Green Roof Costs And Benefits

Green roofs make the most of unused space within the increasing density of our cities.

Green roof costs and benefits.

The cost benefit analysis presented in this section is based on a direct comparison between installing either a black roof or a state of the art extensive green roof as a replacement for an existing conventional roof. This page provides a brief overview of the role of green roofs in mitigating the heat island effect including green roof types other environmental and social benefits and cost benefit considerations. 10 west jackson street chicago il. However the life cycle cost is competitive.

Try out green roofs for healthy cities green save calculator. Unlike traditional black tar roofs green roofs reduce energy costs by absorbing heat instead of attracting it and. A green roof also known as a rooftop garden or a living roof is a vegetative layer grown on a rooftop. A green roof has many benefits at economic ecological and societal levels.

Depending on a variety of factors the costs for installing a green roof can be quite high. Green roof cost benefit analysis pdf 885 kb. Benefits of a green roof. The costs and benefits of the extensive green roof are averaged between a 3 inch multi course extensive.

The study looked at a range of benefits of green roofs including stormwater management improved health benefits due to reduced pollution and energy savings. However easy installation doesn t necessarily come cheap. Gsa s green roof report estimated that green roofs on commercial and public buildings provide a payback based on 50 year average annual savings of about 6 2 years nationally internal rate of return of 5 2 and an roi of 224 based on a net present value. The popularity of green roofs has increased in the united states due to their many benefits while pretty green roofs serve a much greater purpose than simple beautification.

Green roofs provide extra space. 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. Examples of important factors that influence green roof capital costs include. Green roofs have been proven to help reduce heat islands.

The initial installation cost of a green roof is more than a traditional roof. Green roofs are part of climate proof construction. Maintenance costs for domestic green roofs tend to involve the replacing of plants and doing the gardening work which you can pay someone to do or undertake yourself if you are a keen horticulturist. If you add on that you are extending the lifespan of your roof by installing a green roof then the benefits begin to add up.

Green roofs provide major benefits are relatively straightforward to install and can be added to existing buildings as well as new construction projects. All other factors being equal location ease of access etc per square foot cost would typically decrease by a factor of at least 3 as size increases from a 1 000 square foot roof to a 20 000 square foot roof. Green roof capital costs.