Abstract
A wide diffusion of green envelopes in cities can be an opportunity to improve urban environment conditions and reduce negative effects of climate change. The green roof system is a widespread solution adopted all over the world due to the relative simplicity of installation and the large private and social benefits provided. Despite this, some factors hinder the diffusion of the green roof system, not only economic factors (due to the higher installation costs compare to a traditional roof solution), but also technical factors connected to lack of knowledge. The present paper investigates the factors influencing designers in the choice of a building roof systems, comparing a traditional solution and a greening system. The involvement of architects, engineers, and researchers allows the selection of the most important factors. Results of the study identifies their priority, and through a sustainability-based multicriteria analysis, the role played by each one in the decision process. This approach provides interesting hints to identify effective strategies to support a wider diffusion of greening systems for urban resilience.
Highlights
Green roofs are widely recognized as sustainable systems able to improve the building envelope performance
Compared the cost of traditional roof solutions with green roof solutions, demonstrating that when considering the whole life span of a roof, the costs for extensive green roofs are lower compared to traditional flat roofs
Claus and Rousseau [3] found that subsidies and tax incentives are socially desirable and needed to convince potential private investors to install green roofs
Summary
Green roofs are widely recognized as sustainable systems able to improve the building envelope performance. Several researches have investigated the economic benefits of green roofs. Wong et al [1]. Compared the cost of traditional roof solutions with green roof solutions, demonstrating that when considering the whole life span of a roof, the costs for extensive green roofs are lower compared to traditional flat roofs. Bianchini and Hewage [2] demonstrated that green roofs are sustainable solutions on a long-term basis. Claus and Rousseau [3] found that subsidies and tax incentives are socially desirable and needed to convince potential private investors to install green roofs. Rosato et al [4,5]
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