The Hottest (& Coolest) Thing in Construction

Green roofs, living roofs, living walls – there are many names for this increasingly popular innovation and they are now one of the hottest things in construction.

It is not just a UK phenomenon either: Last month, France passed legislation that new buildings in commercial zones must have either green roofs or solar panels.

France is not alone. In Switzerland, all buildings must have a green roof if they have a suitable pitch and across the Atlantic, Toronto began requiring some new buildings to include rooftop planting in their design as early as 2009; the requirements now apply to industrial buildings as well.

Wide Ranging Benefits

We’ve known for years that green roofs save energy and help with the local environment but the health benefits of such design choices are only just beginning to come to light.

One of the lesser known benefits relating to the installation of green roofs relates to the fact that by reducing heat transfer through the building roof, can improve indoor comfort and lower heat stress associated with heat waves.

Did You Know?

Roofs generally take up approximately between 15 to 25 percent of many cities’ surface areas. Because roofs are typically be replaced or retrofitted on a more frequent basis than entire buildings, they represent the perfect opportunity for developers and building owners to dramatically cut the “heat island effect” in urban environments as well as achieve energy cost savings and other goals relatively quickly — as long as they make the right ‘green roofing’ choices.

For more about the green roofing solutions available from Wallbarn, please click here.