Green Roofs are Cool: How Green Roofs Help the Environment
Thursday July 31, 2008
Imagine looking out the window of a skyscraper and seeing acres of meadow instead of steaming tar spread across the rooftops of your city. That vision is becoming a reality in an increasing number of communities as architects, homeowners and urban planners discover the advantages of green roofs that provide much more than mere shelter. Traditional roofs deflect rain and send it swirling into gutters and storm sewers where it picks up all sorts of pollutants before running into rivers and streams. Green roofs use soil and living plants to create a shelter that absorbs rainwater, saves energy, filters out pollution, and transforms wasted space into natural habitat for birds.
Learn more about green roofs and how they are being used in cities and towns all across the United States and elsewhere.
Photo of the green roof on City Hall in Chicago by Tim Boyle/Getty Images
Comments
Interesting…any more details or pictures of these green roofs?
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&contentOID=536912065&topChannelName=HomePage
Here’s a summarized info on the advantages of green roofs which kind of got me into it: green roofs
I want the idea of having “green roof”. Aside from it’s cool green representation. Though metal roofs are known to be relatively maintenance free and last longer than shingles in most situations. Slate roofs also have an excellent reputation for lasting long, getting work done on them can be expensive when they need repairs.
And Global warming has been issue, by green roof stays cooler in the sun, drinks up rainwater, and reflects sunlight that would otherwise heat the roof like a blowtorch on a steel girder.