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Their "UGLY" GREEN ROOF -- or is it?

By ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

Real Estate Broker/Owner with REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK 209970

May 08, 2008 02:45 AM

green roof in asheville You may have guessed by now that besides being a REALTOR® here in Asheville, NC, . . .I'm also an old schoolteacher. So when I got this request to help out a neighborhood elementary school, (see graphic to the left) it set me off on a journey to find out more about living roofs or green roofs and what I/we as REALTORS ®
and you might do to help out. . ..

First....a definition:

According to Living Roof Systems, a living roof building is above ground, "with increased opportunity for omni-directional natural daylighting, ventilation, views, and access. "

Now on to 5 important points about the green or living roof system:

"It affords none of the, primarily psychological perceptions of earth shelter, as dark, stuffy, cold, damp, and entrapping...
..."a living roof never needs to be replaced, and once established needs little or no maintenance
.... a living roof can be self-sustaining and maintaining indefinitely, i.e., regenerating. ...
The care involved requires no more than a typical lawn or garden, and even this is optional.
A living roof may even perform best if just left alone. ..."

But, seriously,,,,,what do green roofs look like, anyway?
Are they UGLY?

Here's one photo of European green or living roof
I found at Wikipedia.
Looks OK to me...how about YOU?

But do we have to travel all the to Europe to see examples of living roof in full splendor? Isn't there something a little closer to home?

Right here in Asheville: According to Asheville's Mountain Xpress ....."gardening has reached new heights at The North Carolina Arboretum --- about 40 feet off the ground, on top of the arboretum's recently completed Operations Center. The new horticultural venture (and exhibit) is a "green roof" ...

"It's one of the center's many features that meet the state's new "High Performance Building Guidelines."

In addition to simply improving the view, a green roof helps the environment by:

* reducing storm-water runoff (a major pollution problem in urban areas) by absorbing rainfall and allowing it to evaporate into the air or be absorbed by the plants on the roof;

* cooling air temperatures through biological processes such as transpiration, when plants release moisture into the air;

* extending roof life by reducing maximum surface temperatures; and

* providing thermal and noise insulation."

To find out about the Features and Benefits of Living Roofs for my clients (and for all of us) ...all I had to do was look closer to home! Maybe there are examples near you, too. Now I want to see for myself! Shall I head on down there, as we often do on Mother's Day, to take a few personal photos? I can post them right here on the BLOG... Let me know.

__~o
-\_<,
(*)/'(*)

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ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Joan~

I am wondering about moisture barriers and how that might affect longevity...but from what I have read, the living roof is sustainable...and cost effective in that way. I don't know about long snowy winters...let's look into that! GOOD POINT!

May 08, 2008 10:37 AM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Cheri~

This may be a case of "ugly is as ugly does"...maybe we should be considering the living roof from the standpoint of what it could mean in terms of fresh herbs for neighborhood families...and/or fresh flowers for the dining room table (??)

May 08, 2008 10:41 AM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

John~

I smiled when I read your comment..."...Every little bit we can do to maintain a balance between our lifestyle and good stewardship of the mother planet is progress...."

May 08, 2008 10:42 AM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Frank~

There ARE some roofs that I find very attractive...I like blue roofs...and I like GREEN roofs (of course)...I lke roofs made of sustainable materials...but the idea of a living roof really captures my imagination. Now you brought up a great question...back to the drawing board to look at costs and effectivness. Have you checked how much a new roof costs?

May 08, 2008 10:50 AM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

RESEARCH on roof costs...

On average, metal roofing costs tend to be about three times the cost of conventional asphalt roofs. The difference in cost is attributed to a much higher cost of metal roofing materials, and a highly technically involved installation process that requires specialized skills, and specific training for the metal roofing system being installed. The often tedious and time-consuming installation process requires longer hours, precision and patience. On average, metal roof takes about two to three times longer to install than a conventional roof.

May 08, 2008 10:53 AM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

RESEARCH on GREEN/Living Roof costs...

How much does a green roof cost?

The cost of a green roof varies considerably depending on the type and factors such as the depth of growing medium, selected plants, size of installation, use of irrigation, and whether they are to be accessible on inaccessible - intensive, semi-extensive or extensive. Intensive green roofs typically require greater investment but confer the benefits of accessibility. An installed extensive green roof with root repellant/waterproof membranes may be installed for $10-$24 US per square foot.

