3 Game-Changing Green Roofs in Oklahoma

The replacement of traditional roofing styles with green roofs offers multiple benefits to the environment. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, green roofs with vegetation provide insulation, which reduces the energy needed to heat and cool, help cut greenhouse gases, and filter stormwater runoff, which eliminates pollutants from the environment. Along with solar roofs, which have the potential to power entire buildings, green roofs are gaining momentum in building construction. When it comes to environmentally-friendly building toppers, though, there are a few green roofs Oklahoma that truly inspire.

University of Oklahoma Research

The green roof on the University of Oklahoma’s research campus building was unveiled on Earth Day 2010 as part of the National Weather Center’s outdoor classroom. According to the University of Oklahoma’s Office of Sustainability, the roof is a joint project of the School of Meteorology and the College of Architecture, and consists of 1,290 square feet of greenery planted in roof trays.

Unsurprisingly, the green roof at OU was created for research purposes, making it one of the most important green roofs in the state. Factors university researchers hope to study include plant performance, radiation levels, and effects of roof planting on building lighting. At study’s end, they intend to move the green roof to a permanent location, using the best practices they determine during the study for maximum cooling efficiency, practices that can then be shared with other area organizations.

Chesapeake Energy’s “Central Park”

Sitting atop an on-site parking garage, Chesapeake Energy’s green roof is notable for both its size and utility. With 75,000 square feet of Patriot Bermuda grass cover, the rooftop park was designed as a space in which to play intramural sports games or hold concerts, but, more commonly, simply provides a serene space where company employees can relax and soak up the sun on their lunch breaks.

Delaware Nation Government Buildings

Though they don’t sport the vibrant colors of the University of Oklahoma or Chesapeake Energy’s roofs, the solar roofs of the Delaware Nation are certainly eco-green. The roofs, installed on two of the nation’s government buildings, are only one step in an overall push toward sustainable energy for the tribe. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Delaware Nation’s Going Green Initiative is an effort to both preserve their heritage, with respect toward the land and sustainability, and to create jobs in a region dealing with high unemployment rates.

Expected to save the Delaware Nation up to $20,000 in energy costs each year, the buildings are set to serve as precursors to a full technology park that the tribe hopes will bring energy and conservation businesses to the area.

The best green roofs aren’t always green. White reflective roofing, solar panels and vegetation all have the capability of providing energy-conservation and efficiency in their own ways. Some of Oklahoma’s most notable organizations and businesses have picked up the mantle of green building with roofs that set high standards in the industry. While these building projects may be beyond the scope of the average consumer, they do provide a an ideal of what could be if the entire world jumped onboard the green roof drive.