Hoosierhillsinc - Landscape Designer

I didn't know.

Not until a couple weeks ago when I started doing some research and uncovered so much information that I felt like I just learned about TIVO. And I don't believe that I'm the only one; who really knows someone with a green roof or has even seen a green roof installation? If you live in St. Louis or nearly anywhere in the U.S. then the chances are nil.

Couple facts and benefits:

• 12% of the roofs in Germany are Green Roofs. (That's Amazing)
• Green Roofs can be designed with no/low maintenance plants or with nice, higher maintenance vegetation.
• Green Roofs can be installed on slopes. (Pure Genius)
• Green Roofs cost btwn $10-15 per sq foot. (Cheaper than I thought)
• The City Government of Chicago has a Green Roofing and rooftop garden program
• Green Roofs protect the sun from beating down on the roof in the summer and provide insulation in the winter.
• Green Roofs help to control storm run-off and protect city storm sewers from becoming overwhelmed.
• Green Roofs help roofs last 2-3 times longer.
• Green Roofs provide a space for wild life (mainly birds)
• Green Roofs look better than black tar roofs. (Unless you're a black tar roofer I suppose)
• Green Roofs help reduce carbon dioxide.

Now if you're as amazed as I am, then continue reading.

There are lots of manufacturers in the green roof industry. Some provide the materials needed for integrating the green roof right into your roof just like what you'd think. Other provide a more plug and play system which basically allows you to set deep trays of vegetation just an inch above your existing roof. Each application has benefits/drawbacks and should be considered per situation. The #1 factor to think about is the strength of the existing roof.

Don't think this is the end of my green roof ambitions. I'll do a project at some point. In the meantime, check out these additional resources:

1. The city of Chicago is an AWESOME resource. Tons of down loadable guides and useful resources at the bottom of the page.

2. The Live Roof system is a plug n play system similar to Green Blocks.

3. 3 page decent overview of Green Roofs.

4. Michigan State is doing some research on green roofs

Now that I've uncovered this new world, I'll share more info if I find it.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 10th, 2007 at 1:00 am, and is filed under Landscaping News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.