“With our climate getting warmer gardeners will be playing an even more important part in helping reduce the effects of climate change.Getting planting right in urban spaces, which as we all know can be very limited, is particularly important and can have a major effect in not only helping reduce urban temperatures but will also provide other environmental benefits.”
This was one of the conclusions at at the World Green Roof Congress held in London this week. At this intriguing event a paper was presented by researchers from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Reading that clearly demonstrated the role that roof and wall vegetation can play in reducing summer-time air temperatures.
The study showed the importance of roof and wall vegetation in decreasing summer-time air temperatures and in counteracting urban heat island effects. They achieve this by cooling surrounding areas through evapo-transpiration, a plant’s equivalent to sweating.
“Green roofs are not just about looking good,” said Dr Blanusa. “There is much more interest recently in providing additional ecological and economic functions such as regulating internal building temperatures. But this research emphasises the potential in helping reducing air temperatures. If only every building had a green roof and a green wall.”
http://www.worldgreenroofcongress.com/day1-programme.html
http://press.rhs.org.uk/RHS-Science-and-Advice/Press-releases/Green-Roof-Substrate-Research.aspx
Sun, Oct 3, 2010
Climate Change Gardening, Roof Gardens