Penn State Green Roof Research

Lengthening roof membrane life.

Penn state green roof research.

Green roofs are increasing in popularity in the us because of the benefits they provide over traditional roofs such as reducing stormwater runoff and improving runoff quality. Says beattie in scandinavia and the british isles it s rooted in history. Research at penn state has shown that green roofs provide considerable reduction in the volume of stormwater leaving a developed site and they reduce the peak rates of runoff. Some of the cutting edge research performed in the penn state center has included studies in storm water runoff quality and quantity building energy consumption and insulation value media chemical and physical characteristics plant selection plant water use waterproofing resistance to root penetration and drainage materials.

Penn state is committed to developing and sustaining a green campus. And providing an aesthetically pleasing roof. The office of the physical plant has been proactive in applying our research and promoting green roof technologies as one solution to storm water management issues on our campus. On campus the root cellar has a 4 500 square feet roof that is used for monitoring runoff and evaluating green roof plants and the forest resources building has a 4 700 square feet demonstration and display roof.

The six small 6x8ft research buildings are located at penn state university s russel larson agricultural research center and involve three extensive greenroofs and three non greened asphalt roofs. Penn state faculty and students are actively researching multiple components of green roof performance including storm water quantity and quality management energy balance plant selection plant performance plant installation techniques media components roof system components and managements and materials testing. Reducing air conditioning costs. Research stormwater research center for green roof research.

Penn state ag sciences plant science research research centers center for green roof research reports publications center for green roof research research. In such all new buildings will utilize green technologies and many will have green roofs. The green roofs are a modified layer system utilizing a 75 drainage layer enkadrain 9615 colbond enka nc. Penn state ag sciences plant science research.

It s not a new idea. Back at penn state beattie an associate professor of ornamental horticulture began to look into the idea. Green roofs are unique in that they have the ability to capture and retain a volume depth of rain from each rainstorm. And last a green roof could lessen the heating and cooling costs of the hotel lobby down below.

The horticulture greenhouses include facilities for plant growth and a weighing lysimeter system that allows precise measurements of water loss from green. Each has a heater and a c unit.