Home Green Roof Basics and LEED LiveRoof System System Specifications Common Questions Contact Us Aesthetic & Environmental Benefits Financial Benefits LiveRoof and LEED Certification Aesthetic and Social Benefits Green roofs are much better looking than asphalt or tar. Natural views create more productive, healthy, happy, creative, relaxed people. Green roofs expand the usefulness of buildings via patios, gardens and vistas. Environmental Benefits Urban Heat Island Mitigation The urban heat island effect is the temperature difference between urban areas and their rural surroundings.  The temperature differential causes air currents and dust, and even contributes to violent weather events within urban settings. Green roof vegetation helps by cooling the air, slowing air movement and acting as a substrate for pollution to settle out and detoxify. Noise Reduction Plants, soil, and air trapped in the soil are great acoustic insulators.  Tests indicate that green roofs can reduce indoor sound by as much as 40 decibels, which is of great benefit to occupants of buildings affected by airports, industry, trains and traffic. Fire Prevention Succulent green roof plants help reduce the risk of fire. Water Conservation/Reduction of Storm Water Runoff The soil in green roof systems acts like a sponge and absorbs excess rain water.  Research has shown that extensive green roof systems can reduce runoff by up to 95% following a 1” rain.  Green roofs reduce the impact of each new building on the municipal storm drainage system and surrounding watershed.  They reduce flooding, erosion and artificial heating of water which helps preserve fisheries and other aquatic life. Green roofs reduce the need for on-site storm water management systems.  When combined with an effective rain garden (bioswale), green roofs can make it possible to have zero discharge of rainwater from the site, therefore saving money by not having to connect to the storm sewer system. Green roofs filter water prior to returning it to the aquifer.  They buffer acid rain and remove nitrate pollution as water slowly percolates through the soil. What runoff remains will usually occur hours after peak flows, providing additional time for sewer systems to handle the runoff burden from impervious surfaces. LiveRoof, LLC Subsidiary of Hortech, Inc. P.O. Box 533 Spring Lake, MI 49456 (800) 875-1392 fax (616) 842-3273