Toronto is among the leading cities in North America when it comes to embracing green roofs and expanding that market, says Green Roofs for Healthy Cities president Steven Peck. (You don't know fruit until it's been grown over your head.) His Washington-based organization—the green roof and wall industry association—released a survey announcing a 10% growth rate for green roofs in 2013 in major cities across North America. Snapped is Steven at the opening of a green roof in Nathan Phillips Square in 2010, with Flynn Canada’s Terry McGlade and LiveRoof Ontario’s Kees Govers.

Steven points to Toronto’s Green Roof bylaw requiring that 20% to 60% of the roof is greened on most types of new buildings. “There are more than two million square feet that have been approved under the bylaw and we should start to see these being built in the near future,” he tells Bisnow. Green roofs can significantly enhance the property value of a building, he says.