Green Thumbs

Have you ever wanted to be a groundhog?
Are you trying to hide from Google Earth's aerial views?
Want to build "green," but have strong ambitions to confuse local birds?
Concerned that your roof isn't post-modern yet?

Then turn your roof into a "green roof."



"A green roof system is an extension of the existing roof which involves a high quality water proofing and root repellant system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants."

Continued at Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

The city of Chicago's Guide to Rooftop Gardening illustrates the composition of a typical green roof:



A green roof serves as a more efficient form of insulation than traditional reflective or tarred roofs. Green roofs absorb and store daytime heat, and then distribute the heat at night to provide warmth for the home. This process reduces a buildings reliance on costly interior heating and cooling systems. Green roof systems retain rainwater (anywhere from 50-90%), thereby minimizing the runoff of destructive stormwaters that could otherwise contribute to flooding or overflowing sewers. Not only is the lifespan of the average green roof substantially greater than traditional roofs, but the green roof acts as a form of sound insulation as well. Sounds like you won't have to hear your roof-mounted wind turbine after all.

A variety of green roof models exist. Here's a break down of some reoccuring green roofing plans.

Located on top of a nursing home, this is the in-it-for-economic reasons AND NOTHING ELSE EVER green roof. Everyone who works and lives in the building probably wishes it didn't exist:



Located on top of a corporate building, this is what I refer to as the can you believe we can actually afford this? model. Mostly a novelty, but does serve to provide space for leisure and stress-relief:



The HI WE HAVE A GREEN ROOF in Fukuoka City, Japan:


And the regular ol' quaint and charmin' rooftop garden--just like playing in the garden behind your house when you were a kid (but this time someone's watching you from the window and it's not your mother):