GREEN ROOFS VS. SOLAR PANELS

You may be asking yourself which solution is more "Green" ? Today, the proper use of a roof on a high rise building, is a "Green Roof", and not the location for solar panels. This is because the best use of solar panels is where the windows are! Imagine a tall high rise building, with hundreds of windows, facing the West and South sun exposure, all generating electricity. Today, solar windows are 50% less efficient than regular solar panels, however, this inefficiency is remedied by the increased surface area. Buildings normally have 10 to 20 times more surface area, on any vertical surface, than on the roof. Therefore, we recommend solar windows.

"Green Roofs " do not need to be flat. Panels of Styrofoam, layered on top of each other, can provide an attractive mound, in contrast to the common flat "Green Roof" solution. Now, that "Green Roofs" do not need to be flat, they no longer need to be without trees. Often today"s "Green Roof" designers are more concerned with water use, than having the "Green Roof" be attractive or the space more livable. Trees supported with sturdy metal posts or metal guide lines, attached directly to the roof, can provide the support trees require. Trees can be planted directly underneath support columns, in buildings that were not originally planned to support "Green Roofs ". Having different water needs than the surrounding plant material, trees require their own irrigation system and water schedule.

"Green Roofs "can minimize water runoff by nourishing plants with the extra water from rain. Also, the thickness of a "Green Roof" can provide insulation between the outside temperatures of hot and cold. Surprisingly, materials made to waterproof "Green Roof" can last longer than traditional waterproofing systems.

In your project, we hope you consider a few of these suggestions and we ask you to consider a "Green Roof" by Alder Landscape Architecture, please.