definition
strict definition
green roof
An extensive area of live planting covering most of a building's roof plane as an environmental feature.
A green roof is an extensive area on top of a building which is planted with live plants. The idea is to improve a building's impact on the environment by mitigating solar heat reflection, reducing rainwater runoff, and reintroducing oxygen-generating plant life that was often removed for construction of the first building on the site.
The planting covers most of the roof plane rather than consisting only of a few isolated pots. The defining surface is on top of the building.
A green wall applies the planting feature to a facade. A green-colored roof without live plants does not establish a green roof.
