Green rooftops are a crucial component in any noteworthy eco-friendly building. The California Academy of Sciences and the Ford Rouge truck plant each have living rooftops as one of their more prominent design features. And the Vatican’s rooftop solar panels citywide have earned the Holy See a ton of respect from environmentalists.
Architects and building planners have the pleasure of creating eco-friendly buildings and rooftops from scratch. But what about the everyday environmentalist that can’t spare the coin for a brand new home? The articles in the slideshow below are a nice mix between green rooftop design inspiration and practical ideas that you can apply to your home right now.
It would be fantastic to have a green roof complete with native plants like the Ford Rouge truck plant. But grass-covered roof tiles are every bit as eco-friendly, and they’re self-watering to boot! You might not have the real estate to implement giant photovoltaic panels on your roof. But the Lumeta PowerPly peel-and-stick solar panels make the best of any surface, even if it’s an awning.
Check out these and other eco-friendly rooftop options below.
20 Options for an Eco-Friendly Green Roof
20
Wind Generator for Your Home
19
Travel Eco-Friendly in The Westfalia Verdier Solar Power Caravan
18
Simple Solar Shingles
So Hot Right Now
17
Green Roof Tiles
16
Dog Houses With Green Roofs
Sustainable Pet Design
15
Houses of the Future
Concrete House With Grass Roof
14
Peel & Stick Solar Panels
Lumeta PowerPly
13
Sustainable Houseboats
The ‘Schwimmhaus'
12
Green Container Condos
Salt Lake City Center Lofts
11
Green Museums
California Academy of Sciences (UPDATE)
10
Wind Power For The People
$48k for Power Independence
9
Eco-Friendly Car Plants
Ford Rouge Truck Plant
8
Ultra-Green Office Building
Hidden Eco-Friendly Corporate HQ
7
Photovoltaic Rooftop Waves
The Solar Wave Pavilion by Michael Jantzen
6
Eco Skyscraper Makeovers
Sears Tower Gets Greener
5
Solar-Powered Vatican
Holy City Installs Rooftop PV Panels
4
Sinuous Eco-Friendly Rooftops
The Park House
3
Green Graveyards
The Solar-Powered Santa Coloma Cemetery
2
Estimates The Solar Potential Of Your Roof
RoofRay
1
Living Sporting Arenas
The Minneapolis Target Center's Green Roof
Related Ideas
Expandable-Roof Tiny Homes
This Unique Tiny House Benefits From a Mechanically Liftable Roof
Roof-Mounted EV Charging Systems
The GoSun SUN Delivers 1,200 Watts of Clean Energy for EVs
Sunlight-Evoking Plant Systems
Yechan Choi Designs the Equinox Light to Control Indoor Lighting
Ventilated Clamshell Rooftop Tents
The Falcon 3 EVO Rooftop Tent is Perfect for Summer Camping
Expanding Off-Grid Electric RVs
The Electric Transformer House is Sustainable and Luxurious
Off-Grid Exploration Vans
The Conceptual GAC Van Life Autonomous Vehicle is Eco-Friendly
Natural Moss Terrariums
Petite Foret Plus Features Five Tiers for Observing Fresh Moss
Refined Off-Grid Trailer Homes
The Living Vehicle GT39 is Chicly Appointed
Sustainable Luxury Buildings
RO54 by Arshia Architects is Located in LA's Bel Air Neighborhood
Minimalist Indoor Gardening Systems
The Conceptual BalconyFarm POT Can Be Set Up Anywhere
National Park-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Backcountry Tiny Homes 'Basecamp' Tiny House Has a Roof Deck
Off-Grid Timber Tiny Homes
The 'Horta' Tiny House Has 107-Square-Feet of Living Space
Nature-Inspired Solar Panel Trees
New World Wind Develops the Aeroleaf Hybrid Technology
Plant-Filled Latticed Buildings
Wallflower Architecture + Design Creates the Touching Eden House
Indoor Organic Waste Gardens
The Conceptual BOSCH Eco-Hub by Batuhan Duran is Sustainable
Future Building Material Exhibitions
The Farrell Centre Debuts Its Inaugural Exhibition
