Green Roofs Save Owners More
Due to increased concern over global warming in U.S, many people want to turn their homes green. According to a study conducted by industry association Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, there has been an increase of 25 percent in the number of buildings opting for green roofs, in which the rooftops are layered with hearty plants such as sedum and prairie grass.
According to Leslie Hoffman, who is the executive director of the EarthPledge, the number of buildings currently opting for green tops is very less and should increase at a phenomenal rate. In the previous year, only 300 roofs in U.S were turned green. As per the opinion of many experts, there are numerous advantages of green roofs. The most important benefit is their ability to conserve energy. In the opinion of experts, a green roof can save up to 10 percent of a building’s energy costs. Apart from this, roofs covered with plants can nullify the effect of heat and radiation at a significant rate. These roofs also serve as water conservation and harvesting systems and also reduce the load of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They can also increase the efficiency of solar panels by as much as 15 percent.
However, installation of green roof systems is a difficult and expensive process. According to Christian Werthmann, who is a Harvard Professor in landscape architecture, the cost of developing a basic green roof using rocks and succulents can start from $6 per square foot. These systems must be engineered and installed carefully. Generally, lightweight organic mixture with mineral matter such as rocks or shale is used as a medium for growing plants on roofs. These roofs are designed in a way that they require almost no maintenance. Under certain conditions, even proper drainage and irrigation facilities are installed.
More Articles :
|
