ANALYZING POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF GREEN ROOFS IN FUTURE GROWTH SCENARIOS IN NEW HANOVER COUNTY

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2017-12

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ABSTRACT: Green roofs are gaining popularity in different parts of the world. This paper examines green roofs as a stormwater runoff management best management practice (BMP). Future growth scenarios, provided by New Hanover County’s long-term plan are likely to include a large increase in impervious surfaces. With the county being relatively small and already heavily developed, open space is at a premium. Traditional BMPs such as retention ponds require a large geographic footprint which is expensive, reduces buildable area, and requires significant land-disturbing activities which increases the risk for negative environmental impacts. The analysis was done by taking 2010 census data that included population, housing units, and jobs, and extrapolating these variables for three separate growth scenarios. The results were entered in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Impervious Surface Growth Model to estimate the amount of impervious surface associated with each growth scenario. Rainfall volumes on the future impervious surface areas were calculated for a typical 30 minute, 1.5 inch rainfall event (a 1-year frequency storm for the area). Three different retention capacities were used in the analysis based on previous published studies. The analysis found that stormwater runoff volumes captured by green roofs could potentially have a significant impact on future stormwater planning for new development by replacing or reducing the footprint of traditional BMPs, saving money and space.

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green roofs, stormwater runoff management, Impervious Surface Growth Model, New Hanover County

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