Green+Roof+and+Solar+Panel+Integration

What is Green Roofing?
-A green roof replaces traditional roofing with a lightweight, living system of soil, compost, and plants. -Opposed to the traditional Black Top roof a Green Top Roof does all of the following:




 * **Improves solar panel efficiency**
 * At present only green roofs that receive favored treatment and generous financial incentives will be able to show a positive return on investment
 * Manage stormwater
 * ** Improves air quality **
 * Promotes biodiversity
 * Aesthetically pleasing
 * ** Battles [|urban heat island effect] and the associated dangers to urban populations **
 * Conserves water
 * Protects conventional roof from UV rays and elongates its life
 * Provides year-round insulation reducing heating costs in winter and cooling costs in summer
 * ** Provides fire retardation **
 * Reduces rooftop temps more dramatically than white roofs
 * Contributes to more LEED points than white roofs
 * ** Happy neighbors: views on to green space increase property values of buildings; views also help people have a happier outlook and even check out of hospitals sooner! **

Source(s):
Interactive Diagrams (Little kids would love this!!!) - []
 * Diagram organizing solar panels and green roof** - []
 * Green roofing company (Top Tier)** - []
 * Design(s) and Application(s)** - []

Feasibility of a Green Roof


 * A gable roof is not impossible to integrate with a green roof
 * You can install a green roof on a sloping roof, but it is important to consider the climate and other factors when planning for a green roof.
 * The direction the roof faces, where it gets most of its sun and how much it is shaded are highly important considerations in the planning stages.
 * A green roof on the steeply-sloped north side of a gable roof needs to have plants that do well with little direct sunlight.
 * Plants low on the roof may not get any sunlight at all while being shaded by those above. Your climate and winds are other important considerations.
 * Green Roofs work well in combination with the use of solar panels. This applies to solar thermal heating and solar power systems
 * higher efficiency of the Photovoltaic-module due to the cooling effect of the Green Roof
 * On roofs with solar panels, only extensive vegetation can be installed. The solar units have to be installed above the vegetation level so that the panels are not shaded. Special frames of aluminium or robinia are made in order to put the panels above the vegetation level.
 * Mixtures of mosses, succulents, herbs and grasses create pleasant plant communities.
 * Lawn, perennials, bushes and trees are not entirely feasible for our project
 * ** Plant type should also be tailored to the surrounding climate of the house **

See example from Penn State 2009: []


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 * for more information about pitched green roofs: []


 * for more information on plant types: []


 * ===Even MORE Information on Green-roof Plant Types: []===

Example of PV/green roof combination: [|Germany, 2002]