Editor’s Note: This was originally published as the Editor’s Note in the May 2016 edition of ECN.
Faithful readers,
Spring has officially sprung here at ECN. The flowers are blooming, the editors are chirping, and the government-required solar panels are collecting the sunshine from every rooftop in San Francisco, CA.
So while we’re thinking about plants blooming, let’s talk about green roofs. Now, in one version of this note we talk about state- and city-mandated solar panel installations, but that version of the argument is taking place on ecnmag.com. No, this version of the story is about living roofs.
These are roofs that are covered in, well, living plants. Not only do they provide natural insulation, they also help with water runoff, and, my personal favorite, they look nice. Solar panels lack a certain aesthetic appeal, but a rooftop covered in long grasses? That’s magic.
I think solar power has a role to play in the future of energy—whether mandated by laws or not—but we definitely need to be exploring the idea of using natural solutions to our energy issues. With an estimated installation cost—right down to the waterproof membrane—of between $10 and $24, it’s an affordable option, and since the plants are selected depending on a variety of factors including cost and climate, there are a bunch of different options for the look and feel of the design. The cool thing—though mostly a tangential point—is that they also create interesting roof spaces that can be turned into roof gardens or community spaces. They help create a community and utilize space that might otherwise be wasted or covered in solar panels.
Green roofs, depending on how they’re set up, can also massively reduce energy usage since they insulate the roof of the building where the most heat is lost. In fact, according to the National Research Council of Canada, an extensive green roof reduced demand for air conditioning in the summer by 75 percent.
Green roofs solve some water management problems as well. They can store water in the substrate layer before it’s used by the plants, and they also filter runoff water. Plus, in a city, they help mitigate the urban heat island effect by replacing traditional black-topped roofs and cooling the air. The plants also help improve air quality—a major problem in busy cities—by filtering gases and capturing airborne pollutants.
Depending on the roof, they can add up to 15 LEED credits.
So, in the spirit of spring, consider going green on your roof.