Roof garden as a solution to biodiversity loss

Did you know that our cities have thousands of square metres of empty space which can be used to improve biodiversity? Yes indeed, this ‘wasted space’ comes in the form of a great number of flat roofs. For example, a staggering 46% of the roofs in the Netherlands are flat. Added up, this is amounts to more than 600 square meters of unused space. Urban areas are also the places where biodiversity declines the most, due to things such as urbanisation, CO2 and particulate emissions, and the fragmentation of natural areas. Fortunately, there is a fast, aesthetic and sustainable way to green cities and industrial areas: the installation of biodiverse green roofs.

A biodiverse roof garden by Sempergreen

Sempergreen’s biodiverse green roof systems enable you to create beautiful roof gardens on office buildings, schools and hospitals in no time at all. There are two types of vegetation blankets to choose from: the Wildflower blanket, which is planted with 20 different types of wild flowers and a number of ornamental grasses, or the Bees & Butterflies blanket. These blankets are particularly attractive for bees and butterflies and so it contributes to conserved and increased biodiversity. The biodiverse vegetation blankets are available from stock from our own nursery.

The Bees & Butterflies blanket was created in collaboration with the Dutch Bee and Butterfly Foundations and contains more than 50 different species of host and nectar plants. These plants bloom from early spring to late autumn and provide food for bees and butterflies in all stages of their life cycle. The Bees & Butterflies blanket is therefore an ideal habitat for insects.

Read more about biodiversity and green roofs in the white paper’ Building for biodiversity ‘.

Simple installation with instant green results

If you want to speed up your project and contribute directly to local biodiversity, Sempergreen’s biodiverse roof gardens provide the ideal solution. The efficient design of the green roof system in combination with pre-cultivated vegetation blankets makes a biodiverse roof garden easy to install. In addition, at least 95% of the vegetation blankets are covered with plants upon delivery and can therefore attract insects and animals immediately after installation.

To retain their optimal appearance and function, biodiverse green roofs require annual maintenance.

The advantages of a Sempergreen biodiverse rooftop garden

Besides the fact that Sempergreen’s biodiverse green roofs can help promote local biodiversity and thus prevent an ecological disaster, they offer many other environmental, financial and welfare benefits:

• Building projects with an ecological green roof are eligible for LEED or BREEAM points.
• In the future, regulations will be tightened in more and more cities in favour of the preservation of biodiversity. The sooner parties in the construction sector take this into account, the greater the lead on the competition will be.
• Greening of buildings can increase their value by 4 to 8 per cent.
• Many municipalities provide subsidies for green roofs. In addition, in several countries, entrepreneurs and housing corporations can receive tax benefits when they invest in green roofs for their buildings.
• Green roofs absorb CO2 and particulates. In this way, they actively contribute to combating climate change.
• A green roof acts as a water buffer. It ensures that rainwater is purified, it delays the drainage of rainwater and the plants allow it to evaporate. This way the green roof prevents the sewers from overloading during peak downpours, keeps the water level stable and reduces the risk of flooding.
• A green roof lowers the temperature on the roof, which increases the output of solar panels.
• A green roof offers protection against the sun, rain, wind and temperature changes. This doubles or triples the life span of the roof.
• Green roofs lower the ambient temperature. An ideal solution for the urban heat island effect.
• Corporations can benefit from fiscal advantages through the government schemes.
• A green environment improves the physical and emotional state of people and improves concentration.

Lightweight solution

Sempergreen offers various green roof systems. A saturated biodiverse roof weighs approximately 225 kg/m². Is it not possible for your project’s roof to take this weight, but you would still like to make a positive contribution to local biodiversity? Then the Sempergreen Biodiversity Package is the ideal solution. It is easy to apply to a traditional or lightweight Sedum roof.

See below for an overview of Sempergreen’s various green roof systems.

Would you like to know more?

Sempergreen’s green roof system gives your project a nature function. Would you also like to install a colourful roof garden on your project and contribute to an improved local biodiversity? Request a quote or contact us for more information. No matter where you would like to place your rooftop garden, London, Oslo, Melbourne, or any other place. Sempergreen can help you out!