Green roofs is not a term you may hear often but they are becoming more popular throughout Europe including the UK. So what are green roofs? In a traditional sense you might call a thatched roof a green roof, but modern green roofs are vegetated roofs of different varieties. They can also be called eco-roofs and living roofs.
Whilst container gardens on a roof where plants are tended in pots are not truly considered as green roofs, there are many varieties of roofs which are. All green roofs are deliberately designed to support vegetation types such as those found in meadows or parks and there are a number of benefits of these over more traditional roofing materials such as slate and tiles.
From an aesthetic point of view, green roofs can be very pleasing on the eye, particularly in urban areas where greenery is less prevalent. In addition, green roofs can have a positive environmental impact. With regards to climate change, an ‘urban heat island’ is caused by dark roofs absorbing heat and increasing the ambient temperature of the area. Green roofs reduce this as much less heat is absorbed. Green roofs can also reduce the costs and energy required to heat and/or cool buildings due to the insulating nature of the vegetation. And, again particularly in urban areas, green roofs can have a positive effect on local wildlife.
Green roofs are a growing industry in the UK with 14 hectares installed on developments along the Thames in London. If you would like more information, visit Living Roofs or Green Roofs.
