ReverseOsmosis

Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most economical method of removing 90% to 99% of all contaminants. The pore structure of RO membranes is much tighter than UF membranes. RO membranes are capable of rejecting practically all particles, bacteria and organics >300 daltons molecular weight (including pyrogens). In fact, reverse osmosis technology is used by most leading water bottling plants. Natural osmosis occurs when solutions with two different concentrations are separated by a semi-permeable membrane. Osmotic pressure drives water through the membrane; the water dilutes the more concentrated solution; and the end result is an equilibrium. In water purification systems, hydraulic pressure is applied to the concentrated solution to counteract the osmotic pressure. Pure water is driven from the concentrated solution and collected downstream of the membrane. Because RO membranes are very restrictive, they yield slow flow rates. Storage tanks are required to produce an adequate volume in a reasonable amount of time. RO also involves an ionic exclusion process. Only solvent is allowed to pass through the semi-permeable RO membrane, while virtually all ions and Searc dissolved molecules are retained (including salts and sugars). The semih permeable membrane rejects salts (ions) by a charge phenomena action: the greater the charge, the greater the rejection. Therefore, the membrane rejects nearly all (>99%) strongly ionized polyvalent ions but only 95% of the weakly ionized monovalent ions like sodium. Reverse osmosis is highly effective in removing several impurities from water such as total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, asbestos, lead and other toxic heavy metals, radium, and many dissolved organics. The process will also remove chlorinated pesticides and most heavier-weight VOCs. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration are complementary processes. Combining them results in the most effective treatment against the broadest range of water impurities and contaminants. RO is the most economical and efficient method for purifying tap water if the system is properly designed for the feed water conditions and the intended use of the product water. RO is also the optimum pretreatment for reagent-grade water polishing systems. In addition, Reverse osmosis treatment is an insurance policy against nuclear radiation such as radioactive plutonium or strontium in the drinking water. If one lives near a nuclear power plant, this is a key way to ensure the household is drinking the best water for their health.

Table6. ReverseOsmosis Advantages Effectively removes all types of contaminants to some extent (particles, pyrogens, microorganisms, colloids and dissolved inorganics). Requires minimal maintenance. Disadvantages Flow rates are usually limited to a certain gallons/day

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GREEN ROOF INSTALLATION

reen roofs are alternatives to traditional roofing. Basically they are a rooftop garden, mainly conceived to cool buildings and to reduce air conditioning costs.

A Complex Task
Installing a rooftop garden is a complex task. You should consult a landscape architect when selecting the plants, or an engineer or structural architect to analyze the capacity of the roof to support the weight of the green roof. There are several very important questions you should take into accounted, associated with the several green roof layers. Pay attention to the types of plants, or to issues like soil, irrigation and drainage layer, root barrier or waterproof membrane layer.

Types Of Roof Top Gardens

The most common green roofs in the housing sector is the so-called extensive green roofs. They involve a small amount of soil depth (2 to 5 inches) and low ground covers vegetation and grasses; they do not demand large weights, and the demanding maintenance is limited to the first months. But there larger and more ambitious types of green roofs, involving larger amounts of soil depth (one foot minimum), large shrubs and trees, and regular maintenance requirements and complex drainage and irrigation systems. This type of green roofs is characteristic of large buildings, and is commonly called intensive green roofs.

Green Roof Layers

A green roof involves several layers: -vegetation; -soil; -a filter and a waterproofing membrane; -a root barrier; -a drainage and irrigation system... -a roof membrane... And, sometimes... also an insulation layer.

Selecting The Plants For A Green Roof

Pay attention to the plants used in a green roof. They should be noninvasive and native plants. And they should be drought-resistant and wind-resistant. Look for the advice of an expert on this critical issue. During the first months (or even years) the plants may demand special maintenance, and the access to them should be previewed. As expected, the type of plants demands an adequate soil type and depth. When selecting the type of plants and the several layers of a green roof, take into account the slope of the roof (green roofs demand flat roofs or low sloped roofs), the irrigation system, the wind prevalence or the strength of the roof beams.

The Soil Type And Mixture

The soil type and mixture, or its depth, depends on the type of plants. 2 to 5 inches of soil is common, but there are rooftop gardens that demand much more, namely if they involve shrubs or tall plants and trees. To prevent the wind from blowing the soil of a green roof, technicians apply a wind erosion layer: a thin blanket, placed on the top of the soil dirt. Burlap and jute blankets are common (the blankets are usually made of materials that will dissolve after the plants take root).

Irrigation And Drainage Layer

An irrigation-drainage system is critical in a green roof installing. The water shouldnt be allowed to sit on the roof membrane. And that is prevented through a drainage layer, commonly supported by a filter or an egg-crate fabric, installed to driven the water to a drain. Jute and burlap layers are also used to filter the water.

Root Barriers
Some plant roots are extremely aggressive and can penetrate the roof membrane. To prevent it, the green roof should have a well-installed root barrier, commonly made of foil or some adequate plastic material. Root barriers are critical elements on any green roof. An incorrectly installed root barrier will be a source of leaks and related problems.

