The advent of green roofs reflects the collective awareness of the masses on the greenhouse effect of fossil fuels that ultimately leads to global warming. Preventing this unwanted climate change led to the production and use of various roofing materials that help protect the environment.

Below are some of these most common roofing materials used for green roofing Columbus, Ohio and their benefits as well as disadvantages.

Wood Shingle or Shake

Woods gathered from sustainably-growing trees are ideal for people who prefer classic wood shingles for their homes. These are also biodegradable and made from natural materials.

Unfortunately, wood shingles are expensive up front and flammable, which limit the options of those living under controlled areas or where the occurrence of fire is high.

Recycled Shingle

Manufacturers came up with shingles with recycled contents that resemble wood shakes and slates. They have a long life span and are recyclable, providing an excellent choice and low-cost alternatives to the more expensive slate and wood tiles.

So far, no recycled shingles are available in white, which would truly make the roof a cool roof.

Slate or Clay Tile

Their durability make slate and clay a favorite among homeowners. They also project that natural and classic look that augments the elegance of historic-designed homes. Clay tiles are cool roofs and therefore enhance the energy efficiency of your homes.

They are, however, very expensive with prices almost double those of metal roofs. Their weight might also require houses to be reinforced prior to installation, which further adds to the cost. Further, regular maintenance is required to replace damaged tiles.

Solar Panels

The number of homes equipped with solar panels are rising. The increase is a testament to the proven benefits that solar panels bring in terms of huge savings from energy bills. Using solar panels also means relying less on fossil fuels.

A big disadvantage of solar panels is their huge upfront cost. While you may save money in the long run from electric bills, it will take years before you can recoup your investment.

White or Cool Roof

A cool roof is painted with light color to reflect sunlight and minimize the absorption of heat by the roof, resulting to the cooler interior of the house. This method promotes energy efficiency while curbing the urban heat island effect.

A cool roof does not automatically mean that it is eco-friendly. The material used could have been made from asphalt shingles, which are petroleum-based and non-recyclable.

Green Roof

The benefits brought by a green roof are many and varied—it provides insulation to your home, helps reduce heat island effect, cleans the air, and enhances the beauty of your home.

The initial installation cost is high though.  Regular maintenance is also required to keep the plants healthy and the roof in optimal condition. Repairing areas under the green roof could prove difficult and costly too.

Green roofs are hostile sites for plants because of elevated temperatures and high exposure to wind and light. Selecting the right varieties of plants requires careful consideration of different factors such as location, substrate used, level of maintenance and local climate.

We listed below the top plant choices suitable for a living or green roofing Lancaster, PA, these are:

Succulents. These colorful plants are commonly found on shallow green roofs in North America and Europe. People prefer to use succulents because of their low growing and spreading habits, tolerance for lack of water, colorful seasonal flowers and textures.

Grasses. Most grasses will not survive on rooftop gardens, unless they regularly receive plenty of water during summer. There are same grasses though that are able to withstand extreme conditions during the hot months. Grasses are ideal for covering wide territory and present beautiful contrast to succulents.

Herbaceous Perennials. These are non-woody plants with persistent roots and stems below the ground, which allow the plants to thrive and regrow for several years. The flowering perennials are used for display. They are paired with ornamental grasses to create striking contrasts both in form and texture. It only requires periodic pruning for them to maintain their shape.

Annual and Biennial Plants. Two groups of annual and biennial plants are used for living roofs—the quick growing annuals and ephemerals and the vegetables. The first group, especially those that come from dry climates, are superb supplements to other flowering plants. However, they require constant irrigation to extend their survival. The second group of annual plants are similarly widely used on living roofs. To prevent these annual plants from becoming weeds on the roof, careful selection of the plants and regular maintenance are advised.

Aromatic Herbs. Many varieties of culinary herbs can grow in dry, rocky places and are suited for planting on living roofs. Some have wide-spreading and low-growing covers, which make them ideal for living roofs.

Small Shrubs. These are ideal for use on the substrate with at least 250 mm depths. Shrubs often form the bulk of plantings on living roofs with deeper substrates. The create display, cover and habitat.

Trees. Trees can be planted on living roofs with substrate depths of at least 600 mm, although a depth of 1,000 mm is ideal. The best types of trees to plant on green roofs are those with high tolerance to heat, flexible stems and sparse canopies.

Increase in global temperature is an inevitable and direct effect of climate change. However, it is not the only cause of temperature increases; cities create their own heat islands because of rapid urban development. The increase in temperature results to various negative consequences, including poor air quality, increase of heat-related illnesses, increase energy use and increase water consumption.

To combat these undesirable effects of elevated temperature, the construction industry came up with the concepts of cool roofs and green roofs. If you are interested in knowing the positive contributions of these designs in improving the quality of roofing Birmingham Al, we listed them out for you.

What are Green Roofs?

Green roofs are roofs that are either partially or fully covered with living plants. A basic green roof design incorporates a waterproof membrane to keep rainwater out of the building, drainage system for proper water disposal, a layer of soil where plants thrive and the plants themselves that make the roofs green.

This type of roof may be installed in just about every structure, including government, commercial, residential and educational buildings.

Green roofs may be extensive or intensive. Extensive roofs have a thin layer of soil or other medium with hardy, drought-tolerant plants that require minimal maintenance, no pesticides or fertilizers, and minimal human intervention. Intensive roofs act like the traditional park or garden with a wide variety of plants installed.

Benefits of a Green Roof:

• Prolongs the roof service life
• Reduces energy costs to keep the structure cool
• Enhances the aesthetics of the building
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduces urban heat island effect
• Improves the quality of air by reducing pollutants and temperatures

What are Cool Roofs?

Cool roofs are made of different materials – such as roof tiles, shingles, coatings and paints – that reflect the sun’s energy instead of absorbing it. They are designed to reflect sunlight and therefore, absorb less heat than a conventional roof. The roof is characterized by high degree of solar reflectance that decreases heat gain into the structure. A building with a cool roof can have up to 50° to 60°F less temperature than conventional structures. Energy savings are, in fact, one of the direct benefits of a cool roof since the building temperature is lower and requires less energy to cool.

Benefits of a Cool Roof:

• Reduces energy demands and lower building temperatures
• Improves heat management in non-air-conditioned rooms
• Prolongs the duration of roof lifespan by reducing roof temperatures
• Saves energy bills by cutting down on the use of air-conditioners