2007-06-23 09:00:09 · 8 answers · asked by lirette80 1 in Environment ➔ Global Warming
I think this is the start of a gem of an idea.
The caveats are of course the ability of the roof to support the weight of vegetation, and who is going to care for the plants in such a hostile environment. And that tall plants would be a wind load, and the needed maintenance on the roof now and again needs to be considered...cannot be hard-to-move plantings.
I might suggest perhaps pots or planters of lower spreading evergreens, and the installation of a drip watering system like Israel has in the desert regions.
Could be a good way to fight the CO2 of the city, some of the dust, and keep the building cooler a bit, easing the A/C load.
Weight might limit the use on older buildings, but each little bit of greenery will remove some pollution from the air around.
Look up the data, write a proposal, and test it. Keep records of before and after CO2 levels, building A/C loads, and costs for the water and other maintenance needed to keep the plants healthy.
Good idea...now go implement it and prove theory in practice.
And keep thinking.
2007-06-23 11:52:58 · answer #1 · answered by looey323 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rooftop gardens have been in existence since the beginning of agriculture, since John Q. Cro-magnon found a mushroom growing on the roof of his cave.
Sure you can. The rooftop probably has six inches of gravel on it now for drainage. Covering the entire roof with soil would likely be too expensive rather than too heavy, but I don't see where a few 8'X8' plots of tomatoes and a few natural grasses would hurt, other than lugging them up to the roof. Check with building management to see if it is okay ... there may be issues of safety that don't permit plants over a certain size because if a strong wind blew them off the roof of a highrise they could seriously injure someone. And there may also be bylaws that prevent it in your area for the same or other reasons.
2007-06-23 10:42:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, although the effects are not huge. The main factor is that the building requires less energy for air conditioning. People are starting to do this everywhere. More info here:
http://www.epa.gov/hiri/strategies/greenroofs.html
Google "green roof" for much more.
2007-06-23 09:06:37 · answer #3 · answered by Bob 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No. A better approach would be to paint the roof white. Would reflect light/heat.
2007-06-24 08:43:53 · answer #4 · answered by jdkilp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have dirt on your roof you can plant anything you want,But i dont know if it will help with global warming.
2007-06-23 09:03:47 · answer #5 · answered by shawn63385 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Might help but very little. Better choice: stop destroying the rain forests, stop carbon pollution.
2007-06-23 10:44:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nah, it'd get too heavy and the roof would fall in. Why not try solar panels?
2007-06-23 09:06:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
yes they help with oxygen
2007-06-23 09:41:52 · answer #8 · answered by william h 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