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Green Roof
A green roof is a roof of a building which is partially or completely covered with plants. It may be a tended roof garden or a more self-maintaining ecology like a living wall or breathing wall. An earth structure often has such a roof, as plants simply grow naturally over it, making a hill that is from some angles indistinguishable from a natural one.
Green roofs are used to:
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Reduce heating (by adding mass and thermal resistance value) and cooling (by evaporative cooling) loads on a building - especially if it is glassed in so as to act as a terrarium and passive solar heat reservoir
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Reduce the urban heat island effect
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Provide amenity space for building users - in effect replacing a yard or patio
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Reduce storm water run off - see water-wise gardening
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Provide locally grown food - in which case it is known as a roof garden
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Increase roof life span
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A green roof is often a key component of an autonomous building.
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Increase wildlife habitat in built up areas - see urban wilderness
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Filter pollutants and CO2 out of the air - see breathing wall
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