Rooftop ROI
Sep 23rd, 2007 by sorbe
As our conversation about development and its impact on the surrounding environment continues, it is becoming more and more apparent that it makes sense to incorporate green roofs into new and existing structures. A properly built and well maintained green roof can support urban food production, help improve air quality and reduce CO2 emmissions, delay storm water runoff and improve a structure’s insulation. Elevated gardens also protect plants from grazing animals, provide increased habitats for birds, and should increase a property’s value long-term.
Building codes in Boulder currently do not anticipate that uses will be added to roofs and therefore only require the live and dead loads required to carry what is shown on the plans. This is something that should be adjusted in the city code, allowing for future owners of the buildings to easily add gardens if the structures were originally designed to carry the loads. Retrofitting buildings will take some creativity, but could offer some long term benefits to the dwellers and owners of the building below. A few modular systems, such as GreenGrid allow building owners to incorporate a pre-fabricated solution, reducing the costs associated with built-in-place solutions.
As with gardening at ground level, green roofs require specific attention to the conditions of their surrounding environments. Talk with local growers to discuss the types of plants that can thrive on your roof given irrigation options, sun / shade ratio, etc. Non-native plant species can invite non-native insects to thrive, a problem that has plagued parts of Japan where rooftop gardens are common. If you are migrating towards a grass roof, Boulder County offers information on approved grasses in the county. From a roofing contractors viewpoint, checkout a local roofer, such as Boulder’s 3R Roofing, they are familiar with green roofs, ensuring that green space can be added in a way that does not compromise the roof or structure.
Additional Resources:
‘The Art of Simple Food’ by Alice Walters
greenroofs.org