Optimize Stormwater Management and Water Reuse with Blue Roofs
Discover how our blue roof solutions help manage rainfall impact effectively, promoting sustainability, conservation, and urban resilience.
Beneficial Approach to Stormwater Management
Innovative Blue Roof Technology
Blue roofs are designed to detain stormwater, especially during heavy rainfall, reducing peak runoff and alleviating pressure on urban drainage systems. These roofs temporarily store water which is then slowly released, minimizing flood risks and promoting water reuse. The stored water can also be used for flushing toilets, process rinse water, and other applications customized for your facility.
Customized Blue Roof Designs
Tailored to fit the specific needs of your infrastructure, our blue roof solutions incorporate materials and designs that optimize space and functionality. Whether retrofitting existing buildings or integrating into new constructions, our designs ensure maximum efficiency and aesthetic appeal.
Enhanced Urban Resilience
Our Blue Roof installations contribute to making urban areas more resilient against climate-related challenges. By managing stormwater effectively, these systems help maintain the integrity of building drainage systems and infrastructure during severe weather events. They also provide water reuse opportunities and energy savings for building owners.
Blue Roofs: Sustainability and Affordability
Enviro-Stewards’ innovative Affordable Smart Blue Roof (ASBR) system offers key climate adaptation benefits, including flood prevention and significant reductions in stormwater infrastructure expenses. Additionally, it supports water reuse and energy conservation efforts. As the risk of flooding escalates due to climate change—along with related insurance costs—the ASBR plays a crucial role. It effectively stores water on the roof to moderate the flow of stormwater into municipal systems. Equipped with intelligent features, the ASBR can autonomously manage drainage rates, maintain specific water volumes, and initiate emergency flushes to prepare for incoming storms, thanks to its integrated weather station, temperature probes, flow meters, and other advanced components.
The ASBR also enhances energy efficiency by using the stored water to cool buildings during hot weather, thereby reducing HVAC loading. Moreover, the system is designed to treat and store water for reuse; at the Enviro-Stewards office, for example, treated rainwater (filtered and UV purified) is utilized for flushing toilets. This system can be particularly beneficial in industrial settings, where the naturally soft rainwater can be reused for cleaning purposes, eliminating the need for water softening.
This system exemplifies Enviro-Stewards’ commitment to delivering holistic, cost-effective, and practical solutions to contemporary environmental challenges.
Enviro-Stewards’ innovative ASBR provides climate adaptation advantages such as flood prevention and reduced stormwater infrastructure costs, as well as water reuse and energy conservation.
Given the increasing risk of flooding due to climate change and the associated insurance costs, an ASBR stores water on the roof to attenuate stormwater flow to municipal stormwater systems. The smart components of the roof can automatically drain the roof at a certain rate, store a predetermined volume of water, and automatically flush the stored water if required to free up capacity (for example if a significant rainstorm is approaching). The integrated weather station, temperature probes, flow meters, and other components round out the smarts behind the system.
Stored water can be retained on the roof to provide thermal benefits by keeping buildings cooler during hot weather (thus reducing HVAC loading) and be treated and stored in a tank for water reuse. At Enviro-Stewards’ office, collected rainwater is treated (filter and UV) and used in our toilets. In addition to domestic use, in an industrial application collected water could be stored and reused for cleaning applications (an added benefit is rainwater is naturally soft, thus it doesn’t require softening).
The ASBR once again demonstrates our holistic approach to providing cost-effective and practical solutions to environmental challenges.
Why Consider a Blue Roof?
Environmental Compliance
Implement lot-level source control of rainwater to reduce stormwater runoff from your property to enhance your stormwater management plan.
Sustainability
Support your sustainability goals by reducing runoff and promoting water conservation.
Cost Savings
Minimize water-related damage and reduce the need for expensive drainage systems. Take advantage of emerging stormwater credit programs.
What You Can Expect by Making Your Business More Sustainable with Enviro-Stewards
- Comprehensive assessments for water and energy efficiency, water conservation, food loss & waste prevention, and decarbonization, among others.
- Implementation of customized solutions quantified in the assessment phase.
- Continuous monitoring and optimization of implemented solutions
- Education and training for staff on sustainability practices
Contact us to learn more about how an ASBR can benefit your building
Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Roofs?
A blue roof is a type of roof designed to temporarily hold water during a rainstorm, which helps mitigate peak flow rates into drainage systems, reducing the risk of flooding.
Key benefits include enhanced stormwater management, reduced flood risk, and improved urban resilience against climate impacts. Additionally, the stored water provides evaporative cooling to the building (saving energy) and can be used to offset potable water consumption in the facility.
By managing rainwater onsite, Blue Roofs reduce runoff and pollutants entering water bodies and can help in reusing stormwater for non-potable purposes.
While highly beneficial for urban and industrial settings, Blue Roof design can be adapted to various types of buildings depending on structural capacity and local climate conditions. A large, flat roof– typical of industrial facilities–is ideal.
Regular maintenance includes inspecting and cleaning drain outlets, and ensuring the roof’s water detention capability is not compromised.