A
green roof is a
roof of a
building that is
partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil, or a growing
medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. This does not refer to
roofs which are merely colored green, as with green
roof shingles. It
may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and
irrigation systems. Container gardens on roofs, where plants are
maintained in pots, are not generally considered to be true green roofs,
although this is an area of debate. Rooftop ponds are another form of
green roofs which are used to treat
greywater. Finally,
the term "green roof" may also be used to indicate roofs that utilize some
form of "green" technology, such as
solar panels or a
photovoltaic module.
Green roofs are also referred to as eco-roofs, vegetated roofs, living
roofs, and greenroofs.
