With a global focus on sustainability, there is an increasing need to go green in almost every facet of our daily lives. There has been a global increase in the adoption of green roofs in the roofing sector. A green roof, sometimes called a garden roof or a rooftop garden, refers to vegetations deliberately grown on the roof.
One of the most important benefits of adopting a green roof is that it significantly reduces energy consumption and cost. Unlike regular roofs, which attract heat, green roofs absorb heat and naturally insulate buildings. The National Research Institute of Canada noted that planting a six-inch plant can cut down energy consumption during summer by 75 percent. This is possible because green roofs reduce the need for air conditioners and purify the air from pollution.
Further, roof gardens are crucial to sustainability because they ensure that rainwater is put into reasonable use. People tend to overlook rainwater. However, it is one of nature’s gifts than ensures a smooth energy flow in the entire ecosystem. Having plants on the roof will facilitate increased rainfall that people can store for future purposes, or the water diverted into the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration.
Asides from air purification, green roofs play an essential role in reducing noise pollution. This is because soil and plants are effective noise absorbers. Similarly, they deflect sound waves, significantly reducing the effect of noise made in urban and busy centers like airports and rail stations.
Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect refers to the high-temperature levels in urban centers worldwide. Urban centers are more prone to heat waves and increasing heat levels because concrete generates more heat than trees and plants. Therefore, cities are called urban heat islands because of the prevalence of concrete, producing more intense heat levels than rural areas.
When more urban areas adopt roof gardens, there will be a significant reduction in heat levels. Roof gardens result in increased plant evaporation which cools down cities and reduces the UHI effect. Further, because concrete is a powerful heat source, replacing them with plants reduces heat levels.
Roofs that have gardens on them tend to last longer than roofs with none. Roof gardens protect roofing materials from natural and corrosive elements like the sun, wind, and rain. With green roofs, you can triple the longevity of your roof by an average of 60 to 70 years. Asides from the money saved from the longevity of the roofs, green roofs ensure that you spend fewer funds maintaining roofing materials.
Green roofs serve as fire resistance for buildings. This is because plants contain a significant amount of moisture that reduces the spread of fire. Biodiversity is an essential aspect of sustainability. Plants like grasses, herbs, and shrubs tend to house tiny insects and birds that help balance the ecosystem.
Consequently, because garden roofs ensure the longevity of the roofing materials, the property tends to depreciate slower than other buildings with regular roof types. You are guaranteed that your building’s roofing span is extended by about 200 percent with a garden roof.
One of the most important benefits of adopting a green roof is that it significantly reduces energy consumption and cost. Unlike regular roofs, which attract heat, green roofs absorb heat and naturally insulate buildings. The National Research Institute of Canada noted that planting a six-inch plant can cut down energy consumption during summer by 75 percent. This is possible because green roofs reduce the need for air conditioners and purify the air from pollution.
Further, roof gardens are crucial to sustainability because they ensure that rainwater is put into reasonable use. People tend to overlook rainwater. However, it is one of nature’s gifts than ensures a smooth energy flow in the entire ecosystem. Having plants on the roof will facilitate increased rainfall that people can store for future purposes, or the water diverted into the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration.
Asides from air purification, green roofs play an essential role in reducing noise pollution. This is because soil and plants are effective noise absorbers. Similarly, they deflect sound waves, significantly reducing the effect of noise made in urban and busy centers like airports and rail stations.
Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect refers to the high-temperature levels in urban centers worldwide. Urban centers are more prone to heat waves and increasing heat levels because concrete generates more heat than trees and plants. Therefore, cities are called urban heat islands because of the prevalence of concrete, producing more intense heat levels than rural areas.
When more urban areas adopt roof gardens, there will be a significant reduction in heat levels. Roof gardens result in increased plant evaporation which cools down cities and reduces the UHI effect. Further, because concrete is a powerful heat source, replacing them with plants reduces heat levels.
Roofs that have gardens on them tend to last longer than roofs with none. Roof gardens protect roofing materials from natural and corrosive elements like the sun, wind, and rain. With green roofs, you can triple the longevity of your roof by an average of 60 to 70 years. Asides from the money saved from the longevity of the roofs, green roofs ensure that you spend fewer funds maintaining roofing materials.
Green roofs serve as fire resistance for buildings. This is because plants contain a significant amount of moisture that reduces the spread of fire. Biodiversity is an essential aspect of sustainability. Plants like grasses, herbs, and shrubs tend to house tiny insects and birds that help balance the ecosystem.
Consequently, because garden roofs ensure the longevity of the roofing materials, the property tends to depreciate slower than other buildings with regular roof types. You are guaranteed that your building’s roofing span is extended by about 200 percent with a garden roof.
