Week 2 Green Roof

Green roofs are the most effective ways to improve the ratio of green space and help to change the landscape in the air. Moreover, green roof also can protect the ecological, regulate climate, clean air, reduce the room temperature, noise and urban heat island effect, save water and energy. In addition, green roof not only have great environmental benefits but also have economic impact.

(Source: Google image, 2016)

Environmental benefits

•    Improving the ecological environment, and increasing the green area

With the speed of urban development, urban land use is more compact and green area in the city is more precious. Green roof is the best measure to meet the requirements of urban greening.

•    Reducing the heat island effect

Heat island effect refers to the urban temperatures significantly higher than temperatures in outlying suburbs. Heat island effect could lead to serious air pollution. The sun reflectivity of green roof is stronger than the cement roof. Moreover, green roof’s net radiation of heat is much smaller than the common roof. Therefore, green roof get less heat from the air and alleviate heat island effect effectively.

•   Storing rainwater

Green roofs can reduce the loss of the roof rainwater to the original 1/3, and 2/3 storage on the roof, and then gradually spread into the atmosphere through evaporation, which can adjust the urban climate.

Reference List:

Wang, Y. and Chen, Y. (2013). Research on Urban Green Roof Technology. AMM, 312, pp.853-856.