A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. Also known as “living roofs,” green roofs serve several purposes for a building, such as absorbing rainwater, providing insulation, creating a habitat for wildlife, and helping to lower urban air temperatures and combat the heat island effect. Call or email C.M. Jones Inc. for all of your green roof design, construction and service needs in Chester County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and the Philadelphia Main Line suburbs.
Green roofs are becoming increasingly popular in cities across the country due to their many benefits. The most obvious benefits are stormwater management and reduced energy costs. Because of the ability of plants to transpire and shade, significant use of green roofs throughout large cities can cause a cooling effect, lowering the temperature in city environments. Since green roof buildings are cooler and require less air conditioning, the subsequent ventilation of hot air from an air conditioner to the atmosphere is reduced. In addition, heat is not retained in green roofs the way it is in black roofs, thus the building can cool faster. Additionally, green roof technology extends roof life and is effective for sound insulation in buildings; this is especially beneficial for buildings located in noise-impacted areas, such as sites near airports, highways, or heavy industry.
We have installed green roofs on the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, on the Colorcon global headquarters building in Harleysville, and on the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia. Green roofs are a great use of space on residential homes, too!
You can see more images in the Green Roof Photos section of the website.