Thursday, October 3, 2013

Learn About Sustainable Green Roofing

By Rhea Solomon


A green roof is one that is filled either partially or completely with vegetation. This is a new trend which is quite unique aesthetically and has several benefits to it. There are various purposes to having these types of roofs; they include absorbing water from the rain and provision of insulation. There are other forms of roofs which are not usually considered truly green, they include container gardens. It is also possible to have roof ponds which are usually used in treating grey water. There is a lot to learn and benefit from when it comes to sustainable green roofing.

Green roofs have been in existence for quite a while; however they were not like they are these days. Today they use planting medium to plant vegetables and other agricultural products. This is a generally new trend that was developed in the 60s in Europe. There are also many countries, mainly European, that have promoted this as a form of environmental conservation. Some cities have even come up with policies encouraging the use of these roofs.

Green roofs are categorized into two, extensive and intensive. These are decided on the basis of soil depth and the amount maintenance your plants will need. The intensive type needs about 80 to 150 pounds of the growing medium per square foot whereas all the extensive type needs is 10 to 25 pounds.

Intensive roofs require a large depth of soil, a lot of labor and may need high maintenance due to irrigation and feeding. By contrast, extensive roofs are optimized for virtual self sustenance. It requires minimal maintenance, maybe weeding once a year or applying fertilizer only once in the same time frame. Whereas the intensive roofs might be accessed for a plethora of reasons, the extensive ones are often accessed for maintenance reasons mostly.

There are benefits, both financial and environmental, to owning this roof. One of the financial reasons is to reduce the rate of wearing out of the roof. This happens through the plantation preventing the UV rays from reaching the roof itself. Having this kind of roof will also increase the value of your home. This type of roof will also reduce the amount of energy you use in your home.

There are several financial benefits that come with owning these roofs. One of them is that these roofs increases the lifespan of the roofing material as there is no UV reaching it. Having this type of roofing also increases the value of your home significantly. This roof will also ensure you pay lower costs for energy.

Since this phenomena is being used more and more in urban areas there are some factors that should be considered before installation takes place. One of them is the drainage of the storm runoff. Stagnant water will not only inhibit growth of the vegetation but will also bring about diseases. Also consider the micro climate of the area.

In this day and time it is important to be environmentally responsible in whatever capacity. There are also many financial benefits which should motivate you to have this type of roof. For more information about sustainable green roofing there are professionals who can help.




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