Planted Roofs Over Buildings: Case Study at a School in Athens

Planted Roofs Over Buildings: Case Study at a School in Athens

Theodoros Galanis, Ploutarhos Kerpelis
Copyright: © 2022 |Pages: 12
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-7785-1.ch019
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Abstract

Humans in addition with other factors have increased the environmental pollution of the planet. Many highly populated cities like Athens have problems with air quality due to the poor quality of construction, high temperatures in summer, noise, no existence of city plans, etc. The scope of this study is the investigation of urban towns' benefits using planted roofs. All types of planted roofs have many environmental, constructional, social, and financial benefits. The research suggests a method from the design, the study until the construction, using decision making, informing the citizens, and taking into account their opinion. The original design of buildings must have adopted an integrated energy strategy such as the solution of planted roofs so as to maximize the benefits to the environment and human beings. The research is specialized using a case study about a planted roof of an existing school building in Athens. The advantages and disadvantages of the usage are shown focusing on environmental, social, and construction aspects.
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Introduction

The environmental burden that our planet has suffered is growing rapidly mainly due to reckless industrial activity. Green roofs (or planted roofs) can slow down climate change, creating better living conditions. Germany has been a world leader in the theory and practice of green roofs since the 1960s. Internationally, 13.5 million roofs were green by 2001. Research shows that in highly polluted urban areas, plants retain even heavy metals which would pollute the aquifer through water runoff (Bartfelder and Kohler, 1986). Also, during a storm the planted roof can hold large amounts of water, discharging the sewer system.

Figure 1.

Typical flood hydrograph at the natural recipient a) without terrace garden and b) with terrace garden (Vaitsis Tr., 2009)

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In a case study, runoff is completed smoothly within 24 hours after the end of the storm (Katzschner, 1991). June 6 is World Green Roof Day (Center for Architectural Ecology, 2020). In Greece the use of green roofs is studied (Evmorfopoulou 1994, Gernot Minke 2009, Michailidou & Rodi 2011, Vavanou 2013), Conferences are created (TEE / TKM, 2010) etc.

Horizontal green roofs are divided into 3 categories depending on the plant growth substrate: Extensive, Semi-Intensive and Intensive (Green Roof, 2020). The type of plants to be used is determined based on the substrate (Agricultural Center, 2020).

Table 1.
Categories of planted rooms
Green roof typeSubstrate thicknessPlantingApplication
Extensive8-15 cmWild flowers, ground cover plantsIn inaccessible roofs
Semi-intensive15-25 cmShrubs, ground cover plantsMainly on accessible roofs
Intensive25-100 cmShrubs, plants, treesExclusively on rooftops with access

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