College of Architecture and Planning University of Colorado Denver

ECONOMIC

Building Costs and Maintenance

• Prolong roof membrane lifetime-protecting the membrane from UV rays
• Savings on energy costs-heating and cooling savings due to the green roof provide insulation qualities.

Development/Construction Costs

• Reduce heating and cooling equipment
• Reduce insulation amounts
• Potential to meet regulatory requirements for water treatment
• Reduce community resistance to new developments
• Potential to satisfy minimum green space requirements
• Potential for density bonusing/larger floor area ratio
• Potential to reduce the size of stormwater management ponds

Marketing

• Potential for local, regional and national market exposure
• US and Canadian Green Building Council LEED certification system (potentially score 15 credits)

ENVIRONMENTAL

Improve air quality

• Filter airborne particles
• Carbon dioxide/oxygen exchange

Temperature regulation

• ‘Urban Heat Island Effect’- help minimize the difference in temperature between the urban land and surrounding rural land due to hardscape and reflective surfaces which absorb solar radiation and reradiate it as heat.

Water

• Stormwater retention-minimize water fluctuations from high runoff volumes that negatively impacts stream ecologies
• Water filtration-filter particulates, pollutants and temperature extremes

Creation and Preservation of Habitat and Biodiversity

SOCIAL

• Aesthetics
• Health and Horticultural Therapy
• Recreation
• Green Walls act as sound barriers

About Green Roofs           Types of Green Roofs