THERMAL & ENERGY EFFICIENCY

GREEN ROOFS ARE COOL

As well as helping to keep the space inside your Garden Room at a pleasant temperature during the Summer months, Green roofs contribute to wider urban cooling in built-up areas.

Following on from our first Green roof Post on their key environmental positives, this one discusses the specific thermal and energy benefits.

The Heat Island effect is widely acknowledged in cities - the way higher ambient temperatures are experienced after sunset when compared to rural areas. Did you know that the solar radiation absorbed by buildings are roads, combined with man-made heat emissions, can make the centre of London up to eight degrees warmer than the countryside on hot summer nights?

The good news is that Green roofs can help combat this urban problem as they absorb less heat than traditional roofs. This mitigating measure will be favourably considered by many Case Officers when weighing up the Planning balance.

As Green roofs can provide a natural insulation, they can also help to regulate temperatures inside your outbuilding. This choice can therefore avoid the need for an air conditioning unit, reducing your overall energy consumption and your monthly bills. You can also consider designing and orientating your Garden Room to minimise summer solar gain.

In one London Local Plan we’ve looked at recently, the pharse ‘Green Roof’ is mentioned a staggering 83 times! This really does highlight the importance of them as part of the Planning process.