Green Roofs

We offer products for roofing which are 100% cradle to cradle. There is no waste from the manufacturing process to the application and no harm to the environment.

Green roofs offer residential, commercial and institutions an aesthetically pleasing look with a positive environmental function. Sustainability➟Environmental Responsibility.

Photographs courtesy of LiveRoof

 

Financial Benefits
With an emphasis on recycled components, energy conservation, sustainability and minimal environmental impact (via development), green roofs score points with city planners, the community and tenants.  This is oftentimes rewarded with zoning that allows for more intensive development. Building with green roofs may also receive tax credits or municipal grants and typically will command higher selling and rental prices.

Conservation of Municipal Septic Systems
Sponging up excess rainwater means municipal septic systems do not have to be expanded as much.  It also means reduced overflows as well as reduced pollution and associated costs.

Extension of Roof Life
Plants and soil act as a protective shield from the elements.
This means:

  • No U.V. radiation/photo degradation of roofing components.
  • Minimal thermal contraction and expansion (green roofs can reduce temperature fluctuations by as much as 90%).  Studies show that on a sunny 95°F day, conventional rooftop surfaces can reach 175°F. Green roofs bring these temperatures in line with the ambient air temperature.
  • Protection from drying winds.
  • Protection from mechanical damage.
  • Reduction or elimination of cracks and leaks.
  • Potential 200% – 300% extension of membrane
    life expectancy.

Energy Conservation
The evapotranspirative effect of the plants and four inches of growing medium typically reduces indoor temperatures 6 to 8 degrees during warm/hot weather and can reduce air-conditioning costs 25 to 50 percent in single story buildings.  This not only allows for ongoing cost savings but an initial reduction in the size of the required air conditioning equipment.

Minimal insulation (R-Value) exists during cool or winter weather.  The pore space of the growing medium tends to be more water saturated at this time, and the plants won’t be as large and therefore will not trap as much air (essential to insulation value).  But, in snowy winter locations, the vegetation helps to trap blowing snow which adds insulation value.

Pictures of Other Green Roofs

 

Environmental Benefits
Urban Heat Island Mitigation
The urban heat island effect is the temperature difference between urban areas and their rural surroundings.  The temperature differential causes air currents and dust, and even contributes to violent weather events within urban settings.
Green roof vegetation helps by cooling the air, slowing air movement and acting as a substrate for pollution to settle out and detoxify.

Noise Reduction
Plants, soil, and air trapped in the soil are great acoustic insulators.  Tests indicate that green roofs can reduce indoor sound by as much as 40 decibels, which is of great benefit to occupants of buildings affected by airports, industry, trains and traffic.

Fire Prevention
Succulent green roof plants help reduce the risk of fire.

Water Conservation/Reduction of Storm Water Runoff
The soil in green roof systems acts like a sponge and absorbs excess rain water.  Research has shown that extensive green roof systems can reduce runoff by up to 90+% annually (varies with climate, soil and pitch of roof).

Green roofs reduce the impact of each new building on the municipal storm drainage system and surrounding watershed.  They reduce flooding, erosion and artificial heating of water which helps preserve fisheries and other aquatic life.

Green roofs reduce the need for on-site storm water management systems and according to Seattle based Magnusson Klemencic Associates, under certain conditions,  can offset the cost of a green roof by 30 to 60%.  When combined with an effective rain garden (bioswale), green roofs can make it possible to have zero discharge of rainwater from the site, therefore saving money by not having to connect to the storm sewer system.

Green roofs filter water prior to returning it to the aquifer.  They buffer acid rain and remove nitrate pollution as water slowly percolates through the soil.

What runoff remains will usually occur hours after peak flows, providing additional time for sewer systems to handle the runoff burden from impervious surfaces.

Habitat Recreation
Plants and soil help recreate habitat for butterflies, insects, and songbirds.

LiveRoof and LEED Credits
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the green building rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The LEED system’s intent is to provide a standard certification process that registers and quantifies buildings for design and construction methods that promote five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED provides a roadmap for measuring and documenting success for every building type and phase of building lifecycle. The LiveRoof® System can help you achieve LEED certification in several categories—above and beyond that of just any green roof system. Below are the major categories of the LEED BD+C (2009 edition) rating system and potential credits that can be influenced by the LiveRoof system.Sustainable Sites
Protect or Restore Habitat and Maximize Open Space
If you think about it, wherever there is a building, there once was some type of vegetation. Green roofs help to reclaim green space, and in the process they provide habitat (for songbirds, butterflies and a host of other invertebrate species) therefore helping to promote biodiversity.

Potential Credits: SS 5.1 Site Development,
Protect or Restore Habitat, 1 point
SS 5.2 Site Development,
Maximize Open Space, 1 point

Storm Water Design
LiveRoof systems help to prevent excess storm water discharge. They also help to filter and detoxify storm water by removing suspended solids and other pollutants.

