Green Roofing Is Good Roofing

Before we get into why green roofing is so much better than most other modern roofing styles we first need to explain what a green roof is

. The perfect definition would be that a green roof is a living roof that is either partially or completely covered with vegetation and/or plants. This vegetation is commonly planted on a waterproof membrane that also includes a root barrier and a drainage and irrigation system. A simple pot plant garden on the roof of a building is therefore not counted as a green roof.

Green Fact! The word green roof refers to the environmental factors behind building such a roof and not the colour of the plants. Green roofs can also include rooftop ponds that are used to treat grey water

The Purpose of Green Roofs

There are a number of good reasons to build a green roof, but the most important are:

To assist with the absorption of rainwater

To add eco-friendly insulation to a building

To create wildlife habitats in built-up urban areas

To help with the lowering of urban temperatures and the mitigation of the heat island effect

Types of Green Roofs

There are two types of green roofs that are extensively used around the world. These are intensive roofs, which are thicker types of roofs that can support a large variety of plants and vegetation. These roofs need a sturdy base because of their size and require lots of maintenance. The other type of green roof is the extensive roof which only has a light cover of vegetation but covers a much larger area than the intensive roof.

Green Fact! The name green roof is also used to indicate roofs that use modern green technology. This type of technology often includes solar thermal collectors or photovoltaic panels.

The Environmental Benefits of a Green Roof

As mentioned above in the purpose of green roofs there are a number of wide ranging and very important eco-friendly environmental benefits of green roofs on a building. This is because they are used to add mass and thermal resistance value to a roofing structure which in turn reduces heat loss and energy consumption in winter while in summer it again helps with the lowering of energy consumption by keeping the building naturally cool. The energy consumption saving per green roof can be anywhere between 50 and 90 percent depending on what type of roof*.

Green roofs also help with the retention of storm water, therefore helping with the reduction of runoff. It also helps to filter pollutants and carbon dioxide in the air. This helps lower both disease rates and asthma rates in the surrounding areas.

A green roof also helps with the insulation of sound. This is because the soil used in the creation of a green roof blocks lower frequency sounds while the plants block higher frequency sounds.

*Based on a 2005 study by Brad Bass of the University of Toronto

by: Allan Reece

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