The researchers found that the green roofs could absorb up to 375 grams of CO2 per square meter over a two-year period. Converted, this means that a city with one million inhabitants that replaces the roof tile with grass, gets rid of as much CO2 as 10,000 large cars of the SUV type, emit in a whole year.
To date, turf roofs are very uncommon in the rest of the world and the construction industry in other countries has little knowledge of the special Norwegian building customs. Norwegian producers of turf roofs are now an important competence resource in the American research work.
- Turf roofs attract dust, absorb precipitation and insulate well against noise and cold. All this is good for the environment, says Sandbeklien, who believes that the climate effect of turf roofs will be greatest in the cities. Grass also has a cooling effect.
The insulation effect should also not be underestimated, seen from a climate perspective. An overview from the International Energy Agency shows that 40 percent of the world's energy consumption goes to heating and cooling buildings.