Why a green roof?
A green roof looks attractive. This visual aspect has a positive effect on the mood and physical health of people.
Green Roofs have a double effect on te water management:
they reduce the flow of the rainwater to the outlet system and restrict peak flow during heavy showers
Besides that, a green roof protects the roof emembrane against UV radiation, extreme temperature fluctuations en weather effects.
It ensures that the membrane will last twice as long.
The economic savings from green roofs are at their highest suring Spring and Summer when the temperatures inseide the building do not rise so quickly.
The use of air-conditioning will be greatly reduced..
A well designed green roof can improve the fire-resistance of your building
Why opt for a green roof?
What should motivate you to go for a green roof?
Beautiful
A green roof is beautiful, which is hardly ever te the for a conventional roof. You can relax, invite colleages & friends, enjoy the frsh air, the daylight and the sun
Environmentally friendly
The governement loves green roofs. So much so that some town and cities even make them compulsory. This makes sense: green roofs reduce the stormwater burden on the existing sewer system and there fore reduce the risk of flooding.
Economical
Some town and cities give grants to provide a green roof, so the cost is reduced & with all the benefits provided by a green roof, your investment will be paid back.
Economic benefits
Improved water management
- retention capacity
- less risk of flooding
- water recovery
Green roofs are able to absorb up to 70% of the rain wich fall on them each year. They slow down & reduce th e flow of the rainwater to the rainwater outlet system.
Benefit: a smaller and, therefore, cheaper rainwater drainage system will suffice. You can even cycle the rainwater for some uses e.g. flushing toilets.
Green roofs keep temperatures down
The economic savings from green roofs are their highest during Spring and Summer when temperatures inside the building do not rise so quickly. Your use of air-conditioning will be greatly reduced.
During Winter, green roofs which habe a thick substrate layer, provide extra insulation to the building, reducing heating costs.
Green roofs act as a sound insulation
Hail storms & heavy rain rattling down? Airplanes taking off? Roof mounted machinery or other background noise?
A green roof’s substrate layer muffles the noise and reduces noise pollution into the building.
Green roofs increase the life expectancy of the waterproofing membrane
Green roofs provide additional protection. The vegetation layer lessens the impact which UV-rays, extreme changes in temperature and adverse weather conditions have on then membrane. As z result, you can expect the life span of the membrane to be twice as long.
Green roofs are fire-resistant
A well designed green roof can improve the fire-resistance of your building.
Green roofs save space
Land is expensive, certainly in cities. Green roofs are the perfect solution as you no longer need to pay a hefty sum for the extra space for a garden. Making money go further!
Green roofs are synonymous with recycling
Good to know : most components of our green roof systems are made from recycled materials.
Ecological benefits
Green roofs improve the air quality
Smell the fresh air on a green roof! The vegetation increases the oxygen level and filters dust particles, resulting in improved air quality.
Green roofs lessen the heat effect in cities
Have you ever heard of the ‘urban heat island effect’?
Even if you haven’t, you will certainly have experienced temperatures in cities or built-up areas are higher and the air is drier than in rural areas. That is where green roofs come in. The vegetation reduces this heat effect and the evapotranspiration* that takes place makes the air less dry.
Lower temperatures will indirectly lead to a lower consumption of energy, thus to a lower consumption of fossil fuels and to lower levels of CO2 emissions. The result: cleaner and healthier air to breathe, lower fuel bills & a reduction in the gasses that are affecting our planet.
* evaporation = the transport of water into the atmosphere
* transpiration = water vapour being released by the stomata of plants
Green roofs improvee the biodiversity in cities
The more green roofs a city has, the more vegetation there is and the greater the diversity of plants & animals. Green roofs literally bring nature back to town!
Aesthetical benefits
Green roofs make a pretty investment
A green roof will add an extra floor to your building. It looks pretty and it will increase the value of the property.
Green roofs appeal to the imagination
It goes without saying that a layer of vegetation is simply more appealing to people’s minds, than a rather boring, grey or black, conventional rooftop.