GREEN ROOFS

After a very mild winter, spring is just around the corner here in NYC. Yesterday's weather was sunny and warm, and I spent several hours tidying up our backyard garden. We're lucky enough to have an outdoor space to call our own, but most New Yorkers don't have access to this nicety. However, many NY residents do have roof access. A green roof in NY is not only aesthetically pleasing, it can be a tremendous ecologically benefit.

Green roofs help to assimilate large amounts of rainwater, absorb air pollution, and reduce the "heat-island effect," in which cities remain hotter than the surrounding countryside. According to the EPA - "On hot summer days, the surface temperature of a vegetated rooftop can be cooler than the air temperature, whereas the surface of a traditional rooftop can be up to 90°F (50°C) warmer."

Green roofs have long been a staple in Newfoundland, the Faroe Islands, and various places in the North, where the heating and cooling benefits are a welcome addition to any home. Chicago and Atlanta are current pioneers in green roofs in the U.S. Chicago city hall claims a massive green roof. Anyone who's spent a sweltering summer in NYC can attest to the necessity of these green canopies. Read a nice green roof summary at Ecogeek.