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If you are thinking of installing a new roof on your house, then you have a lot to think about. Purchasing a roof is probably the single most expensive home improvement you can make. Apart from cost, you have to consider how the roof will look, what it will be made from, and how to get a roof that is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Green roofs can provide all these things.
This type of house covering is very specific. You can't spray your metal roof with a bit of paint and call it a green roof. In order to qualify, it has to be 100 percent covered by vegetation and soil, compost, or other planting medium.
Local governments love living roofs for a number of reasons. They reduce roof temperatures and help to reverse the urban heat island effect. They create natural habitats for dwindling numbers of vital bird and insect species. They also filter metals and other atmospheric and water pollutants. A living roof can also serve a soundproofing function.
The urban heat effect describes how cities are at a consistently higher temperature than places that are a distance away from the urbanized areas. Heat is a direct effect of the activity of human beings. This phenomenon was first observed in the early 1810s. One of the effects of the UHI is that suburban areas experience longer growing areas than those closer to heavily populated areas.
The UHI effect is measurable. Traditional roofing materials, such as metal, shingles, slate, etc., all absorb solar radiation and then turn around and release it as heat. This is what causes city roof temperatures to become as high as 7 degrees warmer than in the suburbs. Having a living roof greatly reduces this effect. Chicago City Hall, for example, has an eco-roof. Compared to neighboring buildings with more conventional roofing materials, the City Hall roof is up to eight degrees cooler. Cities all over the country are beginning to find creative ways of encouraging homes and businesses to jump on board the eco-roof bandwagon.
Another environmental benefit to eco-roofs is their ability to selectively attract desirable types of wildlife. Bees, birds, butterflies, and other types of beneficial insect are all attracted to this environment. Urbanization decreases the natural habitat available for these and other life forms. Encouraging living roofing in an urban area creates little pockets of new habitat for these critically important animals. This effect has been observed in 19-storey high-rise buildings.
A vegetative roof can also balance out your carbon footprint. Plants are mostly made of carbon, so they naturally remove it from the atmosphere. This type of construction can also mop up excess carbon dioxide that is emitted by power plants. In the United States, buildings account for more than one-third of the carbon dioxide that is being omitted. Studies have been carried out in Maryland and in Michigan that validate this observation.
There are financial advantages to installing an eco-roof on your home. By absorbing solar radiation, they can dramatically reduce energy consumed by air conditioning. Additionally, some city councils offer rebates, grants, or tax reductions. Such incentives tend to be available in regions where environmental pollutants contained in stormwater runoff are a major concern. They are also sometimes employed in areas where the urban heat island effect is an issue.
This type of house covering is very specific. You can't spray your metal roof with a bit of paint and call it a green roof. In order to qualify, it has to be 100 percent covered by vegetation and soil, compost, or other planting medium.
Local governments love living roofs for a number of reasons. They reduce roof temperatures and help to reverse the urban heat island effect. They create natural habitats for dwindling numbers of vital bird and insect species. They also filter metals and other atmospheric and water pollutants. A living roof can also serve a soundproofing function.
The urban heat effect describes how cities are at a consistently higher temperature than places that are a distance away from the urbanized areas. Heat is a direct effect of the activity of human beings. This phenomenon was first observed in the early 1810s. One of the effects of the UHI is that suburban areas experience longer growing areas than those closer to heavily populated areas.
The UHI effect is measurable. Traditional roofing materials, such as metal, shingles, slate, etc., all absorb solar radiation and then turn around and release it as heat. This is what causes city roof temperatures to become as high as 7 degrees warmer than in the suburbs. Having a living roof greatly reduces this effect. Chicago City Hall, for example, has an eco-roof. Compared to neighboring buildings with more conventional roofing materials, the City Hall roof is up to eight degrees cooler. Cities all over the country are beginning to find creative ways of encouraging homes and businesses to jump on board the eco-roof bandwagon.
Another environmental benefit to eco-roofs is their ability to selectively attract desirable types of wildlife. Bees, birds, butterflies, and other types of beneficial insect are all attracted to this environment. Urbanization decreases the natural habitat available for these and other life forms. Encouraging living roofing in an urban area creates little pockets of new habitat for these critically important animals. This effect has been observed in 19-storey high-rise buildings.
A vegetative roof can also balance out your carbon footprint. Plants are mostly made of carbon, so they naturally remove it from the atmosphere. This type of construction can also mop up excess carbon dioxide that is emitted by power plants. In the United States, buildings account for more than one-third of the carbon dioxide that is being omitted. Studies have been carried out in Maryland and in Michigan that validate this observation.
There are financial advantages to installing an eco-roof on your home. By absorbing solar radiation, they can dramatically reduce energy consumed by air conditioning. Additionally, some city councils offer rebates, grants, or tax reductions. Such incentives tend to be available in regions where environmental pollutants contained in stormwater runoff are a major concern. They are also sometimes employed in areas where the urban heat island effect is an issue.
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Find out the benefits of green roofs with the help of this informative site. Gain full access to our homepage when you click on this link http://lynchroofingcorp.com.
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