Since its launch in 2020, World Green Roof Day has become an annual celebration of vegetated rooftops across the globe, encouraging both inspiration and education around the benefits of green roofs in urban design. This year’s theme, Education, is particularly timely. Not only does it highlight the role of training and research in growing the sector, it also offers a chance to spotlight the contribution of green roof structures on educational sites, where benefits for both people and nature are tangible every day.
At urbanspec, we are proud to support greener outcomes through our modular, pre-engineered green roof structures for waste and cycle storage. Our infrastructure is designed for longevity, low maintenance and visual harmony with the built environment. These systems offer practical and scalable ways to introduce biodiverse habitats, reduce their carbon footprint and educate by example.
#WGRD2025
CPD
As this year’s World Green Roof Day places education at the forefront, it is the perfect moment to highlight how urbanspec is helping to upskill professionals through our CPD seminar on Achieving Biodiversity Net Gain with External Storage.
Designed for architects, landscape professionals and project teams, the session explores how external waste and cycle stores, often overlooked in sustainability planning can play a key role in delivering biodiversity gains on new developments.
We share the fundamentals of BNG and how it is measured, alongside guidance on specifying green roof storage structures that meet both ecological and compliance objectives. Topics include green roof types, structural and fire safety considerations, and strategies for ensuring long service life with minimal maintenance.
To support wider learning around biodiversity and the built environment, urbanspec is proud to offer this seminar as part of our commitment to product-led education.
Green roofs are no longer just for flagship buildings
Traditionally associated with large-scale buildings and architectural showpieces, green roofs are now proving their value in everyday infrastructure. The compact scale and robust engineering of urbanspec’s external stores make them an ideal platform for green roofs, particularly in high-density developments where space is at a premium and planning authorities are seeking to improve site-wide biodiversity outcomes.
By specifying a green roof finish, local authorities, estate managers and developers can enhance the ecological value of hard landscape areas, whether over a bin store in a courtyard or a cycle shelter beside a playing field.
Find out more about some of our commercial and projects here:
Green roofs for schools: learning environments that work for nature
Our green roof cycle and waste storage structures are increasingly being used on education sites to meet both operational and environmental goals. A green roof helps to soften the visual impact of external storage buildings, reduce heat gain and support biodiversity, all while requiring minimal maintenance, thanks to resilient sedum and wildflower planting systems.
At Kingston University, green roof structures installed on external waste enclosures have helped to meet the university’s green infrastructure targets while improving visual integration with the campus landscape. Read the full case study here.
Sedum or Wildflower? Extensive vs Intensive Systems
Green roofs specified on urbanspec structures are available in two formats:
Extensive systems, featuring low-growing sedum varieties, require minimal upkeep and are ideal for sites where maintenance access is limited.
Intensive systems, with deeper substrate profiles, support a mix of sedum and wildflowers. These offer higher biodiversity potential and seasonal visual interest, but with a slightly greater need for care.
Both options support rainwater absorption, thermal insulation, air quality improvement and reduced surface water run-off—making them valuable on any education site.
Biodiversity Net Gain
Green roofs can play a useful role in achieving Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), particularly where developments are constrained by space. When designed and planted to meet the appropriate criteria, including distinctiveness and condition, green roof habitats may be included within BNG assessments.
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