Pennsylvania State Children’s Hospital – Hershey, PA

The Value of Green Roofs in Health Care Environments

LiveRoof® Green Roof System | Nunica, MI

Meeting Stormwater Challenges in Midtown Atlanta

Did you know that in Toronto, green roofs are mandated on rooftops of health care facilities for all roofs adjoining patient rooms?

Why is this?

Is this the beginning of a trend or “new normal” in health care?

The design of green roofs in health care facilities is part of a broader focus on employing strategies that promote patient healing, staff wellness, and community health, while meeting sustainability and operational performance standards. LiveRoof® green roofs align with these objectives, we have seen a surge in hospital green roofs, for this we are grateful to the many researchers that have studied biophilia and have quantified the contribution of green roofs in a manner that empowers evidence-based design and the quantification of environmental, financial and health benefits. Studies noted at the end of this article.

Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital – Milwaukee, WI

Patient Health and Recovery Outcomes

Evidence-based design research demonstrates the link between access to nature and improved recovery. Ulrich’s seminal 1984 study demonstrated that surgical patients with views of vegetation recovered faster, required less pain medication, and experienced fewer complications compared to those with views of built structures. More recent studies confirm that green roof visibility provides restorative benefits such as reduced stress, lower blood pressure, and improved patient satisfaction (Marcus & Sachs, 2013).

In health care settings, LiveRoof® green roofs extend these restorative benefits to patients who may be unable to access ground-level gardens. By creating accessible or visible rooftop landscapes, facilities provide:

  • Biophilic exposure: Visual and physical connection to greenery, which reduces stress, anxiety, and blood pressure.
  • Restorative environments: Environments that enhance patient mood and satisfaction with care.
  • Therapeutic spaces: Opportunities for rehabilitation and occupational therapy in outdoor but controlled settings.

Marionjoy Rehabilitation Hospital – Wheaton, IL

Staff Wellness and Retention

High stress and burnout among health care workers contribute to turnover and reduced quality of care. Research from the Center for Health Design highlights that staff with access to outdoor natural environments report higher job stratification, reduce stress, and contribute to staff retention (Sadler et al., 2011). LiveRoof® green roofs can be designed as staff-only terraces or relaxation areas, integrating seamlessly with wellness programs.

Kellogg Cancer Center – Evanston, IL  

Environmental and Community Health Benefits

Hospitals are among the most resource and consuming building types, on average consuming about 2.75 times the energy per square foot of all commercial buildings. LiveRoof® green roofs mitigate these impacts in measurable ways:

  • Stormwater Management: Intensive and extensive green roofs retain 50–80% of annual rainfall, reducing peak discharge and easing municipal infrastructure loads. (Getter & Rowe, 2006)
  • Urban Heat Island Reduction: Vegetated surfaces lower ambient rooftop temperatures, decreasing cooling demands and improving microclimates around health campuses. (Sailor, 2008)
  • Air Quality and Biodiversity: Vegetation sequesters pollutants and provides habitat for pollinators, contributing to community health. (Oberndorfer et al., 2007)

These benefits align with public health goals, particularly in urban environments where hospitals are often located.

Glenbrook Hospital – Glenview, IL  

Operational and Financial Performance

From a facilities management perspective, LiveRoof® green roofs support life-cycle cost savings by:

  • Extending roof service life: Protecting waterproofing membranes from UV radiation and thermal cycling. (Liu & Baskaran, 2003)
  • Energy efficiency: Providing additional insulation, lowering cooling loads in summer and stabilizing indoor temperatures.
  • Regulatory compliance: Assisting hospitals in meeting stormwater regulations, sustainability certifications (e.g., LEED, SITES, WELL), and resilience planning requirements.
  • Financial incentives: Qualifying for municipal green infrastructure credits, utility rebates, and reduced stormwater fees in certain jurisdictions. (EPA, 2020)

St. Mary’s Hospital – Grand Rapids, MI  

Alignment with Health Care Design Standards

LiveRoof® green roofs support health care–specific design frameworks and guidelines, including:

  • LEED for Healthcare: Credits for Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, and Indoor Environmental Quality.
  • WELL Building Standard: Features related to biophilia, outdoor spaces, and thermal comfort.
  • The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines: Increasingly emphasize patient-centered and wellness-focused design that green roofs directly support.

Jersey Shore Medical Center – Neptune City, NJ

Conclusion

LiveRoof® green roofs in health care environments represent more than aesthetic enhancements; they are high-performing, evidence-based design interventions. They contribute to patient healing, staff well-being, operational efficiency, and community health resilience. As hospitals and medical centers face growing demands for sustainability and improved health outcomes, LiveRoof® green roofs are emerging as a standard component of forward-looking facility design.

Guide to Rooftop Excellence for Healthcare:

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About this Piece:

This article explores the value and benefits of green roofs in health care environments. I’m Jodi Griffin, Business Development Manager for LiveRoof® Global, and I welcome the opportunity to continue this conversation. You can reach me at jodi@liveroof.com.

Discover how SolaGreen® integrates solar power with LiveRoof® green infrastructure:

References

  • Ulrich, R.S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, 224(4647), 420–421.
  • Marcus, C.C., & Sachs, N.A. (2013). Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-Based Approach to Designing Healing Gardens and Restorative Outdoor Spaces. Wiley.
  • Sadler, B.L., DuBose, J.R., Malone, E.B., & Zimring, C.M. (2011). Fable Hospital 2.0: The Business Case for Building Better Health Care Facilities. The Center for Health Design.
  • Getter, K.L., & Rowe, D.B. (2006). The role of green roofs in sustainable development. HortScience, 41(5), 1276–1285.
  • Sailor, D.J. (2008). A green roof model for building energy simulation programs. Energy and Buildings, 40(8), 1466–1478.
  • Oberndorfer, E., et al. (2007). Green roofs as urban ecosystems: Ecological structures, functions, and services. BioScience, 57(10), 823–833.
  • Liu, K., & Baskaran, B. (2003). Thermal performance of green roofs through field evaluation. NRCC-46412, National Research Council of Canada.
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2020). Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies.