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?

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.