• On G-SKY Sedum Green Roofs smaller than 300m² (3,229ft²), it is not necessary
to install an automated drip irrigation system. However, during periods of
no rainfall in the summer of more than 2 weeks, the Green Roof requires a thorough
watering by hand.
• If the above statement, "A Green Roof must be irrigated once every 2 weeks
without rainfall", cannot be performed by watering by hand, then an automated drip
irrigation system should be installed.
• On G-SKY Sedum Green Roofs larger than 300m² (3,229ft²), the ability to
water such a large area by hand is limited and costly, and therefore it is recommended
that an automated drip irrigation system is installed.
• When planting plants from our G-SKY Grand Plant list (other than sedums),
it is recommended that an automated drip irrigation be installed appropriate for
those plants water requirements.
• There are often customers who want to water their personal gardens by themselves
for the personal enjoyment of it. In these cases, the only time when we recommend
an automated irrigation system is when the customer may take long trips or extended
vacations away from the garden therefore requiring that their garden be watered
while they are away.
• In public gardens, automated irrigation is almost always required.
• Sky Gardens with decorative trees, annuals and choice perennials generally
require a complete irrigation system that operates 3~7 times a week during the summer
depending on your local climate and plants selected. Autumn, winter
and spring conditions vary drastically throughout North America and therefore irrigation
will be required 0~3 times a week depending on the area.
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Subterranean Irrigation Hose
Irrigation Controller Box
Drainage Point |
Economic Advantages of Automated Drip Irrigation
A water-efficient drip irrigation system costs only approximately
4~5% of the initial capital cost of the Green Roof system. During summers
of excessive drought, even on small Green Roofs, the cost of having maintenance
personnel water by hand will easily exceed this initial capital cost in a single
summer. Therefore, it is highly recommended that a water-efficient drip irrigation
system be installed with every G-SKY Extensive Green Roof system in order to protect
your investment and reduce your life-cycle costs.
Green Roof Energy Savings
A "dry" Green Roof provides "little to no" energy savings for a building. The insulation efficiency of "dry-soil" is low. However, when
soil is kept sufficiently moist, thermal heat transfer through the Green Roof system
is consumed by active plant transpiration and evaporation. Therefore, if energy
savings is one of the goals of your Green Roof project, it is required that a drip
irrigation system with a moisture sensor be installed. For more information
on Green Roof energy savings and how to calculate your energy savings, please visit
the Thermal Insulation page.
Choosing an Irrigation System
Subterranean drip irrigation is the most water-efficient irrigation method due to almost
no surface evaporation water loss. It is therefore recommended on projects where
water usage is a concern that a subterranean drip
GR Techline CV system be used.
Efficiency of various irrigation methods:
Subsurface drip with moisture sensor - 95%; Timed Subsurface drip – 90%; Timed Surface drip irrigation – 80%; Soaker Hose: 70~75%;
Large rotors – 70%; Small rotors – 65%; Spray heads - 50%; Watering By Hand 30~50%
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