In Germany (where green-roof research has the longest history), extensive green roofs are used as an economic alternative to other options. However, even homes that don't have a specific eco objective can benefit from the aesthetic and economical aspects of having an extended garden space. The environmental benefits are undeniable. 2: A green roof is only for a green building.Ĭertainly there are many green building certifications that award points for the installation of a green roof.

It’s the execution of them that has become more technical of late, allowing for thinner and lighter roof profiles. Green roofs have been around for centuries. It later became a middle-class suburb, with the green-roofed houses becoming quite sought after but rarely available.

The neighborhood was intended to be a social housing option for the needy, including former concentration camp prisoners. This roof and others like it were constructed in 1943 in one of three Norwegian settlements. As part of the conference program, we visited the small community of Wohldorf-Ohlstedt. Last May I was able to attend the International Green Roof Association’s conference in Hamburg, Germany. When do you think the residential green roof in this photo was installed? Five years ago? Ten? Maybe 20? This green roof has been protecting this German residence since the 1940s - more than 70 years ago! 1: Green roofs are a new and experimental part of the green trend.

new buildings must be built, by building them well, and in a common-sense and unpretentious way, with the good material of the countryside, they will take their place alongside of the old houses and look, like them, a real growth of the soil.Myth No. In the late nineteen-hundreds, William Morris wrote on the topic of the external appearance of roofs, saying: 'And where. The aesthetic benefits of roofs have long been a design concern in architecture. Reducing energy costs, providing insulation, and reducing roof replacement costs.Providing a habitat for animals and insects that is otherwise eliminated by development.Reducing storm water runoff (by as much as 75%), as well as providing filtration that improves water quality.Understanding the popularity and interest in green roofs might best be done by considering the benefits of green roofs and how they can accomplish multiple goals. Hardy succulents, which offer good ground cover, are often the primary plants and work horses on an extensive green roof. For extensive green roofs best plants are generally those that are low-growing, shallow rooted perennials that tolerate heat, cold, sun, wind, drought, salt, insects, and disease. These roofs are often self-sustaining and require minimal maintenance. Extensive green roofsĮxtensive green roofs have soil, or other growing medium, less than four to six inches deep and provide aesthetic and ecological benefits to the building and surrounding area. For intensive green roofs a large variety of plants are possible due to the thick planting medium layer which allows for deeper rooted plants such as: bushes, grasses, and even trees, to grow. These roofs often require maintenance and irrigation systems. These provide open space for people and gardens that can produce herbs and vegetables. Intensive green roofs involve roof gardens with soil, or other growing medium, that is more than six inches deep.