Green Roofs: Benefits, Cost, and Future Developments

Running Head Green Roofs 0
Green Roofs

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Executive summary
In this report, green roofs/Walls will be explained along with the history and how it is beneficial
for the environment. The cost benefits will be discussed for using the green roofs as it helps an
individual in saving tax and also the government provides incentives for installing the green roof
system in their buildings. The objective is of the study is to review the latest concepts and
technology on green roofs. The recent developments in the sustainability of green roofs will be
discussed and how further it can be improved for the betterment of society. Awareness is
necessary for an individual to know more about the green roof system because it will help in
making the city better for the future. An example will be discussed of Brisbane where the green
roof has been implemented and the council has decided to support the green roof system and
encouraged designers to implement green roofs in new buildings.

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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Sustainability...................................................................................................................................4
Legislation.......................................................................................................................................7
The Future........................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
Reference.......................................................................................................................................10
Introduction

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When the building’s roof is used partly or entirely for the purpose of growing vegetation
and planted after applying waterproofing membrane. It includes high-quality waterproofing,
drainage system, and irrigation systems. It is a structure made by humans and an extension of a
roof which already exist. Green roofs can be intensive and extensive, accessible or inaccessible
(Dunnett & Kingsbury, 2008). The green walls are made with a strategy with a cooling house.
Green roofs will be applied in different types of buildings it can be residential and commercial,
industrial, or any educational building, it can be private homes also. It helps in improving the
quality of life.
Green roofs began hundreds of years ago and the hanging gardens in Babylon were the
most famous green roof garden. In 1970, when the oil crises happened in West Germany, they
explored and adopted lightweight of sod roofs for energy conservation. Extensive green roofs
were lauded for the benefits as it is a cost-effective solution for the environmental problems of
urban cities. It was estimated that in Germany approx. 13 million roof areas will be covered with
plants (Oberndorfer, Lundholm, Bass, & Rowe, 2007).
In the world, other cities have also learned about the various benefits of green roofs and
the adoption of lightweight technology helps the cities in growing worldwide. In 1999, North
America has founded and made the association with the industry of green roofs for making the
cities healthy and annual conferences has been organized every year for green roof
developments. Many cities have adopted policies and programs to promote extensive green
roofs.
Green roof is an extension of the existing roofs. The basic elements are required for the
green work: A waterproofing membrane and the various layers of soil. A green roof can be done
extensively for a lightweight and intensive roof for light to heavyweight. The different types of
green roofs and walls are the extensive and intensive green roofs. Extensive roofs require a thin
layer of soil that is suitable for rooted plants because they are easy to maintain. Extensive green
roofs are light weighted and low maintenance is required. These roofs are often used for
residential buildings. It ranges from 1.6 to 6 inches deep. An intensive roof requires the deeper
soil so that it will help in growing hardier flora like trees which has stronger roots. It has a
greater depth than the extensive green roofs. It has mostly used in commercial buildings where
large green areas are maintained with all sizes and different types of plants