Craiker’s Corner: Green roofs could be a boon to wine industry construction
Sourced from North Bay Business Journal
I have a green roof. It’s green composition asphalt, except in the summer when the six overhead redwood trees drop all their needles, and the roof turns brown. But I’ve always been intrigued with the advantages of providing a vegetated green plant-based roof.
Green or vegetated roofs are loosely defined as a living plant cultivated space on top of a human-made structure, such as a home, office or warehouse. Typically, they are above grade, but you might consider a wine cave bored into the ground a green roofed structure. Green roofs can provide a wide range of public and private benefits and have been installed in countries all around the world.
This is not like planting a garden or park on our roofs, although multiple types of herbs plants and fruits often are grown safely and to the advantage of the building owners. Green roofs don’t just look edgy, they are also highly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. They’re really cool ― literally.
Building owners can reap good financial returns on their investments while providing significant economic, environmental and social benefits both in cities and in our communities.
However, green roofs can be complicated. They vary by the region, solar orientation, building design and the complexity of construction. They require high-quality waterproofing, a rigorous water repellent system, superb drainage, layers of filtered cloth, and careful attention to details. Some green roofs can be in shallow planter boxes or pottery and require independent drainage, separate from traditional roof gutters and downspouts. Using interlocking grids or loose portable containers can be installed independently.
From the Living Architecture Monitor
