Ever seen a roof with plants? Literally covered with plants and wondered why?
As land continues to be replaced and filled with impermeable surfaces because of urbanization and the alarming population growth, the necessity to recover green space is quickly becoming critical in order to maintain a good environmental quality.
And this is where green roofs start to emerge.
What is a Green Roof?
Green roofs are functional roofs for a home or other buildings which substitutes plant for classic roof covering such as cedar shakes, shingles, and tile. Also called “ecoroofs”, these green roofs are comprised with five basic layers: a roof deck, the waterproof membrane, a soil-filter fabric, a few inches of soil mix and plants that are drought tolerant.
For decades, green roofs have been popular in many European cities, particularly in Germany. Now, these ecoroofs are gaining popularity in the US. There are hundreds of plant varieties that can thrive on ecoroofs and most experts agree that any home or building can be retrofitted or built with a green roof for sustainability.
But, why should you choose green roofs and how are they sustainable?
- Improve Your Drainage System
Sustainable drainage is crucial to any building, as a way to counter any flooding in the event of excess rainfall.
Conventionally, a network of pipes is connected to the sewage system to control water. But, due to the increasing urban development, as much as 75 percent of water is running off into urban regions.
Global warming is not helping either and the flooding risks continue to increase throughout the world. Green roofs are a terrific solution for such threats. With green roofs, water is stored in the substrate and plants before being naturally released back into the environment.
- Increasing The Lifespan Of Your Roof
Rooftops are continually under attack from the harsh outdoor elements and have plenty to cope with throughout the year. Roofs need to deal with rain and winds as well as the strong ultraviolet rays of the sun and fluctuating temperatures. Therefore, it is ideal for homeowners or businesses to get an alternative option for their roof— one that will last longer.
Green roofs offer such an opportunity and are proven to help double or even triple the lifespan of rooftops. The plant barrier helps protect and defend the waterproof membrane underneath and make sure that your rooftop’s lifespan lasts for decades.
- Increasing Thermal Performance
Green roofs also contribute to the sustainability of the building. One of the most beneficial advantages of a green roof is thermal performance and it is quite staggering just how much of a difference this can do.
The biggest problem with a conventional roof is poor insulation, which leads to sweltering conditions during the summer and substantial heat loss over the winter. Improving Insulation with the use of insulated roofs could definitely fix your roof issues, just make sure to choose an experienced service provider.
With the installation of green roofs, you can improve energy efficiency as well as limiting the use of air conditioning during the hot season. Plants absorb the energy from the sun and can reduce the temperature of the roof during summer while also improving thermal efficiency during the winter by locking in the heat inside.
- Helping Out The Environment
One of the key contributing factors to global warming is the significant release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As such, the government is doing everything in their power to counter this problem.
However, with green roofs, you get to minimize the CO2 emission. More plants only mean cleaner air since plants are actually there to collect carbon dioxide and as a byproduct of photosynthesis, helps in replenishing the air with oxygen.
In addition, green roofs also help to reduce the need for air conditioning, as well as ensuring that less heat generation is needed in the winter. Both heat generation and air conditioning create CO2, so less use means less CO2 created.
- Supporting Wildlife
Green roofs help in supporting wildlife and thus, creating a healthy habitat. And although green roofs will not directly replace ground environment, they are perfect for attracting birds and other animals to create a thriving eco-friendly habitat.
Each roof can support different habitats, depending on the type of vegetation used. However, according to a survey of 11 green roofs in Switzerland, they found at least 172 different species thriving and living on it.
- Improving Air Quality
Air pollution continues to be a critical issue in the world. And we all know that air pollution is a greater problem in highly urbanized areas, particularly in larger cities.
With green roofs, you can help improve the overall air quality. How?
Well, according to a study, green roofs can reduce up to:
- 0.2 kg of dust particles per square meter annually
- 21 percent of nitrous acid
- 37 percent of sulfur dioxide
Green Jobs
How to Apply for a Green Job With the demand for green jobs skyrocketing so far in 2017, giving yourself a unique edge can be difficult—yet absolutely necessary—in order for you to become a proud worker for Mother Earth. Follow these steps to successfully claim your next environmentally friendly employment opportunity. 1. Resume: Make sure … Continue reading..
