Author(s)

Y. Edwards, T. Emilsson, J. Malmberg, A. P. Skog

Abstract

Eco neighborhoods with green infrastructure solutions are increasingly being prescribed today in Swedish cities for reducing and attenuating storm water runoff, increasing biodiversity, having a temperature moderating effect and for energy saving. Thus, contractors are simply required to build with green gardens on concrete decks, such as green roofs, green terraces, green courtyards and green complete neighborhoods. A lot of knowledge and experience is in fact lacking today, and consequences may therefore be devastating. If green system solutions are to be seen as an obvious choice in future settlements, and not as a problem, there must be clear guidelines and specifications that ensure a sustainable outcome. This is missing today. This paper reports a project aiming at bringing together researchers, government and industry to the collaborative development of new and attractive solutions for green roof gardens with consideration to the environment and high requirements for durability, materials, construction and energy efficiency. These solutions must also be adaptable to similar types of facilities, specific needs and environments. One such area concerns public land such as parks, streets and squares on concrete decks. Certification and tailored guidelines for different types of systems are being developed. The initiating part of this project clearly indicates that there is a need for better understanding, more research and long term monitoring/follow up of green roofs. Furthermore, a holistic approach is introduced to ensure that one good green roof function will not have severe negative effects on other functions.

Keywords

green roof garden, guidelines