No matter what your living situation is, you can make your surrounding more green. You may recycle, use CFCs and compost but have thought that actually growing plants on your roof is too much work. However, anybody can do this by making a few changes. See if you're a canidate by reading the requirements and how to get started.
By building and maintaining healthy green roofs and walls you not only are adding to the aesthetic appeal of your house, you are also reducing the amount of energy your house uses. A green roof helps to keep air from escaping: keeping it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Green roofs and walls provide a layer of insulation and protection for your home that is as beautiful as it is helpful.
How to Do It Yourself:
Before purchasing any materials for your green roof or walls, you need to determine whether or not your home is structurally capable of holding up the additional weight of dirt, gravel, water and plants. Unfortunately, you cannot simply dump a lot of dirt on your roof, smooth it out and add some plants. Irrigation and draining measures need to be taken into account.
There are a few different ways you can go about finding out if your house is capable of supporting a green roof and walls. You can hire a house inspector, in most cases they can let you know if your house is able to support any extra weight. Another option is to contact a green roof and wall specialist, they can let you know what options are available depending upon your structure, budget and desires. The final option is to assume that your house cannot support any extra weight and build a casing around your house solely to support the green roof and walls.