Building Green

[wdbgelaundromat]

I have heard of laundries using efficient machines, installing solar cells and many other ways of saving money. Has anyone here researched or installed a Green Roof (Planting a garden on your roof)? I have read that on a summer day when a blacktop roof is 160 degrees a green roof would only be 90 degrees.

What are your thoughts?

[TLR]

What...........?

[fishmanz]

Sounds good but my customers are inside, not on the roof. lol

[Von Hef]

Do you mean planting a lawn? How many inches of soil? Would you also install a sprinkler system? How much would all that wet soil weigh? Would your roof support the added tonnage? What would be the cost of such a project… and the annual maintenance? I doesn’t seem very practicable too me.

[wdbgelaundromat]

From what I have read there is only 3 inches of soil. It is feed only off of rain water and is planted with plants that dount require matinence. I would not due it for looks but for the money it would be saving in energy costs. Felecting heat in the Summer and Insulating in the winter. Many cities are building this type of "Green Building" into there city codes.

[pete f]

Hmm, who is going to mow it??
Take a clue from the school dept and many mobile home owners, just paint it reflective white. Add a windmill or two for enegry or solar panels.

[tulsausageoff]

something like this?
http://www.safeguardeurope.com/applications/green_roofs.php?gclid=CJ3qzYCEmooCFRkUEAodYhftfg

Seems sensible to spend more money on keeping heat out, rather then cooling the heat when it gets into the building. And who wouldn't want pretty butterflies in the summer?

[fishmanz]

Perhaps I spoke too soon. I watched a show last night called "Ask This Old House" They did a whole segment on this building green. It seems it's more than roof toping. Anything that is natural or enviromentally friendly is considered green. Roof overhangs to create shade, natural wood products and material made from byprodeuts such as saw dust too. Trees in the yard and even the use of plants known to be drought resistive are all considered green building.

I probably wouldn't have watched if not for your post. It was interesting.