Smart Glass-Topped Lookouts
These Picturesque Cabins Offer Stunning Views Of the Sky
Serenely Stilted Houses
This Sustainable Tiny Home is Situated On An Elevated Platform
Garden-Centering Urban Townhouses
This Vietnamese Home's Layout is Arranged Around an Inner Garden
Ambient Energy Harvesting Planters
This Hydroponic Planter System Encourages Interaction
Self-Watering Multifunctional Planters
Moss Develops the Grow Lamp to Simplify Gardening
Vineyard-Topped Airport Terminals
The New Plans for Florence Airport Integrate Rooftop Greenery
Plant-Based Table Lamps
Craighill and Gantri Release a Minimalist Plant-Based Lamp
Mycelium Sustainable Bright Partitions
Interesting Times Gang and OBOS Drop the Veggro Collection
Weatherized Steel Pyramidal House
TW Ryan Architecture Designs the Four Roof House in Montana
Eco-Friendly Offices
Office@27 by Sanjay Puri Architects is Enhanced by Ancient Indian Principles
Sustainable Airport Terminal Designs
This Lush Green Terminal is Powered By Renewable Energy
Futuristic Auto Micro Factories
Most Architecture Unveils a Modern Factory for Charge Cars
Immersive Solar-Powered Installations
Marjan van Aubel & Lexus Unveil the 8 Minutes and 20 Seconds
Sustainable Off-Grid Minimal Cabins
Marc Thorpe Presents the Fremont House in New York
Origami-Inspired Solar Panels
The Levante Origami Solar Panel is 50% Lighter Than Alternatives
Flax Fiber Floating Homes
The Conceptual 'Blue Nomad' Floating Home is Sustainable
Eco-Friendly Luxury Villas
Kengo Kuma Designs the Land Villas for Red Sea Global
Eco-Friendly Bio-Composite Roof Tiles
Studio SKLIM's Lo-Hi Tech Project with Solar Paneling
Biophilic Design Electric Vehicles
The AZULIK Mobility Electric Vehicle is Nature-Inspired
Luxury Rooftop Restaurants
W Toronto's SKYLIGHT Features Mediterranean Fare and Lush Interiors
Solar Panel-Paired Rooftop Tents
The Jackery Solar Generator for Rooftop Tent is at CES 2024
Tree-Lined Urban Highways
The Dubai Green Spine Will Include One-Million Trees
Self-Sufficient Housing Solutions
The 'Hillcrest House' is Entirely Solar-Powered
Bio-Cement Oceanic Structures
The 'Reef Rocket' Combats Coastal Flooding and More
Cooling Bus Shelter Designs
EMT Madrid Spearheads the Quest for Comfortable Public Transportation
Balcony-Ready Solar Power Systems
This EcoFlow PowerStream System Generates Ample Energy
Naturalistic Biophilic Lamp Designs
The Bioo Lamp Turns On and Off by Touching the Succulent
Rain-Harvesting Homes
Robert Hutchison Architecture Partners with Javier Sanchez Arquitectos
Everyday Material Colorful Pavilions
Foster + Partners and NEON Create Two Pavilions in London
Landscape-Integrated Hill Homes
Elías Rizo Arquitectos Designs the Casa AV in the Hills
Sustainability-Oriented Kids Toys
Learning Resources Unveils a New Sustainable Toy Capsule
Rejuvenated Retail Buildings
This Vietnamese Building Will Feature Lush Native Greenery
Energy-Efficient Office Buildings
This Czech Office Complex is Outfitted With Eco-Friendly Designs
Sustainable Produce Packaging
These Cascades Eco-Friendly Produce Baskets are Recycled
Regenerative Eco-Park Infrastructures
Iñaki Echeverria Has Completed Phase 1 of Lake Texcoco
Transparent Plant-Based Membranes
YutoEco Unveils the Sustainable Cellulose Substrate Packaging
Award-Winning Housing Designs
Hong-En Lin Emphasizes the Importance of Clean Water Access
Low-Profile Car Roof Racks
The Thule Caprock Roof Platform Supports 150-Kilograms of Weight
Off-Grid Oceanside Homes
Campos Studio Designs a Sculptural Cliffside Home in Mexico
Educational Linoleum Birdhouses
The 'ELVI' Birdhouse Educates About Sustainability
Garden Oasis Renovated Homes
Sam Crawford Architects Designs the Hidden Garden House
Planted Balcony Home Designs
