Sustainability Research Institute

Green Roof Aggregates

PROJECT SUMMARY

Overlooked and undervalued, the hard surfaces of buildings offer opportunities, benefits and ways of reusing lost space for reducing resource waste and improving biodiversity, microclimates, urban aesthetics and greenspace for communities. Extensive and intensive greenroofs are increasingly being included in new-build projects and retrofitted to existing buildings as a means of achieving these benefits.

The Environmental Research Group (ERG) and the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) have developed an inter-school collaboration to establish UEL as a centre of excellence in the emerging field of greenroof design. Through this collaboration and an established Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with national statutory agencies and London-based SMEs, a gap in the market in terms of sector need has been recognised. Challenge Funding – has supported the enhancement of existing UEL expertise and infrastructure, enabling the ERG and SRI to address this market need by establishing a greenroof aggregates test centre.

Objectives achieved:

With advances in understanding of greenroof dynamics, their value in supporting sustainable development is becoming increasingly recognised. This is reflected in the embedding of greenroofs in regional and national planning policy:

• The Greater London Authority London Plan 2008: Living Roofs Policy;
• Environment Agency Greenroof Toolkit;
• Code for Sustainable Homes & BREEAM.

With policy requiring the incorporation of greenroofs on major new developments in London and legislation for sustainable housing developments, demand for greenroofs is increasing exponentially. With market expansion comes a need for associated regulatory infrastructure with regards to standards for greenroof design. A shortfall in regulatory supply has been identified in the testing of aggregates for greenroof systems.  In answer to this  market demand, UEL have developed a  greenroof aggregates test centre. 

A KTP based on the ERG’s ecological and SRI’s engineering expertise has aligned UEL with the national greenroof organisation Livingroofs.org and a host of national and local statutory agencies, SMEs and engineering companies involved in greenroof policy and design. This KTP has identified a need for a London-based greenroof aggregates test centre.

UEL has aimed to provide through this testing:

• support the development of commercially viable greenroof products for use by London-based and national SMEs;
• promote recycled aggregates as greenroof substrates;
• consolidate UEL’s marketable expertise and reputation as a centre of excellence for greenroof design;
• Support student work-based learning by providing equipment and experience of the practical and commercial application of scientific research through graduate KTPs;

• support the development of industrial standards for greenroof products.

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© 2010