Green Roof Insulation Value

Researchers estimate that 1m 2 of a green roof can help to absorb 0 2kg of airborne particles from the air every year.

Green roof insulation value. The extra layers of a green roof also serve as insulation. Completely dry growing media the dirt of the green roof so to speak has a minimal r value typically about 0 5 inch. Green roofs reduce sound resonance by 3 db and provide sound insulation of up to 8 db. Green roof economics benefits costs npv net present value benefits costs rinaldi buffam et al.

What is the r value of a green roof the most common request i get from architects and engineers is for the r value of a green roof system. In short it s not possible to assign a u value to a green roof system. Determining insulation r value accuracy. Science has proven that green roofs insulate buildings.

The degree of sound insulation will depend on the thickness of the green roof structure. Acting as natural shade and a heat absorber for a building a green roof can significantly reduce cooling costs by as much as 25. A green roof system provides good sound insulation keeps the living space quieter and creates more pleasant surroundings in urban areas and it contributes to noise. A dark heat absorbing roof surface increases demands on mechanical systems making it more difficult to adequately cool a building whereas a green roof reduces the temperature of the roof and therefore the building itself.

In some cases a green roof may include thermal insulation typically a layer of extruded polystyrene. However a green roof does not provide additional insulation. In order to make sure we are all clear on how insulation works particularly in a green roof system we need to take a little journey through the lexicon of insulation terminology starting with. In prep assumes a 40 year lifespan of the green roof and a 20 year lifespan of a conventional roof model based in cincinnati with cso s present largest cost of green roof is related to installation but roof replacement costs are reduced.

A living green roof not only insulates a building and makes it accessible in the winter months it is so much nicer to view from a bedroom window that plain old roofing felt. Plants need water to grow so the green roof is designed to retain some degree of moisture. Every construction design architect engineer a e knows a material s r value is an important factor when specifying insulation products with many regulations requiring minimum values for wall ceiling and roof assemblies. Advice should be sought from a building energy consultant to establish the value of additional insulation considering the insulating properties of the green roof assembly substrate.