It sounds quirky but, it is catching on worldwide.green roofs. If the rest of the world is building green roofs - is Denver roofing green a possibility? The answer is a definite "yes"!

What are the benefits and setbacks of Roofing Denver green? The benefits are obvious and multiple. According to Enrique Gili of Science and Environment, roofing green "would provide the city with a cheerier cityscape. Also, the plants absorb carbon, carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases that hang in the city's polluted air."

We all remember learning about plants and photosynthesis. The same concept would apply to the process of roofing green. Humans and animals breathe in air and exhale carbon dioxide (CO2). Plants, in turn, take this compound and store it in their leaves, soil and roots converting such into carbs and sugars. Their discharge is more oxygen. It is virtually one of Nature's survival cycles.

Michigan State University has put out the results of a study they conducted where they were able to not only measure the amount of absorption, by plants, of heat-trapping gases but, also to measure the benefits of such absorption performed by green roofs. The results were astounding.

"Carbon sinks", are how horticulturists Kristen Getter and Brad Rowe refer to green roofs and their ability to absorb these gases. They conducted a study wherein it was discovered that green roofs not only repel heat but, also have the ability to store such carbons in their root systems.

The results of a Berkley Lawrence Lab study, in L.A., concluded that "if 15 percent of the buildings in Los Angeles installed reflective or green roofs, daytime temperatures would be reduced by 3 degrees Celsius - saving Los Angeles half to 1 Gigawatt of power during peak-use hours." (Enrique Gili, Science & Environment)

As part of the effort of roofing green, Colorado State University (CSU) has an ongoing Green Roof Program. The objective of this program is to find out what kinds of plants are best suited for roofing green, according to the weather in the region where winters may be characterized as having sunny days and freezing, windy nights. "For the complete Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), refer to: http://www.epa.gov/region8/greenroof/documents/index.html."(http://greenroof.agsci.colostate.edu)

In the process of roofing green the EPA's regional headquarters in that city, located at Wynkoop and 16th streets, has been the first to implement this concept. The purpose of this exercise is to "insulate the building and help reduce the amount of rainwater that hits the streets. Typically, water that hits flat surfaces such as roads and roofs picks up dirt, debris and chemicals before trickling into nearby streams - creating water pollution headaches for urban cities." (Kim McGuire, Denver Post Staff)

Naturally, it is not just a matter of planting stuff on your roof and watching it grow. There are city laws and ordinances regarding roofing construction that Denver roofing companies must observe.

Rob Duncanson, Director of Denver's Development Engineering Services, stated "The city is definitely taking the tack of working with the development community to find strategies that work for them and work for us."

The installation of membrane and foam roofing may be used for flat and low-sloped roofs. Metal roofing has three distinct benefits. It has a high degree of reflectivity, it is energy efficient and is also long-lasting. If you opt for tiles, there are special coatings that may be applied by your Denver roofing company in order to.

Once you have decided an energy efficient roof is what you want, the questions to ask your Denver roofing contractor are several.

You want your Roofing Denver company to explain to you about just how quickly will your roof release heat once it has absorbed such. You also want to know the percentage of reflectivity your green roof has. Another area which your Roofing Denver contractor should inform you about is whether your new roof will require additional insulation or whether the one you have now will be sufficient. Your Roofing Denver company should be able to tell you whether you will qualify for the Energy Efficient Tax Break offered by the Federal Government. Last, but certainly not least, are maintenance costs and the type of warranty your Roofing Denver company offers you.

Make your Denver roof more efficient. This statement sounds a little confusing as you may be asking yourself how could I possibly do that?

The current trend nowadays is to utilize a "green roof" system or a vegetated Denver roofing. These amazing organic roofs minimize your bills and add a touch of beauty to your exterior landscape.

The simple concept behind them is that the roof itself has a layer of living plants on top. It's waterproofed as well.

At this point in time, there are two types of green Denver roofing: intensive and extensive.

Intensive Green Roofs -

These green roofs are noted as having soil depth at about a foot or so. They also require certain structural elements to be able to support the entire roof. The good thing is, they can hold a wide variety of plant species, although more species means more maintenance.

Extensive Green Roofs -

These kinds of roofs are shallower than the Intensive green roof getting about 2-4 inches deep. They also usually house very hardy plants and are quite popular in Europe. Fortunately, people in the US have also taken a liking to this style of roof.

Why is a Green Roof Such a Good Thing?

Green roofs can help reduce the amount of rain runoff from storms, which, in turn, makes it so the storm water pipes do not need to be as big as they are now. They also protect the roof from sun damage, making them last so much longer, and provide oxygen for the surrounding environment.

There's an interesting effect called the "heat-island" effect which causes cities to be hotter than the surrounding country side. This is reduced when a building has had green Denver roofing done. The interior of the building is also cooled reducing the need for A/C.

What Makes up a Green Roof?

The top layer of a green roof is a layer of plants. These are typically sedums, which are low-growing, drought tolerant plants with shallow roots. They come in quite a variety of colors flowerings so you can actually match the green roofs plant color to your house color. The soil nourishing the plants is an engineered mix of lightweight soil, vermiculite and other materials that contribute to a good environment for your green roof.

Since the soil on a green roof is shallow, this also discourages weeds from growing. The soil itself has several membrane layers with one that acts as a drainage layer to move excess water out and keep the green roof healthy.

Is Green Denver Roofing a Good Investment for my House?

Green roofs can be fitted for residential and commercial buildings in the midst of construction, but to attempt to do a green Denver roofing project to your own home may be a little more tricky. The majority of the roofs out there now are not structurally sound to support the extra weight a green roof adds. Also, it's best to make a green roof on a low sloped roof, although one can be placed on a steep roof, it's just more difficult and costly.

The biggest contenders in deciding whether or not you should retrofit your house with a green roof are the cost and whether or not the contractors know how to do it. You'd also need a structural evaluation done to see if your roof is fit for adding a green roof to it.

When an industrial area is hut down and lays still for a number of years, it begins to create its own unique ecosystem with rare flora and fauna. Redevelopment of these systems can destroy the newly created ecosystem.

They have developed a way to contain these ecosystems by creating "brown roofs." These types of roofs are constructed in a way similar to green roofs. The biggest difference between these roofs is the growth medium, which usually contains local rubble, gravel, etc. that help the ecosystem to grow.

The brown roofs also help a lot of rare species flourish, especially in Europe. In the UK, there are several well-known brown roofs which have been colonized by rare spiders and insects.

The urban heat island effect has been described as a metropolitan area, which is noticeably warmer than its surrounding urban areas. This effect is common in many large cities and poses a number of problems for the people in the city and the environment.

The effect itself was first discovered by a Luke Howard around 1810. The effect causes the difference in temperatures to be noticeable more during the night than day. It can also be seen more prominently during the summer and wintertime's.

The reason for UHI is mainly because of the materials used in construction which happen to retain heat. The wasted heat generated by electrical or energy usage is another reason for why this effect happens.

There a few measures to prevent this from happening. A lot of people and companies have begun adding green and brown Denver roofing to their homes or buildings, which has resulted in lower retained heat. These green and brown Denver roofing projects also add a touch of flair and are very good for the environment; producing oxygen and helping rare species thrive.

The UHI can decrease air and water quality in certain metropolitan areas, as well as increase pollutants like ozone. Heat waves have been known to last longer in cities due to this effect, which can cause the deaths of those affected.