Live roof at St. Elizabeth Hospital

APPLETON - An area hospital received a new energy efficient green roof Wednesday that is actually green.

It's called a "live roof" and it's the second such roof to be built at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton.

Plants are installed to help block the sun and keep the building cool, while also limiting rain run off.

However, officials say the design is also to provide a nice window view for those in the hospital.

"Spring will be one color, summer will be another color and fall will be a third color, and we actually have some ways and certain different patterns designed in the roof structure in the roof itself,” said Todd Paider, project manager with Boldt Company.

Officials say the roof was built with extra supports to hold the weight of the plants and snow in winter.

CLARIFICATION: Not all roofs with plants may be called a LIVEROOF®, although this roof was a LIVEROOF® product.