![]() ![]() All this water is retained by the growing medium and vegetation of the green roof. Green roofs help to prevent this from happening by reducing over 75 per cent of the water runoff during rainstorms. As a result, sewage that contains substances that are harmful to the environment, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are discharged into lakes and rivers. When there is too much stormwater, a city’s sewage system can overflow. Rainwater and industrial wastewater are collected in the same sewage system. Stormwater runs off the roofs of buildings and houses into gutters, after which it flows into the sewer and enters the municipal water treatment facility or is deposited in lakes and rivers. In most urban areas, there are few green spaces and mostly impenetrable surfaces. Advantage: improved stormwater managementĪ green roof helps control and reduce stormwater runoff. Here is an overview of the most significant advantages and disadvantages of green roofs. But unsurprisingly, there are also a few downsides to green roofs. This includes environmental advantages as well as economic advantages. It is not random that green roofs are getting increasingly popular. The structure can hold water and supports good aeration. Growing medium, however, is crafted from mineral aggregates and little organic material. This reduces the aeration of the plant roots. Traditional soil is heavy and tight after rainfall. ![]() The growing medium is not the same material as traditional soil, which is used for a garden of a house plant. The basic elements of a green roof are a roof barrier, irrigation system, drainage layer, soil and vegetation. But the downside is that the choice of plants is more limited. Maintenance is minimal, little technical expertise is needed and it often looks more natural. Extensive green roofs have thin soil, which is more suitable for larger areas. However, it is expensive and more maintenance is required. Because of this, a greater diversity of plants can be supported. Intensive green roofs have deep soil and an optimal irrigation system. These are intensive, semi-intensive and extensive. There are three different types of green roofs. Modern green roofs are made of manufactured layers that are placed over the conventional roof. More than 10% of all roofs in Germany are green roofs, and this number is increasing in most other countries as well. ![]() Modern green roofs are relatively new and were first developed in the mid-20th century in Germany, which is now one of the frontrunners. On the other hand, these roofs were not waterproof and could not keep out vermin. Turf roofs provided the people with good insulation during the summer- and winter months. These roofs consisted of sloping wooden boards with several layers of birch bark and a layer of sod on top. Until the late 19th century, turf roofs were most common. The green roofs that men knew in ancient times are not similar to the ones that we know today. The vegetation is planted over a waterproofing membrane that is installed on top of the roof. A green roof is a flat or slightly pitched roof that is partially or wholly covered with a layer of a growing medium and vegetation. What is a green roof?īefore we dive into the advantages and disadvantages of green roofs, it is important to have a good understanding of what green roofs exactly are and why they are getting more popular these days. Green roofs have many advantages as well as several disadvantages, which will all be discussed in this article. Green roofs are also called eco-roofs and are getting more and more popular. You can see them on big urban buildings, schools, farms, houses, flats and many more buildings. In recent years, green roofs have become more common. ![]()
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