Is Parker County, Texas ready for green roofs.
Unbeknownst to many of our rural and suburban area natives here in Parker County, Texas, green roofs have become the norm in most major cities across the country, such as New York City, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and even Dallas, TX. These garden roofs are not widely known or considered for flat roofing systems; however, they are not a new concept. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon built around 600 B.C. was one of the Seven Wonders of the (Ancient) World. They were engineered for many of the same benefits being used today. Apparently, there is nothing new under the sun, after all!
When properly engineered, installed and maintained, green roofs have several benefits for the building owners and inhabitants, as well as the surrounding public. For many buildings, stormwater runoff is one of the primary problems solved by installing and growing a green roof. The majority of rainwater, especially during the summer months, soaks into the substrate and then gradually taken up by the plants, not flooding streets, drainage and sewer systems below. Green roofs, of course, help keep buildings cooler which has a ripple effect on many things such as energy use, reducing the use of HVAC and electrical materials, and reducing associated waste. Of course, there is the aesthetic value, and the health benefits as well. After all, people need the oxygen produced by the lifecycle of green plants, and not concrete! The longterm benefit of going green with the roof is the increased life-expectancy of the roof. Greenroofs have been known to double, and in some circumstances, even triple the lifespan of the roof by protecting the roof covering from the elements. Since the majority of flat roofing systems are on commercial buildings, there are other benefits than just the financial savings of roof work on a building that houses the daily operations of business! The only real disadvantage to a green roof is the increased expense. The expense of properly engineering, installing and regularly maintaining a garden on your roof is considerably higher than that of a basic flat roofing system.
Food for thought, as Parker County grows exponentially, is it time to consider green roofs for some of the Historic downtown buildings…
For more information on the growing trend of green roofs, visit greenroofs.org! For those Wild West neighbors of ours who are curious but yet to experience a rooftop garden, I suggest visiting the Oasis Rooftop at the Dallas Arboretum.
Until next time, never worry about keeping a roof over your head. Whether its shingles, metal, flat, gabled or green, let Ann Aaron do the heavy lifting!