What Are Green Roofs - By David Ness

Green roofs actually date back several years. During biblical times they were used frequently. Green roofing actually involves placing vegetation on the tops of buildings. Many buildings in major cities have green roofs today with most being used as roof gardens. They have mostly been implemented to provide occupants of buildings, such as larger apartment buildings, with a quiet place to get away from the bustling city below. Many also use them to plant small gardens since living in the city often does not include the joys of growing your own vegetables and plants.
Green roofing is being implemented throughout many regions of the world today. The United States has a great number of office buildings, stores, schools and hospitals that have implemented the green roofing effect. They are very popular on government buildings such as City Hall in Chicago. Green roofs can be found on several publicly and privately owned buildings throughout America.
They are, however, much more commonly found in Europe. Germany is especially fond of the green roofing trend. In fact, there are currently more than 100 millions feet of green roofing installed on buildings throughout Europe. Japan and several other major Asian cities have also caught on to this new environmentally friendly craze.
With the world now striving to protect the environment, green roofing simply seems to make sense. Plants give off much needed oxygen so placing them on roofs seems to be an excellent way to counteract some of the pollutants that we find in the air today. The economical benefits are great as well. Green roofs block much more heat and cold air from seeping into the buildings in which they are installed making them more energy efficient than traditional shingles.

Roofing Gone Green

Going green is a big topic these days. In fact, it has encompassed virtually everything that we see from plastic water bottles to roofing materials. A green roof is actually not only attractive but also very economical. Green roofing can reduce the temperature variations from your roof. During summer, while most roofs can hit temperatures of up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit, a green roof will hold a very comfortable 80 degrees or less. During winter many roofs drop in temperature to 10 below zero, while green roofs maintain a constant 30 degrees above during these bitterly cold months. With the temperature maintenance, green roofing is exceptional for saving energy costs during the two most sever months. Of course the savings do not simply stop at a monetary value. There is also the aspect of environmental savings. Studies have shown that by the time typical storm water runs off your roof into the sewer system it can normally contain as much as 20,000 E-coli per 100 mils. These numbers are more than 20 times what health research has deemed safe for the environment. Green roofs significantly reduce the amount of runoff from your roof, thus making them much more environmentally friendly than any other roofing material. While green roofs are typically found on buildings such as offices, there are those who feel they would be well suited for homes as well. A large number of cities are now implementing the economical and environmental benefits of adding green roofs to a number of buildings.

David Ness Jr. Construction Roofing, Rubber Roofing/ Repair, vinyl Siding, Decks, Gutters, Additions and Remodeling in the following Ma Massachusetts & Ri Rhode Island Locations