Melbourne Uni undertakes green roof study

• From Melbourne University MediaResearchers at the University of Melbourne’s Burnley campus are examining the suitability of Australian native plants in green roofs; shallow rooftop gardens which are becoming increasingly popular internationally for their

environmental and energy saving benefits.

“Green roofs have amazing potential but have not yet been evaluated under Australian climatic conditions. We will be examining the suitability of selected native plants for green roofs by measuring their survival, growth rate and response to drought stress” said project leader Dr Nick Williams, Lecturer at the University of Melbourne’s Burnley campus.

“We will establish an experimental green roof and monitor its effect on roof temperatures and the building energy budget by comparing it to an otherwise identical control roof” said Mr John Rayner, Lecturer at the University of Melbourne’s Burnley campus.

“Green roof plants used overseas are typically from arid, mountainous or
coastal environments. Plants need to be robust and low in height so they
don’t get blown off the roof, have good drought tolerance, like exposure to
full sun and are easily maintained.”

“We have selected a range of Australian and exotic species to trial that meet
these criteria including herbs and grasses that grow in the native
grasslands west of Melbourne and succulents from arid inland regions.”

This research will be used to provide information to architects, landscape
designers and public policy makers who wish to install green roofs suitable for Australian conditions and objectively evaluate the For more information: