In the 21st century, technology is continuing to advance at a very fast rate, and yet we are starting to learn that some of our older, traditional ways of doing things were actually better. The benefits of having green roofs seems to be getting stronger every year as we find out how they can help us today. This type of roofing can help against flooding, as it can store up to 75% of the rainfall and slowly releasing it later. These roofs are also starting to reintroduce wildlife back into the heart of our cities.

This type of roofing also helps to combat the heat island effect, which is caused by too many man-made materials being concentrated in one place. The buildings absorb the sun’s heat during the day and reflects it back into the atmosphere at night. By having more of this type of roofing, the evaporation from the greenery acts to cool the air in the immediate area.

As well as improving the local environment, having this type of roofing also gives local people new areas to enjoy themselves for leisure. A lot of people can feel quite detached from nature living in cities, and this is a great way for people to relax.

These environmentally friendly roofing systems generally come in two types. The heavier roof gardens require a stronger structure underneath them to support a greater weight.

This type of roofing has been used for many centuries by different races of people. The Vikings found roofing of this type was a great insulation against the cold, and many other races throughout the years have also used variations of these roofs.

The cost of having a greener roofing can be substantial initially, but as the planted area protects the roof structure from climate extremes, mechanical damage and UV light, the life expectancy of the roof can often be doubled. This can obviously lead to substantial savings compared to a normal roofing structure.

To make a property even more environmentally friendly, solar panels can also be fitted onto green roofs. Because of the thermal performance of this type of roofing, it can actually increase the output from solar panels. Solar panels can be used to produce either electricity using photovoltaic panels or conventional solar panels for heating the property is hot water.

Several cities are starting to see many more green roofs on the top of major office buildings. Chicago is currently leading the way, and New York has recently started a tax rebate system to encourage property owners to install this type of roofing. With the environmental benefits, and the human benefits this type of roofing can bring, it seems likely that our cities will be much greener areas in the future.

Lynch Roofing Corp offers green roofs. They offer quality roof coatings and sustainable green roofing solutions that not only help customers reduce energy costs but provide durable and long-lasting protection, making great savings possible.(www.lynchroofingcorp.com)