The Benefits of Green Roofs

With continued urban expansion absorbing the habitats of our indigenous plants, insect and birds, living roofs can provide fresh areas for the local ecology to thrive. Landscaping flat roofs offers an effective and practical use of space, whilst helping to sustain and replace lost habitats in the process.

Bauder has created diverse green roofs such as park land, allotments, Japanese gardens and zoological enclosures. We use recycled and reclaimed materials in the landscaping components of our green roofs, further enhancing the environmental benefits of a Bauder green roof.

Ecological

■□ Creates a natural habitat for flora and fauna: a living roof can create a local ecology in which the
      vegetation will establish and provide a home for smaller elements of wildlife as well as insects and   
      invertebrates.

■□ Aids biodiversity encouraging a wider spread of species in the area

■□The provision of a healthy habitat in a place that could otherwise be empty: provides support for the
     natural colonisation of locally arising plants, birds and small animals.
 

 

Environmental

■□ Storm water management: Soft landscaping reduces the risk of flooding by retaining large proportions of annual rainfall and reducing rainwater run-off. This is particularly useful within Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs) schemes. The volume of water retained is dependent upon the depth of substrate used in the landscaping. See how green roofs assist with managing water runoff in the video below.

■□ Environmental masking: A green roof assists with blending the building into its surroundings and, in part, constructed in the first place.

■□ Improved air quality: Vegetation on a green roof assists in reducing both gaseous pollutants and dust particles by removing a proportion of them from the immediate environment. The natural evaporation of water from the plants and soil helps to cool and humidify the air, lowering the ambient temperature.

■□ Photosynthesis: This is part of a plants’ living process whereby they actively convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. Research suggests that under maximal conditions, each square metre of single leaf surface on an established extensive type planted roof is estimated to take up (0.3024 x 48) 14.51g of carbon dioxide and release (0.3024 x 32) 9.68g of oxygen a day (12hours).

■□ Urban heat island effect is reduced: Urban heat island effect is the difference in temperature between urban areas and the surrounding countryside. In large cities, this can be as much as 5°. Large building surfaces will both reflect and radiate solar energy within a built up area, which does not dissipate fully overnight. The substrate of a green roof will absorb some of this heat and evaporation of water from plants and soil helps to cool and humidify the air lowering the temperature.
 

 

Financial and Technical

■□ Reduced carbon footprint through lowering building running costs: the thermal insulation on the building is improved providing a more balanced temperature within. This reduces heating costs in the winter and air conditioning expenses during the summer.

■□ Reduced construction costs: depending on the landscaping selected, the following may be achieved: no requirement for screed on the deck, reducing the overall weight imposed; fewer rainwater outlets; decreased rainwater drainage system capacity; reduced requirement for storm water attenuation within the SUDs scheme for the site.

■□ Increased life expectancy: research has shown that when protected by landscaping, the life expectancy of waterproofing membranes is substantially increased and can last the estimated design life of the building.

■□ Aid to planning consent: many Local Authorities favour planning proposals that incorporate green roofs within the application, particularly if it meets their policies towards providing a sustainable environment.

■□ Increased property value: the roof is an under-utilised development asset which can be maximised for a number of purposes, including leisure. It offers a unique potential for replacing the land lost to the footprint of the building.Noise reduction for the building

■□ Green roofs have excellent acoustic qualities for both external sound (up to 3dB) and internal noise up to 8dB): this is beneficial when used on structures close to airports or industrial developments.

■□ Protects the waterproofing: the green roof protects the waterproofing from UV damage and thermal movement.