An Investigation into Green Roofs

Abstract

Sustainability has been an important factor in the design process of new buildings. One of the major problems in sustainable developments is water management. In response to the AMS’s request to manage the water consumption in the new SUB, this project aims to achieve a net zero water consumption. That is, the water produced is equal to the water consumed in a period of one year. In order to accomplish this goal, it is suggested to implement a green roof in the new SUB. A green roof provides vegetation or a plant cover over a waterproof crust on the roof of the building. The main constraint is the cost of implementing the solution. Installing a green roof is an environmentally friendly approach for the new SUB water management. It helps to eliminate rainwater runoff and also to reduce the new SUB’s overall energy consumption. Constructing green roofs encompasses environmental, economical and social benefits. From an environmental perspective, it is shown that having a green roof decreases the surface runoff significantly. Also, installing a green roof makes the building more sustainable because it reduces energy consumption. From an economical point of view, although implementing a green roof results in a higher initial cost than a conventional roof, an overall decrease in cost is expected due to energy conservation in the long run. From a social standpoint, constructing a green roof helps in creating new jobs since it requires labourers, landscapers and experts. It improves students’ lives given that it increases the interaction between students and nature. Furthermore, the university will gain some benefits. Having a green roof in the new SUB earns the university LEED points. Ultimately, it may promote the university’s ranking. Based on the findings, it is recommended to implement a green roof in the new SUB to effectively manage water consumption.