Carbon Sequestration Potential of Extensive Green Roofs

Two studies were conducted with the objective of quantifying the carbon storage potential of extensive green roofs. The first was performed on eight roofs in Michigan and four roofs in Maryland, ranging from 1 to 6 years in age. All 12 green roofs were composed primarily of Sedum species, and substrate depths ranged from 2.5 to 12.7 cm. Aboveground plant material was harvested in the fall of 2006. On average, these roofs stored 162 g C·m−2 in aboveground biomass. The second study was conducted on a roof in East Lansing, MI. Twenty plots were established on 21 April 2007 with a substrate depth of 6.0 cm. In addition to a substrate only control, the other plots were sown with a single species of Sedum (S. acre, S. album, S. kamtshaticum, or S. spurium). Species and substrate depth represent typical extensive green roofs in the United States. Plant material and substrate were harvested seven times across two growing seasons. Results at the end of the second year showed that aboveground plant material storage varied by species, ranging from 64 g C·m−2 (S. acre) to 239 g C·m−2 (S. album), with an average of 168 g C·m−2. Belowground biomass ranged from 37 g C·m−2 (S. acre) to 185 g C·m−2 (S. kamtschaticum) and averaged 107 g C·m−2. Substrate carbon content averaged 913 g C·m−2, with no species effect, which represents a sequestration rate of 100 g C·m−2 over the 2 years of this study. The entire extensive green roof system sequestered 375 g C·m−2 in above- and belowground biomass and substrate organic matter.