In St. Paul, Penfield added a vegetated roof over a conventional membrane; monitoring found the green-roof membrane peaked about 51°F cooler than the conventional roof

Research reveals that green roofs maintain lower temperatures compared to conventional roofs, leading to significant reductions in cooling costs for buildings. The dark surfaces in urban settings contribute to intense heat accumulation, which intensifies the urban heat island effect. As predictions indicate a rise in heat-related fatalities in future years, green roofs emerge as a promising thermodynamic strategy to combat elevated temperatures and soaring energy costs.