Penn State Green Roof

On an annual basis a 3 5 4 deep sedum green roof in central pennsylvania can retain approximately 50 60 of the annual rainfall.

Penn state green roof.

Green roofs on campus. Green roofs are unique in that they have the ability to capture and retain a volume depth of rain from each rainstorm. Speaking of green roofs on campus are four large scale green roofs in penn state. In such all new buildings will utilize green technologies and many will have green roofs.

Retention occurs primarily in the summer months from may through september when as much as 100 of the rain can be retained. It s not a new idea. The hub s green roof a gift from the class of 2014 and constructed as part of the hub robeson center addition and renovation project the hub green roof opened in summer 2016 as a space for penn staters to relax and enjoy nature from the center of campus. Penn state is committed to developing and sustaining a green campus.

Horticulture hort 497b was the first green roof technologies class in the nation created at penn state in 2005 and is taught every spring semester with students from many disciplines participating. Says beattie in scandinavia and the british isles it s rooted in history. Green roofs are increasing in popularity in the us because of the benefits they provide over traditional roofs such as reducing stormwater runoff and improving runoff quality. The first green roof technologies class in the nation was also created at penn state in 2005 and is taught every spring semester with students from many disciplines participating.

The office of the physical plant has been proactive in applying our research and promoting green roof technologies as one solution to storm water management issues on our campus. And providing an aesthetically pleasing roof. In the cool season months less water is retained 20 30 on average figure 1. Root cellar has 4 5000 f t student heath center 12 500 ft and dickinson school of law 22 000 ft.

Forest resources building student health center dickinson law school and the root cellar behind tyson building. Lengthening roof membrane life. Forest resources building has 4 700 ft of green roof. Reducing air conditioning costs.

Research at penn state has shown that green roofs provide considerable reduction in the volume of stormwater leaving a developed site and they reduce the peak rates of runoff. Back at penn state beattie an associate professor of ornamental horticulture began to look into the idea.