Photo Credit: Courtesy of Tammy York
Green roofs are not new, but they are gaining in popularity in the United States. Over the past 30 years, there has been a steady increase in the application of this technology.
Rooftop-garden systems help mitigate problems traditionally associated with roofs, such as heat gain and loss as well as stormwater runoff. During the summer months, for example, a rooftop absorbs and radiates heat from the sun, creating higher air-conditioning costs. In winter, heat escapes through the roof. The plantings of a green roof act as an insulating barrier while absorbing stormwater and providing wildlife habitat.
“Green roofs were developed as a stormwater-management practice in Germany and then extended throughout much of Europe before being imported to the United States,” says Charlie Miller, owner of Roofmeadow, a design firm specializing in green-roof designs and strategies. “Green roofs were developed as a way of forestalling improvements or enlargements to existing stormwater facilities. However, the ancillary benefit of creating a green roof is transforming the look of the environment.”
