A Green Roof: Can You Dig It

David: WRONG on almost all counts. do a little research, this isn't just plopping a pile of dirt on a roof. there are companies that make manageable grid systems of different thickness soils that you can install on a roof easily and safely. soil depths can be a low as 2" i believe and people often plant sedum which is a hearty drought plant requiring very little maintenance. benefits include superior isulation and great rainwater management that eases stormwater runoff. some of these systems are guaranteed for many years. here's a link for you:
http://www.greengridroofs.com/specs/systemspecs.htm

all of this green talk lately is good and bad. i like that people are now thinking about these issues relating to their homes but it seems that "green" is just becoming another buzz word or status word ala "luxury appartments". i'm sad for the day it's not so stylish anymore and everyone forgets all about it.

Posted by: TonyTone at August 29, 2006 12:03 PM

there is currently no technology to support small urban residential windmills, as it is they would generate almost zero power. several problems include bird issues, height issues, more than likely code issues, safety issues, the list goes on. you would have to have a very high tower to get to where the proper wind is.

did anyone notice that the westside jets stadium plans included wind turbines to generate some of the power on site? it was very cool. they would have been able to site them high up and also have wind advantage from the hudson river.

Posted by: TonyTone at August 29, 2006 12:11 PM

Green Roof Benefits:

Extended Roof Life
Green roofs protect exterior roof membranes from ultraviolet radiation, extreme temperature fluctuations, punctures and other physical damage. They can significantly increase life expectancies of roof membranes, thereby diminishing the need for costly roof replacements and maintenance, and resulting in tangible savings for building owners.

Reduced Energy Costs

Reduced Urban "Heat Island" Effect
The urban "heat island" effect occurs in most of the large cities of the world. This phenomenon has been shown to actually change weather patterns in some of these cities. Roads and building rooftops absorb a significant amount of heat during daylight hours. This heat, in turn, is radiated back into the atmosphere, causing further warming. To compound the problem, additional heat is emitted by vehicles and HVAC systems.

Sound Insulation
The growth media, plants, and layers of trapped air in a green roof system serve as excellent sound insulators. Tests have shown that green roofs can reduce the indoor noise pollution from outdoor contributors by as much as 10 decibels. Noise-level reductions can provide significant benefits to buildings in noise-impacted areas, such as sites close to airports, highways, or heavy industry.

Stormwater Management
Especially in urban areas, over 75% of a rain event can become surface runoff depositing pollutants into waterways. Many older cities have combined stormwater and sanitary sewers where, in the event of a significant rainfall, the sewage treatment plant becomes unable to treat all of the excess stormwater flowing into it. Bypass valves are opened, and raw sewage can be directed to the receiving waters. Green roofs help alleviate this problem through retention of rainfall and detention of roof water runoff.

Posted by: TonyTone at August 29, 2006 12:19 PM

here's a link to an article about an icehouse conversion in Crown Heights (i think). along with solar, these two put a green roof on the building. my wife and i toured the building a couple of years ago, it was featured in an NYC greenbuilding tour.

http://www.homepower.com/files/ALLEETOC/Issue104.pdf?search=104

Posted by: TonyTone at August 29, 2006 1:56 PM