• Laboratory to Research Vegetated Roof Systems

    Looking to add a green roof to your facility, but not sure which system will yield the best result?
    Feb. 27, 2014
    2 min read
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    Looking to add a green roof to your facility, but not sure which system will yield the best result?

    Green roof developer Hanging Gardens, in conjunction with the UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, will utilize the Milwaukee Water Council's Global Water Center's vegetated roof as a research laboratory to establish which systems are most beneficial for stormwater mitigation. Other criteria the roof will be tested against include:

    • Water holding capacity
    • Reduction in storm surge capabilities
    • Evapotranspiration
    • Cooling effect
    • Leaching of pollutants and nutrients
    • Rooting of cuttings

    The 3,600-square-foot vegetative roof will consist of eleven different vegetative roofing slices, representing five different installation types.

    Installation Type 1: Modular Systems

    • Standard module with a biodegradable sidewall
    • Standard module with 3/4-inch tall sidewall with removable soil elevator
    • Standard module with full height sidewall

    Installation Type 2: Vegetation Blanket System

    • Fully vegetated sedum mat system

    Installation Type 3: Sedum Tile System

    • Color max fully vegetated sedum tile system
    • Growers choice fully vegetated sedum tile ultra-lightweight system

    Installation Type 4: Vegetated Plug Systems

    • Native WI perennials – split patch w/ organosilica
    • Garden variety perennials

    Installation Type 5: Sedum Cuttings Systems

    • Cold weather sedum cuttings system – split patch w/ organosilica
    • Warm weather sedum cuttings system
    • Zone 4 & 5 sedum cuttings system

    For more information, visit the Global Water Center.

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