The green roof is the one building element that improves with age! Green roofs provide many benefits. A partial list includes:
- Controlling stormwater runoff, erosion and pollution, lessening the impact and cost of processing in sewage treatment plants and extending capacity.
- A green roof can hold 60 to 80 percent of a rain event. Water is released more slowly, helping to filter particulate matter out of water running onto landscapes and hardscapes.
- Water has more chance of running into the landscape as irrigation.
- Improving water quality
- Adds oxygen to the air
- Mitigates urban heat-island effects, cooling and cleaning the air
- Conserving energy
- Reducing sound reflection and transmission
- Reducing heating and cooling energy costs
- Creating wildlife habitats and biodiversity
- Reduces the spread of wildfires
- Increases the life of the roof, reducing landfill impact
- Can provide space for a rooftop farm
- Can provide habitat for pollinators
- When paired with solar panels, increases their overall performance by as much as 15 percent
- Improving the aesthetic environment in both work and home