'Green' Roofs Provide More Than Shelter

Feldman Residence, Saint Lucia Reserve, Carmel, Calif. // © Rana Creek Living Architecture/Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

13 amazing facts about green roofs

By Damon van der Linde and Steven Peck of The Daily Green

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What is a green roof?

A green roof is an extension of a new or existing roof that has:

• A high-quality waterproofing and root-repellant system


• A drainage system


• Filter cloth


• A lightweight growing medium


• Plants

Green-roof systems may be modular, with drainage layers, filter cloth, growing media and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking grids. Or each component may be installed separately.

Green-roof development involves the creation of "contained" green space atop a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at or above grade. But in all cases, the plants are not placed in the ground.