Green Roofs Keep on
Growing
Find the Right One for Your Home
They may have
originated in
Thanks to the Mayor’s strong backing of eco-friendly permits
and building grants,
Besides the aesthetic benefits, green roofs can prove an environmentally and
economically sensible choice for homeowners. The green surface reflects light
and reduces the heat island effect, absorbs and manages storm water, and
reduces energy needs. While green roofs do lower heating and cooling bills
by 20% - 30%, an additional economic incentive is a greatly increased
lifespan.
There are two types of green roofs that can be installed on your home:
extensive roofs that have as little as 1" to 5" of soil depth
and intensive green roofs that require a minimum of 12" of soil.
Intensive will let you grow shrubs and trees, but requires more maintenance and
a flat surface. Extensive roofs, on the other hand, are more flexible and can
even work on sloped surfaces.
A new advance
in the construction of green roofs is modular systems like
the GreenGrid.
Their 2' by 2'-long modular trays of various soil depths can be combined to fit
any roof size—or budget. The planting trays, made of recycled plastic, can be
moved in and off the roof and rotated for maximum sun exposure.
The Chicago Center for Green
Technology used a similar system for their
extensive roof. “The design is simple and easy to rearrange or adjust
over the life of the roof as preferences or roof use may change over time,”
says director Stephen Bell.
So stop trying to keep
up with the Joneses' green lawn. Go for a green roof instead.
Click to learn more
about the GreenGrid system or for a guide on residential green roofs provided by the City of
info@afreshsqueeze.com