Abstract
Many regions have turned to low impact development technologies (LIDs), which are implemented to restore the changes in stormwater runoff that have resulted from urbanization. Green roofs are one typical type of LID. Until now, many studies have validated their roles in managing urban stormwater runoff. However, they have also revealed that the performance of green roofs largely varies with their design configuration, as well as their hydro-climatic exposure. The objectives of this review paper are to statistically synthesize the effects of the influential factors, including design and hydrologic variables, on green roof performance and to explore their effects in different climatic zones. The review’s results confirm the differences in the influential variables and, thus, the performance of green roofs in different climatic zones. These are the barriers to knowledge translation among engineering designers, stormwater managers, and policymakers in different climatic zones when implementing green roofs. Consequently, region- or site-specific studies are necessary to implement green roofs with confidence.
Highlights
The rapid increase in impervious surfaces due to urbanization across the world enhances the pressure on managing stormwater runoff quantity, and calls for the need for managing stormwater runoff quality to prevent further degradation
The existing body of knowledge proves the effectiveness of green roofs in managing urban stormwater runoff quantity and quality in many regions, while revealing the need to link their function to climatic exposure due to their regional and/or climate-specific nature
The objectives of this review paper are to synthesize the effects of the design and hydrologic variables on green roof performance and to explore their effects in different climatic zones
Summary
The rapid increase in impervious surfaces due to urbanization across the world enhances the pressure on managing stormwater runoff quantity, and calls for the need for managing stormwater runoff quality to prevent further degradation. The existing body of knowledge proves the effectiveness of green roofs in managing urban stormwater runoff quantity and quality in many regions, while revealing the need to link their function to climatic exposure due to their regional and/or climate-specific nature. The survival of vegetation would impose challenges on green roof implementation in arid or semi-arid climatic regions, for instance. Both the hydrologic behavior and water quality performance of green roofs are dependent on meteorological conditions aside from their design. The objectives of this review paper are to synthesize the effects of the design and hydrologic variables on green roof performance and to explore their effects in different climatic zones
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