4site Architects Designs the House of Greens in Bangalore
Colorful Rooftop Unified Buildings
Urbanus' Nantou Hybrid Building is Comprised of Five Buildings
Colored Glass Solar Panels
inQs Beautiful Solar Panels Look Like Stain Glass
Fungi-Based Building Materials
Mycocrete is an Eco Material Developed by Newcastle University
Adventurous Compact Tiny Homes
Madeiguinco Designs the Pego with a Solar Panel Set Up
Upward-Pitched Roof Homes
O'Neill McVoy Architects Designs a New Z-Shaped Home in Houston
Tire-Crafted Solar Stills
The Floating Solar Still is an Eco-Friendly Way to Purify Water
Solar Powered Luxe Treehouses
Fort Treehouse Co. Designs the Baltic Treehouse in Canada
User-Friendly Solar Panels
Kunal Girotra Introduces the Sustainable Lunar Energy System
Adaptive Interior EV Models
The Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric Has a Solarbay Panoramic Roof
Origami-Inspired Solar Panels
Sego Innovations Develops a New Foldable and Portable Solar Panel
Terraced Garden-Surrounded Homes
Arkitito Arquitetura Designed the Lechuza House in Brazil
Greenery-Packed Museum Buildings
This Science Museum is Designed Around a Central Park
Interior Plant Design Services
Plantd Life Capitalizes on the Springtime to Boost Its Offerings
Slopped-Base Green Tiled Homes
Bak Gordon Arquitectos Integrates a Home with Surrounding Buildings
Rollable Rooftop Cargo Racks
The 'Twistbox' Can Be Rolled Into a Compact Cylinder When Not In Use
Balanced Grass-Topped Homes
RO_AR Designs a Beautiful Dwelling in the Czech Republic
Sustainable Outdoor Kitchen Designs
Ecoscape Has Introduced a New Range of Outdoor Kitchens
Multifunctional Circular Housing Blocks
Gensler's EVE Park Design has Integrated EV Parking Towers
Zero-Emission Solar-Powered Aircrafts
The Falcon Horizon by Laszlo Nemeth Runs on Solar Power
Green Cladding Modified Homes
Martin Fenlon Architecture Modifies the Denton House in LA
Bamboo-Clad Residential Homes
i29 Designs the Open Park Villa to Connect with Nature
Sustainable Visitor Pavilions
NU Architectuur Atelier Designs the Green Arc in a Garden
Italian Rooftop Restaurants
Public Gardens in Toronto Offers a NYC-Inspired Oasis
Nature-Inspired Multifunctional Speakers
MOSSLAB's Moss Echo Speaker Brings Nature into a Space
Recycling-Centric Waterfront Homes
Measured Architecture Designs the Shor House Project
Updated Sustainable API Features
Google Adds New Features to its Ingenious Project Sunroof
Minimalist Bird-Watching Pavilions
Jesús Vassall & Graduate Students Designed a Slick Pavilion
Eco-Friendly Cafe Vehicles
This Conceptual Solar-Powered Coffee Truck Operates Anywhere
Beetle-Inspired Sustainable Planters
The Fog Smart Hydroponic Planter Leans on Biomimicry
Juxtaposing Garden Home Designs
Studio North Designs the Custom Garden Garage in Calgary
Sustainability-Focused Home Decor
Williams-Sonoma GreenRow Has Items for the Whole Home
Community Hub Timber Pavilions
The Craft Not Carbon Pavilion Raises in London's Park
Sustainable Warm Parka Designs
Patagonia Presents a Look at the Eco-Friendly Stormshadow Parka
Sustainable Vivid Installations
Durat Unveils the PORTA DEI COLORI Installation
Wind-Responsive Panel Pavilions
Fernanda Ahumada & FREE Design the National Biodiversity Pavilion
Greenery-Filled Skyscraper Terrarium
ODA Presents a Look at the Terrarium Cheong-Dam Design
Spiralled Roof Horticultural Centers
KPMB Architects Designs the Leaf Building in Winnipeg
Eco-Friendly Window Glasses
'EcoMAX Glass' from ClaytonGlass is Sustainable and Insulated
Corrugated Winery Sawtooth Roofs
COA Arquitectura Designs the Tierra Tinta Winery Roof
Floating Solar Power Plants
This French Power Plant Will Deliver Clean Energy to 2,000 Homes
Expansive School Bamboo Canopies
