 Glory of a Green Roof
July 8, 2011 | By Guest Writer Intern Madeline Mahon
Ever seen a rooftop garden, or a nicely mowed lawn covering an entire building? Green roofs may look like they were grown purely for the eye’s delight, but in reality they lead to huge benefits to all.
Irvine’s Roof
The addition of a green roof is just one of the many green features at Irvine. Most people don't even notice it, but it's quietly working just above the Nature Store. It provides benefits for the environment, the community and Irvine itself.
Green roofs:
- Reduce CO2 levels
- Insulate the building, which reduces heating and cooling costs
- Increase lifespan of rooftop waterproofing (due to protection from UV rays)
- Cool surroundings
- Create habitats for wildlife
- Help water treatment systems (due to plants absorbing rain)
- Double or triple lifespan of a roof to 50 years or more (as mentioned on our website)
Of course, all of these benefits will not occur without a properly functioning green roof, which contains about seven layers.
Layers of a Green Roof
- Roof and roof membrane
- Protective waterproof layer
- Insulation and drainage layers
- Growing medium* and vegetation
*The medium normally used for these roofs is not dirt! Dirt gets packed down with rain, preventing medium from maximum absorption. Instead, many roofs use manufactured materials like clay.
The roof is a huge asset to Irvine. The perks are endless, it’s a responsible thing to do, and besides that…green roofs are just plain cool!
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