What goes into green roof construction? How are they different from other roofs? What are their benefits? These are just a few of the questions that Greening up the Roof members set out to answer. As they diligently conducted research, they became interested in the types of soils used in green roof construction. The group decided to test different types of soils to see which was lighter for best construction. Greening up the Roof students took their findings to the Montgomery County Science Fair and did so well there that they were able to move on to the Delaware Valley Science Fair where they won 3 awards for their project!
Although the students were very successful at the science fair, their real passion was to raise awareness of the benefits of green roofing. Greening up the Roof students demonstrated to their classmates and teachers the utility of green roof installation by displaying their findings on soil, educating about the money and energy savings green roofs generate, and showing how green roofs provide habitat and limit runoff harmful to waterways. By the end of the school year students had identified community members that were very interested in green roofing. Greening up the Roof participants are encouraging many of these neighbors to install green roofs themselves.