Independent Validation of the SWMM Green Roof Module

With the increasing popularity of green roofs, efficient green roof plant production is required to adequately supply the industry. Applying fertilizer at an appropriate rate can provide sufficient plant nutrition for efficient plant growth without excess nutrient leaching into the environment. This study compared rates of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) applied to green roof modules at the plant production stage to determine an optimum CRF rate for encouraging plant growth and vegetative coverage while minimizing the amount and concentration of leached nutrients. After sedum cuttings were rooted in green roof modules on 29 Aug. 2011, CRF was applied at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 g·m−2 nitrogen (N) and modules were compared with an unfertilized control. Plant growth, vegetative coverage, and overall appearance requirements were met after fertilization at 20 g·m−2 N. Modules fertilized at less than 20 g·m−2 N did not reach the target proportion coverage during the study. When fertilized at 20 g·m−2 N, green roof modules reached the target proportion coverage after 240 days of growth. Differences in leachate volumes were observed among treatments 35 days after fertilization and fertilization at 20 g·m−2 N minimized leaching of most nutrients. Therefore, with the green roof module system used in this study, an application of 20 g·m−2 N for green roof module or sedum cutting production is an optimum CRF rate for plant growth and vegetative coverage while minimizing negative environmental impacts.

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Plant Nutrition Requirements for an Installed Sedum-Vegetated Green Roof Module System: Effects of Fertilizer Rate and Type on Plant Growth and Leachate Nutrient Content

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.48.9.1173 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 48 (9) ◽

pp. 1173-1180 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Mary Jane Clark ◽

Youbin Zheng

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Green Roof ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Chicken Manure ◽

Plant Performance ◽

Fertilizer Rate ◽

Shoot Height ◽

Roof Module ◽

Module System

The objectives of this study were to compare fertilizer rates and types to identify an optimum rate to maintain green roof vegetative coverage and encourage plant growth (i.e., plant performance) while minimizing the amount and concentration of nutrients leached from a green roof module system. Sedum-vegetated modules with no added fertilizer (control) were compared with modules fertilized with 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 60 g·m−2 nitrogen (N) of 16N–2.6P–10K POLYON® Homogenous NPK plus Minors, 5–6 month controlled-release fertilizer (CRF), 5 g·m−2 N of a 2.9N–2.2P–2.3K fly-larvae processed chicken manure fertilizer (5-Sus), or 5 g·m−2 N of 4N–4P–4K Gaia Green All Purpose organic fertilizer (5-OR). The total amount and concentration of aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), NH4+, nickel (Ni), NO3–, phosphorus (P), lead (Pb), sulfur (S), and zinc (Zn) in leachate as well as plant overall appearance, winter injury, vegetative coverage, shoot height, bloom duration, and leaf color of green roof modules were evaluated between July 2011 and Aug. 2012. A CRF fertilizer rate of 15 g·m−2 N maximized vegetative coverage and overall plant appearance while maintaining leachate quality within Ontario and Canadian guidelines for most of the measured elements. The amount of Zn in the CRF appeared to be higher than plant demand and the high amount and concentration of P in leachate was likely the result of release from the growing substrate. The 5-Sus fertilizer resulted in increased coverage the first spring and increased greenness soon after application compared with the same rate of CRF. Overall, 15 g·m−2 N of CRF was the best treatment based on vegetative coverage and plant growth in sedum-vegetated green roof modules.

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Roof Greening applied a Sallow Green Roof Module System Out of Management - Focused on the Effects on the Growth of Plants by Difference of Soil Mixture Ratio -

Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture ◽

10.9715/kila.2012.40.3.091 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 91-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tai-Ho Kang ◽

Hong-Xia Zhao ◽

Hong Li ◽

Sung-Hoon Kang

Keyword(s):

Green Roof ◽

Mixture Ratio ◽

Soil Mixture ◽

Roof Greening ◽

Roof Module ◽

Module System

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Cooling Benefits of an Extensive Green Roof and Sensitivity Analysis of Its Parameters in Subtropical Areas

