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There are two types of vegetative roof systems: Intensive and Extensive. Intensive systems can accomodate trees, shrubs, gardens
and can support frequent visits by large groups of people. These systems require a minimum of one foot of soil and add anywhere from 80 to 150 lbs
per square foot to the building structure. Intensive systems require complex irragation and drainage systems, and need to be designed by
structural engineers.
RESOURCES
Environmental Protection Agency
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Green roofs, also known as eco-roofs, vegetated roofs and living roofs have been around for thousands of years.
Sod or turf roofs have been the most common roof type in rural Scandinavia since the vikings. Even the Hanging Gardens
of Babylon built around 600 B.C. were waterproofed with layers of reeds and thick tar prior to planting trees.
As for more current examples, Germany, widely considered a
leader in green roof research, technology and usage, has vegetation on nearly 15% of all flat roofs. Some well know installations in the
U.S. include the Rockefeller Center in New York City (1930) and Chicago City Hall (2001). Greenroofs.com, the international online information
portal for the green roof industry currently has projects submitted into the database, claiming over 10 million square feet of vegetated
roofs in the US alone. Click 
Growing popularity of the living roof systems in the U.S. is just another proof to the numerous benefits that they have.
Green roofs are aesthetically pleasing and can provide additional amenity space to the building users.
They have numerous environmental benefits, such as storm water run-off volume and rate of discharge reduction, pollutants filtration, carbon dioxide absorption and establishment of natural habitat.
They are also known to reduce urban heat island effect, and reduce heating and cooling loads of a building.
The biggest economic benefit, however, is in prolonging the life of the waterproofing membrane. Some research shows that reducing surface temperature fluctuation and
exposure to the sun can double or triple the life expectancy of the waterproofing membrane. Another factor, often overlooked, is that by providing additional exposure to nature, green roofs contribute to overall increase in health and productivity of the building occupants.
To minimize potential structural problems, we specialize in light weight extensive vegetative roofs, both pregrown modular systems and planted on site. For all intensive vegetated roof solutions we recommend you to contact