Rooftop gardens, till some years back have only been known to enhance the aesthetics of the buildings. The concept of these gardens are however very old and dates back as early as mature days of Babylonia. 2700 years old, hanging gardens of Babylonia are excellent examples of roof top gardens. However, till global warming became a worldly affair and people became conscious about how they could reduce negative impacts on environment, these gardens were not popular as a method to sooth the environment.
The rooftop gardens as the name suggests are small trees and shrubs planted above the soil level. It can be either in a terrace or the roof. There are various types of roof top gardens basis their access. If it is accessible then it is known as intensive and if it is not accessible easily then it is known as extensive garden. Special type of porous layer and surfaces are used to install these green areas. Generally, a typical polypropylene-based cellular drainage system is also used ensuring the watering of plants does not hamper the roof and also the water does not go waste.
These gardens whether intensive or extensive are a great way to improve the look of the building. And along with improving the aesthetics these gardens are also benefit the environment in more than one ways. Some of the ways in which these gardens benefit the environment are as follows.
Reduces Heat: Yes! Every bit of vegetation contributes in its own significant ways to alleviate the urban heat. It is widely known that temperature in societies or urban living centers are more than that around the fringes of the city or the urban space. In a way, if you maintain a roof top garden, it reduces the heat of the surrounding and reduces the temperature considerably.
Air Quality: Whether it is shrubs, bushes or small plants, all of them act as air purification channel and therefore a rooftop garden significantly helps in reducing the level of carbon content from the air. It also blocks other types of pollutant contained in the air and purifies the air in a general sense. Though a single rooftop garden could not contribute considerably, but if the society or an urban living space has significant number of rooftop gardens then the air quality does improve considerably.
Stormwater management: At the time of rain, rooftop gardens enjoy their share of rainfall and since they are modeled over a porous structure and have an advanced drainage system attached; therefore, the storm water can be easily collected and managed as a larger part of rain water harvesting. These gardens thereby help collect and store rain water through storm water management procedures.
Energy Savings: As per studies conducted in Tokyo, it has been found that if an urban space or a society has got considerable number of rooftop gardens then these gardens help reduce the temperature of the surroundings. This in turn implies less usage of air conditioners and fans to keep the internal temperature of the buildings to the desired level. And hence, rooftop gardens are also helpful in saving energy and the environment.
The rooftop gardens as the name suggests are small trees and shrubs planted above the soil level. It can be either in a terrace or the roof. There are various types of roof top gardens basis their access. If it is accessible then it is known as intensive and if it is not accessible easily then it is known as extensive garden. Special type of porous layer and surfaces are used to install these green areas. Generally, a typical polypropylene-based cellular drainage system is also used ensuring the watering of plants does not hamper the roof and also the water does not go waste.
These gardens whether intensive or extensive are a great way to improve the look of the building. And along with improving the aesthetics these gardens are also benefit the environment in more than one ways. Some of the ways in which these gardens benefit the environment are as follows.
Reduces Heat: Yes! Every bit of vegetation contributes in its own significant ways to alleviate the urban heat. It is widely known that temperature in societies or urban living centers are more than that around the fringes of the city or the urban space. In a way, if you maintain a roof top garden, it reduces the heat of the surrounding and reduces the temperature considerably.
Air Quality: Whether it is shrubs, bushes or small plants, all of them act as air purification channel and therefore a rooftop garden significantly helps in reducing the level of carbon content from the air. It also blocks other types of pollutant contained in the air and purifies the air in a general sense. Though a single rooftop garden could not contribute considerably, but if the society or an urban living space has significant number of rooftop gardens then the air quality does improve considerably.
Stormwater management: At the time of rain, rooftop gardens enjoy their share of rainfall and since they are modeled over a porous structure and have an advanced drainage system attached; therefore, the storm water can be easily collected and managed as a larger part of rain water harvesting. These gardens thereby help collect and store rain water through storm water management procedures.
Energy Savings: As per studies conducted in Tokyo, it has been found that if an urban space or a society has got considerable number of rooftop gardens then these gardens help reduce the temperature of the surroundings. This in turn implies less usage of air conditioners and fans to keep the internal temperature of the buildings to the desired level. And hence, rooftop gardens are also helpful in saving energy and the environment.
