Pilot 7: Germany – UFZ – Green Roof

The UFZ research green roof platform in Germany focuses on assessing the performance metrics of blue-green infrastructure for modeling and dimensioning. Although typically not designed as treatment systems, water quality of overflows from green roofs were assessed as well. The pilot aimed to evaluate the potential for reuse of rainwater for irrigation water.

Co-benefits monitored included a wide range of indicators such as building management and protection, health and social impacts, air quality improvement, climate adaptation and mitigation, water resources management, and ecosystem services. The pilot faced challenges due to its design prioritizing biodiversity and rainwater retention over water harvesting, which limited the number of samples available for analysis.

Despite these challenges, the green roof pilot provided valuable insights into the multifunctional benefits of green roofs beyond water treatment. The findings highlight the importance of considering multiple co-benefits when designing and implementing green roof systems.

The insights gained from the UFZ green roof pilot contribute to the broader understanding of blue-green infrastructure and its role in urban water management. These findings inform future implementations of similar systems, emphasizing the need to balance biodiversity, stormwater management, and water reuse potential. Read more.