Florida International University (FIU) officials announced the completion of Miami’s first “Green Roof,” a prototype “xeriscape” roof made of grass and vegetation aimed at reducing the building’s environmental impact as well as facility maintenance costs. The roof’s completion, announced by College of Nursing & Health Sciences (CNHS) Dean Divina Grossman, places Miami among the growing list of cities that participate in the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Green Roof” Initiative including New York, Chicago and Seattle.

The green roof, planted on top the 2nd floor corridor of the new building and sustained only by natural rainwater, will help to insulate the corridor below by absorbing the sun’s rays that would otherwise strike the building directly. The resulting offset of solar radiation will keep the building cooler and reduce the cost of air-conditioning.