The University of Central Arkansas has installed a green roof atop Laney Hall on the school’s Conway campus.
The university says that about 2,000 square feet of sedum, a drought-tolerant plant material, has been planted on the roof of the three-story building, which houses the chemistry department. Laney Hall was selected because it can support the weight of a green roof.
Larry Lawrence, the university’s physical plant director, says the school is using the installation as a test to see how a green roof functions and what benefits it provides. A green roof protects a roof’s membrane, and the soil acts as insulation and saves energy. A green roof also slows water runoff, which enables drainage systems to better handle rainwater and stormwater.