Waterproof Membranes
Waterproof membranes shouldn't be confused with the irrigation system. They are typical of flat roofs, and include synthetic rubber roofing compounds and other synthetic materials. They are essential to keep water out of homes. Liquid applied asphalt is a common option. When selecting a membrane pay attention to its lifetime and other warranties. A 20-year lifetime is a common warranty.

Insulation Layer
Some green roofs do not use a specific insulation layer. They are by themselves a piece and an extremely power one of that insulation. But in some cases, to

get an even higher insulation power, green roofs also include a specific insulation layer, usually based on a rigid synthetic board foam.
See also:
Cool Roof Basics Roof Coatings Metal and ceramic roofing materials Selecting roofing materials and installers Roofing and environment Roofing and climate Attic insulation Roof and ceiling insulation Reflective insulation Green roofs: Costs, Pros and Cons

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There is no single right way to grow a green roof. There are different roofs with

different needs and varied materials of choice. And as the demand increases, new products keep entering the market. All styles of constructing a green roof involve a number of different layers.
2

Roof structures must be protected. Whether you use an EPDM liner, a metal roofing cover, vinyl sheets or other lining material, the important thing is that moisture is kept above the base roofing and water is drained away efficiently. You can buy whole kits that will contain all the supplies you need, or you can do your research and design your own form of installation. There are companies that are experts in constructing green roofs, too.
3

Drainage will be your next layer as you need to retain enough water for the plants to live, but don't want water just sitting on your roof. You will also need to create a form to hold your soil on the roof, particularly if there is a slant.
4

A third layer will form a breathable layer between the drainage and soil, or substrate. Often made of lightweight polyester geotextile, this layer will keep soil from clogging the drainage. This will work as a filter.

Next will come the soil or substrate. Again, there are new products on the market so you will have choices as to what medium you will use to grow your plants.
6

Finally comes the fun layer of plants. Your choice will depend on your climate and the exposure of the structure. Native plants are usually a good choice as they are adapted to your local temperatures and rainfall. Moss and sod (lawn) are also popular choices, especially on smaller roofs or slanted roofs where regular maintenance will be difficult. Succulents and small cacti would make excellent choices for green roofing, too. Often planting is done in pre-vegetated mats, in specially made blankets or other trays or sheets formulated for the purpose. If you live in a dry climate, irrigation will have to be factored into the design as well.
7

Always make sure your structure is built to handle the added weight of a green roof, or take whatever steps you need to increase the support before constructing one. For more information on how to construct a green roof, please see some of the links below under Resources.

Read more: How to Construct a Green Roof | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4903199_construct-greenroof.html#ixzz1H4T06gHE

How to Install a Green Roof

User-Submitted Article

Green Roof

Green roofs are a great way to cool a building while adding a carbon dioxide magnet to underutilized space. If more of them are installed in our cities, they can have a major impact on storm water management. They can impact global warming by cooling hot cityscapes. For individuals, green roofs serve multiple purposes, from simply working as environmentally friendly insulation to functioning as a vegetable garden or a site for

recreation. Green roofs are not roof gardens. The typical roof garden consists of containerized plants. A green roof is an integrated structure that allows even drainage and more consistent weight distribution across the entire roof.
Difficulty:

Instructions
1. o

Easy

1
Start with a waterproof membrane. This step is essential. Most roofs fail because of water damage. Today there are several waterproof options from asphalt, to sheeting to membranes that go on as a liquid.

2
Add a root barrier. If you use an organic water-proof barrier such as asphalt, you should install an additional layer so that plants won't work their roots through it looking for nutrients. Concrete is one choice. Another is cellular glass which has the additional benefit of acting as a layer of insulation.

3
Put in a drainage layer. A drainage layer is essential to carry away excess water to gutters so that it can be carried away from the roof. Typical drainage layers are made of gravel and pumice. The drainage capacity of your material has to increase closer to the gutters and roof drains.

4
Add a filter fabric The fabric has to be porous enough to allow water to flow down into the drainage area while holding the soil or growing medium in place. Roots will penetrate this layer. Typical materials are polyester or polypropylene.

5
Put in a growing medium. You can use local soil, but this runs the risk of introducing weeds or pathogens. Most green roofs will use a mix of mostly inorganic components like crushed clay or sand with cleaned top soil and humus to supply plant nutrients. The thinner the soil, the harder your plants will have to work. Many experts recommend a soil depth of at least three inches.

6
Install drip irrigation. This is very important for the first year. Drip irrigation will apply water to where it is needed to the roots of the plants. It's more efficient than taking a hose to your roof, using less water, which also means less weight on your roof. Drip irrigation is an easy way to supply fertilizer to your plants to get them started. Ultimately if you've chosen the appropriate plants for your climate, you'll be able to turn off the irrigation system.

