NexSens Provides Solution for Green Roof Monitoring Project

Green Roof Installation

NexSens Technology was recently asked to provide a weather, soil, and water monitoring solution for a Green Roof installation project in Pittsburgh, Penn. The Green Roof was part of 28 innovative green projects throughout Pennsylvania funded by a state Department of Environmental Protection grant.

The green roof was located atop the CCI Center and consists of a four inch layer of fully vegetated green roof with a public walkway, solar panel for domestic hot water solar powered system; a rain barrel to capture storm water runoff; and real-time monitoring equipment to analyze the benefits of green roof implementation.

A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil, or a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. The popularity of green roofs continues to grow as organizations realize the benefits of implementation. Benefits come in the form of ecological (eco-friendly), economic (cost-saving), aesthetic (visual appeal), and psychological (enhanced quality of life).

Sensors are strategically placed on the roof to help quantify the reduced amount of stormwater runoff from the green roof implementation. A weather sensor measures the amount of precipitation falling; soil moisture sensors provide an indication of the amount of rainfall being absorbed by the soil; and the water level sensor is used to quantify the amount of water running into the roof drain.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, researchers have estimated that three to five inches of soil, as part of a green roof, will absorb up to 75% of rain events that are one-half inch or less.

For more information on the latest in environmental data logging and software technology, contact Paul Nieberding at 937.426.2703.