Living Roofs In The Desert

Roofs made of living plants also release oxygen into the air making it less toxic and harmful than row upon row of petroleum based shingles atop paved streets.

Living roofs in the desert.

Homeowners in extremely hot desert climates need a roof that will not absorb heat and draw it into the house. The severity of the elements challenges the viability of the most long wearing surfaces. Although it s possible to find light shades of asphalt shingles they are still darker than many metal and tile colors. Rubber roofing will be painfully hot if you are working on it in the summer and it will draw heat into the house.

A living roof eco roof or green roof is a carpet of succulents used especially on flat rooftops. Living roofs with plants blooming atop buildings are the glamorous side of green roofing. Green roofs in hot arid climates green roofs are living systems designed to provide multiple ecological and resource benefits. Creating shade and sheltering from the heat.

While roof materials include tile metal and 10 inch thick sip panels one innovative development in modern desert homes has been used for years by owners of old mobile homes. There s a reason this roofing material is so popular throughout the southwest and it has nothing to do with its appearance. Terra cotta tiles and ceramic roofs. At its most basic it is a thin layer of soil spread across a roof of a root barrier waterproof membrane with drainage and irrigation systems topped with thick colonies of drought tolerant sedums sempervivums both cold tolerant or ice plants or aeoniums more heat resistant less cold tolerant.

Animals tend to stay under the sun as little as possible finding creative ways to stay hidden from it in a place with little or no vegetation to use for shade. Yet they have not been widely researched in arid climates. Municipalities in the united states and abroad are using green roofs to enhance urban sustainability. But while a few living roofs have been installed in new mexico the state s heat and low rainfall.

Green or living roofs incorporate a waterproof membrane filled with soil and vegetation intended to cool naturally through soil temperature and growth of greenery. Although terra cotta does make an excellent choice for those hoping to capture a bit of spanish colonial style. The best way to find or make an artificial shade is to stay away from surfaces that absorb heat and are directly under the sun sand absorbs heat and radiates it making it hotter. Adding a metal roof over the top of the entire building prevents the sun s rays from beating down on the house all day while allowing air circulation under the reflective roof and over the house.

They re vulnerable to intense heat cold wind and drought plus they can t support a lot of weight so the plants need to grow in. Water runoff also serves to cool the buildings and the entire system protects the base roofing underneath adding to roof longevity.