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Green roofs, also known as
vegetated roof covers, eco-roofs or nature roofs, are
multi-beneficial structural components that help to mitigate
the effects of urbanization on water quality by filtering,
absorbing or detaining rainfall. They are constructed of a
lightweight soil media, underlain by a drainage layer, and a
high quality impermeable membrane that protects the building
structure. The soil is planted with a specialized mix of
plants that can thrive in the harsh, dry, high temperature
conditions of the roof and tolerate short periods of
inundation from storm events.
Green roofs provide stormwater management benefits by:
● Utilizing the biological,
physical, and chemical processes found in the plant and soil
complex to prevent airborne pollutants from entering the
storm drain system.
● Reducing the runoff volume and peak discharge rate by
holding back and slowing down the water that would otherwise
flow quickly into the storm drain system.
Green roofs are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they
also:
● Reduce city “heat island”
effect
● Reduce CO2 impact
● Reduce summer air conditioning cost
● Reduce winter heat demand
● Potentially lengthen roof life 2 to 3 times
● Treat nitrogen pollution in rain
● Negate acid rain effect
● Help reduce volume and peak rates of stormwater
Where to get more
information:
Greenroofs.com
http://www.greenroofs.com
A clearinghouse of information to promote green roof
interest and development. Greenroofs.com includes the
history, technical details, international and North American
projects and case studies, and a comprehensive annotated
bibliography of green roofs literature.
Roofscapes Inc.
http://www.roofmeadows.com
The Roofscapes Inc. homepage includes information about
their services, examples of green roof projects and the
benefits of using green roofs in order to reduce runoff
volume, increase insulation, and increase the aesthetic
value of projects.
Low Impact Development Urban Design Tools
http://www.lid-stormwater.net
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Be sure to check out the
student section for exploration topics
and ideas for further research. |
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Learning Objectives |
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Sustainable School Projects will:
- Help reduce
impacts of stormwater runoff
- Develop
educational and recreational landscapes
- Provide sense of
ownership and pride
- Enhance
community awareness
- Support current
curriculum
- Low cost to
school
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more information?
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for useful links!
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