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5 Benefits of a Green Roofing System

27/2/2020

18 Comments

 

​What Is A Green Roof?

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A green roof refers to a vegetative layer that’s grown on a rooftop. This roofing system is also known as a living roof or a rooftop garden.
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But why would you consider living in a property with a living roof? While most people love green roofs for their energy-efficiency, others prefer this roofing system due to its incredible allure. It ultimately depends on what you’re looking for. The following are some of the top benefits of green roofing systems.

​Five Advantages of a Green Roofing System

Energy Conservation
Energy conservation is the main reason why anyone would want to incorporate a green roof on their rooftops. Green roofs are more efficient in reducing energy costs compared to conventional roofs, since they provide an insulating layer which retains building heat in winter and keeps heat out in summer. A study conducted by the National Research Council of Canada found out that buildings with as little as 1/6 of green roofs can save homeowners more than 75% in summer energy bills.

As opposed to conventional roofs that attract heat, green roofs absorb it. You can look to them as the natural insulation system for your building. By incorporating a living roof, you won’t have to overwork the air conditioning system in your house to regulate indoor temperature and humidity. And in addition to reducing your summer air conditioning bills, a living rooftop also reduces the emission of environmentally hazardous gases, such as carbon dioxide. Therefore, by living under a green roof, you would be actively contributing towards the realization of the seventh item in the Millennium Development Goals.

Slows Storm Water Runoff
Another notable benefit of considering a rooftop garden is its ability to slow down storm-water runoff, especially in urban environments. Remember that most rooftops and pavements in towns and cities are made of hard and nonporous surfaces. Such surfaces increase the volume as well as the velocity of storm-water runoff, which causes frequent flooding. Flooding in urban centres may lead to clogged drains and sewer overflows. And if not managed you could have local flooding.

Now, the roofing material is one of the top things to consider when replacing a roof. And it’s reassuring to know that you can replace or insulate the nonporous surface of your roof with a green rooftop, to banish the concerns of storm-water runoff. Remember, living rooftops are up to 5 times more efficient in reducing storm-water runoff compared to hard roof surfaces.

Reduces Urban Heat-Island Effect
The Urban Heat-Island Effect refers to the condition where urban environments attract and absorb heat. Typically, urban centres consist of more concrete than vegetation, which makes their temperatures considerably higher than those in rural and suburban settings. The concrete rooftops in urban buildings and the paved streets absorb solar radiation before re-radiating it as heat.

For instance, in the summertime, New York City can achieve a daily temperature of 7.2ºF (4C) warmer compared to its suburban neighbourhoods. To reduce the Urban Heat-Island Effect, green roofs cover the traditional urban roofs, hence preventing re-radiation of heat. Also, a rooftop garden uses up solar radiation in evapo-transpiration (evaporating water from the rooftop vegetation while also transpiring moisture from the plants).

Great for Aesthetics
Besides the environmental and financial benefits that come with rooftop gardens, these roofs are also famous for their aesthetic appeal. Integrating a living roof into your rooftop is an excellent way to make your house stand out from other buildings constructed from conventional roofing materials. 

It can be an extension to your garden
When you have a a flat roof and you have access to the roof then you can plant it with a garden to provide additional garden space and outdoor living area. You could even grow your own vegetables and herbs. Of course if you intend to use your rooftop as an outdoor area this will have to comply with local legislation. It will require edge railings to prevent people falling off the roof.

​Your roof could be valuable real estate!
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Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay

Requirements for a green roof

Green roofs should have:
  1. High-quality waterproofing
  2. High-efficient drainage systems
  3. A root-repellent system
  4. A filter cloth
  5. Be designed to support the weight of the plants, the growing medium and water retained in this medium.
  6. Roofs that have to be regularly accessed for maintenance, or because you are using them as additional garden space, require proper edge protection (that complies with legislation) to prevent people from falling from the roof.

A green roof can be a valuable addition to your home

Be it a commercial or residential property, a living garden comes with an incredible sense of calm and comfort to an otherwise dull house. And if you ever need to sell the building, a green roof will surely add extra kerb appeal to the property, enabling it to fetch higher than what conventional rooftop buildings would.

