Which Green are you?

I just read a piece by Susan Yeravich, former assistant director for public programs at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, where she pointed out that historian Michael Barkun observed:

..with the confluence of interests between the extreme right and the extreme left of the political spectrum... it was getting hard to tell the difference between the Survivalist Environmentals and the Environmental Survivalists. 

It was with that juxtaposition in mind that I considered a story in the October 2009 issue of Dwell Magazine called Highly Sod After, highlighting the advantages and design appeal of a (real) green roof.

In typical Dwell fashion (don't get me wrong, I love them), the writer focused on the aesthetic eco elements of having grass and soil cover the roof of a home. I couldn't help but wonder what the Survivalist Environmentalists might see as the benefits.

The full spectrum of reasons to consider a green roof for your home - from far left to moderate to far right. Which are you?

• There may be a decreased need for healthcare services and medication due to the benefits of passive experiences with nature and vegetation
• 16 square feet of uncut grass produces the same amount of oxygen a single person breathes each year. The same amount will also remove 4.4 pounds of airborne pollution.
• Homeowners might be eligible for credits toward greenhouse gas trading credits
• Homeowners might also be eligible for tax credits and/or grants to help with construction or upgrades
• A green roof with 8 inches of soil can decrease interior sound levels by about 50 decibels
• A green roof can retain heat in the winter and cool in the summer and lead to a savings of about 25% on utility bills. This may also allow for smaller HVAC units to be installed in homes
• There is a unique aesthetic appeal to a green roof. It also increases the amount of land available for recreation and entertaining
• The average life of a green roof is 50 years - 5 times a traditional asphalt roof
• Depending on depth of the soil, up to 90% of rainwater can be absorbed following a storm which can decrease runoff and flooding in the area
• Patents are on file for products claiming soil, when packed properly at a depth of 18 inches, can protect occupants from an explosion the equivalent of a 155mm artillery round or a highspeed bullet from a rifle. 
• Just 3.6 inches of packed soil will reduce penetration of gamma radiation in fallout following a nuclear explosion by 50%. If 3 feet of soil is used reduction is increased by a factor of 1024. 

Take these facts and figures with a grain of salt and be sure to do your own homework before digging your own bunker - or eco-cave - whichever you decide to call it.

So, which green are you? Does it matter? Anyway you look at it, there's a chance to find an intersection at Renewable, Reliable and Remarkable

Thanks to GreenRoofs.org for many of the factoids above