Green Roof Heat Loss

Plant leaves trap dust particles from the air and evapotranspiration cools ambient temperatures.

Green roof heat loss.

Green roofs have been proven to help reduce heat islands. Because green roofs store water in the growing media and plants latent heat loss is accomplished via transpiration from plants and evaporation of moisture from the growing medium collectively referred to as evapo transpiration. A green roof or rooftop garden is a vegetative layer grown on a rooftop. In winter the green roof minimizes heat loss through added insulation on the roof.

Green roofs improve air quality. Green rooftops offer office workers a rooftop retreat and apartment residents a place to plant gardens or relax. The hamerschlag hall green roof was found to lose 26 less heat than the control roof in heating months. The effect that the green roof media has on the thermal performance of the roof system was evaluated.

As roofs are the site of the greatest heat loss in the winter and the hottest temperatures in the summer. Green roofs improve and reduce energy consumption. Green roofs replace a hard infrastructure with one that s not only more efficient but also beautiful and useful. If green roofs become a common building initiative cities can reduce the uncomfortable effects of urban heat islands.

They can reduce heating by adding mass and thermal resistance value also can reduce the heat island by increasing evapotranspiration. Informational signs can accompany green roofs to educate building occupants and visitors to the benefits of the green roof and how to protect the resource. The main findings of the study were that green roofs are able to reduce the indoor temperature of buildings and are able to achieve better heat transfer through the roof and thus a lower cooling. Energy conservation translates into fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

A 2005 study by brad bass of the university of toronto showed that green roofs can also reduce heat loss and energy consumption in winter conditions. This page provides a brief overview of the role of green roofs in mitigating the heat island effect including green roof types other environmental and social benefits and cost benefit considerations. Thermal reduction and energy conservation. The allegheny county office building green roof was found to lose 8 2 less heat than the control roof in heating months and gain 75.

It is clearly seen that the heat loss from the green roof is notably greater than the building having no green vegetation on the roof. This energy is known as latent heat. A green roof system is an extension of the existing roof which involves at a minimum high quality water proofing root repellent system drainage system filter cloth a lightweight growing medium and plants.