Green Rooftops for Sustainable Development
When you look at how much green and permeable space is taken away as we develop more and more, there are ways to help curb that impact hopefully give back with the buildings that stand. According to a recent study in Portland Oregon, there are approximately 12,500 acres of rooftops in the city itself. Think about all that can be done up there!!! Between gardens, garden landscaping, flowers, even small trees, we can help to give back some of the space we took away in the first place. Sure birds are the most likely animal to access the space, but through the oxygen being put out by the plants and trees and the potential harvesting, there are many benefits that can potentially directly affect us in a positive way.
There are still a lot of things to be learned about building and maintaining a successful rooftop green space. Since no plants naturally grow there, it is challenge to find what is necessary for success. Not to mention that each roof will have it’s own criteria for success. The 100 story building will shadow the 30 story building down the street, and will have other different climate variables such as wind, elevation, etc. Each rooftop will have different building features on it as well, such as chimneys and type of roofing material, all that will make each one special, unique, and require individual attention for success. Load-bearing capacities is also a factor that is unique to each roof.
One of the great parts about having a garden up above almost all else is that when it rains, all of it will hit the the green space. Also, rainwater can be collected in a larger unit and dripped onto the plants all day. There are simply so many variables and exciting, but challenging, opportunities for these green spaces on top of roofs. But this definitely moves us forward in creating greener spaces for ourselves, air, the plants that will live there, and long-term environmental health.