Green Roof Savings

There are many different reported benefits that the addition of a green roof to a building can offer.

Green roof savings.

Shading the outer surface of the building envelope has been shown to be more effective than internal insulation. Green roofs reduce the heat flux through the roof and less energy for cooling or heating can lead to significant cost savings. Many studies have been conducted over the past 10 years to consider the potential building energy benefits of green roofs and shown that they can offer benefits in winter heating reduction as well as summer cooling. Over its estimated lifespan of 40 years a green roof would save about 200 000 of which nearly two thirds would come from reduced energy costs.

Green roof temperatures can be 30 40 f lower than those of conventional roofs and can reduce city wide ambient temperatures by up to 5 f. Green roofs are a passive cooling technique that stop incoming solar radiation from reaching the building structure below. But according to the national research council of canada a green roof can reduce air conditioning. The study looked at a range of benefits of green roofs including stormwater management improved health benefits due to reduced pollution and energy savings.

One of these benefits is the potential for building energy savings where a green roof can reduce annual heating and cooling loads.