GREEN ROOFS

RESEARCH
What is a Green Roof?
A green roof system is an extension of the existing roof which involves, at a minimum, high
quality water-proofing, root repellent system, drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing
medium, and plants.
Green roof systems may be modular, with drainage layers, filter cloth, growing media, and plants
already prepared in movable, often interlocking grids, or loose laid/built-up whereby each component of
the system may be installed separately. Green roof development involves the creation of "contained"
green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at, or above grade, but in
all cases, it exists separate from the ground. Green roofs can provide a wide range of public and private
benefits and have been successfully installed in countries around the world.
A green roof system is an addition made to the roof of an existing building for growing flora.
Depending on the type of green roof you install, the plants may be modular or have drainage layers.
However, all green roofs include a few important features, such as waterproofing and root repellent, to
keep the structure safe and undamaged.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN ROOFS

The first green roof was developed long ago, with the earliest recorded instance being the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon, created in 500 B.C. At the time, the structure was built on stonework, using tar and
reeds as the lower protective layers.
The modern method of building green roofs, however, was formed in Germany during the 1960s, creating
the layering system that is implemented today. While fairly common in Europe, this practice is only now
starting to gain popularity in the United States.
Modern green roofs also differ from those made in ancient times because the technology has greatly
advanced. The layers utilized to create today’s iterations include soils, three different fabrics, and
drainage plates and mats. The drainage systems also make these stand out from previous versions,
utilizing the soils’ natural tendencies to guide the water in ways that help better maintain the system.
Scientists and engineers are still researching the best methods for green roofing. This is primarily
focusing on how green roofs might be built in different climates and environments, as well as the scale in
which these can be made.
Positive Benefits
 Green roofs offer many public, private, and design-based benefits.
Public Benefits
 AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS
 Urban greening has long been promoted as an easy and effective strategy for beautifying the built
environment and increasing investment opportunity
 WASTE DIVERSION
 Green roofs can contribute to landfill diversion by:
o Prolonging the life of waterproofing membranes, reducing associated waste

o Using recycled materials in the growing medium

o Prolonging the service life of heating, ventilation, and HVAC systems through decreased
use
 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
 With green roofs, water is stored by the substrate and then taken up by the plants from where it is
returned to the atmosphere through transpiration and evaporation
 In summer, green roofs can retain 70-90% of the precipitation that falls on them
 In winter, green roofs can retain between 25-40% of the precipitation that falls on them
 Green Roofs not only retain rainwater, but also moderate the temperature of the water and act as
natural filters for any of the water that happens to run off
 Green roofs reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and also delay the time at which runoff
occurs, resulting in decreased stress on sewer systems at peak flow periods
 Green roofs contribute to the increased absorbency capacity of a city. The effect of retention is
largest with small to average rain showers. With stronger and prolonged rain showers the
contribution to the retention capacity of a green roof is minor, as it is then already quite saturated.
 MODERATION OF URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

 Through the daily dew and evaporation cycle, plants on vertical and horizontal surfaces are able
to cool cities during hot summer months and reduce the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. The light
absorbed by vegetation would otherwise be converted into heat energy.

 UHI is also mitigated by the covering some of the hottest surfaces in the urban environment -
black rooftops.

 Green roofs can also help reduce the distribution of dust and particulate matter throughout the
city, as well as the production of smog. This can play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and adapting urban areas to a future climate with warmer summers.

 Through the heating of paved surfaces such as roads and buildings, the temperature in cities is on
average 3oC to 10oC higher than the surrounding countryside. Green roofs contribute to lowering
 the urban warming and improving the microclimate. The surface temperature of green roofs on a
sunny day in summertime is around 27oC, while a bitumen roof heats up to around 70oC.

Temperature curve based on the material surface on August 10, 1997 © Bauder, 2010
Through evaporation a green roof cools the direct environment, and the spaces below the roof
heat up less. This means less cooling is required for the buildings. Green roofs have a higher
albedo than black or tiled roofs. Through evaporation the surface temperature remains lower than
the white painted roofs which are currently praised. A city with more green roofs will remain
cooler than a city with white roofs. [Weiler, 2009]

Different temperatures on a normal roof and a green roof © Weiler, 2009

 IMPROVED AIR QUALITY

 The plants on green roofs can capture airborne pollutants, atmospheric deposition, and also filter
noxious gases.
 The temperature moderating effects of green roofs can reduce demand on power plants, and
potentially decrease the amount of CO2 and other polluting by-products being released into the
air.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that one green roof can capture 1 kg of particulate
matter per m2, capturing it in the soil and in the vegetation. A green roof also captures CO 2 from the air
and produces oxygen, as all plants do. Green roofs also filter other environmentally harmful elements
such as NOx [EPA, Green roofs, 2008].

