Green roof in conventional buildings: comparative study in a municipality in the Southwest of Minas Gerais

Abstract

With the development of cities, it is possible to see the lack of green space in urban centers, therefore, new sustainable techniques are being applied, such as green roofs. Sustainable roofs have the same function as conventional ones, but more than that, they help fight heat islands, retain water, reduce noise pollution, among other advantages. In this work, spreadsheets were developed that present an estimate of the actual cost of implantation of each type of roof, being possible to verify which one is more viable, listing its advantages and disadvantages. Due to several factors, the installation cost of a green roof is more expensive, but the various advantages it has should be taken into account, such as: help to combat heat islands, water retention and reduction of noise pollution. One of the reasons that makes the cost of this technique higher is the demand, since, as it is still low, there are few specialized companies in the field, which reduces competition. Some cities in Brazil have already included the use of green roofs in municipal laws, but their use is still not widespread, so public policies and incentives for their use must be developed, seeking to make the environment and urban growth compatible.