Green Roof Energy Efficiency

Here s a closer look at each one of these and the reasons green roofs are the key to energy efficiency and so much more.

Green roof energy efficiency. It has become a leed leadership in energy and environmental design standard of the u s. Green roof temperatures can be 30 40 f lower than those of conventional roofs and can reduce city wide ambient temperatures by up to 5 f. Energy star certified roof products can help reduce the amount of air conditioning needed in buildings and can reduce peak cooling demand by 10 15 percent. Not everyone can have a living roof but most people can have a green roof fairly easily.

The basic anatomy of a green roof consists of vegetation growing medium filter membrane drainage layer waterproof root repellant layer roofing membrane support for plantings above thermal insulation vapor control layer and structural roof support. Vegetation layer anywhere from three to 24 inches of growing medium. The home energy score is a national rating system developed by the u s. Green building council and has been mandated by government officials in chicago.

Yet it is difficult to give them a fixed u value rating. When in cooling mode hvac equipment must pre cool outside air to get it to the required temperature. The home facts provide details about the current structure and systems. Green roofs also provide insulation lower the need for heating and cooling and can reduce the urban heat island effect.

Green roofs and energy performance green roofs do provide potential energy savings by improving building insulation characteristics. 1 cool your roof. All three types of roofs require specific layers of roofing materials not found on regular roofs. Cool roofs are lighter in color than traditional black asphalt or dark wood shingles and save energy by reflecting light and heat away rather than.

If the air on the roof is made cooler by a green roof this process is easier and uses less energy. The energy star energy efficiency criteria do not include a specification for roof insulation. And the great news is that improving the energy efficiency of your roof doesn t have to be costly. Green roofs reduce energy consumption the basic structure of a green roof is as follows starting with the topmost layer.

Cooler roof temperatures produced by a green roof help boost the efficiency of rooftop mechanical equipment by making the air on the roof cooler. White or reflective roofs have been in use for the past 15 years. 1 2 in addition green roofs can reduce building energy use by 0 7 compared to conventional roofs reducing peak electricity demand and leading to an annual savings of 0 23 per square foot of the roof. This is because green roofs are dynamic systems and their properties vary throughout the year.

Small improvements can deliver a big difference not only to your home s energy usage but also to the size of your energy bill. Reflectivity requirements differ for low slope and steep slope roofs.