History of Green Roofs

Gardens have always been important elements to our living environment. Over the past century, people have become much more aware of the importance of the environment they live in. A green roof system, often referred as a roof garden or a living roof, is a designed system that turns the concept into a real practice that will be both aesthetically pleasing and sustainable. The green roof system has been around for many centuries. In the 1960s, Germany developed the system with more advanced technology; since then, green roofs have become very commonly used in Germany. Gradually, the system has become widespread in many other European countries. Now, because of the globally growing awareness of sustainability and improvements in technology, the roof garden concept has become popular in many other countries in the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan. Some cities, such as London and Tokyo, encourage green roof by bringing them into their city planning policies, and many other cities, such as Auckland and Sydney have begun to fund their environment research departments to design a system that is complements to their environment.

The benefit of the green roof system to the building occupants is significant. A green roof it is not only pleasing visually; it is also a healthier long-term approach to our environment. According to New Zealand Landcare Research, green roofs improve runoffs of rainwater, modify temperature and create a habitat for plants, insects and birds.

Find out more about the features and benefits of a Green Roof System.