Eco Insights: 4 Reasons To Invest In a Green Roof


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Green roofs are pretty trendy in the green community. Thanks to pro-green roof urban planners like the previous mayor of Chicago Richard Daley, whose green roof initiatives ensured that his city was the undisputed green roof pioneer in the US or countries like Germany where 10% of the entire country’s roofs are covered in vegetation, implementing a green roof is all the eco rage. Here are some great reasons why:

1 Energy Savings

Green roofs are hugely effective at reducing energy bills and total energy consumption in buildings and houses where they are installed. In the summer, the green roof systems helps to naturally cool the roof and the floors below and in the winter, they provide much-needed insulation against the cold. Everyone likes to save on utilities at the end of the month; green roofs are an ideal solution.

2 Urban Heat Island Effect

Buildings cause a great deal of heat; Cement and metals absorb and retain heat. By implementing a green roof system on your roof, you are lowering the temperature Cities and towns where even as small as 20-30% of the roof surfaces have green roofs have seen their average temperatures drop by 2 to 3 degrees- quite a significant amount in our era of extreme temperatures and global warming.

3 Pollution

Plants absorb the toxic and polluting CO2 that us human beings are constantly over releasing into our breathing environment due to our highly polluting ways and behaviours. Green roofs provide all-year round plant protection; they absorb a host of toxins beyond just CO2, create more oxygen for us to breathe better and they dampen the effects of the noise and light pollution (both huge energy wasters, toxin emitters and heat producers) that permeates modern cities, giving us a cleaner and more peaceful environment in which to live and breathe.

4 Bio Diversity

Green roofs provide a bio system in areas that are usually plant and tree graveyards. By introducing green roofs to the area, you are attracting insects and birds. Pretty soon, you will have created a whole new mini ecosystem. In urban areas where we have often driven many species to the brink of extinction, green roofs can spark a revival!

Want to install a green roof in your Hong Kong home? Contact Green Roof Asia, the city’s leading expert!

Author

  • Sonalie Figueiras

    2021 Women of Power, 2019 GEN T Honoree, V Label Global Hero, 2 x TEDx Speaker: Serial social entrepreneur & trends forecaster Sonalie Figueiras is a sustainability expert, food futurist and eco-powerhouse who has been inspiring global audiences for over a decade with practical steps on how to fight climate change. Known as the Green Queen of Asia, she is the founder and Editor in Chief of the award-winning Green Queen - the region’s first impact media platform that educates millions of readers on the connection between health, sustainability and the environment and showcases future solutions. She is also the co-founder and CEO of organic sourcing platform Ekowarehouse and climate tech SaaS Source Green, which helps consumer brands quit plastic packaging thanks to proprietary plastic reduction software. In addition, Sonalie is a global keynote speaker and an advisor to multiple mission-driven startups and NGOs, and a venture partner to several VC funds.

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