Traditional rooftops are usually covered with tar, black membrane, shingles or stone. As a result, they absorb sunlight. On sunny days with an air temperature of 95°F, city roofs can easily reach temperatures of 175°F or more. The LiveRoof® system acts like a protective umbrella above the roof to shade and insulate buildings, avoiding the heat island effect associated with traditional rooftops.
Plants, of course, release oxygen and evaporate water, and the soil they live in evaporates water. Collectively, these processes are known as evapotranspiration and act like evaporative cooling systems to make the surrounding air considerably cooler. By implementing a LiveRoof® system, the combined benefit of eliminating the heat generated by a non-vegetated rooftop, along with the evaporative cooling effect, is significant.