 The rapidly emerging solar and green energy markets represent potential for you to lower your energy bill, increase your property's value, receive tax incentives, and help the environment.
What is a Green Roof?
A green roof, "living roof," is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. The vegetation and growing medium can either be applied directly to the roof surface or put into pots where they can maintained and easy moved (container gardens). A green roof may also include additional layers such as a roof barrier, drainage, and irrigation systems.
What are the Environmental Benefits?
Green roofs are used to:
A 2005 study by Brad Bass of the University of Toronto showed that green roofs can also reduce heat loss and energy consumption in winter conditions.
- Reduce cooling (by evaporative cooling) loads on a building by fifty to ninety percent
- A concentration of green roofs in an urban area can reduce the city's average temperatures during the summer
- Reduce stormwater run off
- Natural Habitat Creation
- Filter pollutants and heavy metals out of rainwater
- Filter pollutants and carbon dioxide out of the air which helps lower disease rates such as asthma
- Help to insulate a building for sound; the soil helps to block lower frequencies and the plants block higher frequencies
- If installed correctly many living roofs can contribute to LEED points
- Agricultural space
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