Green Roofing + Solar Panels: A Win Win

While the term “Green” encompasses a wide variety of environmentally beneficial solutions, in roofing it’s most commonly used to describe a solution that literally involves turning your rooftop into a green space. These spaces are used for flora, gardens, fruit trees, natural grasses and many other types of vegetation. While some may be after growing a particular type of fruit or vegetable, in many cases, the selection of vegetation to be planted is intended to help the roof and building blend in with the surroundings.

Photo courtesy of http://www.greenroofs.com

No matter what is planted atop your structure, the primary purpose is to insulate your home or business from heat and cold and otherwise protect from moisture and outside elements . In urban areas, these green spaces also help reduce the problem of urban heat islands, as well as providing convenient, nearby space for growing healthy foods.

Now imagine adding solar panels to a green roof. The solar panels will help reduce or even get rid of energy costs and heat water for an already more efficient home or business thanks to the green roofing system. According to this article, many are actually doing just that.

These integrated systems (green roof plus solar) are growing in popularity as sustainable building practices are becoming more common. With rising energy costs and more efficient solar panels, home and business owners can often offset installation and purchase costs in as little as three years.

With the actual roofing materials receiving little to no direct sunlight, adding a green roof actually doubles or triples the lifespan of the roof membrane. It also provides ideal ballast for panels to be anchored into, which tends to be a large portion of the cost of installing solar energy. Why not spend the money on a green roof, rather than a ballast system and get the added advantages of additional insulation for your space. Surprisingly, green roofing actually increases the output of solar panels from 3 – 16 percent.

With incentives from state and federal agencies, the cost of installing solar can be significantly decreased through the use of incentive or grants. A reputable solar installation company will know all of the incentives and grants available in your state.

A professional roofing company will work closely with you to determine your green roofing needs, answer your questions, discuss your concerns, and help you decide on which roofing system is best for you.