Evidence For Green Roofs

For all papers that discussed the use of native plants on green roofs including those that did not promote the practice we looked for quantitative results to support or refute each of the three primary scientific arguments.

Evidence for green roofs.

Evidence from the uk mainland europe and north america has indicated that savings in energy made from green roof installations has provided payback times in the region of three to five years. But the evidence so far indicates that green roofs have the. The first record of green roofing appeared four thousand years ago in the hanging gardens of babylon one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Green roofs can reduce stormwater runoff via water wise gardening techniques.

In fact some studies suggest that the. Adaptation habitat and invasiveness. Evaluating the scientific evidence for the pro native arguments. Water is stored by the roof s substrate and.

A biosolar roof generates energy as well as providing all the benefits of a green roof. Green roofs play a significant role in retrofitting the low impact development lid practices in urban areas. All three types of roofs require specific layers of roofing materials not found on regular roofs. A study presented at the green roofs for healthy cities conference in june 2004 cited by the epa found water runoff was reduced by over 75 during rainstorms.

Though there is no archeological evidence of the gardens ancient greek roman and assyrian texts refer to the gardens implying that the idea of the green roof has always been planted firmly in the collective mind. A green roof in canary wharf london is estimated to save 5 000 per year while german studies has shown 2 litres year of fuel is saved for every. The basic anatomy of a green roof consists of vegetation growing medium filter membrane drainage layer waterproof root repellant layer roofing membrane support for plantings above thermal insulation vapor control layer and structural roof support. Six pioneering papers on the biological value of extensive green roofs are included here.

They have produced a small but growing body of evidence suggesting that green roofs can indeed provide living space for plants and animals at least mobile species such as invertebrates and birds. The evidence for uhi reduction at pedestrian level based on 17 identified studies is in our view fairly strongly documented while the evidence for air pollution removal at roof height with only four identified studies is relatively limited and more studies are recommended to properly document that green roofs can actually reduce air. For green roofs to become the norm for new developments there needs to be buy in from public authorities and private actors. But in fact both systems can benefit each other too.