Solar Green Roofs Resource Guide Launched in Basel, Switzerland
June 5th, World Environment Day, was celebrated by the World Green Infrastructure Network, together with Solar Power Europe and the European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations by launching the Solar Green Roofs Resource Guide.
The launch event took place at the Basel World Congress of Green Roofs and Facades. The guide is the product of a global effort and contains case studies, design principles and policies regarding the integration of green roofs with solar technology. Steven Peck, newly elected President of WGIN and Co-Chair of the Solar Green Roof Technical Committee, explains his intentions for initiating the guidance, “This guide has very valuable information on design, installation and maintenance best practices and should help stimulate more combined solar green roof projects around the world." The guidance is particularly relevant during this period of transition in the geopolitical energy landscape, with supply chain disruptions and mounting pressure to increase local and renewable energy supplies.
The Committee Co-Chair Sophie Rousset-Rouvière, General Delegate of the French NGO Adivet says, "This comprehensive guide is the fruit of a successful collaboration between many countries, each contributing its own knowledge and experience. We can say that this is truly a guide that provides all the necessary resources - benefits, technical issues, regulatory framework, etc. - to encourage, implement and develop the virtuous solution of solar green roofs, in order to combine - rather than oppose - two relevant solutions for our world today and tomorrow."
The guide shows how solar green roofs offer a multitude of benefits, including:
Climate Resilience - Combat heat waves, droughts, and storms while cooling overheating cities and reducing the urban heat island effect.
Enhanced Biodiversity - Support urban ecosystems and combat the loss of natural spaces in cities.
Sustainable Energy & Efficiency - Generate renewable electricity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve building energy efficiency by minimizing heat loss and gain.
Improved Urban Environment - Enhance air quality, manage stormwater effectively, and contribute to overall human health and well-being.
Economic Advantages - Explore the economic benefits and potential return on investment of these integrated systems.
Practical Guidance - Gain insights into best practices for design, implementation, and maintenance, along with relevant policies and regulations.
Innovation & Job Creation - Learn about the lifecycle benefits, including extending waterproofing system duration, and the creation of green jobs.
The guidance was produced and peer reviewed with expert and scientific contributions from France, Canada, Austria, Norway, Switzerland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, United States, Denmark and Belgium. The guidance is available for free download at https://insights.wgin.org/solar-green-roofs-resource-guide.
Simplified Table of Contents of the guide
Introduction- a holistic approach
Technology Overview
Green Roof Technologies
Solar Energy Technologies
Benefits of sustainable Rooftop Solutions
Design and implementation considerations
Planning
Layout and Installation
Maintenance
Challenges and Trade-offs
Cost factors and Market Trends
Regulations and policies
Case Studies (8)
Summary
Questions about the guidance can be directed to https://worldgreeninfrastructurenetwork.org/contact/ or https://efb-greenroof.eu/contact/
This press release, together with photos and images for use in publications about the guidance are available for download here.
From the Living Architecture Monitor
