Penn State Green Roof Research

Green roofs are increasing in popularity in the us because of the benefits they provide over traditional roofs such as reducing stormwater runoff and improving runoff quality.

Penn state green roof research.

Research stormwater research center for green roof research. Lengthening roof membrane life. Green roofs are unique in that they have the ability to capture and retain a volume depth of rain from each rainstorm. Storm water quantity research.

Each has a heater and a c unit. Faculty and students working on green roofs at penn state make use of many facilities on and off campus. On campus the root cellar has a 4 500 square feet roof that is used for monitoring runoff and evaluating green roof plants and the forest resources building has a 4 700 square feet demonstration and display roof. The six small 6x8ft research buildings are located at penn state university s russel larson agricultural research center and involve three extensive greenroofs and three non greened asphalt roofs.

In such all new buildings will utilize green technologies and many will have green roofs. And last a green roof could lessen the heating and cooling costs of the hotel lobby down below. Says beattie in scandinavia and the british isles it s rooted in history. It s not a new idea.

The green roofs are a modified layer system utilizing a 75 drainage layer enkadrain 9615 colbond enka nc. Penn state faculty and students are actively researching multiple components of green roof performance including storm water quantity and quality management energy balance plant selection plant performance plant installation techniques media components roof system components and managements and materials testing. Reducing air conditioning costs. Green roof media testing penn state college of agricultural sciences.

The office of the physical plant has been proactive in applying our research and promoting green roof technologies as one solution to storm water management issues on our campus. Penn state is committed to developing and sustaining a green campus. Some of the cutting edge research performed in the penn state center has included studies in storm water runoff quality and quantity building energy consumption and insulation value media chemical and physical characteristics plant selection plant water use waterproofing resistance to root penetration and drainage materials. Back at penn state beattie an associate professor of ornamental horticulture began to look into the idea.

Penn state ag sciences plant science research. And providing an aesthetically pleasing roof.