When it comes to enhancing an Australian rooftop we feel there is no better way to go about it than acquiring a rooftop solar system. Yes, a new set of tiles is nice, and sure, a weathervane can be charming with the right home! But a rooftop solar system is outstanding for its ability to provide clean and green energy, reduce power bills today, and provide some defence against any rise in electricity costs in future.
But what if you’d like to add something extra to your rooftop alongside your solar system? Well, adding greenery to make a rooftop garden could be absolutely brilliant. For your home's overall design, and the surrounding environment. What's more, there's also an ability for greenery to enhance a rooftop solar system!
The Science Behind Green Roofs
Recently a study by academics from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) - and supported by Junglefy and Lendlease - surveyed two rooftop solar installations on buildings in Barangaroo, an inner suburb that sits along the north-western boundary of the Sydney CBD. Led by Peter Irga, Fraser Torpy and Robert Fleck of UTS, the study monitored one rooftop on International House which had solar panels (only), with the other on Daramu House featuring solar panels and greenery surrounding them.
The end result of the project’s findings which ran over eight months - including across summer and winter months - was that the surface temperature of the ‘green roof’ was consistently much lower, ultimately up to 20°C cooler than the non-green roof during summer. Over the course of the project, this meant the green roof’s panels were on average 3.6% more efficient than the non-green roof's panels.
Additionally, the presence of greenery on the rooftops also increased animal biodiversity. It's of course true two big buildings in a CBD are going to present a very different environment overall in comparison to some other buildings elsewhere, so someone expecting to replicate a like-for-like construction or the great results from this study elsewhere should take pause. Nonetheless, these findings illustrate that greening up a rooftop really can be beneficial for solar power, and in fact, there are many reasons beyond it going green up top can be brilliant.
Unique Designs for Unique Needs
Obviously many Australians across their lives find themselves having to deal with possums scurrying around their rooftops - so it’s understandable few may wish for an increase in biodiversity above their heads! But the reality is the UTS project is illustrative of the potential for rooftops to be better-utilised going forward, in a way that’s beneficial not only for the building and those who reside in it, but for the wider ecosystem surrounding it. So such a move doesn’t benefit only one type of animal, but the wider environment as a whole.
Yet for anyone who did have concerns about wildlife, it’s worth underscoring different residences could of course pursue different designs. Using unique designs that take into account features a resident wishes to add (like a more eco-friendly space) while factoring in aspects a resident wishes to avoid (such as by selecting plants that are not attractive to possums).
The Importance of Seeking Insight
While the idea of a rooftop solar system and rooftop garden sharing a similar space is an exciting idea, it’s important for anyone interested in doing so to make some initial enquiries before officially starting down this path. For instance, to check in with a trusted solar installer and their local council. It may also be necessary to have a discussion with an architect depending on what is specifically desired to bring a rooftop garden vision into being. This is because there would not only be safety considerations to factor in, but also potential hurdles around regulations and design to clear.
In turn, though some homes - such as as an inner suburb townhouse - may already have the existing conditions in place to easily create a rooftop garden - and in effect just need to perhaps rearrange some outdoor furniture to free up the necessary space for the installation of some greenery - in other instances depending on the design envisioned, it may be necessary for some substantial works to occur to the home before a rooftop garden could be created.
Enhancing Existing Space Beyond the Rooftop
Looking to utilise a rooftop in a new way is great, but it’s also worth remembering there are often opportunities to further develop the residence and/or land elsewhere too. The yard is always the ideal starting point. Even if there is an existing garden there already, adding more plants will be beneficial to the overall vitality of the garden, and the surrounding environment.
Alongside the yard(s), exploring what options are available for the installation of vertical gardens around the outside of the residence(s) is also worthwhile. Mounted hanging gardens are not only attractive, but if put in place all around the home’s walls they can actually help cool the home significantly during the hotter months of the year.
Combining Inspiration and Action
A rooftop that combines solar power and greenery is certainly an interesting idea. Ultimately, for many Australians, such a design may serve more as an inspiration than a clear-cut blueprint to follow if they’ve got a classic tiled roof and little scope to change it. This said, in such circumstances, it’s worthwhile considering what alternative options could perhaps be pursued.
Even if this requires some adjustment to an initial vision - such as by placing a rooftop solar system above, and then installing hanging gardens around the outside walls of a home - such a move would still represent major progress when it comes to providing a residence with a renewable energy source, and a more eco-friendly design. And progress like this in any form is always worth pursuing, as it can make a home cleaner, greener, smarter, and even more enjoyable to reside in.
Solar Trust Centre Team
