Green roof ecosystems are constructed to provide services such as stormwater retention and urban temperature reductions. Green roofs with shallow growing media represent stressful conditions for plant survival, thus plants that survive and grow are important for maximizing economic and ecological benefits. While field trials are essential for selecting appropriate green roof plants, we wanted t...

Since 2007, the University of Genoa has been carrying out a monitoring programme to investigate the hydrologic response of green roofs in the Mediterranean climate by installing a green roof experimental site. In order to assess the influence of green roofs on the storm water runoff quality, water chemistry data have been included in the monitoring programme since 2010, providing rainfall and o...

Loss of natural soil and vegetation within the urban environment can significantly affect the hydrologic cycle by increasing storm water runoff rates and volumes. In order to mitigate these modifications in urban areas engineered systems are developed, such as green roofs, to mimic and replace functions (evapo-transpiration, infiltration, percolation) which have been altered due to the impact o...

The present study evaluates the environmental profile of a PV-green roof (PV panels over a soil/plant layer) and other roofing systems (PV-bitumen, PV-gravel, gravel, extensive green and intensive green). The analysis is based on multiple life-cycle impact assessment methodologies (ReCiPe, etc), several scenarios (for example with and without recycling) and it provides a deeper analysis as well...

While we struggle to consistently value ecosystem goods and services within our current economic metrics, green engineering initiatives harness these same goods and services for sustainable but often quantifiably unknown benefits. Ecologically engineered ecosystems, such as planted roofs and raingardens, have become a common strategy to earn green building certification through the United State...

Green roof is a specialized roofing system that supports vegetation growth on rooftops. This technology is rapidly gaining popularity in North America as a sustainable design option. Green roofs offer multiple benefits to urban areas such as reduction of heating/cooling needs for the building, urban heat island and stormwater runoff for the region. In this study, the performance of two extensiv...

Green roofs are a common stormwater control measure used to help mitigate increased stormwater runoff caused by urbanization. Green roofs can retain upwards of 90% of rain given the appropriate conditions. Green roof design parameters, such as substrate composition and depth and plant type, affect the retention capabilities of green roofs by storing and allowing greater extraction of water by p...