¶ … green roofs ability to provide both ecological and economic returns simultaneously that has helped to propel them" (Compton 2006 p. 40). This could be especially true in the United States, where much of industry if driven by the efforts to maximize profits. Complementing those efforts with a burgeoning enlightenment of the benefits provided by being "green" is oftentimes a no-brainer for business owners. Even if that appearance is superficial in substance, at least an effort is being made.
Some of the benefits a business person might derive from installing a green roof includes;
Economic Benefits
Potential to reduce the size of HVAC equipment on new or retrofitted buildings (capital and operational savings).
Potential to reduce the amount of standard insulation used.
Potential to incorporate cooling and/or water treatment functions.
Potential for local, regional, and national market exposure, depending on the uniqueness of the project.
Potential to reduce or eliminate roof drains.
Potential to meet regulatory requirements for stormwater management.
Potential to reduce community resistance to new developments (Green 2005)
The potential to save on energy costs is of high significance due to the rise in temperatures experienced by the vast majority of conventional roofs during the summer seasons. Conventional roofing can reach as high as 150 degrees under the hot summer sun, this causes "cooling and electrical needs jump dramatically, which increases costs and power usage" (Building, 2007, p. 32).
Installing a green vegetation system on an existing structure reduces the cost to heat or cool the building. This is only one of many direct benefits to the company(s) or individuals paying the energy bill.
Works Cited
Building envelope: Cool and green roofs (2007) Buildings, Vol. 101, No. 10, pp. 32-33
Compton, J., (2006) Rethinking the green roof, BioCycle, Vol. 9, No. 38, pp. 40 -- 41
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (2005) http://www.greenroofs.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=40, accessed February 24, 2008