Solar collectors work better in a cool environment and are excellenty combined with green roofs. © Amar
Sjauw En Wa

 NEW AMENITY SPACES

Green roofs help to reach the principles of smart growth and positively affect the urban
environment by increasing amenity and green space and reducing community resistance to infill projects.
Green roofs can serve any number of functions and uses, including:
 Community gardens (e.g. local food production or co-ops)
 Commercial space (e.g. display areas and restaurant terraces)
 Recreational space (e.g. lawn bowling and children's playgrounds)
 LOCAL JOB CREATION
 The growth of green roof markets gives new job opportunities related to manufacturing, plant
growth, design, installation, and maintenance.
 American Rivers suggests that a USD $10B investment could create 190,000 jobs by building
48.5 billion-square-feet of green roof area, or just one percent of the United States' roof space in
every community over 50,000 in population.
 There is significant potential for new growth in dense urban areas that were previously unusable.

Private Benefits
 ENERGY EFFICIENCY
 The greater insulation offered by green roofs can reduce the amount of energy needed to
moderate the temperature of a building, as roofs are the site of the greatest heat loss in the winter
and the hottest temperatures in the summer.
 For example, research published by the National Research Council of Canada found that an
extensive green roof reduced the daily energy demand for air conditioning in the summer by over
75% (Liu 2003).
  INCREASED ROOFING MEMBRANE DURABILITY
 The presence of a green roof decreases the exposure of waterproofing membranes to large
temperature fluctuations, that can cause micro-tearing, and ultraviolet radiation.
 FIRE RETARDATION
 Green roofs have much lower burning heat load (the heat generated when a substance burns) than
do conventional roofs (Koehler 2004).
 REDUCTION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
 Green roofs are capable of reducing electromagnetic radiation penetration by 99.4% (Herman
2003).
 NOISE REDUCTION
 Green roofs have excellent noise attenuation, especially for low frequency sounds. An extensive
green roof can reduce sound from outside by 40 decibels, while an intensive green roof can
reduce sound by 46-50 decibels (Peck et al. 1999).
 MARKETING
 Green roofs can increase a building's marketability. They are an easily identifiable symbol of the
green building movement and can act as an incentive to those interested in the multiple benefits
offered by green roofs.
 Green roofs, as part of the green building movement, have been identified as facilitating (Wilson
2005)
o Sales

o Lease-outs

o Increased property value due to increased efficiency

o Easier employee recruiting

o Lower employee and tenant turnover 

Design Specific Benefits

 INCREASED BIODIVERSITY
 Green roofs can sustain a variety of plants and invertebrates, and provide habitat for various bird
species. By acting as a stepping stone habitat for migrating birds they can link species together
that would otherwise be fragmented.
 Soil-dwelling species such as earthworms can only survive for prolonged periods of time if there
are thicker layers of substrate or partial substrate hills present, essential to their survival in
periods of frost. The largest selection of species will be found inhabiting a varied, multi-
structured vegetation. Extensive growth in combination with several substrate hills and a
vegetation of sedum/herbs/scrub with a structural element, such as a small pond, deadwood or
gravel patch is considered to be of highest ecological value [Mann, 1998].
  Increasing biodiversity can positively affect three realms:
o Ecosystem

 Diverse ecosystems are better able to maintain high levels of productivity during
periods of environmental variation than those with fewer species.
o Economic

 Stabilized ecosystems ensure the delivery of ecological goods (e.g. food,

construction materials, medicinal plants) and services (e.g. maintain hydrological
cycles, cleanse water and air, store and cycle nutrients)
o Social

 Visual and environmental diversity can have positive impacts on community and
psychological well-being
 IMPROVED HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
 The reduced pollution and increased water quality that green roofs provide can decrease demands
for healthcare.
 Green roofs can serve as community hubs, increasing social cohesion, sense of community, and
public safety.
 URBAN AGRICULTURE
 Using green roofs as the site for an urban agriculture project can reduce a community’s footprint
through the creation of a local food system.
 These projects can serve as a source of community empowerment, give increased feelings of self-
reliance, and improve levels of nutrition.
 EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
 Green roofs on educational facilities can provide an easily accessible site to teach students and
visitors about biology, green roof technology, and the benefits of green roofs.

