![]() Green walls can improve thermal performance by providing shading. Green roofs can improve the thermal performance of a building by providing thermal mass, insulation and shading.Green walls can be external or internal and include green façades with vines growing on walls or trellises, or ‘living’ wall structures that support plants and their growing medium.Intensive green roofs must be designed as part of a building, to ensure the structure will be suitable for the increased weight. Intensive green roofs have deeper substrates and can grow larger plants and even trees. ![]() ![]() Extensive green roofs have a thin layer of growing medium, and are best suited to hardy groundcovers and other plants with shallow root systems.Green roofs and walls incorporate a growing medium (soil, a growing mat) and vegetation.The membranes specification depends on the planned landscape and the slope of the roof. This prevents roots from damaging the waterproofing. (Warm roof rigid insulation) Root membrane This layer retains drains water off the roof, protects the root proof layer from being mechanically damaged, retains water for times of drought and provides the substrate with a balanced supply of water and air. The soil needs to be stable, not prone to settlement, well aerated even with water saturation and free of weeds. Grain size, water retention, air volume, weight and nutrient reserves. Type of planting depends on depth of the growing medium layer as well as other factors. Each layer needs to fulfil several functions to decrease the height and the weight of the overall build-up. The basic build up of a green roof is three layered: drainage, filter and vegetation layer. Usually a mixture of hard and soft landscaping.Often indistinguishable from natural gardens.Many of the materials used in green roof construction are manufactured from recycled building materials, plastics and rubber reducing landfill disposal.(See article about the National Research Council Canada research) Protects the roof from mechanical damage and ultra violet radiation – thus extending the roof life.Reduces the heat island effect, which is the main cause of ozone production.Creates a beneficial monoclimate by cooling and humidifying the surrounding air.Run-off attenuation reduces sewer overflows.New technical research was carried out, ranging from studies on root-repelling agents, membranes, drainage, lightweight growing media, to plant suitability. However in the 1960 's, rising concerns about the degraded quality of the urban environment and the rapid decline of green space in urban areas, renewed interest in green roofs as a "green solution" was sparked in Germany and Switzerland. Until the mid-20th century, green roofs were viewed mainly as a vernacular building practice. They have been standard construction practice in many countries for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, mainly due to the excellent insulative qualities of the combined plant and soil layers (sod).In the cold climates of Iceland and Scandinavia sod roofs helped to retain a building 's heat, while in warm countries such as Tanzania, they keep buildings cool. Life cycle costing indicates that green roofs cost the same or less than conventional roofing and they are an investment which provides a significant number of social, environmental and economic benefits that are both public and private in nature. Green roofs can address many of the challenges facing urban residents. Green roof infrastructure promises to become an increasingly important option for building owners and community planners.
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