A green roof is not just green in the environmentally friendly sense, it is genuinely green because there are actual growing plants forming part of the roofing fabric. According to Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, the measurable acreage of green roofs grew by 30 percent in 2010. These roofs make such a positive contribution to civil health that local authorities are offering incentives to builders who include them in their projects.
This emerging trend is not limited to elaborate rooftop “parks” above major edifices like hotels and city halls; residential homeowners are implementing them as well, particularly in city centers where garden space is at a premium. Not only does this increased land area allow homeowners an extra patch for growing vegetables, it provides additional habitat for birds and insects.
With the right plant species, it is possible to attract bees, whose numbers are dwindling dangerously. Many people are not aware that for every three bites of food we eat, one of them depends on bees or other pollinators. This alone is reason enough to consider this option for Charleston roofing systems.
Green roofs have also been proven to act as passive cooling systems on top of buildings. A conventional roof in the middle of a hot summer can increase in temperature by 7 degrees Fahrenheit.