Cost-Effectiveness of Green Roofs
- 1 December 2010
- journal article
- Published by American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in Journal of Architectural Engineering
- Vol. 16 (4), 136-143
- https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)ae.1943-5568.0000022
Abstract
Life-cycle assessment was used to evaluate the widespread installation of green roofs in a typical urban mixed-use neighborhood. Market prices of materials, construction, energy conservation, storm-water management, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions were used to evaluate private and social costs and benefits. Results suggest green roofs are currently not cost effective on a private cost basis, but multifamily and commercial building green roofs are competitive when social benefits are included. Multifamily and commercial green roofs are also competitive alternatives for reducing greenhouse gases and storm-water runoff. However, green roofs are not the most competitive energy conservation techniques. GHG impacts are dominated by the material production and use phases. Energy impacts are dominated by the use phase, with urban heat island (UHI) impacts being an order of magnitude higher than direct building impacts. The quantification of private and social costs and benefits should help guide gree...Keywords
This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit:
- Life-Cycle Costs of Commercial Roof SystemsJournal of Architectural Engineering, 2010
- Storm Water Runoff Mitigation Using a Green RoofEnvironmental Engineering Science, 2009
- Cities, Climate Change and Urban Heat Island Mitigation: Localising Global Environmental ScienceUrban Studies, 2009
- Life-cycle cost–benefit analysis of extensive vegetated roof systemsJournal of Environmental Management, 2008
- Establishing Green Roof Infrastructure Through Environmental Policy InstrumentsEnvironmental Management, 2008
- Comparative environmental life cycle assessment of green roofsJournal of Affective Disorders, 2007
- HYDROLOGIC BEHAVIOR OF VEGETATED ROOFSJawra Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 2006
- A Constraint-Based Robotic Soccer TeamConstraints, 2002
- Study on evaporative cooling effect of roof lawn gardensEnergy and Buildings, 2001
- Cool surfaces and shade trees to reduce energy use and improve air quality in urban areasSolar Energy, 2001