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Sustainable Green Roofing

Heating and cooling a building is an important design consideration for any building. Construction of a LEED Certified green building opens the doors to many interesting and growing choices. In Louisville Kentucky in the NuLu district a building was built to meet the Platinum standard for LEEDS certification. With innovative designs and Louisville air conditioning service available for seldom needed Louisville air conditioning repair, this building will be a model for other green design buildings. A big component of designing a green building and reducing the demand for air conditioning is the design of the roof. Other elements include the construction design and materials used for the windows. Constructing a building to reduce its energy demand is a challenging and exciting project. Several strategies are employed in the design and construction phase. Some of the strategies that went into the Green Building in the NuLu district of Louisville are helpful touchstones in understanding green design.

Cities tend to be heat islands, absorbing and emitting heat that raises the temperature several degrees higher then the surrounding rural areas. Finding ways to reduce the absorption and subsequent dispersion of heat energy is an essential component in designing a building that contributes to sustainable living. One of the simplest ways of reducing absorption is simply painting the exposed parts of roofs a light color. Black tar roofs in Louisville can reach 170 degrees in the summer. By painting them a reflective color the temperature is reduced, the building requires less cooling and the local aggregate temperature is reduced aiding in the cooling of the heat island.

A truly green roof consists of dirt and grass. This is an old form of roof building that uses the wisdom of ancient builders. Dirt roofs with grass offer several important features. The earthen foundation is cooling and insulating, making it effective in both winter and summer. The grass on the roof offers a cooling surface as well. One of the other benefits is in the water absorption of the roof. A common problem in cities is the vast water runoff that accompanies a rain storm. Most surfaces drop the water immediately into the storm system. A grass and dirt roof absorbs the water letting it seep out over several days, and reducing the amount of run off as the grass holds the moisture.

There are many benefits to creating and installing a green roof. There are some reports that indicate a green roof can cut heating and cooling costs by as much as 20 to 30 percent in a one story building. It can also increase the longevity of a roof by reducing the impact of UV rays on membranes and increasing the waterproofing capabilities. Green roofs can also act as a noise buffering system. Another obvious benefit is the conversion of carbon dioxide into oxygen by the plants on the roof.

There are many reasons to consider a green roof when renovating or designing a building. Some considerations are the additional weight that the earth may require. The weight should be estimated with maximum water absorption considered. Beyond the contribution to a more sustainable way of building, green roofs can be aesthetically pleasing.

Connor Sullivan recently contacted a Louisville air conditioning repair specialist to fix a problem at his office. He scheduled a Louisville air conditioning service specialist to repair his parent's air conditioner.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connor_R_Sullivan

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