Energies ◽

10.3390/en12224278 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (22) ◽

pp. 4278 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zhang ◽

Ma ◽

Meng ◽

Ren

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity Analysis ◽

Green Roof ◽

Electricity Consumption ◽

Soil Thickness ◽

Area Index ◽

Solar Absorptance ◽

Extensive Green Roof ◽

Air Temperatures ◽

Four Levels ◽

Roof Module

The present study aims to further demonstrate the cooling benefits of an extensive green roof (EGR) and fill the gap existing in the literature in terms of a sensitivity analysis of an EGR, especially in subtropical areas. First, onsite measurements were performed. The results indicated that the peak air temperatures in the chamber with the EGR were 4.0 °C and 1.9 °C lower, respectively, compared to those in the chamber with a bare roof on sunny and rainy days. Moreover, the EGR decreased the daily electricity consumption from air conditioning by up to 16.7% on sunny days and 6.7% on cloudy days. Second, the measured values were employed to validate the green roof module (GRM) in EnergyPlus. The results demonstrated that the GRM yielded accurate results in quantifying the cooling benefits of the EGR. Finally, we selected 16 factors of the EGR, each with four levels, to perform the sensitivity analysis. Range and variance analyses revealed that the factors that most significantly impacted the EGR performance were the R-value of roof construction, substrate (soil) thickness, the thermal conductivity of dry substrate, the leaf area index, leaf emissivity, and the solar absorptance of the substrate. These factors contributed 90.8% to the performance index.

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Effect on the Growth of Pllioblastus pygmaed and Soil Characteristics as Affected by Difference of Soil Thickness and Soil Mixture Ratio in the Shallow-Extensive Green Roof Module System

Journal of Environmental Science International ◽

10.5322/jes.2010.19.7.871 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 19 (7) ◽

pp. 871-877 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Je-Hea Park ◽

Jin-Hee Ju ◽

Yong-Han Yoon

Keyword(s):

Green Roof ◽

Soil Characteristics ◽

Soil Thickness ◽

Mixture Ratio ◽

Extensive Green Roof ◽

Soil Mixture ◽

Roof Module ◽

Module System

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Ten-year persistence of native plant species on a green roof in Northeast US

Native Plants Journal ◽

10.3368/npj.18.3.227 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 227-234

Author(s):

Jessica D Lubell ◽

Bryan Connolly ◽

Kristina N Jones

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Green Roof ◽

Native Plant ◽

Native Plant Species ◽

Northeast Us

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THE GREEN ROOF THERMAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION IN COMPARISON TO ASBESTOS CEMENT TILES APPLIED TO LIGHT STEEL FRAME BRAZILIAN BUILDINGS

International Journal of Architectural Research Archnet-IJAR ◽

10.26687/archnet-ijar.v12i3.1709 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 288

Author(s):

Angélica Felicidade Guião Marcato Costa ◽

João Alexandre Paschoalin Filho ◽

Tatiana Tucunduva Philipi Cortese ◽

Brenda Chaves Coelho Leite

Keyword(s):

Performance Evaluation ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Heat Flow ◽

Thermal Performance ◽

Green Roof ◽

Steel Frame ◽

Internal Temperature ◽

Green Cover ◽

Asbestos Cement ◽

Data Representative

This research aimed at comparing the thermal performance provided in experimental modules, one of which was performed with conventional cover, made of asbestos cement tiles; an another with green cover. The structure of the studied modules was executed using Light Steel Frame technique. As an experimental research, modules were built in a wide place, without the interference of shading. Instruments were installed in the inner part of the modules to measure the following data: air temperature, relative humidity. From the collected data, representative episodes have been chosen for the studies that aimed to compare the comfort provided by both modules, built with different roofs. As result, it was verified that the module with green roof had better performance than the module covered with asbestos cement tile in all selected episodes. The module covered with green roof maintained lower internal temperature variation throughout the days, indicating that the green roof has characteristic thermal insulation, reducing the heat flow from the roof.

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