Advanced Green Roof™ helps answer southern California’s needs to protect water resources and reduce energy costs and emissions on Vision House Los Angeles.
A new study from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Emmett Center on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law found that installing green roofs and cool roofs in southern California could save consumers more than $211 million in energy bills and reduce emissions equivalent to removing 91,000 car
s from the road each year. In addition, the study found that green roofs would vastly reduce the quantity of storm water runof
f and the amount of pollutants that flow into southern California’s rivers, lakes, and beaches.
The Advanced Green Roof™ from Advanced Green Architecture (AGA) is an ideal solution for southern California because it is designed to promote sustainability and water efficiency.
AGA’s integrated, subsurface capillary irrigation system reduces water use by delivering water directly to the roots below the surface of the soil, according to co-founder Erik Cronk. This is critical in green roof applications because a rooftop environment has high levels of evaporation due to direct sunlight. In addition, the irrigation system allows for more accurate watering than an overhead spray system because rooftops can experience high winds, which reduces water efficiency.
“Our goal for every green roof project is to irrigate only using captured, non-potable water or filtered gray water,” Cronk said.
This type of roofing system can be found in the LA Vision House where the second-floor deck off the master bedroom’s green roof – created by AGA – uses the irrigation system to keep plants healthy and vibrant while keeping the house cool.
According to the NRDC study, green and cool roofs can cut urban temperatures, according to the study. Installing green roofs and cool roofs across urban landscapes can help cool down neighborhoods, reducing temperatures in urban cores by as much as 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit, with air quality and human health benefits.
The Vision House Los Angeles is a project by Green Builder Media and Structure Home of Woodland Hills.
(photos courtesy of LathamArchitectural.com)
