Installing a green roof provides a lot of environmental, social, and economic benefits while reducing the negative impacts brought upon by urbanization and population growth. But what is a green roof?
A green roof uses plants such as lichens and grasses as a cover for your roof. The process of installation involves waterproofing your existing roof, creating a drainage system to ensure that the plants will cause no damage and application of a root repellent system. A filter cloth with a growing medium will then be placed on your roof. Lastly, installers will place the plants securely on your roof.
The initial expense of installing a green roof is quite high, but it is a worthy investment that you and the community can benefit from in the long run. Aside from having a pretty little garden on top of your house or building, having a green roof can be very rewarding.
Main Benefits of Green Roofs
- Green roofs serve as a great stormwater management system. This is considered to be the primary benefit of having a green roof. Heavy storms or continuous rain can cause rapid runoff that can damage infrastructure, waterways, and fish habitat. The flooding may also increase erosion, which is discharged directly to moving bodies of water such as a river. The huge amount of raw sewage would take a long time to be treated before it can become potable.
Green roofs absorb and retain stormwater for a period of time. The runoff from the green roof is cleaner compared to that from a regular roof. The plants help return portion of that water back to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration.
- Green roofs reduce air pollution and improve air quality. It helps mitigate urban heat island by reducing heat and ground-level ozone that produce smog.
Benefits of Green Roofs for Home and Building Owners
- Reduce air-conditioning and energy cost.
Green roofs are energy efficient. They serve as a good form of natural insulation. This means you save energy by using your heating and cooling system, especially during summer.
- Partial sound-proofing and noise pollution reduction
If you live in a crowded community with a lot of traffic, having a green roof somehow help reduce noise pollution.
- Green roofs have longer lifespan compared to regular roofs.
Green roofs are protected against ultraviolet radiation and extreme temperature fluctuations that are the main cause of roof deterioration.
- A green roof transforms a dead and useless space into an aesthetically pleasing garden space. You can also encourage other home and building owners to do the same.
Benefits of Green Roofs for the Environment and Community
- Reduce carbon monoxide in the air
- A green roof provides an aesthetic view for neighbors and improves creativity and productivity. For business or building owners, it can also be a great amenity for meetings and recreation, where staff can relax and have fun.
- Provides habitat and refuge for some wildlife. A green roof can be designed for biodiversity.
- Sin you are saving energy costs; it means you are using fewer crude oils that emit greenhouse gasses.
- The construction, installation, and maintenance of green roofs provide employment opportunities for design and engineering professionals, contractors, landscape designers, plant producers, and other members of the green industry.
- It provides an opportunity for rooftop gardening, which enhances food production for urban food security.
Conclusion
Green roofs provide a great return on investment compared to traditional roofs. It brings about many benefits to private homeowners, the community, social sectors, and especially the environment. These benefits are critical in maintaining environmental quality and promoting a better quality of living. If you are not convinced and you have more questions about green roofing and its benefits, feel free to leave us a comment or message!