May 08, 2008 10:56 AM

Alex Mordas

EarthSTEPS - Tallahassee, FL

Green Building Consultant

I'm all for green roofs, please do not get me wrong. But... yes! sometimes they are just downright fugly! The photo that you included is great, and often times they do look great. Most often on large commercial buildings with big flat roofs - cities are ideal places and they can greatly reduce the albedo and the heat island effect. However, once we get into residential homes. I'm not sure that I am that supportive of it. Green is great, and where we need to be. But the reason it is doing so well now is that we are leaving behind the notions of green being ugly, cheap, dirty and part and parcel of a hippy mentality. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for the great post.

May 08, 2008 12:12 PM

Colleen Irwin

Retired - Irondequoit, NY

Creative Real Estate Solutions...

Thanks for sharing!

May 08, 2008 02:44 PM

John Narrin

ECO-Steward Realty - Asheville, NC

What's not to like about green roofs? From "hippies" to general acceptance, based upon any number of important and practical benefits. Just one more of many creative ideas to originate in the fringe, destined to migrate to popular acceptance.

May 12, 2008 02:29 PM

Mary McGraw

GLREA - Rockford, MI

2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

HI JaneAnne - How wonderful that you are using your teaching skills as you learn about new products! I live only 10 minutes away from LiveRoof in Spring Lake Michigan. Early last summer John took me on a personal tour of their facililty. Unfortunately, my camera batteries died after the first picture I took. I vowed to come back and get more pictures...I suppose I need to follow up on that!

They have a tremendous system for creating colorful roofs in almost any color you would envision! Living roofs are truly beautiful and have so many benefits to the environment which you listed above:

In addition to simply improving the view, a green roof helps the environment by:

* reducing storm-water runoff (a major pollution problem in urban areas) by absorbing rainfall and allowing it to evaporate into the air or be absorbed by the plants on the roof;

* cooling air temperatures through biological processes such as transpiration, when plants release moisture into the air;

* extending roof life by reducing maximum surface temperatures; and

* providing thermal and noise insulation."

It is inspiring to see you using your knowledge and continuing to teach values that matter to our youth!

May 12, 2008 03:18 PM

Tiffany Wilson

eReal Estate Corp - Redondo Beach, CA

SFR, First Time Home Buyers & Investors

I was pleased to see this posting. The other day I was at my oldest daughter's school and I was looking at the rendering for the new school (yippe!) that they are building in our community. As soon as I saw it, I thought that it would be a GREAT candidate for a rooftop garden. I should ask around to see if there is interest in installing a rooftop garden.

May 12, 2008 11:35 PM

Diane Bell, Hilton Head Real Estate, Bluffton

Charter 1 Real Estate, Hilton Head, Bluffton, SC - Hilton Head Island, SC

Sure sounds like an interesting concept--Will it work better in certain climates rather than others?

May 12, 2008 11:37 PM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Alex~

Good point! You commented that ..."we are leaving behind the notions of green being ugly, cheap, dirty and part and parcel of a hippy mentality..."

does this mean we are becoming more like FLOWER kids?? =)

May 13, 2008 02:15 AM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Colleen~ Love to discover eco-innovation with "grass roots" =)

John~Your comment bears repeating

"What's not to like about green roofs? From "hippies" to general acceptance, based upon any number of important and practical benefits. Just one more of many creative ideas to originate in the fringe, destined to migrate to popular acceptance..."

May 13, 2008 02:17 AM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

for those of you interested...here is a graphic showing the components of a green roof

pretty interesting, eh?

May 13, 2008 02:21 AM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Mary~

Good point...having elementary school kids and their parents involved in the creation and unfolding of a GREEN ROOF Project on the very site where they attend school ...IS a boon!

Now how about having such projects in Adult Care Facilities?

Can you imagine the benefits?

May 13, 2008 02:25 AM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Tiffany~

I love the idea of a rooftop garden ...there to be created in so many places...schools, restaurants, libraries, apartment buildings, and especailly in places where grandparents live out their last days...

May 13, 2008 02:29 AM

Stephanie Edwards-Musa

thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX

knitwit at thred UP

Hi janeAnne, I saw a picture of an amazing live roof in the Phillipines one time. It literally has a walking path, picnic table and everything. They are gorgeous!

They work really well as long as they are designed right, and water does not penetrate anywhere. :) I'd love to see pics of the school when it is done.

May 15, 2008 12:01 PM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Stephanie~

good point about design (and construction)...it wouldn't be too cool to look up one day and see roots reaching down toward your head from the ceiling...I'll put some photos up of the elementary school roof when it's in place...

May 15, 2008 04:01 PM

Leslie Stewart

Oregon Licensed Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals - Stayton, OR

Realtor, ABR, CRS, Oregon Licensed Broker

Wow, who knew. Thanks for sharing. It is great info

May 15, 2008 04:21 PM