Add plants. Be sure to choose the appropriate plants for your local environment. Factors to consider involve tolerance to sun, frost, heat and drought and wind. You want low maintenance. Trees and bushes on your roof can add impact, but even small trees need a soil depth of a couple of feet. Load stress has to be considered, because winds will apply greater pressure to a tree then to grass or flowers.
o

8
Top with a wind blanket. This is a biodegradable mesh like jute that will limit wind erosion while your plants are establishing

A properly designed and installed green roof system can cost 15 to 20 dollars per square foot as a total cost, not including the roof's waterproof layers[40]. In Europe a well-designed and professionally installed fully integrated green roof can cost anywhere between 100 to 200 euros per square meter[citation needed], depending on the kind of roof, the building structure, and which plants are used. Some cost can also be attributed to maintenance. Extensive green roofs have low maintenance requirements but they are generally not maintenance free. German research has quantified the need to remove unwanted seedlings to approximately 0,1 min/(m*year).[41] Maintenance of green roofs often includes fertilization to increase flowering and succulent plant cover. If aesthetics is not an issue, fertilization and maintenance is generally not needed. Extensive green roofs should only be fertilized with controlled release fertilizers in order to avoid pollution of the storm-water. Conventional fertilizers should never be used on extensive vegetated roofs.[42][43] German studies have approximated the nutrient requirement of vegetated roofs to 5gN/m. It is also important to use a substrate that does not contain too much available nutrients. The FLL-guidelines specify maximum allowable nutrient content of substrates. [44]

There are two types of green roofs when it comes right down to it - intensive and extensive roofs. Extensive green roofing is made up of one shallow layer of planting material, making the choice of plants a little trickier. Intensive roofing is made up of either a deeper planting base or several depths, so choosing plants for it becomes more about the fun than the depth. There are six major considerations to keep in mind when you're choosing plants for an extensive green roofing project. Looks Obviously if your roof is pitched so that it is clearly visible to everyone who passes by and has to live across the street from it, you're going to want to choose your plants wisely for your extensive roof. Many plants have periods in which they are dormant, brown instead of green. You can get around this by either choosing only evergreen plants, or by alternating them so that there are always some plants in their active growing stage so that the roof doesn't look splotchy. Design Functionality There are many functions that a green roof can fulfill, and these are also important to consider in your plant choice. If you hate bugs, you'll want plants that don't attract them. If you plan on spending any amount of time on your extensive roof, it may be a good idea to choose ones that are visually appealing and smell nice for your pleasure. Managing water during a storm, fitting in with your other green efforts in your landscaping, and even insulation - all of these can be functions as well, so it is important to think carefully before choosing. Local Environmental Conditions As much as you'd like to choose plants that only look and smell beautiful for aesthetic purposes, it is important to take your environment into consideration before doing so. Discovering your climate zone can be of help here, as well as considering the roof itself. If it points where the plants aren't likely to get much sun, take that into consideration. If your plants are going to need to be resistant to drought because of long rainless periods, keep that in mind. Try asking a local horticulturalist or landscape architect for help with this step. Growing Medium and Soil Blend The material in which you will be placing your plants is also especially important to the types of plants you choose. With extensive green roofs the soil is often quite shallow, which will limit the variety of plants you will choose successfully. Try getting your growing media into a well-drained, light material that can hold onto the nutrients passing through it without being easily eroded away. Shallow soil means there really isn't room for those pesky long-rooted weeds, while also drying out quickly, which needs to be considered as well. Ease of Installation There are several options available to you as you plant and grow your extensive green roofing. Pre-planted trays or mats of some kind are available for purchase directly from a manufacturer, but these are often so pre-made that you cannot really customize your roof as your own idea. You can grow or buy the plants you want to use as plugs and start them when they reach a level of maturity that is conducive to survival. Another option is to start the plants right on your extensive

roof bed from seeds, which can be tricky but very rewarding. Try researching based on your desired plants, as some do not come in plug or tray form, etc. Upkeep This consideration is very important because it is when you have to decide how much work and care you are willing to devote to your extensive green roof project, as your plant choice can have a large effect on your workload. For example, many different types of plants use different amounts of water to thrive, so it may be necessary to use irrigation methods in different sections of the roof in different seasons throughout the year. Grouping plants by their water intake and needs maintenance-wise can be a smart decision to help with this consideration.

Dave Hilary is the owner of Green Roof Plan, a website containing articles and resources on planning, design and maintenance of energy-saving living roofs. On it you can find more tips and strategies on picking green roof plants and more.

Talking about the Chandigarh weather, it can be said that summers are extremely hot and monsoons are highly uncertain. During the monsoon period, sometimes the weather is cool and sometimes very humid. If you are planning a pleasure trip to this city, then the perfect time is between autumn and winters (mid-August to November), when the weather is pleasant. During this period, it is neither too hot, nor too cold and also there is not much of rainfall. Winters are chilling, especially during the late nights and early mornings. Read to know more on Chandigarh climatic conditions: Here are given some fast facts about the weather & climate of Chandigarh: Winter temperature: 4-14C Summer temperature: 37-44C Annual rainfall: around 111.4 cm Monsoon season: July - September Best season to visit: between mid-August to November The flora found here are terrestrial & aquatic plants, major ones being Dalbergia, Prosopis, Albizzia, Ficus, Azolla, Hydrilla, Nelumbo, Typha, Phragmites, Zizyphus Mauritiana, Syzgium cumini, Ipomoea aquatica, Cyprus and Grasses