Traditional roofing is designed to shed water as soon as possible from the Green Roof Trays. Conversely, green roofing actually holds water on the roof. It may also make maintenance harder and can cost as much as 50% more to install. So why would you think about building a green roof?
What is ecological roofing? A green roof (GR) supplies a base on top of a structure by which various plant life may grow. Recent GR progress has been developed in Germany. About 10% from the buildings in Germany are now green. The covering is made up in layers, each layer fulfilling another function. The base layer sits on top of the substrate and offers a waterproof seal towards the building. This might come by means of metal tray roofing or even a synthetic membrane. A drainage layer is added to allow water to evacuate the rooftop, accompanied by a filter and root protection layer. The main protection membrane prevents plant growth from puncturing the waterproof membrane and causing leaks. The final layer is the growing medium wherein the plant growth is bedded. Green or “living roofs” could be split into three main categories. Extensive, Intensive and Bio diverse.
Extensive green roofs – Extensive GR, (also referred to as Eco roofing) is used to promote the development of mosses, herbs and grasses. The growing medium is comparatively shallow having a depth which is between 60-200mm. The load from the plant medium is 60-150kg per square metre. Eco roofing is utilized where there is very little or no human foot traffic and low maintenance roofing is required. This type of roofing is definitely the cheapest to put in.
Intensive green roofing – Roof gardens and park gardens are constructed using Intensive green roofing. This class of roofing supplies the widest selection of planting opportunities. Shrubs, flowers and even trees can be utilised. The depth in the growing medium is between 150-400mm. This pushes the body weight per square metre up to 180-500kg and requires a significant structure to support it.
Bio diverse green roofing – Bio diverse roofing is made to be left alone to reproduce an organic ecosystem. Soil levels on the surface are varied to generate a variety of different habitats for many different species. Local plants are grown and wind swept seeds are permitted to take root. Bio diverse roofing is often aimed at providing a specific habitat for any threatened species.
The rewards for the building – Green roofing can turn an unattractive urban roof into an aesthetically pleasing feature. Along with the aesthetic value added, living roofs provide numerous financial benefits. The waterproof membrane on roofs is subjected constantly to Ultra Violet light. These UV rays break up the top of the roofing causing leaks and the requirement for early replacement. The growing medium of living roofs supplies a protective layer preventing damage from the sun. This may twice the life span of the roofing and recoup the primary extra cost of installation. Further, green roofing supplies a thermal layer keeping your building cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Planners within local government have recently realized the advantages of ecological roofing. Many district councils offer financial incentives to developers using green roofing on new buildings. This trend continue as the necessity to reduce carbon emissions increases.
The rewards for the environment – Urban roofs built with traditional roofing materials absorb the suns rays and emit them as heat. This has triggered the urban heat island effect. This effect is most noticeable at night with urban areas being warmer than surrounding areas. The air temperature in London is all about 6 degrees higher at night because of the urban heat island effect. Green zjghhj fails to absorb the warmth radiation so the effect is mitigated. Thus, the requirement for air conditioner may be reduced in hotter climates.
Mass urbanisation leads to high water run off and flooding. Huge parts of concrete and tarmac stop the natural drainage of heavy rainfall. Green roofing absorbs between 50-75% of rainfall, gradually releasing it back into the environment. This evaporation process also cools the building reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions even more.
Depending on the growing medium and also the species present, green roofing can store approximately 239 grams of carbon per square metre. It possesses a valuable habitat for plants and insects along with providing food for bee’s and seed eating birds. Essentially ecological roofing replaces the green footprint removed by the building.
Modern roofing materials offer a lighter, much easier to maintain selection for eco roofing. Lightweight mats and module trays allow localized maintenance without the need to take the Green Roof Modules. Thinking about the huge financial and environmental benefits of living roofs, the future for green roofing looks rosy.