Science Behind Green Roofs

Natural habitats can serve as templates for green roofs designed for biodiversity.

Science behind green roofs. Green roof service green roof technology is the leader in providing integrated architectural design state of the art engineering project management of installations and maintenance solutions of living green on any impervious area throughout the world and. Most studies consider the green roofs as a single unit made of plants and substrates studied as if they had the maximum density of vegetation without considering that unless it is a pre vegetated. Form and function consul tancy desig n engine ering project management and expert w itness of green roofs and green walls since 1980. This paper presents an economic perspective on roof color choice using a 50 year life cycle cost analysis lcca.

A green roof s plants remove air particulates produce oxygen and. Vegetation and soil act as a sponge absorbing and filtering water that would normally plunge down gutters wash through polluted streets and over tax sewer systems. This is a relatively new phenomenon and was developed in germany in the 1960s and has spread to many countries since then. Edged by solar panels the roof s seven hills are lined with 50 000 porous biodegradable vegetation trays made from tree sap and coconut husks.

An estimated 1 7 million plants fill the trays their roots interlocking to create an extraordinary oasis for birds insects people and other creatures. Typically a green or living roof is constructed of several layers including a waterproof membrane a root barrier a drainage layer a growing medium soil is too heavy and plants. Green roofs help reduce the urban heat island effect a condition in which urban environments absorb and trap heat. Unlike traditional black tar roofs green roofs reduce energy costs by absorbing heat instead of attracting it and.

White and green vegetated roofs have begun replacing conventional black dark colored roofs to mitigate the adverse effects of dark impervious urban surfaces. Low maintenance green roofs can be designed to serve as refuge for species such as. Vegetated rooftop habitats can serve as stepping stones to create corridors connecting other patches roofscape or at. Green roofs mitigate water runoff and sewer overflows.