Application and Agreement form.  Fill out the application on-line and send the attachments to subsidy@dcgreenworks.org with the address of the project in the subject line, or mail to DC Greenworks at 1341 H ST NE suite 203 | Washington, DC 20002.  (NOTE:  If you have problems with the electronic form, please print and fax to 202.518.6115.)

Eligibility

“Green roof” means a system where a vegetated area becomes part of the building’s roof and includes vegetation, a growing medium and a drainage protection layer. To be eligible for consideration for participation in the Green Roof Subsidy Demonstration Program a building must be located in the District of Columbia and meet the following:

• Green roof project up to 4,000 square feet (new and retrofit)
• Vegetated cover over at least 50% of the available roof space (excluding skylights and utilities)
• Growing medium depth of at least 3 inches.

In addition to the application form, the following information must be submitted before a project will be considered for subsidy funding: 

• Structural analysis report from a District registered structural engineer

• Photos of current structure (before pictures)
• Green roof plans - including green roof materials, soil depth and vegetation type with plant list
• Budget - including membrane, green roof materials, labor costs and structural modification costs (if retrofit)
  
• Installation schedule - including date submitted for permits or date permits received and date of installation (NOTE: the application is not in lieu of a Department of Regulatory and Consumer Affairs (DCRA) permit.  All green roofs in the District require a permit.)
• Maintenance plan with 2 year maintenance schedule

(NOTE:  An application will not be considered complete and eligible to receive available subsidy funds until DC Greenworks receives all of the information listed above.  Please send in the application form to be added to the green roof project pipeline to begin the process and to alert us of your future project.)

Payment Process

Payment of Green Roof Subsidy Awards will be as follows:

• The first 10% of the subsidy will paid upon receipt of a signed Green Roof Subsidy Agreement, which must be signed an returned to DC Greenworks within 30 days of award notification or funds may be awarded to another project.
• After the signed Green Roof Subsidy Agreement is in place, the green roof project must be completed within 6 months to receive the remaining 90% of the subsidy
• The remaining funds will be dispersed after an evaluation of the completed green roof project by DC Greenworks and a final report is submitted by the subsidy recipient.
  

The Green Roof Subsidy Program is available to any green roof project in the District that meets the eligibility requirements and successfully completes the application as long as funds are available.  However, there are different amounts of funding available to projects located in the Combined Sewer System (CSS) and the Municipal Separate Stormwater System (MS4).

• To find which watershed and storm sewer system your property is located in click here and enter the address.

Green roofs can:

• Reduce cooling and heating energy consumption. Green roofing improves building insulation for reduced energy consumption year-round. This means fewer brown-outs and less pollution created by air conditioners, heating units, and power plants. An energy study for the city of Chicago estimated peak demand would be cut by the equivalent of one small nuclear power plant if all the city's roofs were greened.

• Reduce energy costs. The study said Chicago could save $100 million in saved energy annually with green roofs. A one story green roof structure can cut cooling costs by 20 –30%.

• Protect the roof's structural elements from harmful UV rays, wind and extreme temperature fluctuations.
• Extend the life of the roof by providing enhanced roof membrane durability—up to 50 years or more. The green roofs at the Rockefeller Center were built in the mid 1930's, and still have their original waterproofing membranes.
• Increase property values by utilizing previously unused space for roof decks and attractive roof landscaping.
• Lower storm water utility fees, and earn energy tax credits, grants and subsidies. The Gap expects to have saved enough money by 2005 from lowered energy costs to have paid for the green roofs and all the other environmentally sustainable features of their award-winning building.
• Reduce ambient air temperatures in high density urban areas, therefore reducing the Urban Heat Island effect. In the summer, city rooftops can reach 175° or more!
• Absorb CO2, filter air, bind dust particles and reduce glare. 1,000 square feet of green roof can supply 110 people with oxygen and remove 41 pounds of airborne particles per year.
• Absorb and filter heavy metals, acid rain and pollutants from storm water, including cadmium, copper, lead, nitrate, zinc, diesel soot, VOCs, hydrocarbons and pesticides.
• Reduce runoff flow rates and retain 50–95% of rain water. This eases city sewer infrastructure and reduces combined sewer overflows into the Potomac, Anacostia and Rock Creek.
• Provide needed green habitat and nesting areas for urban birds, butterflies and other insects.
• Find respite from the "concrete jungle." Creative designs can include flowing water features, architectural details, meadows and landscaped seating areas that can help urban residents and employees unwind and de-stress.