ELT Easy Green™
Green Roof Systems
How Can We Help You?
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. What are the benefits of green roofs?
A. There are so many benefits that can be felt with green roofs. The following are just a few examples: Green roofs conserve energy by insulating the building envelope, reducing the need for heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. They also extend a roof’s life, create biodiversity conservation opportunities, and absorb and filter storm water, which reduces local water body pollution and helps prevent the overwhelming of municipal stormwater infrastructure. Green roofs also filter air particulates, improving air quality and help to reduce the urban heat island effect (UHI). For more information please visit our “Green Roof Benefits” page.
Q. What is the weight of ELT Easy Green?
A. At our shallowest depth (approximately 1.5 inches) and fully saturated, the system is no more than 8lbs per square foot. As you increase the substrate depth to add different plant species, the weight will also increase.
Q. What plants do you use?
A. ELT uses a variety of sedum, and other native plants which flower throughout the year. Sedum are chosen for their drought tolerance and hardiness and vary depending on the climate and the type of project. Native plants are very helpful to habitat restoration efforts, as most native plants provide food for our local birds and butterflies. There is no limit to the plants that can be grown on the ELT Easy Green™ system the factor that will effect your choices are your climate zone, irrigation supply, budget, exposure, and load bearing capacity. Our talented designers can help you choose the plants that are right for you.
Q. What are the maintenance requirements?
A. Pre-grown ELT Easy Green™ requires almost no maintenance as the plants are fully mature and hardy upon delivery. Although most sedum and other properly selected perennials can survive an extended period without irrigation, ELT recommends a simple soaker hose irrigation system be installed as a fail-safe, providing moisture if required. This is included in the ELT Easy Green™ system quotation. Beyond this, a visual inspection by the owner or client a few times a year to check for tree saplings and other foreign plants is all that is required.
Q. What is the cost of an ELT Easy Green™ Roof?
A. ELT Easy Green can be purchased for as low as $6 per sf plus the cost of installation, which varies for each project’s size and detail. A typical quote will include propagation into the panels, delivery, installation and maintenance. You can fill out an online form to receive your free green roof quotation today at www.eltgreenroofs.com/contactus.html
Q. How far in advance should I order my green roof?
A. The further you plan ahead the better. Depending on where you live, the length of your growing season, along with other variables play an important role in determining the success of your green roof installation. As we custom plant your panels with the plant species that are the hardiest for your area we may require 6-12 months of grow time. After discussing your details with our project managers, ELT can outline the time lines needed for your green roof installation.
Q. Is my roof more likely to leak with a green roof on it?
A. This is one of the most misunderstood issues surrounding green roofing. With a high quality waterproof membrane (not shingles), your roof is extremely well protected against leaks and it’s been shown that adding a green roof can actually more than double the life of your membrane. This is possible because the roof is protected from damaging UV rays as well as the constant heating and cooling cycles which cause expansion and contraction leading to cracks in your membrane over time. Not to mention the cushioning that a green roof provides against hail and falling debris that could otherwise damage your waterproofing.
Q. What is the maximum slope that you can install a green roof on?
A. We recommend using Pre-grown ELT Easy Green™ roof panels on slopes up to 30 degrees. The pre-grown panels have plants that are already rooted into the hemp bio-blanket which holds the growth medium in place as well as the plants. ELT has just released our ELT Easy Green™ Living Wall system that is intended for steep slopes and vertical wall applications. Now there is no slope that cannot be greened with ELT Easy Green™! For more information on the living wall visit www.eltlivingwalls.com
Q. What happens to my green roof in the winter?
A. This depends on your location and the plants selected. The majority of sedum are evergreen and will turn a shade of maroon in the winter but will then return to their green colour as soon as spring appears. Some grasses will go dormant and look brown all winter but then will regenerate from the centre of the plant, turning green again after the first few warm spring rains.
Q. How is ELT Easy Green™ affected by wind uplift?
A. Each project is unique presenting different wind uplift problems in different locations. After a wind analysis of the building is done to see high wind uplift areas, a fastening plan can be designed. This may be as simple as additional ballast in the form of river rock or paving stones around the perimeter or could even involve point loading deeper depths of substrate over beams or columns. All of these solutions can be custom designed to create a beautiful planted berm or paver edge detail that will both resist wind uplift as well as contribute to the overall aesthetics on the roof. For sloped and flat roofs without parapets there are a variety of mechanical fasteners that can be implemented around the perimeter that provide a nice clean edge but also securely fasten the green roof to the structure, all without impeding drainage off the edge.
Q. Are there funding options available for my green roof?
A. Unfortunately there are far too few funding options available for green roofs and living walls. We have assembled a fairly comprehensive list of funding that is available in North America on our website at www.eltgreenroofs.com/greenroofs-funding.html . This list is by no means the only funds available. We recommend asking your local municipality and local environmental stewardship groups to see if there are any other sources that have recently become available in your area.
Q. Tell me about ELT?
A. ELT is based in Brantford Ontario with representatives across North America and in several other Countries around the world. We specialize in living, sustainable building technologies like green roofs and living walls. The company began six years ago and for the first years, we consulted on and installed other proprietary green roof systems. In doing this we were able to identify reoccurring hurdles in the green roof industry – flexibility, cost, and weight. We designed our green roof system to address these issues, providing the end user with maximum benefits in the most cost effective manner possible. ELT has since developed a living wall system to deal with the barriers associated with steep slope and vertical applications. We will be adding more similar “green” technologies in the near future… so stay in touch!
Q. Can I install ELT Easy Green on my own?
A. We have recently developed a Do It Yourself Green Roof system with either pre-grown or plant-in-place panels. We will be offering this to customers in the form of a custom green roof kit. You will need to supply us with the dimensions of your roof and we will provide you with all the different components you need to make it green!
Q. How can I become a certified installer of ELT Easy Green?
A. ELT has begun training our ELT Certified Installers and Growers at our training facility in Brantford, ON. To register to become either an ELT Certified Grower or Installer you must fill out our application form online at: www.eltgreenroofs.com/agentform.php
Q. Can I grow trees and bushes and roses and vegetables in my green roof?
A. If your roof can support the added weight of the soil and plants when fully saturated and fully grown, then yes. More times than anything the load limit of a structure is what determines what plants can be grown on the roof. If the building is a new construction then these larger loads can be designed into the structure from the beginning allowing for more planting options.
Q. How long does it take to install my green roof?
A. Most residential projects can be installed within a few days. Most commercial installations can take up to one week due to generally larger roof sizes. The installation process with the ELT Easy Green™ roof system makes for one of the quickest installations available. Installation time will depend on size and detail of project.
Have a question you would like answered Ask Us!
