12 unexpected reasons to build green roofs

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In addition to its well-known environmental value or merely aesthetic, there are many other reasons to bet on green roofs. These are unusual reasons, which do not seek to enhance biodiversity in the countryside or in the city, improve environmental quality, increase gardens or, for example, act as insulating, reducing noise, electricity bill and carbon footprint. No, at least on a priority basis.

In this post we will see different uses or purposes that can be added to those to increase their ecological value, either intentionally or not. In some cases, they will increase it, and in others they simply obey other intentions. Apart from the fact that, by themselves, we subjectively believe that they justify their construction.

But are these reasons really so unusual? Some more than others, no doubt. Perhaps due to their originality or, if you like, less habitual, they are largely unexpected, as we will see in this post.

Discover, below, these 10 curious purposes that, beyond the common, sometimes motivate the construction of a green roof. And who knows, they could inspire you to carry out your own project. Or why not?… To daydream, which is also beautiful.

The use of eco building materials

Although building a green garden can be carried out with different types of construction materials, some more pollutants than others, there is a traditional option typical of the Nordic countries that gives us the possibility of waterproofing it naturally.

The use of birch bark is key to waterproof the roof in traditional architectures in these areas. Its use allows the roof to be resistant to water and, in general, prolongs its life. Therefore, the design of a green house can look for this option to avoid synthetic materials, with the advantage that the earth and plants they help the birch bark to be better fixed. An interesting option for design bioclimatic.

Offer a delicious bite to graze

When there is no forest, or simply, if you want to dedicate a space to expand the garden offering a exquisite bite to herbivores such as goats or horses, green roofs are an interesting option.

In the image that opens the post, as well as in the previous one we see the great results that can be achieved by opting for this option in modern designs that have minimal landscaping impact. The options are as many as designs make it feasible. Whether with a rural or modernist air, so much is given.

Reduce landscape impact

Obviously, a green roof means to get better the symbiosis of the house with the surroundings, in case it is located in the field, and especially when native plants and even small equally local trees are chosen to cover the roof.

On the other hand, the green roofs that cover the estate in the cities they are also a way of detracting from the feeling of living in a concrete jungle. Instead, the view is little less than that of an urban garden. Although its access is private, for visual purposes it is a contribution in this same sense.

Avoid drafts

The weight of the green roof, adding the land and the plants, helps the houses to be more consolidated, so that the walls and other infrastructure will be proof of air currents caused by possible cracks.

This effect is an advantage well known in the Nordic countries, where, in addition, in winter, the total weight increases significantly in the snowy season, while the earth acts as an insulator from the cold, in addition to the birch bark playing its role, as we explained in the first point.

Absorb rainwater

The vegetation cover of these roofs helps to absorb rainwater, helping to reduce runoff significantly, depending on a number of factors, such as roof design, plants and slope, explains the Scandinavian Green Roof Institute.

Help the bees survive

Turn your roof garden into a oasis for the bees and other animals, from insects and birds to small mammals or reptiles is an interesting way to contribute to the promotion of biodiversity. In the case of bees, helping them by planting species that help them do their job and installing honeycombs can make a big difference and, along with other measures, even save them from extinction.

Incentivize the barter economy

Given that a grass roof in the Nordic countries It is a family project that is carried out within a barter economy, since the materials are collected from here and there and its realization requires a lot of labor, which is usually done by neighbors in rural communities.

Bet on urban nomadic agriculture

Gardening or agriculture urban nomad it can appear where one least expects it. An occurrence that, over the years, has become a protest gesture, in the style of the movement known as guerrilla gardening. The place is the least of it: a moss graffiti, the cover of a bus … The important thing is to reach the passer-by, convey the message that green is life and, by passive, the lack of green that the city suffers, little less than death in life.

Have an urban garden nearby

The terraces or roofs are an invitation to turn them into urban gardens. Of course, as in the case of gardens, the load capacity of the building must be taken into account before overloading it with soil and irrigation, in order to get the most out of our space.

Build houses next to green gardens

It is the fashion in China, a trend that amazes with a simple image. In the thumbnail of the second image we can see how the need for Parkland in cities it has led to the construction of buildings on the same rooftops, on the other hand also converted into gardens.

Comply with… French laws

Compliance with the French laws is another possible motivation when building a green roof. Specifically, the French Parliament has approved a law that seeks to improve air quality to enhance biodiversity and also seeking a lower carbon footprint (reduce emissions), as well as improve public health.

It is a regulation that requires that the roofs of the new buildings have a green roof that helps to achieve these objectives, in addition to isolating the building or, failing that, the roofs must have solar panels, within a series of requirements to be met.

Increase labor productivity

Green roofs can be walkable, in which case they become a good option for office workers in urban environments, surrounded by asphalt, they can take breaks among the green. There are many studies that tell us about the importance of changing the environment to charge the batteries, ideally coming into contact with nature.

Likewise, a similar effect can be achieved from the same office, although it will not be as effective, simply by having green views. In this sense, that rooftops of others buildings Lower height have a green tapestry can make a big difference.

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