Green Roofs

It’s not just our roofs that can benefit from a bit of greenery. Green walls are beginning to gain in popularity. They work in a similar way to green roofs but are usually installed in self-contained panels that fit together to fill either an inside or outside wall.
Discover the amazing world of green walls.

How do Green Roofs Work?

Green roofs are one of the simplest of all the sustainable technologies and are relatively easy to fit, particularly if you have a small DIY project you want to undertake. They can be fitted onto garage and shed tops or high up on skyscrapers, but they all use the same basic principles – a waterproof layer and lightweight soil or growing medium – that help promote plant growth and allow your elevated garden to prosper.
Discover more about how green roofs work.

Benefits of Green Roofs

The creation of more green roofs has particular benefits for our heavily crowded, over concreted, urban areas, particularly large cities like London and Manchester. They can provide a pleasant area for people to sit and walk and can help to reduce the temperature of the environment. Not only that, it is a valuable source of water control when there are heavy downpours. For domestic properties green roofs provide all that but also offer a better layer of insulation and the chance of reducing fuel bills.
Find out about the benefits of green roofs.

Suitability of Green Roofs

Whether your property, commercial or domestic, is suitable for a green roof is going to depend on a number of factors, not least the slope of your roof and its load bearing capacity. Other things to consider are how much sunlight you get and what types of plant are going to thrive in your local environment. More than most green initiatives, installing a living roof requires a good deal of planning beforehand.
Discover if your property is suitable for a green roof.

How Much do Green Roofs Cost?

Costs can vary for a green roof from around £500 for a small, DIY installation to the hundreds of thousands for bigger projects on large office blocks. The bigger the installation then the more it is likely to cost, obviously, as you also need to take into account the design aspect. Added to that there is the issue of ongoing maintenance for green roofs which may need to be done professionally for a large size project.
Find out how you cost your green roof project.

Green Roof Maintenance

As with any garden area, there is going to be a requirement for regular maintenance. For a small installation this is a fairly simple process and can be done by the individual. Larger green roofs will need a more intensive and specific maintenance regime which will include ensuring there is no erosion of the growing layer that could have a detrimental effect on the plants.
Explore all aspects of green roof maintenance.

Finance for Green Roofs

There are currently no dedicated nationwide finance initiatives for green roofs such as the Green Deal or the Feed in Tariff for microgeneration technologies. Many local government organisations are beginning to see the real advantage of creating green roofs in urban areas and financing may well change for those in inner cities who would like to be more eco-friendly.
Explore your options for financing your green roof.

Planning Permission for Green Roofs

For most domestic and commercial installations planning permission is not needed to install a green roof but it is worth checking with our local council for any caveats or hurdles that need to be overcome before work begins. New builds often stand a better chance nowadays if they include some kind of green roof in their initial plans.
Find out more about planning permission for green roofs.

Accreditation Associated with Green Roofs

There is currently no single mandatory accreditation for installers of green roofs as there is with renewable technologies and the microgeneration certification scheme. There is however a recognised industry code of practice that reputable installers should be working to. With the growth of popularity in green roofs over the last year or two, it is probably only a matter of time until some form of accreditation comes into force. 
Explore the green roof code.

Green Roofs – Are They Worth It?

The 64,000 dollar question is whether green roofs are worth the financial investment. There is evidence they help to reduce the cost of fuel bills in offices and houses by providing an extra layer of insulation. But they are also great for making the environment a better place to live in, particularly in cities where they can also help to bring down the surround temperature. If we are hoping to reduce our carbon emissions then green roofs will need to play a prominent role in the future.
Is your green roof worth the money you spend?

Installers of Green Roofs

Finding the right installer for your green roof project is all important. It helps to know what you are talking about so we always advise at the Renewable Hub that you do your homework and research as much as possible. You can then search our installer database and find the right green roof installer in your area. Tips on finding the right installer for your green roof.
Click to learn about the UK's Green Roof installers. 

Manufacturers and Suppliers of Green Roofs

There are now a wide range of manufacturers and suppliers of green roof kits and the separate components of an installation. Whether you are into DIY or are an installer or designer looking for green roof bargains, you can find some more information on where to look here. 
Manufacturers and suppliers of green roofs