A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetated layers that sit on top of the conventional waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.
Green roofs offer a wide range of economic and environmental benefits (in particular their insulation and cooling properties, ability to significantly reduce rainwater runoff from roofs, and their value in promoting biodiversity and habitat in built-up areas), green roofs have become important elements of sustainable and green construction in many countries. Moreover, because they can be highly visible, green roofs clearly signal the intent for sustainable building and can provide a positive and distinctive image to a building or development.
