What’s growing on your roof? A brief introduction to Green Roofs by Sarah Murphy

Green Roofs, Living Roofs, Eco-roofs are living, vegetative roofing alternatives cover impervious surfaces with permeable plant material can become net producers of energy, clean water and air

Advantages of Green Roofs Green roofs retain rainwater, –reducing the requirement for drainage ponds and minimizing storm drain. –Depending on the typical weather patterns, up to 90% of an area’s typical rainfall can be absorbed by a green roof. Green roofs reduce the surface temperature of a roofing membrane – As a result, life expectancy of the membrane can reasonably be expected to double. Green roofs cool the surrounding air through respiration, which can reduce “urban heat island” weather patterns. urban heat island A green roof will provide substantial noise insulation. A living roof provides additional land area, allowing for more biological diversity. Green roofs can absorb airborne toxins and produce oxygen

Intensive v Extensive Greenroofs Intensive green roofs are landscaped gardens on roofs, intended for human interaction These roofs have been engineered to hold heavy loads, including deep soil and sometimes trees These include underground parking garages, and typically have a slope under 3%

Intensive

Intensive v Extensive Greenroofs Extensive green roofs have between 3-6 inches of soil Ideal plants are drought tolerant, rocky-alpine natives constructed on roofs with slopes up to 33%, and can be retrofitted onto existing structures with little or no additional construction The average weight of a fully saturated minimum extensive greenroof is 17 pounds per square foot

Extensive

Construction

Plant Material Succulents are ideal since they can thrive in drought periods - Prostrate growth habits -light-weight Sedum and Delosperma are just a few examples of suitable plants Delosperma echinatum Sedum mexicanum

Soil Light weight and porous Low organic matter Components can include: -pumice, expanded shale, coconut coir, broken brick, ect

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