Green Roofs
Green Roofs
Green roofs have a layer of vegetation, or patches of vegetation, as part of the roof cover.
Green roofs can:
reduce or eliminate run-off from roof areas
extend the life of your roof
add insulation to your building during the winter months
cool your building during the summer by evaporation
provide sound insulation
reduce the heat island effect in cities
provide habitat for wildlife.
There are different types of green roof. They range from intensive systems, which have deep soil capable of growing shrubs and even trees, to extensive systems which have a thin layer of vegetation such as sedum mats.
If you want to have a green roof you should consider it at the construction stage of a building. Green roofs add weight and you may need to take this into account.
It is more likely that you could add an extensive system to an existing building as these have less weight. But you should always consult an engineer to make sure that the structure is adequate.
Green roofs are an example of source control. Source control measures deal with run-off at, or close to, the surface where rainfall lands. You may need to use additional sustainable drainage system (SUDS) components to control any overflow.