A home with a lush green roof

Whilst most of us see modern green roofs are a relatively new phenomenon. However, green roofs have been around for centuries. The modern trend started when green roofs were developed in Germany in the 1960s. A number of European Countries have very active associations promoting green roofs for houses, including Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Sweden, the UK, and Greece. Many subsidise the costs of installing green roofs as it is seen as a great way to manage storm water runoff.

Whilst it’s not technically a house as such, one of the most successful green roofs (and one of the very first) in Australia is Parliament House in Canberra. The original reason for the design for the green roof was to preserve the shape of the hill on which it was built. What a great way to promote green roofs. Now lets roll out an initiate for houses to follow suit.

The Japanese government has introduced policies requiring green roofs to be installed on 20 per cent of all flat surfaces. Perhaps in Australia there is just a general lack of understanding about how to do green roofs well in this country, compared to overseas. But none the less, we have more to gain by using them.