Potential Credits: SS 6.1 Quantity Control, 1 point
SS 6.2 Quality Control, 1 point

Heat Island Effect
Typically used on roofs and sometimes at grade, LiveRoof significantly reduces roof temperatures during the summer months and the USGBC specifies green roofs as a means of mitigating the urban heat island effect.

Potential Credits: SS 7.1 Heat Island Effect–Non-Roof, 1 point
SS 7.2 Heat Island Effect–Roof, 1 point

Water Efficiency
Water-Efficient Landscaping
When vegetated with drought resistant LiveRoof plants, LiveRoof installations require little irrigation. In comparison to conventional plant material, LiveRoof plants require significantly less than 50% of typical irrigation, and in some climates can thrive with little or no supplemental irrigation. Additionally, the LiveRoof growing medium acts as a sponge to collect and filter excess rainwater. In heavy rains, of course, runoff will occur and this can be channeled into a cistern for reuse on the LiveRoof, to a rain garden, or to parts of the ground-level landscape. Effective use of such collected water can contribute.

Potential Credits: WE 1.1 Water Efficient Landscaping,
Reduce by 50 %, 2 points
WE 1.2 Water Efficient Landscaping,
No Potable Use or No Irrigation, 4 points

Energy & Atmosphere
Optimize Energy Performance
The LiveRoof system offers substantial energy saving benefits. The precise benefits will vary with climate, for example in the northern temperate zone the savings of energy expended on air conditioning is expected to exceed 25 percent. In warmer climates, the energy savings period will last for a longer percentage of the year. In either case, the exact savings will be based upon site, exposure, atmospheric conditions, and moisture content of the LiveRoof soil. During the winter, because the LiveRoof is relatively moist, its R value will be about 1.9.

Potential Credits: EA 1.1 to 1.19, 1 to 19 points

Materials & Resources
Construction Waste Management
Your LiveRoof® grower is happy to take back the removed soil elevators from the job site and recycle them. The installer need only bag them and send them back with the truck driver.

Potential Credits: MR 2 Construction Waste Management, 1 to 2 points

Recycled Content
LiveRoof modules are composed of 100 % recycled polypropylene (avg. 10% post consumer, 90% post industrial), and in many cases the LiveRoof soil contains recycled materials such as compost or reclaimed mineral aggregates (verify with individual grower). By using recycled plastic and reclaimed components, LiveRoof helps to make good use of resources that otherwise might go to a landfill.

Potential Credits: MR 4.1-4.2 Recycled Content, 1 to 2 points

Regional Materials
LiveRoof modules are manufactured within a 15-mile radius of distribution and LiveRoof plants are grown at local nurseries, typically with soil components from that region.

Potential Credits: MR 5.1-5.2 Regional Materials, 1 to 2 points

Rapidly Renewable Materials
LiveRoof plants, for the most part, are plants that are grown and repeatedly harvested like bamboo. In other words, the source plant material is harvested without disturbance to the soil and without the need to repeatedly replant the original plantings. This has the effect of reducing carbon and fertilizer inputs and protects the farmland from erosion.

Potential Credits: MR 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials, 1 point

Innovation in Design
LiveRoof systems may contribute to innovation and design credits in a number of obvious and not so obvious ways. By helping to create a better work environment, LiveRoof can create greater workplace productivity. LiveRoof installations can be used for meetings and relaxation, education, creating beautiful vistas, and for fostering better health, reduced healing time, and increased positive social interaction. LiveRoofs may be integrated with patios and outdoor kitchens. They may be used to grow herbs and vegetables, farm honeybees and create high quality honey, reduce exterior sound, to sequester carbon, and to increase the overall shared “green” footprint of the neighborhood when added to adjoining buildings. One LiveRoof owner, Haworth Corporation, even used some of their own waste plastic in the creation of their LiveRoof modules!

Innovation can include Wildlife Friendly Design, Plant Preservation, Restorative Use of Vegetative Waste (e.g. compost and compost tea), Non-Chemical Water Treatment, the buffering of acid rain, and earth friendly growing and maintenance methods. Indeed, innovation can take into account that LiveRoof is grown using Integrated Pest Management (see LEED SS/EQ) and in some cases (e.g. our Midwest growing operation) using Natural Predator Pest Management or even organic growing methods. Likewise, once installed, LiveRoof may be maintained using Organic Landscape Management, Biological or Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and Eco-Roof Monitoring. The sky is the limit when it comes to innovation, and it seems that everyday someone thinks of some new way to employ LiveRoof toward the betterment of people and the environment.

Money Savings
LiveRoof modules help to save money which can be applied to other sustainable building methods in other areas of the project.

The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that LiveRoof can contribute to over 20 LEED points, depending on the size of the green roof and the degree to which the various features described above are incorporated into the overall building design.

Regional Priority Credits
Potential Credits: 1-4 Possible Points
Depending on geographic region, additional points may be available for having a green roof.