More people are becoming environmentally aware and responsible. They even willing to pay more for a product, a home, that is environmentally friendly. 

Still wondering why the popularity of living roofs is on the rise? Why not be part of those already enjoying the immense ecological and economic advantages of green roofs!

Please like and share this article
 
Author Bio
Grace Hawkins is a full-time content marketing specialist and a passionate writer who loves to write about creating an aesthetic and ambient living environment for everyone. He believes in a thoughtful exploration of how you shape your thoughts, experience of the world. Currently, He’s working With Best Roofing Company

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​Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
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18 Comments
rachel frampton link
4/6/2020 10:23:47 am

I'm currently looking for a roofer that'll be able to replace my shingle with a flat roof. I never knew that a flat roof could be turned into a green garden; well, I like the idea because as you've mentioned, this can help conserve energy. It's also surprising to learn that a rooftop garden can help slow down storm-water runoff.

Reply
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28/4/2021 07:08:16 pm

I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back down the road. We are also offering similar Services.

Reply
Taylor Hicken link
30/4/2021 12:25:52 pm

You made a good point when you shared that it is great to create a small garden when you have a flat roof. My aunt just mentioned the other day that she is thinking of improving the look of her house by having a small garden. I will suggest to her hiring a reliable service that can provide flat roofing for her home so she can have an area for it.

Reply
Best Roof Hatches link
19/5/2021 09:15:15 pm

Excellent explanation. Anyone can easily comprehend since it’s simple & focused. Keep up the great work!


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Best Access Doors link
20/5/2021 10:28:17 pm

Green roofs serve several purposes for a building, such as absorbing rainwater, providing insulation, creating a habitat for wildlife, increasing benevolence and decreasing stress of the people around the roof by providing a more aesthetically pleasing landscape, and helping to lower urban air temperatures and mitigate. The facts that have been discussed here are really important. Thank you so much for sharing a great post.


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20/5/2021 11:03:15 pm

I like the helpful info you supply for your articles. Thanks for sharing a smart thought.


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Beverly Minyard link
20/7/2021 10:22:28 pm

I like that you mentioned that a green roof can provide additional garden space. Growing up I would always help my mom in the garden. Now that I live in the city I can't have a garden so I will definitely be looking into green roofs!

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22/7/2021 09:18:03 pm

Excellent writing! We can take away a lot of important information from this article. Keep sharing great posts.


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23/7/2021 08:32:06 pm

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23/7/2021 08:48:03 pm

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26/7/2021 09:31:28 pm

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27/7/2021 08:13:10 pm

This is a good article. It is a combination of fun and informative. Thanks for sharing this!


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27/7/2021 08:51:08 pm

Keep up the great work! Thank you so much for sharing a great posts.


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Fire Rated Access Doors and Panels link
30/7/2021 08:37:43 pm

Stunning post! Thanks for the excellent presentation of your outline.

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Roof Hatches link
3/8/2021 10:41:59 pm

The simplicity of your presentation is highly-motivating for learning. Please keep it up for your teeming followers.


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Roofing Companies Huntsville Alabama link
11/11/2021 04:10:00 pm

I think this is one of the most vital information for me. And I'm glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things.

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10/1/2022 03:09:53 pm

I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back down the road. We are also offering similar Services.

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Jeff Carbine link
12/1/2022 08:49:43 pm

I never knew that when you have a a flat roof and you have access to the roof then you can plant it with a garden to provide additional garden space and outdoor living area. I never thought that it would be like this, it is a good article to read, I'll share this with my aunt. Thank you for the information about flat roofing.

Reply



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    Author

    I’m a construction professional, author of several successful construction management books, and a home owner. I’ve made mistakes in construction management, I’ve seen others make mistakes, but importantly I’ve had multiple successful construction projects and I’ve learned from the mistakes. I want to share these lessons and my knowledge with you.
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  • Construction Home
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