Garden Roofs

One of the most interesting roof types being proposed and installed as a solution to mitigating the Urban Heat Island phenomenon is the Garden Roof, a better descriptor than the broader term Green Roof that can refer to reflective cool roofs as well. Essentially, the low-slope roof area is covered with a roofing membrane but installed on top of that roof membrane is a series of planting containers that are filled with growing medium and plants.

Types of Garden Roofs

• Intensive - are planned and designed roofs incorporating planting media up to several feet in depth requiring extensive maintenance. These roofs are intended for public access and use; usually built-in-place.

• Extensive - have planting media eight inches or less in depth with few maintenance requirements and are not intended for public access; usually composed of recycled plastic modular planting units.

Benefits of Garden Roofs

	Mitigates Urban Heat Island effect.
	Saves energy and reduces rooftop temperatures.
	Manages storm water runoff.
	Adds value through aesthetic improvement.
	Reduces glare to surrounding buildings.
	Increases oxygen production.
	Plants absorb CO2.
	Increased mass provides sound absortion.
	Reduction of HVAC requirements.