Penn State Green Roofs Center

Center for green roof research.

Penn state green roofs center. The greenroof plants were planted in september 2001 but the penn state green roof research center was finalized in the summer of 2002 and now offers graduate and undergraduate students many learning opportunities. On campus the root cellar has a 4 500 square feet roof that is used for monitoring runoff and evaluating green roof plants and the forest resources building has a 4 700 square feet demonstration and display roof. David beattie associate professor of ornamental horticulture and director center for green roof research the current center director is dr. Green roofs are very effective stormwater bmps.

And providing an aesthetically pleasing roof. The green roof covers the 4th and 5th floor roofs. 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. Penn state faculty and students are actively researching multiple components of green roof performance including storm water quantity and quality management energy balance plant selection plant performance plant installation techniques media components roof system components and managements and materials testing.

In such all new buildings will utilize green technologies and many will have green roofs. Penn state ag sciences plant science research research centers center for green roof research reports publications center for green roof research research. 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 roof is a sedum meadow roof.

Lengthening roof membrane life. Reducing air conditioning costs. Their major drawback is the initial cost. Research facilities faculty and students working on green roofs at penn state make use of many facilities on and off campus.

Penn state is committed to developing and sustaining a green campus. The green roof was installed and planted by scott s landscaping. The student health center is a new building finished in 2008. Course eco roof and green technologies 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.

A typical extensive green roof of 3 5 inches depth will reduce the volume of runoff by about 55 in central pennsylvania and attenuate the peak runoff rates to the level of the pre development land use.