NEGATIVES OF GREEN ROOFING

While green roofing can benefit you and the community, it is a costly process that can lead to
some unforeseen expenses:
 Insurance for green roofs is important, due to the potential of droughts or unforeseen storms, but
also is expensive.
 The weight of the green roof may result in liability issues if the pressure of it causes sagging.
 Any damage the plants might do to the building, such as the roots growing into the shingles, will
result in costly repairs.
THE COST OF GREEN ROOFS
The cost of a green roof varies between $15 and $25 per square foot for intensive roofs, and between $10
and $20 for extensive roofs. Much of this cost comes from the soil and growth concentrates, as well as the
plants. This cost increases depending on whether you’d like your plants to be individually planted as
opposed to pre-grown via a vegetation mat, and may also affect the ability and convenience of getting the
materials needed. While none of these components are particularly hard to find, transporting them to your
location may be expensive.
This is starkly juxtaposed to the cost of a green roof in Germany currently, which sits at between $8 and
$15 per square foot. This is due to the newness of the industry and technology in the U.S. and the increase
in custom projects associated with the market here.
 

DESIGN STANDARDS
When your green roof is being installed, three key points should be closely considered to ensure your
product lasts many years without issue or extensive maintenance costs.
The first of these is wind uplift, which can cause severe damage to both the green roof and the structure of
your house. If there is too much air pressure caught underneath the green roof when the wind blows
overhead, it may cause a pressure shift, pulling the greenery off the roof. To avoid this happening RP14
Wind Design Standard for Vegetable Roofing Systems was created to guide and protect buyers from this
issue.
 
Secondly, while green roofs provide fire retardation for your building, there is still a risk of the greenery
catching fire due to natural events in your area. This potential disaster can be minimized through the
implementation of VF-1 Fire Design Standard for Vegetative Roofs, a document made to guide the
“prudent design and mandatory maintenance regiment” of each unit.
Lastly, one of the biggest issues green roof owners face is the harm caused by the roots of the plants
burrowing into the roof of the house, tearing up the material and compromising the overall structure. The
VR-1 Procedure for Investigating Resistance to Root Prevention presents guidelines on how to safely
check the efficacy of barriers protecting your home and how they can be repaired or improved. This is
prominently for shorter-term effects and should not be relied on when studying the long-term effects of
chemicals or barriers.
 
LEED CREDITS
For those unfamiliar with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), it is a program
dedicated to rewarding those who build and/or maintain highly green structures. Receiving certificates
from LEED will financially assist with projects that fall under their definitions and regulations of what is
environmentally positive.
 
By installing a green roof onto your building, you may qualify to receive credits from LEED that can lead
to financial assistance. There are a variety of aspects of your green roof that can help you qualify,
including:
 Employing a variety of plants that promote biodiversity while requiring little or no upkeep.
 Decreasing the amount of storm runoff from your building by 60 percent or more, or by removing
large amounts of pollutants.
 Extensive reduction of the heat signature of your building, thus reducing your contribution to the
Heat Island Effect.
 The landscaping commonly required to keep the plants watered and irrigated is reduced by at
least half.
 Reducing the amount of waste your building creates by using it to fuel your green roof.
 Utilizing high amounts of recycled material in the creation of your green roof.
 Lowering the amount of energy generated by your building.


Three types of green roofs:

1. Extensive Green Roofs – designed for environmental solutions

 3- 6″ of light weight growing medium.

 low-maintenance ground-cover plants.
 ideal for large flat-roof buildings and apartments.
 suitable for low-sloped residential roofs and retrofits.
 desert grasses and succulent plants.
 after one year, they do not require watering.
 annual spring weeding of tree seedlings & weeds – brought in by birds and wind.

Whistler Daycare Centre: Extensive green roofs are ideal for schools, industrial parks, large big-
box stores and multi-family housing.
 

2. Intensive Green Roofs – also known as rooftop gardens

  8-12 inches, or more, of growing medium.
 fully landscaped roof top garden.
 require regular maintenance -similar to an at-grade garden.
 diverse plants and trees can be planted (avoid plants with invasive root systems).
 walkways, railings and lighting.
 parks, playgrounds or vegetable gardens are possible

3. Semi-intensive Green Roofs – elements of both extensive and intensive systems

 Semi-intensive roofs, combinations of both extensive and intensive green roofs, are typically
adopted to harness both the environmental benefits of a green roof, as well as a diverse garden
within a manageable maintenance budget.

