The Benefits of Green Roofs and How to Install Them

Green roofs offer a number of benefits to homeowners and commercial property owners. They are easy to install, require minimal maintenance and can improve the look of a building.

One of the biggest benefits is storm water management. Green roofs absorb and filter rainwater, reducing the amount of runoff that runs into sewer systems. They can retain 70-90% of rainfall in the summer and 25-40% in the winter.

Reduced Energy Costs

Green roofs are an effective way to reduce energy costs and improve building sustainability. In addition, they can help lower carbon emissions and reduce the urban heat island effect by reducing air temperatures and cooling the interiors of buildings.

They also help control storm water runoff and retention, a major concern in many urban areas because of the increasing amount of impervious surfaces. Green roofs intercept rainfall before it makes contact with the ground, allowing some of the water to be retained in the vegetation while others deflected away from the surface.

A study by the National Research Council of Canada found that a green roof can reduce the average building’s energy demands for cooling in the summer by as much as 75%. This can result in savings of approximately $0.23 per square foot.

Additionally, they can also improve the quality of the air around them by filtering out fine dust and other pollutants from the atmosphere. This can prevent a buildup of indoor allergens and reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses.

In some cases, they can also improve the aesthetics of a building and its surroundings by adding greenery to the surrounding landscape. This can increase the value of a building and attract tenants.

Finally, green roofs can also be a great way to encourage people to get outside and spend more time in nature. Studies have shown that spending time outdoors can lower stress levels, improve productivity and improve the quality of a person’s life.

When you consider all the benefits of a green roof, it is easy to see why they are becoming an increasingly popular choice among building owners and architects. However, there are some things to keep in mind when considering installing a green roof.

Reduced Emissions

Green roofs are an effective way to combat climate change because they reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. They can also help prevent cities from suffering from the urban heat island effect, which increases air temperatures and energy consumption. Clovis roofers often recommend this type of roof when clients ask about environmental-friendly roof options.

A green roof absorbs and reflects sunlight, which can help lower indoor temperatures and lower energy costs. They can also help improve air quality by reducing the amount of particulates and other pollutants in the air.

This can be especially important for people living and working in large urban centers, where the concentration of polluted air is high. In addition, green roofs absorb and store excess water, which can help decrease the volume of runoff from impervious surfaces.

When compared to concrete, asphalt, and other conventional building materials, green roofs can significantly reduce emissions. They can capture as much as 1.79 kilograms of carbon dioxide per square meter annually.

In addition, the vegetation on a green roof can also improve air quality by removing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. This can lead to better overall health and higher productivity levels.

Additionally, a green roof can help clean up polluted waterways. It can stop stormwater from entering local water bodies and reduce the amount of pollution that is released into sewage systems.

Green roofs are an attractive, eco-friendly option for new and existing buildings. They are easy to install and require minimal maintenance. They can be installed on a variety of roof types, including concrete, steel, and tile. They can also be designed to fit any architectural style. If you are interested in installing a green roof, contact us today for more information.

Reduced Noise

Green roofs absorb sound and reduce the amount of noise entering your home. This makes them a good option for homeowners in noisy areas.

In densely populated areas, green roofs can also help minimize the sound of heavy vehicles like trains and buses. Tests have shown that a green roof can reduce outside noise by 40 decibels.

Several factors influence the sound absorption of green roofs, such as the thickness of the substrate layer and the moisture content of the growing medium. Water in the growing medium can increase sound absorption by up to 10 dB.

This effect can be particularly pronounced for frequencies that are too low for the growing medium to withstand. However, with increasing frequency, the growing mediums can still withstand the sound.

Numerical simulations were performed to examine the sound attenuation of extensive green roofs compared to a flat rigid roof. Using the same building geometry, which includes two coupled urban canyons and a connecting flat building, the effects of the green roof were studied in detail (figure 1).

A comparison of a 33 m2 traditional cover with an extensive green roof shows that the vegetated surface provides a sound insulation of 5 to 13 dB for low-frequency noise between 50 and 2000 Hz, and 2 to 8 dB for higher-frequency noise in the range from 1 kHz to 3 kHz.

This reduction in road traffic noise has significant implications for shielded building facades, especially when rigid solar panels are used. The results show that replacing a rigid roof by an optimized green roof increases shielding from road traffic noise up to 10 dB.

Increased Property Value

Green roofs and walls can significantly increase the property value of buildings, on several levels. They are also an important part of a healthy and sustainable urban environment, bringing a wide range of benefits to citizens and visitors alike.

In addition, they can help reduce water pollution and stormwater runoff. This is due to the way that a green roof absorbs rainfall, and its ability to saturate soil. This naturally slows down and minimizes water runoff, which can lead to reduced cost for building owners.

Another benefit of green roofs is their ability to sequester carbon. This can help to mitigate the effects of climate change, and it can also have other environmental benefits, such as reducing soil erosion.

A green roof can also have a positive impact on human health. It can provide a healing environment, encouraging relaxation and reducing stress. It can also help to ease symptoms of illnesses, such as respiratory problems and allergies.

In some cases, green roofs can even improve the quality of air around buildings. Studies have shown that green roofs can filter out fine particles of airborne pollutants and gaseous contaminants.

Moreover, they can also reduce noise levels. For example, the roof of one office building in San Francisco was installed with a mixture of indigenous grasses and wildflowers that were able to absorb more than 40 decibels of sound from heavy traffic.

In New York State, it is possible to obtain a property tax abatement for installing a green roof. This requires that a licensed professional engineer (PE), registered architect (RA), or landscape architect prepare a four-year maintenance plan. The green roof must also meet certain design criteria, including a layer of vegetation that covers at least 50% of the rooftop area and drought-resistant, live plants spaced at least 80% of the planted layer.

Reduced Maintenance

Green roofs provide benefits that are not only environmental, but also economic and social. They reduce energy costs, improve air quality, and increase property values.

In addition to these benefits, green roofs require less maintenance than traditional roofs, thereby decreasing the cost of operating them. In some cases, this can even be a positive benefit because it means that homeowners or business owners have more time to spend on other tasks, including garden work.

Plants on a green roof can help filter out fine particles in the air and absorb gaseous pollutants. In addition, they can help prevent the buildup of heavy metals in a building or area.

Some plants on a green roof can also be beneficial to human health, especially for people with asthma. In fact, some studies have shown that trees and shrubs on a green roof can even help to reduce symptoms of asthma in individuals.

A green roof can also reduce the amount of noise that is heard in a space, because it can absorb impact and environmental noise. This is an important benefit for residents of areas that are affected by high levels of noise.

Compared to traditional roofs, green roofs can reduce noise levels in buildings by up to 90%, and by up to 50% in residential areas. This is because they help to absorb impact noise and reverberate it back into the space, creating an improved soundscape.

Several factors influence the level of maintenance needed on green roofs, including site conditions (e.g., weeds), the growing medium depth, and the design. Among the most common maintenance tasks on a green roof are weed control, irrigation, pruning, and debris removal.