Iceland Green Roof

Green roof basics green roofs also known as vegetated roofs have been in existence for thousands of years and have been used for winter insulation and summer cooling.

Iceland green roof. But there is a reason why scandinavians like these green roofs so much. Green roofs play a significant role in retrofitting the low impact development lid practices in urban areas. The vegetation on these roofs also helps to soak up rainwater and may even reduce annual runoff by 40 to 90 percent depending on roof design plant varieties and roof pitch according to the. A study presented at the green roofs for healthy cities conference in june 2004 cited by the epa found water runoff was reduced by over 75 during rainstorms.

Geothermal energy is utilized in iceland for snow melting aquaculture greenhouse heating industrial drying the manufacture of skin care products and more. Scandinavians are serious about their green roofs. Most of the geothermal heated greenhouses in iceland and located in the southern region of the country. They even have a competition every year to determine the best green roof project in scandinavia by the scandinavian green roof association.

Torfbæir were the product of a difficult climate offering superior insulation compared to buildings solely made of wood or stone and the relative difficulty in obtaining other construction materials in sufficient quantities. It is one of six churches in iceland still standing which are preserved as historical monuments. The practice of covering roofs in greenery was a common way to protect the homes and their residents from iceland s bitingly cold winters. 30 of iceland was forested when it was settled mostly with birch.

They are not only a beautiful feature for a house. They ve had them for a while now and it doesn t look like they re going anywhere. Green roofs can reduce stormwater runoff via water wise gardening techniques. Water is stored by the roof s substrate and.

The roof is made of stone slabs covered by natural turf. A 2006 study by the university of michigan comparing costs of conventional and green roofs showed that on average installing a green roof costs about 22 00 sq. Oak was the preferred timber for building norse halls in. In iceland green roofs have actually been quite common for centuries.

For a conventional roof. Icelandic turf houses icelandic. In general specific knowledge from other countries is positive and applicable elsewhere in central europe in all respects. The roof is made of stone slabs and covered in turf.

Modern lightweight green roofs emerged from research and development work centered in germany in the 1960s and 70s. The first geothermal power plant was build in iceland in 1969 today there are seven.