Green Roofs Will Be Worth $7 Billion By 2017

Green Roofs Will Be Worth $7 Billion By 2017

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This just in — green roofs and walls are big business. 

Or they will be, at least, by 2017, when the market for them is set to hit the $7.7 billion mark worldwide, according to a new study from to Lux Research. The study takes a look at the drivers as well as barriers for growth in this emerging global market.It found that cities seeking to address environmental issues like air pollution, the heat-island effect and loss of green space are likely to drive the market for green roofs and living walls over the next five years with a combination of mandates and incentives.

Of that $7.7 billion market for “building-integrated vegetation,” Lux predicts that a whopping $7 billion will be accounted for by green roofs alone, presenting a $2 billion opportunity to suppliers of polymeric materials such as geosynthetic fabrics and waterproof membranes. Green walls will swell to a $680 million market, and will require $200 million worth of materials such as self-supporting polyurethane foam growth media.