Green Roof Nyc Npr

In the spring of 2007 the five borough technical services division of the new york city department of parks and recreation installed its first green roof system atop their headquarters the five borough complex on randall s island.

Green roof nyc npr. A green roof is a thin layer of vegetation installed on a traditional flat or pitched roof. The five borough green roof. We took a field trip to the largest green roof in new york city. Beehives on the roof of the chicago city hall help polinate the green roof plants and provide homes for the urban bee population.

Waterproofing a root barrier water retention and drainage a growing medium and plants. A green roof is a roof that has grasses or plants all over it and the idea is not new. Simply put a green roof is one that allows for the growth of vegetation but the process is more involved than plopping down a few potted plants. The existing roof may not be capable of supporting an additional load.

By kate frazer associate director new york marketing and communications. Typically a green or living roof is constructed. Then we imagined what the city could be like if all of its roof space was green. Among the best known green roofs are the ones atop chicago s city hall and a ford motor co.

But now some of those roofs are going green. Facility in dearborn mich. While the specifics of the design may vary all green roofs have the same basic components. Npr s chris arnold reports.

Green roofs in nyc tnc and partners have released the most comprehensive estimate of the footprint of green roofs in new york city. Green roofs or rooftop solar panels add additional load to a roof and its support system. A well maintained green roof can more than double the number of years before a roof needs to be replaced compared to a standard roof making up for some of the added costs of installation.