Green Roof Design Definition

A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium planted over a waterproofing membrane it may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.

Green roof design definition.

Green roofs consist of a series of layers that create an environment suitable for plant growth without damaging the underlying roof system. They fall into three main categories extensive intensive and semi intensive. Extensive green roofs extensive green roof an extensive green roof system is characterized of its vegetation ranging from sedums to small grasses herbs and flowering herbaceous plants which need little maintenance and no permanent irrigation system. Green roofs can help reduce energy costs for a building by acting as another layer of insulation between the inside and outside of the roof.

This green space could be below at or above grade but in all cases it exists separate from the ground. Green roofs create green space for public benefit energy efficiency and stormwater retention detention. The growing medium depth for an extensive green roof system is typically 6 inches or less. A green roof is a layer of vegetation planted over a waterproofing system that is installed on top of a flat or slightly sloped roof.

While many people commonly think of a green roof as a structure that contains a roof garden or sod there are many that also refer to green roofs as spaces used for solar panel designs and more. Green roofs can provide a wide range of public and private benefits and have been successfully installed in countries around the world. A vegetated landscape built up from a series of layers that are installed on a roof surface as loose laid or modular that is installed layer by layer on the roof or as pre prepared layers in trays green roofs are constructed for multiple reasons as spaces for people to use as architectural features to add value to property or to achieve particular environmental benefits for example stormwater capture and retention improved species diversity insulation of a building against. This is most noticeable in intensive green roofs since there is a thicker and more consistent layer of soil which provides a higher insulating value.

Green roofs are also known as vegetative or eco roofs. A green facade is created by growing climbing plants up and across the facade of a building either from plants grown in garden beds at its base or by container planting installed at different levels across the building.