Blue roofs are making inroads in areas where controlling the rate at which storm water is released is an important issue, according to an article from Building Operating Management on the FacilitiesNet website.
A blue roof is designed to capture and temporarily store rainwater, then release it at a controlled rate, similar in operation to conventional storm water ponds. They are ideal for use on buildings with flat or low slope roofs, particularly in urban areas.
When integrated with a green roof design, the blue roof can serve as a source of water for irrigation of the roof’s vegetation.
Solar panels are another option that have been used for several decades. Improvements in panel efficiencies and manufacturing techniques have reduced their cost sufficiently to make them cost effective in many rooftop applications.