Many people think that a green roof has to be planted with sedum or other succulents because it's impossible or prohibitively expensive to irrigate a green roof. 4: Green roofs are difficult and costly to irrigate. Requirements will depend a lot on what part of the country you live in and what kinds of loads your home was originally designed to sustain (snow, wind, rain etc.). Newly constructed homes must meet the requirements of the designed loads, so as long as your architect and structural engineer are on the same page about your desires for a green roof, there should be no problem for a new home to meet the structural requirements.įor retrofitted green roofs, you have to be a bit careful. The plants and substrate act as a natural barrier to weathering. In fact, some studies suggest that the longer life cycle of a green roof is due to the protection of the waterproof membrane from ultraviolet sunlight. There is no evidence to suggest that green roofs are more susceptible to leaking. All roofs must have a proper waterproofing membrane, green roofs included. It has to do with the installation and design specification of the structure. Let me be clear: A leaky roof is independent of whether it's a green roof or a traditional roof. This is perhaps one of the most cited concerns of clients. 3: Green roofs may look nice, but they can cause structural problems and leakage. The advantages of stormwater mitigation have been noticed by the city of Portland, which now runs the Portland Ecoroof Program, providing incentives to developers who design vegetated roof systems. They have been shown to reduce heating and cooling costs, reduce stormwater runoff (and therefore flooding), and provide added commercial space, which in turn increases the market value of a property. In Germany (where green-roof research has the longest history), extensive green roofs are used as an economic alternative to other options. However, even homes that don't have a specific eco objective can benefit from the aesthetic and economical aspects of having an extended garden space. The environmental benefits are undeniable. 2: A green roof is only for a green building.Ĭertainly there are many green building certifications that award points for the installation of a green roof. It’s the execution of them that has become more technical of late, allowing for thinner and lighter roof profiles. Green roofs have been around for centuries. It later became a middle-class suburb, with the green-roofed houses becoming quite sought after but rarely available. The neighborhood was intended to be a social housing option for the needy, including former concentration camp prisoners. This roof and others like it were constructed in 1943 in one of three Norwegian settlements. As part of the conference program, we visited the small community of Wohldorf-Ohlstedt. Last May I was able to attend the International Green Roof Association’s conference in Hamburg, Germany. When do you think the residential green roof in this photo was installed? Five years ago? Ten? Maybe 20? This green roof has been protecting this German residence since the 1940s - more than 70 years ago! 1: Green roofs are a new and experimental part of the green trend.
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