Many large commercial buildings around the country are installing solar roof panels to reduce the reliance on traditional energy sources. While national efforts are beginning to pick up speed, many other countries are taking the green roofing industry by storm. A new law proposed in the Philippines is calling for a massive installation of solar panels across the city.

Unified Efforts

If a single residence home can generate enough electricity to power itself for 24 hours, imagine what an entire city’s worth of solar power could generate. A progressive lawmaker in Davao City, Philippines is working on a new bill that would change the country’s energy sector.

Senator, Teddy Casino and a group of solar technology developers, the Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) are working on a plan to install solar panels on the rooftops of houses, buildings and commercial establishments. Deemed the One Million Solar Roofs Act of 2011, the House Bill was designed to “promote the utilization of renewable energy resources to reduce dependence on imported energy from fossil fuels.”

If approved, the PSPA would being installing new roof solar panels among 10 percent of residential units per year. Over time, the project would be able to “promote energy stability and independence from imported energy sources, mitigate global warming and air pollution and encourage industry growth that will lead to more jobs and lower electricity bills.”

Like all environmentally friendly products green roofs offer an extensive variety of benefits to the earth, as well as its inhabitants. Green roofs have been around for centuries, but are just now gaining popularity in America’s urban areas.

Making A Difference

Why would anyone want a roof covered in vegetation and plants? For one, green roofs are great for rain water management. Acting like sponges, the plants covering the roof absorb the rainwater and filter it, releasing a cleaner water waste product. The filtered runoff contains less toxins and chemicals than traditional rainwater runoff, which also ease the polluting of other nearby vegetation.

The vegetation also lowers the amount of CO2 and pollutants directly from the air, leaving the air cleaner and less toxic to breath. When these traditional toxins are removed from the air, the ambient temperatures are lowered and have a cooling effect. Green roofs can lower the temperature of the building itself by absorbing and distributing heat, preventing it from being absorbed into the building. Lower building temperatures means a reduced need for electrical cooling systems, another environmentally friendly outcome.

Urban areas stand to gain the most from green roofs, as they provide a much needed green space in a cement covered city. Rooftop gardens are common among green roof systems, giving residents a place to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. Equally important is the reduced noise pollution in areas surrounded by vegetation and reduced need for maintenance. Green roofs are one of the best roof systems in terms of the fact they rarely need roof repair, which then reduces the costs associated with maintenance.

There has been much attention in recent years to protecting the environment and reducing our dependence on traditional energy sources. When it comes to roofing, solar panels and green roofs can certainly do their share for reducing our carbon footprint, so why aren’t they more common?

Misunderstood Materials

Solar roof panels are made up of several individual photovoltaic cells, which convert the sun’s rays into electrical power. Manufacturing of these panels can be expensive, one of the main reasons why people shy away from using them on residential homes. Some argue that the manufacturing process uses a lot of energy itself, thus nullifying the benefit of the product once produced. While these arguments cannot be disputed, it doesn’t necessarily mean that solar roof panels are not a better option in the long run.

First, consider the average household and its electrical use. A 10 by 10 foot solar panel can generate enough electricity to power the average American home for 24 hours. Think about the reduction in the utility bill when the average electrical use per day is provided by the solar panel. Over all, the cost of installing a solar roof panel is far cheaper than one will spend in a lifetime of paying for traditional energy.

Not only will homeowners save money, but they will be using less than 10% of traditional energy sources than before the installation of solar panels. This is extremely helpful during hot or cold weather when traditional electric sources may go off the grid for a period of time with rolling blackouts. When the dependence on traditional energy sources is reduced, the use of coal and other hazardous material manufacturing will be reduced.

Just imagine the outcome we could achieve if more homes and commercial buildings installed solar roofs.

The green roofing industry has captured the attention of many big name corporations in recent years. The Apple headquarters has one of the largest solar roof panel displays in the United States, along with several IKEA buildings. As truly green roofs become more popular around the globe, the East African Coca Cola Company building joins in with a new rooftop garden.

Corporate Green Initiatives

The headquarters of the Coca Cola Company in Nairobi, Kenya is home to one of the largest green roof gardens in the area. The building’s original design plans included an outline for the garden, aiming to lower cooling costs, reduce greenhouse gases and conserve the amount of energy used by the building.Although the building was completed in 2008, the garden has taken a bit longer to complete.

The flat roof designed building now boasts one of the city’s largest rooftop gardens that also includes a recreation are for company employees. Not only is the roof helping to boost local vegetation and product production, it also has helped reduce the amount of water consumption used around the building.  Much of the waste water from the building is recycled and distributed to other parts of the building or garden from specialized tanks stored on the building’s roof.

The Coca Cola building roof garden has also inspired other green construction project ideas around the city. Kenya’s government officials are now considering several other green roof projects for other buildings around Nairobi and surrounding areas.

Although popular around the globe for hundreds of years, the United States is just catching wind of the benefits behind a green roof system. Not typically a part of a homeowner’s plan for a new roof, green roof gardens have become more popular in some regions.

Urban Delight

One of the most popular areas in America for green roofs are the rooftops of urban buildings. Traditionally packed with concrete and loud appliances, many residential and commercial roofs are now being topped by lush gardens. Offering the local community a place to enjoy a green space, get involved in a small agricultural project and even develop crops for selling at the local farmers market, rooftop gardens are becoming a place for locals to meet.

What makes a good green roof garden? There are a wide variety of plants that can be used for rooftop gardens. Depending on the light conditions of the building, rooftop gardens can be planted with grass, flowers and even produce. The key is finding the best plant for the conditions of the building and level of attention required.

Grass is fairly low maintenance and can be great for enjoying quiet times in lawn chairs or playing with children. Flowers bring an aesthetic appeal, but often require more work for the garden attendants. Produce is an excellent crop for those looking to grow fresh fruits or vegetables. However, they often require dutiful maintenance to keep insects away and can be picky about light or soil conditions.