CPRA Colorado Byline - Spring 2022

Page 24

FACILITIES

How a Green Roof Can Benefit You, Your City & the Environment By Ground Solutions

Green roofs are becoming more and more popular as a result of urbanization and population growth. A green roof is a roof that has been covered in vegetation, usually includes a drainage and irrigation system and sometimes aims to restore the environmental footprint that was dissolved when a building was constructed. Beyond the beauty a green roof provides, there are multiple other benefits that it can provide.

Reduce Stormwater Runoff

Protect Your Roof

Even without direct access, a green roof provides a beautiful view for employees, residents or tenants in surrounding buildings. In heavily populated cities, a splash of greenery is always a welcomed addition to a concrete urban environment.

A green roof acts as a buffer to environmental elements such as wind, sun and rain which would otherwise gradually wear down your roofing material. This will extend the lifetime of your roof, saving you money in the long run.

In many urban areas, drainage sources are limited, which can result in flooding when there is heavy rainfall. Green roofs are able to absorb a great majority of stormwater, preventing rapid runoff and mitigating flooding and erosion. After the water is absorbed, the roof gradually releases the excess water.

Add Natural Beauty

Improve Air Quality Regulate Indoor Temperature Plants both absorb and reflect sunlight, which prevents heat from beating down directly onto the rooftop when a green roof is installed. This helps regulate and cool indoor temperatures, conserving energy and saving you money on air conditioning costs. During the colder months, a green roof can act as insulation, helping to maintain a warm, comfortable interior.

24 • Colorado Byline | Spring 2022

Plant leaves and blades of grass trap dust particles that may be floating in the air. In conjunction with a green roof’s cooling benefits, less smog will be produced and a building can reduce its urban heat island effect.

Create a Multifunctional Space If you have access to your green roof, it can serve as the perfect spot for dinner parties, meetings, play dates or simply


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