2012 World Green Roof Congress

The 2012 World Green Roof Congress (WGRC) will take place in Hangzhou China from October 22nd to October 26th. The 2012 WGRC will be co-sponsored by World Green Roof Infrastructure Network, International Rooftop Landscaping Association and Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government.

2012 Mid-Atlantic Green Roof Science & Technology Symposium

The 2012 Mid-Atlantic Green Roof Science & Technology Symposium (MGRST) will be held on August 16-17, at the University of Maryland College Park, Maryland. The event is subtitled "Redefining Green Roof Science." This is the first annual MGRST event. Due to the fact that standards for green roof performance have not been established the MGRST symposium will be dedicated to disseminating results of scientific research that will lead to the establishment of green roof performance standards for the Mid-Atlantic region.

World Green Roof Congress 2012: Urban Grey To Urban Green

The World Green Roof Congress (WGRC) 2012  is an event with sustainability at its core. It will take place in Copenhagen on 18-21 September 2012. The event will bring together the leading practitioners – policy makers, architects, designers, urban planners, manufacturers, engineering, environmental and ecological consultants – from around the world to highlight the need to transform urban grey to urban green.

Green Roofs Sail Around the World

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Green Roofs on College Campuses Around the World

Green roofs are growing on campuses all around the world. Educational establishments from community colleges to ivy league universities are seeing the value of green roofs. By covering a tar roof with greenery, the rooms beneath are about 5 or 6 degrees cooler. Green roofs also offer cost reductions alongside a vista that is as soothing as it is aesthetically appealing. Right now there are thousands of schools around the world that have embraced green roofs and this number is growing every year.

The Green Roof Industry is Growing Fast

A rapidly growing initiative is seeing homeowners and businesses planting vegetation on rooftops around the world. Green roofs are growing in popularity because they offer both economic and environmental benefits. These roofs reflect far more light than black tar roofs in summer and thus act as heat shields. In winter they offer excellent insulation and throughout the year they absorb precipitation rather than letting it flow down a storm drain. They also support biodiversity, improve air quality and act as a carbon sink.

Green Roofs and Storm Water Runoff

Green roofs contribute to urban sustainability planning by reducing heating and cooling costs for buildings but they also help to reduce the amount of untreated water that flows into local waterways. They reduce runoff by approximately 90 percent.  In addition to a host of other financial benefits green roofs offers a storm water mitigation benefit of $4.26 per square foot.”

As reviewed in a 2011 Triple Pundit article, a study on green roof conducted by ConEdison in partnership with the Columbia University Center for Climate Systems Research, reveals that green roofs help cities find cost effective ways to deal with excess storm water.

Benefits of Green Roofs

Green roofs provide a wide range of benefits, perhaps the most widely known is the fact that they significantly reduce energy demand and the cost of interior cooling. However, green roofs offer a wide range of benefits that extend beyond sustainability and cost savings. In addition to contributing to the comfort of those who reside inside such buildings, green roofs provide immense quality of life benefits outdoors.

Types of Green Roofs

A green roof allows vegetation to grow in a growing medium and usually includes the following elements: waterproof membrane, a root repellent system, a drainage system, a filtering layer, a growing medium and of course plants. Here are three main types of green roof systems as explained by the city of Toronto:  These roof types can be divided into seven categories: intensive, extensive, new, retrofit, complete, modular, or pre-cultivated.

Intensive

Intensive or active green roofs have a deep growing medium that supports a variety of landscape design and growth. They are accessible and used as recreational space. Intensive green roofs are essentially parks in the sky. They provide a peaceful retreat, full of trees, walkways, and seating areas. In dense urban environments, intensive green roofs can create a garden and yard for an entire apartment building.

Green Roof Gatherings: New Green Roof Technology (Event)

On Thursday August 9th an event will be held on green roofs in Toronto Ontario. The event will be held by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC). This event will be held at the site of one of Toronto's most exciting green roof projects - the Carrot Common. It is a great chance for you to network with professionals in the green roof and wall industry, and those looking to get involved.

The Cool Roof Project (Video)

Cool Roof Research from the University of Melbourne (Video)

Cool Roofs Reduce Emissions and Save Energy (Video)

Cool Roofs from Energy 101 (Video)