Now Reading: Green roofs cut summer rooftop temperatures by up to 40°F
-
01
Green roofs cut summer rooftop temperatures by up to 40°F
Green roofs can make rooftop surfaces 30 to 40°F cooler than exposed conventional roofs during sunny summer conditions, according to reports cited by The Times of India. A study published in Energy…
The Story in Brief
Green roofs can make rooftop surfaces 30 to 40°F cooler than exposed conventional roofs during sunny summer conditions, according to reports cited by The Times of India. A study published in Energy and Buildings found that a traditional roof in southern Italy reached 74.3°C in June, while a vegetated roof recorded surface temperatures 57% to 63% lower.
Plants cool roofs by shading surfaces and releasing water through evapotranspiration. Green roofs also retain rainwater, ease pressure on drainage systems and provide habitat for insects and other urban wildlife. Extensive systems use shallow soil and low-maintenance plants, while intensive systems support deeper soil and larger plants but need stronger structures, more maintenance and higher investment.
The Indian Opinion
Green roofs are not a magic cure for urban heat, as some promotional accounts suggest. Nor are they merely decorative gardens, as critics sometimes claim. Their cooling effect depends on sunlight, water, roof design and plant survival, while intensive systems can be costly and structurally demanding. The practical test is whether a building’s indoor cooling demand and roof temperature fall after installation, not whether the roof simply looks greener.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
