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What is a Green Roof?
A green roof is a
roof that is covered with vegetation. There are
two distinct kinds of green roofs, intensive and
extensive. Intensive is a roof that was built
with a green roof in mind. An intensive roof can
hold heavy loads such as trees and bushes. It
also requires the soil to be quite deep. An
extensive roof is one that has smaller plants
that are often drought resistant. These kinds of
roofs do not require deep soil, and are easier to
care for. These roofs do not require the same
load-bearing capacity that intensive roofs do
because they are lighter, which means many roofs
can be retrofitted to allow a green roof.
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What are the benefits of Green Roofs?
Green roofs are
very ecologically and economically sound
structures.
*Green roofs reduce storm water run off. Normally
water hits a roof and 99% runs off taking the tar
and other pollutants used to make the roof into
the storm drain. With a green roof 99% of the
water is absorbed by the plants, this also
reduces the load the storm drains have to bare.
*Sequesters Carbon from the atmosphere
*Extends the life of the roof by up to 200% by
protecting the roof from the elements.
*Reduces Energy Bills by insulating the building
and reducing heating and cooling costs
*Acts as an acoustic barrier
*Increases wildlife in the city setting
*Gives a green and relaxing atmosphere in the
middle of the city
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Where can Green Roofs be built?
Flat roofs that
have the load-bearing capacity are the preferred
roofs. Slightly sloped roofs can be turned to
green roofs, but it is much more
difficult.
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