reader response final draft
The article "The Concrete Advantage" states that waterproof concrete removes the need for membrane in green rooftops. The removal of membrane from green rooftops eliminates the need for design and renewal costs, thus saving both time and resources. The article further explains that concrete green rooftops are resistant to water and wear and tear. Root barriers can most likely be eliminated due to the lack of water present in concrete to reduce costs. Furthermore, faults are easily detected and rectified for concrete rooftops. The article concludes that concrete rooftops reduces cost and saves time for planners and builders, benefiting the community and proprietor in the long run and ultimately improving economic sustainability and building proprietor approval. Although the article mentions that the usage of concrete green roofs provides a one-time monetary gain for building owners, it fails to cover the full economic benefits of the concrete green roofs.
Firstly, one of the main benefits of using green roofs stems from its ability to save costs over its lifespan. An article by Sarah (2007) states that green roofs have the ability to insulate buildings to reduce thermal energy entering the building and cool roof surfaces. Through the evapotranspiration process, the transpiration of plant and evaporation of water cools the surrounding of the building. As there is a reduction of thermal energy entering the building, it lowers the energy usage of buildings to save costs. According to an article by Taylor (2015), although green roofs have a higher installation cost than conventional roofs, the electrical savings generated from green roofs over its entire lifetime will result in a lower overall cost when compared to conventional roofs. Having said that, the concrete green roofs not only provides an initial cost saving by eliminating the use of membrane, building owners can also reduce electrical costs by utilizing the insulating properties of green roof to save costs over time, making concrete green roofs cheaper than conventional roofs.
The usage of green roofs also creates employment opportunities for society. According to an article by Marilyn (2013), workers and supplies are needed for the maintenance of green roofs, which creates lasting jobs for people. Green roofs are known to last from 2 to 4 decades and maintenance is essential to ensure green roofs function properly to garner the potential electrical cost savings. In my opinion, the long lifetime of green roofs and the need for frequent maintenance will create lasting jobs for workers. As a result, green roofs provide the economic benefit of creating long-term job opportunities that provide income for the workers while saving electrical costs for building proprietors.
In addition to the economic benefits stated above, green roofs are an effective method in reducing economic damages caused by floods. Over the years, the frequent occurrence of flash floods in Singapore due to heavy rain has caused hefty economic damages to property. One solution that can be used to alleviate this problem is the usage of green roofs. According to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (ACB, 2018), green roofs have the potential to retain up to 90% of rainwater. ACB also states that green roofs reduce rainwater runoff and decreases the flow-rate of rainwater. As green roofs have the ability to retain a considerable amount of rainwater and decrease the flow-rate of rainwater from rooftops to the ground, it will reduce the amount of water flowing into drainage systems at any point of time. With this in mind, green roofs can effectively reduce the amount of water present in drainage systems during heavy rain, which in turn reduces the likelihood of flash floods occurring, ultimately providing the economic benefit of preventing hefty flood damages to properties.
With all that being said, the concrete green roofs not only provides a one-time monetary gain to building owners, it also provides 3 additional economic benefits as well.
References
Green Rooftops. (n.d). The Concrete Advantage. Retrieved, September 25, 2018, from http://www.greenrooftops.org/advantage.html
National Service Park. (n.d). Green Roof Benefits. Retrieved, September 27, 2018 from https://www.nps.gov/tps/sustainability/new-technology/green-roofs/benefits.htm
Mia, T. (2015, May 22). What a Green Roof Costs You on the Way to Saving Everything. Retrieved from: https://www.thestreet.com/story/13161050/1/what-a-green-roof-costs-you-on-the-way-to-saving-everything.html
Dowdey, S, (2007, July 11). What is a Green Roof? Retrieved from https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/green-rooftop1.htm
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. (n.d). Green Roofs. Retrieved, October 5, 2018 from http://www.stormwater.allianceforthebay.org/take-action/installations/green-roofs
Novy, M. (2013, May). Green Roofs. Retrieved from https://futureofschaumburg.wordpress.com/green-design/green-roofs/
Firstly, one of the main benefits of using green roofs stems from its ability to save costs over its lifespan. An article by Sarah (2007) states that green roofs have the ability to insulate buildings to reduce thermal energy entering the building and cool roof surfaces. Through the evapotranspiration process, the transpiration of plant and evaporation of water cools the surrounding of the building. As there is a reduction of thermal energy entering the building, it lowers the energy usage of buildings to save costs. According to an article by Taylor (2015), although green roofs have a higher installation cost than conventional roofs, the electrical savings generated from green roofs over its entire lifetime will result in a lower overall cost when compared to conventional roofs. Having said that, the concrete green roofs not only provides an initial cost saving by eliminating the use of membrane, building owners can also reduce electrical costs by utilizing the insulating properties of green roof to save costs over time, making concrete green roofs cheaper than conventional roofs.
The usage of green roofs also creates employment opportunities for society. According to an article by Marilyn (2013), workers and supplies are needed for the maintenance of green roofs, which creates lasting jobs for people. Green roofs are known to last from 2 to 4 decades and maintenance is essential to ensure green roofs function properly to garner the potential electrical cost savings. In my opinion, the long lifetime of green roofs and the need for frequent maintenance will create lasting jobs for workers. As a result, green roofs provide the economic benefit of creating long-term job opportunities that provide income for the workers while saving electrical costs for building proprietors.
In addition to the economic benefits stated above, green roofs are an effective method in reducing economic damages caused by floods. Over the years, the frequent occurrence of flash floods in Singapore due to heavy rain has caused hefty economic damages to property. One solution that can be used to alleviate this problem is the usage of green roofs. According to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (ACB, 2018), green roofs have the potential to retain up to 90% of rainwater. ACB also states that green roofs reduce rainwater runoff and decreases the flow-rate of rainwater. As green roofs have the ability to retain a considerable amount of rainwater and decrease the flow-rate of rainwater from rooftops to the ground, it will reduce the amount of water flowing into drainage systems at any point of time. With this in mind, green roofs can effectively reduce the amount of water present in drainage systems during heavy rain, which in turn reduces the likelihood of flash floods occurring, ultimately providing the economic benefit of preventing hefty flood damages to properties.
With all that being said, the concrete green roofs not only provides a one-time monetary gain to building owners, it also provides 3 additional economic benefits as well.
References
Green Rooftops. (n.d). The Concrete Advantage. Retrieved, September 25, 2018, from http://www.greenrooftops.org/advantage.html
National Service Park. (n.d). Green Roof Benefits. Retrieved, September 27, 2018 from https://www.nps.gov/tps/sustainability/new-technology/green-roofs/benefits.htm
Mia, T. (2015, May 22). What a Green Roof Costs You on the Way to Saving Everything. Retrieved from: https://www.thestreet.com/story/13161050/1/what-a-green-roof-costs-you-on-the-way-to-saving-everything.html
Dowdey, S, (2007, July 11). What is a Green Roof? Retrieved from https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/green-rooftop1.htm
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. (n.d). Green Roofs. Retrieved, October 5, 2018 from http://www.stormwater.allianceforthebay.org/take-action/installations/green-roofs
Novy, M. (2013, May). Green Roofs. Retrieved from https://futureofschaumburg.wordpress.com/green-design/green-roofs/
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