Performance of green roofs with respect to water quality and reduction of energy consumption in tropics: A review

Sajedeh Sadat Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Hilmi Bin Mahmud and Muhammad Aqeel Ashraf

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, vol. 52, issue C, 669-679

Abstract: Green roofs are an increasingly important component of water-sensitive urban design systems that can potentially improve the quality of urban runoff, reduce the energy consumption of buildings, and add esthetic value to the environment. The most important green roof abilities, which appear as a key feature in urban catchments are the ability of rainwater detention and retention and reduction in energy consumption. This paper aims to provide an overview of the effects of the application of the green roof strategy on the quality of runoff water and the reduction of energy consumption. The components of a green roof are discussed, and the advantages and disadvantages of different types of green roofs are assessed. In addition, the origins and concentrations of the main pollutants are discussed, moreover environmental cost-benefits of green roofs are also considered. In addition, the main factors that affect the quality of green roof runoff water, e.g., plant species, fertilization, pH, growth media as well as how green roofs could reduce energy consumption are discussed. Green roofs are considered as sustainable approach for runoff management with achieved aesthetical values and in combination with energy saving on heating/cooling. Hence, green roof causes a sufficient decrease in energy consumption and consequently in the related energy costs. It can help to improve the micro climate around the buildings and save money and also improve water quality. Therefore, green roofs may turn into a profitable investment. Some recommendations for future study also are proposed.

Keywords: Green roof; Water quality runoff; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Energy consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032115008102
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:52:y:2015:i:c:p:669-679

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 600126/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.07.163

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is currently edited by L. Kazmerski

More articles in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().