[Benefits & Costs of Green Roofs and its Sustainability Issues]

by

Acknowledgement

I would first like to express my gratitude for my research supervisor, colleagues, peers and family whose immense and constant support has been a source of continuous guidance and inspiration.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names & surname here], declare that the following dissertation/thesis and its entire content has been an individual, unaided effort and has not been submitted or published before. Furthermore, it reflects my opinion and take on the topic and is does not represent the opinion of the University.

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ABSTRACT

This study will be useful for promoting awareness to the public and organisations that rely on this type of research. The issue of the environment is very important to the global climate changing bodies. There are increasing demands for greener environmentally friendly systems to be developed. It is a hot topic at the moment and will be very big in the near future. This paper will attempt to concentrate and give a UK perspective. However, other countries' policies and adaptation will be studied. Historically, green roofs have been used for centuries in Europe, especially as sod roofs when other materials were not available to construct buildings. Furthermore, modern green roof research began in Europe, specifically Germany, in the last two decades of the twentieth century. More recently in Germany, there has been research on storm water retention and species mixes for extensive green roofs. In Switzerland, modelling has been used to determine the environmental impact of greening 70% of the flat roofs of Basel. Recent efforts in the United Kingdom have looked at growing media depth, species selection and the ecology of green.

Table of Contents

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background1

Aims & Objectives2

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW3

Green Roof Systems4

Components of a green roof5

a. Waterproofing membrane6

b. Protection layer (I)7

c. Insulation7

d. Drainage layer7

e. Protection layer7

f. Substrate layer7

g. Plant layer8

Effect of Green Roofs in Urban Areas8

Reduction in the energy consumption of buildings9

Thermal performance of green roofs9

Effect of the green roof on the building's energy consumption12

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions13

Air quality improvement14

Reduction of Heat Island effect15

Noise control effect17

Storm water management17

Green roofs as a substitute for lost areas of landscape19

Reduced renovation costs20

Challenges to Green Roofs21

Structural and Construction Issues21

Maintenance23

Warranty and Guarantee24

Support and Guidance24

Aesthetics25

Other Issues25

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY26

Limitations28

CHAPTER 04: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS29

Case Study: London39

CHAPTER 05: CONCLUSION41

Green roofs as one tool to mitigate urbanization41

Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings43

Building Standards and Regulations45

The role of new regional governments46

Local policy guidance47

REFERENCES49

APPENDICES59

Open Spaces and Parks59

Biodiversity59

Birmingham & Black County Biodiversity Action Plan60

Black redstart61

Regional policy context61

Green Roofs Policies in United Kingdom62

Introduction62

Guidelines of National Planning Policy64

Urban Policy for Development64

Housing66

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Sailor (2008) explains the benefits that green roofs offers include visual appearance, habitat, storm, water reduction, and energy savings. However, what inspires the contemporary work of green roof it's their energy saving. Although the potential energy savings of green roof is extensively publicised as important advantage, it has not been considered as much detail with few exclusions.

This study is mainly concentrating on the benefits, cost and the sustainability issues of green roofing. This paper presents a research proposal outlining the research objectives ...