As part of Beijing’s preparation for a “Blue Sky Olympics” the Green Rooftop project is actually one of the least costly measures being taken to reduce pollution in the city, yet offers some truly tangible benefits. Similar projects are in place in most major cities in the world, and are actually nothing new. Some good ideas just take a while to catch on!
Earthpledge has rolled out a simlilar initiative in New York City. Private building owners benefit from green rooftops through reduced heating and cooling costs, increased property values, protection and longer lifecycle of roofing materials, sound insulation, and even food production. Public benefits include reduction of the Urban Heat Island Effect, storm water retention, improved air quality and energy conservation. The pollinators of the city rejoice as well, an important benefit as bee populations along with other pollinator populations have been decimated over the last twenty years.
Read the whole article here.
[tags] green, rooftop, energy, conservation, air, quality, pollution, beijing, new, york [/tags]
