Only the 3rd green roof in Erie County, the green roof at LEAF reduces stormwater quantity and improves stormwater quality. Water is retained within the saturated soils of the roof there by reducing downstream storm water flow into Cascade Creek. The water that does flow from the green roof is filtered through a natural plant/soil process resulting in improved quality of storm water that will eventually enter Lake Erie. In addition, the green roof is expected to extend the life of the current roof while reduce heating and cooling costs. The green roof requires little maintenance other than periodic weeding and fertilizing.

The LEAF Education Center was designed for a green roof but funding constraints at the time of construction in 2012 kept it from being installed. With the assistance of Pennsylvania Sea Grant and the City of Erie, LEAF raised close to $75,000 for the roof.  Grants for the initial installation were received from the Great Lakes Shoreline Cities Green Infrastructure program with funding from the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce and administered by the PA Department of Environmental Protection, the Erie Community Foundation, Erie Insurance and private donations. Additional funding was received from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority and from a grant from the Environmental Stewardship Fund, Growing Greener Program under the administration of the Department of Environmental Protection through the Northwest Greenways Block Grant Program administered by the Northwest Commission.