Chicago City Hall: Light weight soils at 4, 6 and 18 inches in depth.

Vancouver Public Library: Semi-intensive

green roofs are ideal for long-term care
facilities, daycare play spaces, employee
picnic areas, and urban agriculture.
Construction

The basic build-up of a green roof

is three layered: drainage, filter and
vegetation layer. Each layer needs
to fulfil several functions to
decrease the height and the weight
of the overall build-up.

Vegetation

Type of planting depends on depth

of the growing medium layer as
well as other factors. (see above)

Growing medium

Grain size, water retention, air

volume, weight and nutrient
reserves. The soil needs to be
stable, not prone to settlement, well
aerated even with water saturation
and free of weeds.

Drainage

This layer retains drains water off the roof, protects the root proof layer from being mechanically
damaged, retains water for times of drought and provides the substrate with a balanced supply of water
and air.

Insulation

(Warm roof rigid insulation)

Root membrane

This prevents roots from damaging the waterproofing. The membranes specification depends on the
planned landscape and the slope of the roof.

HOW TO CONSTRUCT A GREEN ROOF

Here are some easy-to-follow guidelines for the construction or installation of a green roof:
 First, you need to install a waterproof membrane that possesses monolithic properties; it could be
made of plastic or rubber, and it fits on top of the traditional roof decking.
 Next you have to place one sheet of plastic with a maximum width of 6 millimeters over the
already-installed waterproof membrane.
 Now it is time to install one or more sheets of foam insulation with a 3/4-inch width over the
plastic sheet; this layer provides proper contact with the damp soil.
 If the space directly below the green roof doesn’t have proper conditioning, simply provide some
protection to the waterproof membrane. This protection can be made up of fan-board-type insulation
or it can be a layer of building felt.
 After this protective layer, you have to add one drainage mat with capillary spaces at the top
portion of the insulation. To prevent soil from clogging over the mat, place the mat in such a manner
that the felt side faces upward.
 Now pay attention to framing of the sides of the roof. This can be done with the help of wood,
mesh gutter-type guards, or some other type of edging material that can hold soil with more strength
to keep it in the right place.
 Sometimes it may require intermediate angle-type support to improve sturdiness over vertical
edging.
 The horizontal leg in this support system can be slipped under a drainage mat that is weighted
with a specific amount of topping soil so that overturning can be avoided.
 Once the structure is ready, add soil to the sections.
 After this, set your plants in specific locations.
 Finally, you need to water the area to allow for the proper settling of plants.

GREEN ROOF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Here are a few details about some of the most useful green roof designs:

 Roofs without any thermal insulation:

This is the best choice to cover non-heated areas of your property, like porch roofs and garage roofs.

 Roofs with thermal insulation:
Green roofs are installed after proper examination of the load-bearing ability of a traditional roof; thermal
insulation roof installation can be done on:

 Non-ventilated  roofs:

They are also known as warm roofs; for them, we need a very-high-quality vapor barrier that is
implemented right from the planning and design stage.

 Ventilated  roofs:

These roofs possess low weight-holding capacity, so we need to design a lightweight green roof
construction; the cooling effect of these cold roofs is maintained with the help of specific layer
construction.

 Inverted  roof:

Here the thermal insulation is installed directly above the waterproofing layer; it contributes to the area
with variable levels of moisture.

 DUO  roofs:

These roofs consist of additional thermal layers that work like an advanced drainage mechanism.

Green roofs have been gaining in popularity over the last few years and can be easily seen in most cities
and villages.

In some highly civilized cities or towns, you will find green flat roof construction over buildings that
provide easy access to the complete portion and that offer easy maintenance.

 
References:
 https://greenroofs.org/about-green-roofs
 https://cabaus.org/2018/04/20/green-roofing-everything-need-know/
 https://www.nps.gov/tps/sustainability/new-technology/green-roofs/define.htm
 https://www.urbangreenbluegrids.com/measures/green-roofs/
 https://commons.bcit.ca/greenroof/faq/what-are-the-different-types-of-green-roofs/
 https://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/green-roofs-1/
 https://myrooff.com/green-roofing-construction/

 Do you think that greenroofs/ecoroofs are applicable to the Philippines? Explain your answer in
300 to 500 words. *
Think of a place in Metro Manila where greenroofs can be used and explain your choice of place
as well as the benefits of using the green roof in that particular area. Your answer should be between 300
to 700 words. *