Green roofs and living walls

Green roofs and living walls are vegetated roofs and walls. They include a multi-layer system designed to intercept and retain rainfall, reducing the volume and flow of runoff.

Green roofs and walls are particularly helpful for tackling urban flooding by;

• Absorbing rainwater
• The vegetation slowing run-off and retaining water
• Allowing water to evaporate back into the atmosphere
• Helping to reduce peak flows
• Retaining and treating contaminates and helping to neutralise acidic rainwater

There are multiple other benefits that come with green roofs and living walls such as;

• Reducing heating and cooling costs by keeping buildings warmer in the winter and cooler in summer
• Acting as stepping stones for wildlife linking areas of greenspace
• Allowing the water to be fed into a grey water system for use within the building
• Lowering urban air temperatures helping to combat the urban heat island effect
• Contributing to a nicer, more pleasing environment to live and work

We have been working with partners to explore the viability of integrating green roofs into an existing development proposal for a residential development at Meadowbank, Edinburgh. The team found that;

• Green roofs at the Meadowbank site would help create an exemplar nature-rich development in the centre of Scotland’s capital city.
• Green roofs would support the health and well-being of residents and provide benefits to the wider community that would use the site.
• Green-blue roofs reduce the need for other grey infrastructure.
• Green-blue roofs allow for more efficient use of land in constrained urban sites.
• Initial capital costs of green roofs are modest compared to overall capital costs of the development.

Find out more

Maximising the benefits of green infrastructure in social housing