[Greenbuilding] Greenroof VS Greenhouse roof

[sanjay jain]

Hi Tom & Keith,

I thinking of a structure that helps reduce energy usage, but with the benefit of making it a usable space, with some easy to maintain, vegetation to keep it looking nice and "green". The vegetation being in line with energy efficiency not using resources like lots of water in the summer and heating in the winter.

Here's the project: A bunch of volunteers at our local library (Washington DC) would like to promote and/or demo green principles by putting a green roof on it's one story building flat roof....

We've been told that the roof may not support a "green roof" and that the building is going to be rebuilt in  a few years (that's been said for a decade now though). Since I like greenhouses, I'm thinking of looking at the options of putting one up there.... The structure could be removed when the building is replaced... I know that if the entire roof is not covered, it won't be that efficient (thermal bridging) but the idea is simply to get people to say "hmm... didn't know you could do that" or "what's the purpose of that thing".

~sanjay


Robert Tom <ArchiLogic at yahoo.ca> wrote:Do you mean like a glass "over-roof" whose function is primarily just to  keep the elements off of a flat roof making it useable as extended  semi-outdoor living space or something like a wintergarden or a glass enclosed space whose primary function is to house vegetation ? 

I have experience with the first.

       
---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.