Green roof – an innovative concept

Green roof seems an innovative concept, but, like the ecological housing, it actually represents a return to a past when human life took place much closer to nature. If in the past green roofs resulted from the need to camouflage or from the construction of certain types of houses, today they represent one of the easiest to implement and most aesthetic solutions for the regeneration of large urban areas.

A new concept in Romania, with guaranteed benefits, such as: good thermal insulation, reducing energy consumption, filtering CO2 and the impurities from the air, capturing and using rain water, transforming otherwise unused spaces into green oases. A concept that Optim Project Management successfully implemented for Hornbach Constanța, at their store inaugurated last September, a project with a total surface of land of 64,800 sqm, for which we provided Technical Due Diligence, General Design, Permitting, project Management, Cost Management, Health & Safety Coordination and Site Inspection Services.

The feeling of well-being of people living and working in a green environment has a positive effect, offering relaxation and reducing stress.

Ecological benefits:

• Biodiversity. Encourages a wider spread of species in the area, especially in the city environment, which is mainly concrete and asphalt.
• Natural habitat. A living roof provides a natural habitat for flora and fauna.
• Healthy habitat. A place that otherwise would be empty, provides a healthy habitat for plants and birds.

Environmental benefits:

• Photosynthesis. Plants actively convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.
• Improved air quality. Vegetation assists in reducing dust particles and pollutants.
• Urban heat island effect is reduced. In large cities, there is a difference in temperature between urban areas and the surrounding countryside. Large building surfaces reflect and radiate solar energy, while the substrate of a green roof will absorb some of the heat. The water evaporation from plants and soil helps to cool and humidify the air, lowering the temperature.

Financial benefits:

• Increased life expectancy. Research has shown that waterproofing membranes last longer, when protected by landscaping.
• Lowered building running costs. The thermal insulation on the building is improved, reducing heating costs in the winter and air conditioning expenses during the summer.
• Increased property value. The roof becomes an asset that can be maximized for a number of purposes, including leisure. The natural and sustainable appearance, reduced energy costs and extension of the roofs’ lifespan are benefits that increase the value of the property.

Technical benefits:

• Protection. The green roof protects the waterproofing from UV damage and thermal movement.
• Acoustics. Green roofs have excellent acoustic qualities for both external sound and internal noise, offering a quieter environment.
• Aid to planning consent. Local authorities favour planning proposals that incorporate green roofs.