Advantages, Disadvantages, Opportunities and Threats of Green Roofs

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of green roofs in the context of construction. It begins with an introduction to green roofs, emphasizing their role and various components. The report then delves into the advantages of green roofs, such as their longevity, air conditioning benefits, and improvement of air quality and aesthetics. Following this, it explores the disadvantages, including higher installation costs, increased building weight, and maintenance expenses. Furthermore, the report discusses the opportunities presented by green roofs, like promoting urban greenery and ecosystem restoration. The report concludes by addressing the threats, such as a lack of skilled labor, government regulations, and maintenance costs. The report uses various sources to support its claims and provides insights into the present and future of green roofs in construction management.

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Green Roofs in Construction
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Green Roofs in Construction
Introduction
Buildings will always need roofs for the proper accomplishment of their functions
(Bryson, 2018). Different types of roofs are embraced in the society. Depending on the
environment of living, various types roofs will be preferred to ensure that comfort living is
achieved (Bryson, 2018). An individual bringing up a building will always consider the type of
roof to be habited on the building (Francis and Lorimer, 2011). The main reason is that they are
guided by different intentions before choosing to coming up with the structure. Therefore, to
ensure that the whole purpose is achieved fully, the roofs will be a significant consideration
(Francis and Lorimer, 2011). Green roofs form one of the standard types of roofs that are loved
by many citing the advantages associated with it and opportunities that come about when making
use of it (Francis and Lorimer, 2011). The roofs come with particular properties that allow it to
achieve the intended purpose in the society. Vegetation forms the primary cover for such a roof
(Nagase and Dunnett, 2012). Apart from that, it also has a medium that offers a conducive
environment for the growth of the related vegetation contained in the roof. The waterproofing
membrane forms the base for such growth that is to be experienced (Nagase and Dunnett, 2012).
In making it more stable through it sustainability process, it may go to the extent of having root
barriers and irrigation systems. Embracing the green roofs will greatly help in solving the
depletion of the wildlife from the urban areas and the beautiful views of the areas. For example
the Yarrow plants in green roofs that help in increasing the availability of the butterflies, moths
and the flies.
Advantages

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The cost of construction is one major factor that one does consider before taking on the
project (Kline and Rosenberg, 2010). The roof is a significant section of a structure that takes in
much of finances. Hence, many will always desire roofs that will last for a longer period
allowing for them to spend less making the management of the construction much easier (Kline
and Rosenberg, 2010). Green roofs play such a role excellently (Li et al, 2015). They are known
for being in a position to maintain their life for more than 60 years (Li et al, 2015). Apart from
the roofs, the air conditioning devices also increase the cost of coming up with a comfortable
structure (Reddy et al, 2016). The green roofs do reduce such a cost, as they are known for being
excellent in conditioning the air getting into the house at a particular time of the day (Reddy et
al, 2016). Using one aspect of construction in solving several challenges associated with
construction can facilitates efficient construction management. The smog greatly interferes with
the air quality that the community does need for its survival. Several members of the community
venturing into such forms of roofing will result in a significant improvement of the air quality in
the area (Li et al, 2015). The practice will too result in the reduction of the impact of carbon
monoxide in addition to the elimination of nitrogen pollution from the rain. The green vegetation
of the roofs makes the environment more beautiful significantly improving on the aesthetics in
the society. A common example is seen with Hypericum perforatum. The air quality will ensure
that each person to manage the construction efficiently hence, contributing to efficient
construction management.
Disadvantages
Before the use of the green roofs, there was the use of traditional roofs that have always
been produced at a lower cost (Tietenberg and Lewis, 2016). Such a trend led to an increase in
the number of individuals who could make use of the roofs for their houses (Tietenberg and

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Lewis, 2016). However, the green roofs led to the rise in the cost needed for the installation of
the roof. The roof is much heavier compared to the traditional roofs (McAlester, 2015). Most
structures have experienced an increase in the load they have to support for the stability of the
building to be maintained (McAlester, 2015). Hence, there is a need for extra support to support
the load. Several structural bars have been implemented in structures that greatly help in dealing
with such weights (McAlester, 2015). The major disadvantaging factor is that the bars are highly
expensive and will call for an increase in the expenditure needed to come up with the structure
(You et al, 2015). Hence, such an increase in cost led to most people not being in a position to
manage to install it.The costs do not stop at that stage, the maintenance of the roof will call for
spending more, and spending more time on the roof for it to sustain its thriving atmosphere as it
is expected by many (You et al, 2015). One can either do the task by themselves or assign it to
someone else. The increased costs made the management expensive for some individuals in the
society. One has to ensure to harbor extra finances so as to manage handling the whole
construction project with high levels of efficiency. The traditional Buddleais was one of the
common plants that is associated with increased higher costs of installing and maintenance. Most
of the landscapers and architects tend to avoid it citing such form of traits associated with them.
Opportunities
Vegetation has diverse effects on the society. It can affect the environment and living of
individuals both positively, and negatively depending on traits associated with it (Lippmann,
2017). Most human beings will seek to attain vegetation that can lead to an increase in food
production, increase the beautiful nature of the home environment, or instead lead to a sweet
scent in the home serene (Lippmann, 2017). The adoption of the green roofing system plays a
significant role in pushing for such forms of activities in the homes of many (Lippmann, 2017).

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As a result, there is a wide range of opportunity for the nurturing of such plants if the system is
to be adopted by each person (Jim, 2015). The urban ecosystem has several constituents
(Kabisch, 2015). One of the major components is the urban greenery. The ecosystem plays
diverse functions in the society including the acting as a natural sink for carbon and the other
harmful emissions to the environment (Kabisch, 2015). However, there has been rapid
urbanization that led to the high rates of the depletion of the green component of the urban
ecosystem. The use of the green roofs as a roofing method serves as an excellent opportunity to
ensure that the green component of the urban ecosystems is brought back to life (Jim, 2015),
hence offering another chance for comfort living of individuals in the urban areas. The result is
that the picture regarding construction management will transform and many will view it as an
avenue to make the industry beautiful. The Trailing Ice plant and Wavy hair grass are some of
the examples of vegetation that make the scenery to be beautiful with green and yellow coloring.
Organisms such as the Green Finch love being positioned in such areas. The result will be the
aesthetic nature of the environment is greatly improved.
Threats
Better performance in the society calls for having extra knowledge in handling diverse
tasks while embracing high levels of professionalism (Dror, 2017). Installation and maintenance
of green roofs call for highly skilled individuals who have a better understanding of the operation
of diverse vegetation and the different loads in structures to not only successfully install the roof
but also make it appealing (Dror, 2017). However, the limited knowledge capacity serves as a
threat to continuous better green roofs being displayed in the society (Matthews and Byrne,
2015). The government regulations significantly help in establishing order in the society
(Fukuyama, 2017). They will direct on the kind of roofs to be embraced (Fukuyama, 2017).

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Apart from that, they can always come in to offer support in the cases where individuals are
intending to carry out the activity but lack sufficient finances and skill (Fukuyama, 2017).
However, such regulations and incentives have not been there in the present society hence, acting
as a threat to the existence of excellent green roofs in the nation, which will push for a better
community (Matthews and Byrne, 2015). The maintenance cost that increases every other day
depending on the changes in climate is too a significant threat. Many might end up fearing for its
installation due to such expenses associated with it. There for the construction managers have to
try much and attain more knowledge regarding the installation of such roofs. The industry will
therefore, be effective citing their ability to handle diverse aspects associated with the industry.
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