This is especially important where building occupants overlook lower roof areas, which are often barren planes or are full of mechanical equipment. One benefit of green roofs that is not easily quantifiable is the aesthetic improvement that landscape provides. While installing a green roof will not inherently qualify a project for LEED points, green roofs will contribute to achieving points in any number of categories including heat island effect reduction, storm water quantity and quality mitigation, and a reduction in energy usage. Many jurisdictions now require building owners to collect stormwater in infiltration basins that clean and slowly release the water back into the ground to help reduce the burden on the sewer systems - green roofs help do this naturally without the need for special infiltration basins or equipment. The plants and soils also filter the stormwater, which helps clean it of pollutants that can negatively affect the natural surroundings. Any water that is released is done so at a slower and more consistent rate, which helps prevent flooding and runoff that can be destructive to the surrounding environment. Perhaps the most important benefit of green roofs is that they can reduce the amount of and improve the quality of stormwater runoff from a building site. The soils of a green roof will capture a significant amount of stormwater, which is absorbed and used by the planted material. The insulating properties of the soil can also help reduce sound transmission through the roof from outside the building. This is most noticeable in intensive green roofs since there is a thicker and more consistent layer of soil, which provides a higher insulating value. Green roofs can help reduce energy costs for a building by acting as another layer of insulation between the inside and outside of the roof. This leads to lower ambient temperatures in the microclimate surrounding buildings. The natural plantings and soils in green roofs mitigate the heat island effect by better modulating temperature fluctuations caused by radiant heating during the day. We have attempted to address this by using high albedo (light colored) materials, but this simply reflects the radiant heat to other materials that can absorb it an release it in the evenings. The phenomenon leads to zones of higher temperatures around urban areas. Heat islands are created by buildings and pavement that absorb sunlight during the day and release the energy as heat in the evening. Heat islands, especially in urban areas, negatively affect microclimates by raising temperatures and altering air movement patterns.
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