Green Roofing Facts

An intensive green roof is heavier more expensive and more complex than its counterpart.

Green roofing facts. A green roof is a layer of vegetation planted over a waterproofing system that is installed on top of a flat or slightly sloped roof. Extensive green roofs have a shallow soil base usually a formulated compost two to six inches deep. Green roofs are comprised of plants and soil and will help to reduce sound. Adding a lovely aesthetic to neighborhoods and urban construction areas aa well as helping to feed the masses if gardening is incorporated into the green roof.

Green roofing systems consist of several layers including vegetation growing medium and protective root barrier. The green roof acts as a bio filter basically as a big sponge that sucks up dirt and pollution in the air. Image courtesy of earth pledge. In winter they retain between 25 40 percent.

Depending on the structure the green roof is being built on green roofs can either be intensive or extensive. A green roof or living roof generally incorporates a system of layers that include waterproofing drainage soil and growing vegetation. Here s a great infographic with some cool facts about ford s green roof in summer depending on the plants and depth of growing medium green roofs retain 70 90 percent of the precipitation that falls on them. They act as a kind of trap for storm water absorbing 50 to 80 per cent of rainfall and cooling the excess before it washes into the storm drain system.

For example a grass roof with a 4 20 cm 1 6 7 9 inches layer of growing medium can hold 10 15 cm 3 9 5 9 inches of water. Green roofing is a unique feature that has several significant benefits to the building environment and for green living. They fall into three main categories extensive intensive and semi intensive.