Abstract
This paper addresses the viability of living roof systems to function as a building eciency technology in the climatic conditions of the Southwestern United States. Results are drawn from an analysis of the thermal performance and water requirements of an extensive living roof located on the School of Architecture and Planning's George Pearl Hall at University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Measurements taken over a three- month period from June 2010 to August 2010 revealed that the living roof system was, on average, 5.45 - C cooler at the soil-membrane interface as compared to the surface temperature of an analogous roof on the same building. To operate without supplemental aquifer derived water, native grass planted living roof systems in Albuquerque, New Mexico require a rooftop rainwater catchment area equal to half the area of the living roof with an appropriately sized rainwater storage system.
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