High-performance green roof

Delivering excellence in sustainability and innovation, Daramu House is a multi-award winning project with a photovoltaic solar array and Junglefy biodiversity roof.

Testing a long-held theory that a green roof could enhance the energy efficiency of solar panels, a research study began with the adjacent, near-identical International House and Daramu House. Funded by the City of Sydney’s Innovation Grant, the research collaboration with Lendlease, the University of Technology Sydney and Junglefy was developed to validate this query and prove the positive impact of a green roof on urban heat, biodiversity, storm water mitigation and carbon dioxide reduction.

International House was fitted with photovoltaic solar panels and Daramu House included the same solar array with the addition of the green roof. The green roof paired with the solar panels worked symbiotically – the plants cool the surrounding area, allowing the solar panels to function at their optimum efficiency and the solar panels provide shade for the plants to proliferate. The inclusion of the biodiversity habitat is an industry-first innovation, creating a habitat and food source for pollinators where previously, they would not exist is this urban environment.