Why Green Roofs are Important to Minimise the Impacts of Climate Change in the UK

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WHY GREEN ROOFS ARE IMPORTANT TO MINIMISE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE IN THE UK
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Table of contents
Abstract......................................................................................3.
1. Introduction and research context.....................................................4.
2. Research aim and methodology.......................................................13.
3. Data analysis and discussion..........................................................15.
4. Conclusion...............................................................................23
5. References...............................................................................25.

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Abstract
The introduction of green roofs in future urban constructions of UK can soften and restore the
balance of the urban ecosystem and improve the quality of life, as demonstrated in the literature
review of the study. The implementation of the roofs should be cautious in the constructive
aspects, especially in relation to the process, technique and material used in the waterproofing of
the roof. A typical layout of a green roof consists of many layers, together with a vegetation
layer, a medium layer, a filtering-drainage layer, and a roof deck layer. The flexibility of such a
green roofs to retain water varies across sites due to climate and vegetation kind, as well as the
structure and properties of the layers and roof Finally,it is important note that green roofs have
more benefits than disadvantages.The only disadvantage levelled against the use of green roofs is
their cost,both initial and maintenance costs.From the findings it is evident that green roofs are
able to reduce temperatures of both buildings and surfaces at significant levels. Therefore green
roofs are important in minimising the impacts of climate change in the United Kingdom.

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Why Green Roofs are Important to Minimise the Impacts of Climate Change in the UK
1. Introduction and research context
1.1. Introduction .
While in most of the world the discussion is focused on avoiding global warming, the city
of London is already thinking of the inevitable. To this end, the UK 's capital city is launching an
innovative climate change adaptation program - the first of its kind in the world. The project is
being developed and must go through two phases of consultation - one in the city assembly,
another in public order (Demuzere et.al, 2014). By global nature, climate change has multiple
and interrelated impacts. In this context, green roofs have been used in various parts of the world
mainly for aesthetic purposes of valuing the urban space and for improving the environmental
comfort. These green areas can also serve to detain the flow surface, minimising urban floods.
Green roofs are characterised as cover or roof, which aggregates in its composition a layer of soil
or substrate and another of vegetation (Matthews et.al, 2015). They may also be classified as
extensive green roofs or intensive. Intensive green coverings are characterised by larger soil
layers which are 20 cm long, are medium-sized plants and shrubs, which require developing a
more complex environment, requiring a reinforced structure and with the loads distributed due to
the extra efforts promoted by plants, soil and water.
Some cities around the world have already taken steps to increase, improve and diversify
their green spaces. In the similar sense, London (UK) has expanded the number of green spaces
in the city in order to adapt with the consequences, which may arise due to global warming. Due
to global warming, people are suffering from diseases such as skin cancer. With a view to
minimising these impacts, the green roof comes as a sustainable alternative to mitigating impacts

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and proposing improvements to residents, especially in urban cities (Bulkeley, 2013). At the UK,
this technique is little used, but there are countless countries where it is widely used, with
government fiscal incentives per square meter of this roof. Many individuals are still unaware of
this practice or have doubts as to its advantages. Therefore, it is important to emphasise the
importance of having a study on the subject, and to seek counter benefits, which these green
roofs would deliver on the life of citizens.
1.2. Research context/ Background of the Study.
In the Renaissance period, in the city of Genova in Italy, ceilings with vegetation in
homes. One can also cite the example of Mexico in the pre-Columbian. In India, in the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries, and in some Spanish cities there were examples of vegetation
coverings. From this moment on, the emerged in some UK cities and throughout the mid-20th
century (Emmanuel & Loconsole, 2015). The big number of buildings with green roofs is due to
their optimum thermal performance, as a function of the combined layer between soil and
vegetation, which in environments of hot climates, prevent the passage of heat into of buildings
and in cold climates retain the heat within buildings for longer. In countries such as Germany,
Austria and Norway, the green roof concept is already broadly spread, including companies
specialised in the subject.
In the 1960s many techniques of green roof construction were developed, mainly in
Germany. In the 1970s the research intensified and various types of drainage materials,
waterproofing membranes, roots, low density substrates and suitable plant species. During the
1980's, the growth of buildings in UK was 15% to 20% per year, with a total of ten million
square meters of green roofs in 1996 in UK (Gupta & Gregg, 2012). This expressive growth was

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stimulated by municipal, state, and environmental laws that subsidised every square meter of
coverage to be built. In other countries, such as Austria, subsidies are divided into three stages,
design, implementation and three years after construction, to ensure the use and maintenance of
one of the great interests of these governments in supporting green hedging projects, associated
with the qualitative and quantitative benefits of managing urban climate.
1.2.1. Purpose of the Study
Through the process of green roof that aiding in humidification evaporative cooling that
lowers the temperature and increases air on hot summer days, vegetation acts as an evaporative
cooler decreasing the high temperatures. The green roofs also help to stabilise the climate,
reducing the thermal amplitude, absorbing energy and maintenance of the oxygen-carbon cycle
that is essential for air renewal. In this sense, this study has an intention to explore the potential
benefits of green roofs mainly in the cities of UK. The researcher wants to examine that which
impact should green roofs played in changing climatic environment.
1.2.2. Significance of the Study
It is observed in countries that have had rapid industrial growth that 70% to 80% of its
population resides in urban centers. By virtue of this great concentration urban population, the
concern to adapt the cities to the well-being of its inhabitants and of adding elements of nature to
its structural composition becomes even more important. Green roofs have positive features in
terms of comfort and well-being of its users, both internally and externally (Runhaar et.al, 2012).
Several positive results when using green hedges, psycho-emotional state of its users. It also
provides therapeutic activity, such as gardening itself, involved in the maintenance of the green