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Researchers compared the energy output on two neighbouring roofs.
(ABC News: Ursula Malone) |
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Key Points
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The answer, as it turned out, was yes.
The study was led by Peter Irga from the University of Technology Sydney and funded by the City of Sydney Council.
"For the first time we had the opportunity to compare these two buildings against each other," Dr Irga said.
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Solar panels on the green roof at Daramu House produced 3.6 per
cent more electricity than those on a neighbouring rooftop.
(ABC NEWS: Ursula Malone) |
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On hot days, surface temperatures were up to 20 degrees lower on
the green roof compared with the standard solar roof.
(Supplied: University of Technology, Sydney.) |
What they found was that the "green roof" improved performance by as much as 20 per cent at peak times and by 3.6 per cent over the length of the experiment.
Dr Irga said that solar panels actually worked better when they were not too hot.
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On the green roof plants helped keep the solar panels at optimum
temperatures.
(ABC NEWS: Ursula Malone) |
Jock Gammon is the co-founder of Junglefy, the company that installed the green roof.
"We had heard of anecdotal evidence there was improved performance but we have seen up to 3.6 per cent increase in solar panel output," he said.
"Now that doesn't sound like a lot but with solar panels at the moment to even get a one or two per cent increase is a big deal."
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Jock Gammon, co-founder of Junglefy, said green roofs can help
future-proof cities.
(ABC News: Ursula Malone) |
The extra energy could be sold back to the grid resulting in a cost saving for the building.
Lucy Sharman, sustainability manager for Lendlease, which owns the building said the study proved "something that's been a bit of theory for a while".
"As the results started to come through about how much more efficient the solar panels were, how much cooler this roof was that was really exciting."
On hot days, the surface temperature on the green roof was up to 20C lower compared with the roof with no plants.
Mr Gammon said green roofs had a role to play in future-proofing cities against the damaging effects of climate change.
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Lucy Sharman, Sustainability manager at Lendlease, on the green
roof at Barangaroo.
(ABC NEWS: Ursula Malone)
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As well as cooling the building, the green roof absorbed almost nine tonnes of greenhouse gases.
During storms, the plants soaked up heavy rain, reducing the amount of storm water run-off and decreasing the risk of flash flooding.
"We're looking at 600 litres per second sequestered into the green roof as opposed to going into the system," Dr Irga said.
For those involved in the study, one of the most exciting outcomes was the increase in biodiversity in the heart of the city.
In just a few months, the rooftop has attracted a wide range of insects, birds and native bees.
"Very quickly the wildlife up here was amazing," Ms Sharman said.
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Motion sensor cameras captured images of birds visiting the
rooftop.
(Supplied: University of Technology Sydney.) |
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Researchers captured images of birds on the green roof.
(Supplied: University of Technology Sydney) |
"To attract any animals that high up in the middle of the CBD is quite astounding," Dr Irga said.
In the cities of the future, green roofs could also provide valuable outdoor space for humans.
"Particularly in the middle of lockdown, we are really craving green and open spaces and there are lots of little nooks and crannies in cities that are not being used," Ms Sharman said.
Links
- (AU The Guardian) Solar Power In Australia Outstrips Coal-Fired Electricity For First Time
- (New Yorker) Renewable Energy Is Suddenly Startlingly Cheap
- (Carbon Tracker) The Sky’s The Limit: Solar And Wind Energy Potential Is 100 Times As Much As Global Energy Demand
- Solar Technology: The Us And China Look To Australian Innovators For Solutions
- (AU) Victoria Pledges $797m For Australia's Biggest Household Energy Efficiency Drive
- How Energy Efficiency Will Reshape Power Markets
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