What’s Growing on That Guy’s Roof?
As presented in this short and entertaining video, there are many things to like about “green roofs,” i.e., roofs on which plants grow, a few bennies of which include:
• Storing carbon
• Providing a habitat for birds and insects
• Slowing down storm run-off
• Insulating the buildings, reducing HVAC costs
• Growing local food
I can’t think of another tool we can implement to improve the quality of our environment that carries five completely independent benefits; this may be unique in that regard. That’s why cities like Denver, San Francisco and Chicago have passed laws that mandate this solution for buildings over a certain size.
I disagree with the mandate, because the roof could easily do more net environmental good (especially in Denver) with solar panels on the roof… and I strongly suspect that the panels would be cheaper.
I do think that green roofs should be subsidized, just as solar panels are subsidized, and may the better roof solution win.
😉
But I suspect that most flat roofs would do better with solar panels than with gardens.
Of course, if you live in a region where it is extremely improbable that you would ever face high winds, you could put raised solar panels above the roof with garden boxes growing shade-friendly plants underneath the panels… But that’s really going extreme.
🙂
Craig,
The ‘ Urban Canopy’ movement is definitely growing in some cities around the world. The City of London green roof initiative was started by Boris Johnson when he was Mayor.
Melbourne, Australia a city already famous for it’s vast network of extensive parks and gardens, created the ” Green Our City Strategic Action Plan 2017-2021″ with subsidies and initiatives for commercial buildings.
The City of Melbourne has a very active ‘Canopy Green Roof Forum’ with volunteers meet and exhibit sustainable roof and building ideas.
There’s even a roof gardening service, sponsored by the Victorian and Australian Government to help with maintaining urban roof gardens.
[https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/building-and-development/sustainable-building/Pages/cool-roofs.aspx]
Cool.
Thank you for that, Marcopolo. That is an interesting and factual addition to the conversation, that many of us (certainly including me) did not know about and find interesting.
For the record, I think green canopy roofs are neat and a positive step, I just object to the mandate in places with great solar resources.