Projects: Research
We carried out preliminary research on the environmental benefits of green roofs
using the flat garage roof (two garages) compared to a control non-vegetated roof built
at the same time with the same roof deck. With a recent rainfall totalling 0.17 inches, we
obtained the following results:
--the vegetated roof retained 95% of the expected run-off compared to our control,
non-vegetated roof AND
--the run-off from the vegetated roof filtered the total suspended solutes (a meaurement
of pollutant concentration) from 20 down to 1.25JacksonTurbidity Units.
Our rainwater harvesting system allows re-use of collected rainwater to water
ground-level fruit trees and will eventually be used with a pump to irrigate the roof
in the dry summer monthes if needed.
