What is a “green roof”?
Typically, a Green Roof is comprised of a collection of plants, housed and framed together in a metal, wooden or plastic container and installed above a conventional roof. The two most common types of Green Roofs are Extensive Green Roofs and Intensive Green Roofs. An Extensive Green Roof normally has a very thin layer of soil and supports low growing plant species adapted to harsh environments. Intensive roofs have frames holding deeper soil layers, six inches or more, supporting a wide variety of plant species. Intensive Green Roofs usually require irrigation and regular maintenance. Due to significant weight loading factors, they must have structural engineering consideration applied before installation to make sure the roof is capable of supporting the additional weight. Intensive Green Roofs can provide attractive landscaping. Extensive Green Roofs have a smaller layer of soil medium and weigh less, however all Green Roofing projects should still undergo structural engineering ana
What: At its most essential level, a green roof is a roof surface which is designed to accommodate vegetation and/or accommodate human use (ie. specialty gardens, patios, play areas, ponds, driveways, etc.). Not only is utility of the roof space created but numerous ecological and economic advantages exist. These advantages include: extended roof life expectancy, sound insulation, thermal insulation, additional usable space, natural habitat for flora and fauna, high water retention, climate moderation, pollution reduction, let alone the visual enhancement of the city landscape. (Some of these benefits are detailed in the following FAQ, but all details can be found on the website.) Where: Generally, modern green roofs started over 30 years ago in Germany and are rapidly becoming a popular building addition in countries around the world.
At its most basic, a green roof is a roof substantially covered with vegetation. Green roofs improve the energy performance of buildings, reduce stormwater runoff, and contribute to a healthier environment. Already covering over 100 million-ft2 of European rooftops, green roofs are becoming more and more popular in the U.S.
The term “green” roof may refer to an actual green vegetative roof or it may refer to a roof that utilizes “green” technology, such as a photovoltaic (solar electricity) system. A green vegetative roof is one that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil, or a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. Additional layers, such as root barrier or drainage and irrigation systems may also be included. Green roof systems have been shown to reduce heat transfer through the roof, decrease stormwater pollutants, and cut down on stormwater volume by naturally evaporating the runoff through the plant respiration process. In Florida, the University of Central Florida’s Stormwater Management Academy installed the university’s first green roof on the Student Union. The roof is covered with plants ranging from dune sunflowers to bougainvillea, and three-fourths of the vegetation is native to Florida. It requires little maintenance and it is designed to absorb much of t
An aerial view of most urban areas shows swathes of asphalt, black tar and gravel-ballasted rooftops. Heat radiates off of the dark roofs, and water rushes over the hard, hopefully impermeable surfaces. Yet, there is a new trend that breaks up the monotony of common roofs: green rooftops. Long popular in Europe, green rooftops have begun to appeal to homeowners, businesses and even cities as an attractive way to promote environmentalism while solving the problems of conventional roofs. Green roofs supplement traditional vegetation without disrupting urban infrastructure — they take a neglected space and make it useful. Green roofs last longer than conventional roofs, reduce
