Posted by QuickReadAbout.com Staff in The Green roof is cool roof type that is not only good for the ecology but is also excellent at controlling the temperatures inside the home and its immediate environment. Green roofs is believed to have originated centuries ago from Scandinavia as the sod roof. The modern green roof though was startd in Germany in the 1960’s and has gained popularity ever since that about 10% of the houses in Germany is green roofed. The popularity also spread in other parts of the world particularly the US, Australia, Austria, Japan and the Netherlands and England. In Switzerland, a federal law covers green roofs since the 1990’s.
The benefits of a green roof
->Insulation value of the roof is dramatically improved. A study conducted in Canada found that cooling needs are reduced to 26% during summer in houses with green roofs. Likewise, winter heat losses are reduced by 26 %. Either way, there is a dramatic savings in power costs alone.
->While reducing electricity costs, greening the roof increases the lifespan of the roof and most of its other components by three times. Green roofs shield the roof from the weathering effects of high temperatures. During the summer months surface temperature could rise by 80 degrees Celsius. Heated objects expand. The expansion may not be much for traditional and popular roofing, even for the asphalt based roofs but expansion and contraction especially in areas where the roof is subjected to extreme temperatures shortens the roofs lifespan. On the other hand, clear winter nights drops the roofs temperature to 20 degrees Celsius below zero that causes winter erosion and could fracture roof surfaces.
->Many governments are supporting roof greening as it is a very efficient way of controlling urban heat islands. Especially in urban and places where housing is congested, roofs of houses that were made of traditional materials soak in the heat of the sun and re emit this back to the surrounding areas that causes increases in temperatures. This re emitting of the sun’s rays causes the surroundings to heat up by four degrees Celsius that over burdening power grids and causing high energy generating costs aside from the discomfort that results.
->Green roofs have been proven to retain as much as 75% of water. This translates to decreasing runoff water and decongesting the sewage and drains during rains and is especially useful in areas where there is a combined sewer-storm water systems. The retained water is released back into the atmosphere as the plants retain the pollutants contributing to cleaner air and surroundings.
->Space is expensive. Turning the space green makes this part of the house useful not only as a space to cultivate plants but as a habitat for insects, plants and small animals.
->A green roof contributes much to the visual appeal of the house. In urban settings, a green roofed houses increases in value.
->Green roofs in rural settings could be constructed to mimic its surrounding providing it a aesthetically pleasing visual effect.
Many Governments around the world is supporting the green roof program and conducting trainings aside from laws that are passed in support of it. Green roofs are not only excellent roofing alternatives, green roofs when adopted widely will aid in creating healthy cities.