CollectiveProject Creates a Canopy at Talaricheruvu Rural School
Clover-Style Conference Center Designs
MAD Designs the ZGC International Innovation Center
Biodegradable Nail Tips
These Vegan Nail Tips Return Back to the Earth
Perforated Light-Passing Art Installations
The Volvo Circle Pavilion Uses Tyvek Facades
Earthy Tonal Tiled Sheds
LMNL Office Designs the Studio Shed in Brabant, the Netherlands
Cutout Roof Cement-Clad Homes
Edition Office Designs a Home with a Focus on Tree Views
Green Zinc Paneling Homes
Westerdahl Designs the Folded House Located in Cambridge
Biodegradable Mycelium Living Structures
Côme Di Meglio Designs the MycoTemple Structure
Traditional Sustainable School Designs
Heatherwick Studio Showcases Plans for Universidad Ean
Climate-Managing Greenhouse Concepts
Salazar Sequero Medina Designs the Livable Greenhouse Home
Nature-Themed Modern Workspaces
The New Natwest Office in London Features Greenery Throughout
Net-Positive Energy Botanical Gardens
Olin & Overland Completes the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Sunlight-Reflecting Paints
Stanford University Researchers Develop an Innovative Color Paint
Recyclable Barn Curtains
These Barn Curtains Are Fully Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly
Green-Timber Glad Office Spaces
Oslotre Designs the Lumber 4 on an Industrial Foundation
Solar Cell Cycling Paths
These Dutch Cycling Paths Are Sheathed In Photovoltaic Cells
London-Based Garden Roofscapes
James Corner Field Operations Designs a Roof Garden in London
Energy-Efficient Headquarter Buildings
The New 'Bench' Building Prioritizes Sustainable Design
Heritage Timber Rowing Clubs
Henning Larsen Designs the Klaksvik Row Club in Faroe Islands
Urban Green Space Overhauls
Four of London's green spaces will receive a makeover
Eco-Conscious Floor Tiles
Alusid Unveils its New Sustainable Floor Tiles Made of Recycled Content
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
Retro Gabled Greenhouse Additions
BHY Arquitectos Renovates the Casa Wiz in Buenos Aires
Oversized Colorful Dynamic Planters
Tuleste Factory and Manscrapers Launch the TFM Collection
Greenery-Surrounding Cabins
MAP Architecture Designs the Creek Cabin to Blend to the Wetlands
Plant-Aiding Hydroponic Systems
turf is an Energy-Harvesting Conceptual Cultivation System
Botanical Visitor Pavilions
NU Architectuuratelier and Archipelago Create the Green Ark Pavilion
Provocative Eco Screensavers
Planet-Saving Screen Savers Encourage Switching Off Devices
Expansive Roofs Concrete Homes
Studio MOB Creates a House in the Farm in Coimbatore
Naturally Ventilated Bright Houses
Kiron Cheerla Architecture Designs the Pott House
Net-Zero Low-Energy Homes
PAD Studio's New Forest House Uses Extremely Low Energy
Nature-Connecting Design Installations
OMCC and Diez Office Unveil the Vert Installation
Tree-Inspired Panelled Workspaces
Hood Design Studio Creates a New Campus in Silicon Valley
Greenery-Surrounding Lush Homes
Ho Khue Architects Creates the Nest House in Vietnam
Educational Storage Shed Designs
Invisible Studio and Mole Architects Form the Big Roof
Multifamily Canadian Housing Developments
MODA Unveils the GROW Project with Roof Gardens
Sustainable Dynamic Hilltop Buildings
Arshia Architects Designs the RO54 in LA's Bel Air
Futuristic Factory Rooftop Extensions
MAD Transforms a Factory with the Ark Extension in China
Solar-Powered Vineyard Buildings
This Vineyard's Visitor Center Will Benefit From Solar Arrays
Terraced Naturally Lit Homes
Unknown Works Designs the Bright Oasis Home in London
Stealthy Sloped Roof Trailers
Ridgeline Tiny Homes Designs the Sun Valley Model
Glamorous Urban Tranquil Villas
GROWTO DESIGN Presents the Natural Villa in China