Green Roof Energy Savings
Introduction to Green Roofs and LEED Certification
A green roof is the roof of a building that is either completely or partially covered with vegetation, trees, and a growing medium. The vegetation is planted over a waterproofing membrane that prevents moisture leakage into the building. Green roofs may contain additional layers such as a root barrier, irrigation systems, and a drainage network. As many urban areas are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, green roofs are becoming more commonplace in major cities of the developed world (North America, Europe, and Japan).
Green roofs are also known as “living roofs” and serve many useful functions for a building: they absorb rainwater, provide insulation (which lowers energy bills), create a habitat for wildlife in the city, and help lower urban air temperatures. Generally, there are two types of green roofs– intensive roofs and extensive roofs. Intensive roofs are thicker and can support a wider variety of plants. However, because they are heavy, they require more maintenance. Extensive roofs, on the other hand, are lighter and are covered in vegetation that is less dense.
A 2005 study conducted by the University of Toronto showed that green roofs can reduce heat loss and energy consumption in winter and also keep a city’s average temperatures low during the summer. Moreover, green roofs help filter pollutants and carbon dioxide out of the air, promoting good air quality.
Green roofing fairfax va can also make positive contributions to an organization that chooses to have one installed: Green roofs have been known to contribute to a building’s LEED points. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized green building certification system. The LEED certified buildings are considered environmentally friendly as specified metrics like energy savings, water efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions, and improved indoor environmental quality have been met.
Furthermore, companies with “green” buildings can improve their corporate identity and generate public and community support for their endeavors. Green roofing washington dc and LEED certified buildings can benefit from incentives like tax and regulatory breaks, save money on lowered energy costs, and contribute to a less wasteful urban culture.
In addition, green roofing fairfax va has become increasingly sustainable due to improved roofing systems and can also increase a building’s real estate value dramatically. Lastly, they also provide an urban refuge for a plethora of plants, animals, trees, and insects that may not have a natural habitat in the city.
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Green Roofs – save energy – global warming action, innovation, carbon reduction – energy speaker
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