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You’ve likely heard of Earth Day, but have you ever heard of World Green Roof Day? Observed globally on June 6 each year, World Green Roof Day celebrates and encourages home and business owners worldwide to become aware of green roofs and how they can help the planet’s plight. As more people become concerned about green gas emissions, expect to hear more about this concept.
Green roofs are also known as living roofs, eco-roofs, or roof gardens. They’re a supportive ecosystem which includes water filtering, fresh air, and vegetation sustained by managing rainwater that would have to be drained or treated otherwise. Designs vary, but the basic elements include decking, a root barrier, waterproofing and retention, soil or other growing medium, and plants like grass, moss, flowers, and even small trees.
History of Green Roofs and World Green Roof Day
Combining nature into architecture has existed since ancient times. Cave people had sod “rooftops” that supported plant life. Dating back to about 500 B.C., the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are now one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The gardens were built over beams of stone and incorporated layered reeds and tar for waterproofing.
In the 1960s, Germany became a pioneer of advanced technology that led to the creation of green roofs on a larger scale. Over decades, the concept spread around Europe. By 2002, the Swiss city of Basel passed a building and construction law requiring new and renovated rooftops to be greened. The purpose was to reduce surface runoff and lower temperatures.
In the United States, Chicago is currently the leader, boasting 300 commercial and civic buildings with green roofing. You’ll even see them on buildings owned by multinational corporations like Target and McDonalds.
As for the history of World Green Roof Day, it was founded by living roof veterans Dusty Gedge and Chris Bridgman in 2020. The two are also board members of the U.K.’s Green Roof Organization. The purpose was to raise awareness of green roofs and how they can make cities more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Types of Green Roofs
A green roof may be a small layer of sod with moss or grass or a full-scale park. No matter what size, the three types are extensive, intensive, and semi-intensive.
Mostly lightweight and uncomplicated, extensive green roofs consist of a thin layer of soil and are planted with succulents and other hardy plants. They’re easier and cheaper to install but still offer eco-friendly benefits. With that being said, because the water stays within the system, an engineer needs to be engaged to ensure the structure can handle the added weight of a green roof system.
As the name suggests, extensive green roofs are more like parks or gardens and are planted with a greater variety of plant life. They’re more costly to install and take more time to maintain but offer more eco-friendly benefits. Not to mention, they look very cool.
Falling somewhere in between, semi-intensive green roofs are like modest rooftop gardens. The layer of soil is deeper than it is in extensive green rooftops and can be planted with flowers and small shrubs. In some cases, the plants may be placed in gravel with a recirculating drainage system for the collected water.
Benefits of Green Roofs
Large or small, simple or intensive, a green roof will provide homes and businesses with benefits like the following:
Improve Energy Efficiency
Green roofs have an insulating effect that will save you money on heating and cooling costs. Your heating system or air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to maintain indoor temperatures. The ultimate payoff could also be the extended life of your HVAC system.
Better Air Quality
Good indoor air quality is important to good health. Pollutants in your indoor air aggravate allergies and lead to breathing problems. The vegetation planted on a green roof reduces air pollution and cuts greenhouse gases such as carbon, sulfur dioxide, and nitrous oxide. They act like an air filtration system to remove harmful matter from the indoor air.
Manage Stormwater Runoff
Managing rainwater runoff is a big problem in urban areas heavily laden with concrete and nonporous surfaces. One city block can generate up to five times more runoff from rainfall than a wooded area. The problem is worsening as climate change brings more intense storms across the country.
Green roofs help by retaining rainwater and using it to nourish plant life.
Creates a Natural Habitat
Green roofs increase biodiversity by providing a home for birds and insects in urban jungles. They are a great environment for providing food for local bee populations. Unused spaces are transformed into natural habitats that continue to attract wildlife.
Keeps Cities Cooler
All of the concrete, asphalt, and other building materials used in urban centers absorb and retain heat easily. The result is temperatures that can be 20 degrees +/- higher than outside the city. Green roofs provide shade and help alleviate the heat spike in urban areas.
Replaces Green Spaces
In recent decades, high-rise buildings have overtaken green spaces. Green roofs can replace some of the green spaces that could have been places for parks and city gardens. They can improve the quality of life by providing a gathering place for city dwellers to socialize. At least one study found that urban office workers are more productive when they have views of greenery from their windows. It sure beats looking at a white reflective roof in many instances.
Enhances Aesthetics
Just as green lawns and lush gardens add to the beauty of a home, rooftop gardens spread across the city make urban areas more attractive. Spaces that are otherwise dull and gray look better.
Helps Reduce Noise Pollution
While most people concentrate on air pollution, we shouldn’t overlook noise pollution. It can be irritating and cause unhealthy stress. The plants and soil on a green roof can reduce outside noise by as much as 50 decibels. Yes, not only do they look awesome, they help control sound.
Prolongs Roof Life
A green roof will protect homes and businesses from the damage of extreme weather and degradation. Plant cover is a great way to avoid the erosion effects of rainfall and flowing drainage water. According to the United States General Services Administration, a green roof may last longer than other roof types.
Roof Maintenance
A green roof will require a different level of maintenance than traditional roofs. Intensive green roofs require more maintenance than extensive or semi-extensive. Green roofs have additional weight, so they require a structure that can bear and distribute the weight. Factors that affect the level of maintenance include climate, location, and the type of vegetation planted. Minimum maintenance will involve the following practices.
- Regular inspection of each element
- Care of vegetation
- Inspection of structural integrity
- Irrigation management
- Safety inspections
No matter what type of roof you have, its most important role is keeping your household safe and dry. At BELDON Roofing Company in San Antonio, we have a TEAM of dedicated professionals who specialize in all types of roofing projects for your home or business. We provide a high standard of craftsmanship and work only with materials of the highest quality. You can rely on us to repair or replace your residential or commercial roof and perform timely roof inspections and maintenance.
