The Benefits of Green Roofs Are Sky High

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a landscape in the sky! You might do a double take when you spot a tree growing on top of a building, but that’s not the only thing about green roofs that will surprise you. Take a look at the benefits and you’ll see why this hardworking landscape feature can be your property’s superhero.

Save Energy & Money

If your air conditioner works overtime in the summer, it’s likely thanks to the effects of the urban heat island. The sun heats man-made materials like concrete and asphalt much more quickly than trees and plants. In urban environments, this creates a zone of stifling hot air that sends your air conditioner into overdrive. One of the best ways to keep your energy bill from going through the roof is to install a green roof. According to the United States General Services Administration, the surface of a green roof tends to be 30-40 degrees cooler than a conventional roof during the summer. Further, transfer of heat through the roof to the building’s interior is reduced by as much as 72%.  However, a green roof’s benefits aren’t solely relegated to the summer. In the winter, the green roof’s insulating effect will help reduce heat loss. The ability to mitigate temperature extremes will also help extend the life your roof by lessening stress on the roof’s membrane.

The savings don’t stop there. Some government agencies offer a property tax credit or other incentives to help offset the cost of a green roof, further increasing your ROI. Your landscape partner can help identify programs from which you could benefit.

Save the Environment

When it comes to managing stormwater, green roofs are multi-talented. Precipitation is filtered through the soil, helping to remove contaminants that would otherwise be present in run-off from a conventional roof. Plus, green roofs can retain some water for irrigation, diminishing the risk of flooding. This reduction in runoff helps ease the burden on sewer systems by lowering peak volume.

A green roof can also improve your property’s air quality and reduce noise pollution thanks to its insulating effects. As an added bonus, if your rooftop garden includes native plants that attract local birds and beneficial insects, you’ll create a habitat that supports biodiversity.

Save Sanity & Wellbeing

Last but not least, green roofs make people happy. Whether it’s the enhanced view, or the opportunity to connect with nature, green roofs can have a profound effect on the wellbeing of employees and visitors.

And really, what’s not to love? Green roofs provide a quiet, attractive space to rest, reflect, or connect with others. It’s a great spot for recreation, like outdoor games or yoga. Green roofs are also a prime location for an edible garden, which will surely be a value-add for any green-thumb or foodie employees. The possibilities are endless, and so too are the benefits—including reduced stress, increased productivity, and easier recruiting.

Installing a green roof can be an investment, but the benefits pay off in spades. If you’re considering a green roof, talk with a landscape partner who is experienced in both the installation and maintenance. Here at BrightView, we’ve had the pleasure of installing and maintaining many green roofs, and would be happy to help you explore the upside for your property.