[Benefits & Costs of Green Roofs and its Sustainability Issues]
by
Acknowledgement
I would first like to express my gratitude for my research supervisor, colleagues, peers and family whose immense and constant support has been a source of continuous guidance and inspiration.
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I [type your full first names & surname here], declare that the following dissertation/thesis and its entire content has been an individual, unaided effort and has not been submitted or published before. Furthermore, it reflects my opinion and take on the topic and is does not represent the opinion of the University.
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ABSTRACT
This study will be useful for promoting awareness to the public and organisations that rely on this type of research. The issue of the environment is very important to the global climate changing bodies. There are increasing demands for greener environmentally friendly systems to be developed. It is a hot topic at the moment and will be very big in the near future. This paper will attempt to concentrate and give a UK perspective. However, other countries' policies and adaptation will be studied. Historically, green roofs have been used for centuries in Europe, especially as sod roofs when other materials were not available to construct buildings. Furthermore, modern green roof research began in Europe, specifically Germany, in the last two decades of the twentieth century. More recently in Germany, there has been research on storm water retention and species mixes for extensive green roofs. In Switzerland, modelling has been used to determine the environmental impact of greening 70% of the flat roofs of Basel. Recent efforts in the United Kingdom have looked at growing media depth, species selection and the ecology of green.
Table of Contents
ABSTRACTIV
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1
Background1
Aims & Objectives2
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW3
Green Roof Systems4
Components of a green roof5
a. Waterproofing membrane6
b. Protection layer (I)7
c. Insulation7
d. Drainage layer7
e. Protection layer7
f. Substrate layer7
g. Plant layer8
Effect of Green Roofs in Urban Areas8
Reduction in the energy consumption of buildings9
Thermal performance of green roofs9
Effect of the green roof on the building's energy consumption12
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions13
Air quality improvement14
Reduction of Heat Island effect15
Noise control effect17
Storm water management17
Green roofs as a substitute for lost areas of landscape19
Reduced renovation costs20
Challenges to Green Roofs21
Structural and Construction Issues21
Maintenance23
Warranty and Guarantee24
Support and Guidance24
Aesthetics25
Other Issues25
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY26
Limitations28
CHAPTER 04: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS29
Case Study: London39
CHAPTER 05: CONCLUSION41
Green roofs as one tool to mitigate urbanization41
Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings43
Building Standards and Regulations45
The role of new regional governments46
Local policy guidance47
REFERENCES49
APPENDICES59
Open Spaces and Parks59
Biodiversity59
Birmingham & Black County Biodiversity Action Plan60
Black redstart61
Regional policy context61
Green Roofs Policies in United Kingdom62
Introduction62
Guidelines of National Planning Policy64
Urban Policy for Development64
Housing66
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Sailor (2008) explains the benefits that green roofs offers include visual appearance, habitat, storm, water reduction, and energy savings. However, what inspires the contemporary work of green roof it's their energy saving. Although the potential energy savings of green roof is extensively publicised as important advantage, it has not been considered as much detail with few exclusions.
This study is mainly concentrating on the benefits, cost and the sustainability issues of green roofing. This paper presents a research proposal outlining the research objectives ...