Why Are Green Roofs Sustainable

Green roofs help reduce the urban heat island effect a condition in which urban environments absorb and trap heat.

Why are green roofs sustainable.

Reduced material waste from re roofing. This also improves the service life of hvac systems due to decreased usage. A green roof significantly reduces the need for air conditioning in summer and provides insulation in the winter. A green roof s plants remove air particulates produce oxygen and provide shade.

Solar panels and green roofs work perfectly together even if they are competing for space. Insulation in the summer is the greatest because the layers are dry and therefore reflect the heat effectively. The potential energy savings available through the use of properly insulated roofing systems could exceed 700 trillion btu each year while the solar energy potential of our nation s roof surfaces could exceed the power of over one dozen grand coulee dams. The insulation in the winter will depend on the amount of moisture in the various layers.

Green roofs contribute to the sustainability efforts of an organization through. This protection extends the lifespan of the waterproofing twice as long as conventional roofing meaning that membranes under green roofs last twice as long as those on traditional roofs. Green roofs cover the waterproofing membrane protecting it from uv rays and extreme daily temperature fluctuations. This is made with petroleum which is not a sustainable resource.

Green roofs also are very heavy and require additional roof framing for support. On the downside green roofs rely on a heavy duty rubber membrane to waterproof the roof. Additionally this natural protection against extreme heat enables green roofs to last twice as long as traditional rooftops. Conserving energy by insulating the building and mitigating thermal heat gain which reduces the need for heating and cooling.

Green roofs solve a couple of problems. Energy sustainable roofs can both save and produce energy. We all know many urban areas struggle to drain excess rainwater. Green roofs also contribute to the sustainability of a building.

Traditional underground pipes that connect to a sewage system have not been able to keep up with the number of buildings resulting in flooding and creating runoff that may carry harmful elements into natural water systems. German research discovered that solar cells over a green roof had a 6 higher output compared to cells on a bitumen roof due to the lower air temperatures caused by the vegetation.