Renewable energy is an important objective that all sectors, such as engineering and architecture, must take into account during all phases of production and construction of products and buildings, in order to achieve sustainable development at a human, economic, social and environmental level. In fact, to face the challenges of climate change and ensure a cleaner and more sustainable future, it is necessary to adopt innovative approaches applied to sustainable energy, in order to revolutionize existing logics and reduce the negative impact on the environment and human health. The present research aims to provide an overview of the materials currently on the market, non-toxic and with remarkable eco-friendly characteristics, which are used in the redevelopment of existing buildings, in particular for the construction of green roofs. These multifunctional structures are becoming more widespread thanks to their positive thermal effects on the urban environment, as they make it possible to reduce both energy consumption and polluting emissions from heating and/or cooling of homes.