Green Roof Positive Environmental Impact
- Energy savings: Green roof systems add an insulating barrier that helps to keep our buildings warmer in winter and cooler in summer. A saturated green roof naturally cools our buildings via evapotranspiration.
- Urban Heat Island Effect: Green roof energy saving benefits are not limited to the micro level. At the macro level, the cooling impact of green roof systems helps to eliminate the urban heat island effect - defined as the difference in temperature between a cityscape and surrounding rural areas. Our city's hard and reflective surfaces create this effect. Installation of green roof systems will help to cool this heat island effect.
- For more information on the heat island effect click here
- Click here to read about an EPA study on the heat island effect in Utah
Storm Water Retention and Filtration: A green roof acts as a natural sponge during a rain storm - soaking up the rain water and then releasing it slowly thru the building drainage system. In addition, the plant life utilizes a large percentage of the rainwater - eliminating much of the storm run off completely. Just as terrestial plant life filters our water, the plant life utilized in a green roof also acts as filter. The end result is two-fold - cleaner stormwater runoff and less runoff overall.
