How do climate and geography affect green roof performance?
Extensive green roofs were originally developed, tested and evaluated in the temperate climate of western Europe, which is typified by warm summers with frequent rains and cold winters. Eastern North America shares a relatively similar climate, if somewhat more extreme. The climate of the Pacific North-West, however, is dramatically different from both of these regions. Here, our summers are hot and dry, and our winters mild and wet. In Vancouver and within the greater Georgia Basin and Puget Sound bioregion (ranging from Whistler in the north to Puget Sound in the south), population growth is yielding problematic runoff issues and unsustainable rates of energy consumption. In 1960 the region was home to 2.6 million people living and working in an area connected by sea, rivers, forest and mountains. By 1996, the population had risen to over 6 million, and by 2020 there may be an additional 3 to 5 million people. Fortunately, people are beginning to recognize that green roof technology
