Kurtz Residence,
Semi-intensive green roof,
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Brodie Chicken Coop,
Extensive green roof,
Durham, North Carolina
SEEDs Community Garden,
Extensive green roof,
Durham, North Carolina
 Greenroofs, also refered to as vegetative, living, or eco-roofs are layers of living plants installed on top of a roof. Green roofs are sound, living eco-systems. There are two types of green roofs: Extensive and Intensive.  Intensive: Characterized by a greater organic soil depth ranging from 8” to 24” for a more diverse plant palette of native and drought tolerant plants. The saturated weight load can range from 60 to 200 lbs per square foot. Depending on the plant selection, irrigation may be required. Maintenance on an intensive green roof may vary in degree again based on the the intent of the green roof and choice of plants. These roofs are typically designed for human access. The Benefits of installing a Green Roof are advantage to you as well as the entire community. The Many Ecological and Economic Benefits of Green Roofs A major benefit of green roofs is their ability to absorb stormwater and release it slowly over a period of several hours. Green roof systems have been shown to retain 60-100% of stormwater they receive. In addition, green roofs have a longer life-span than standard roofs because they are protected from ultraviolet radiation and the extreme fluctuations in temperature that cause roof membranes to deteriorate. Source: Michigan State University Dept of Horticulture: http://www.hrt.msu.edu/greenroof For more info see: http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/greenroofs/ http://www.hrt.msu.edu/greenroof/ |
| William Shakespeare |