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Green Roofs Sprout Good Things

IMAGINE A ROOFTOP PARTY THAT FEELS AND LOOKS JUST LIKE A BACKYARD BARBEQUE. IT’S POSSIBLE WITH GREEN ROOFS SPROUTING IN CITIES AROUND THE WORLD, SAVING MONEY AND HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT. LEARN MORE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.  

PICTURE A ROOF WITH SOIL-GROWING FLOWERS AND A SOFT GREEN LAWN. GREEN ROOFS LIKE THIS HAVE ONLY RECENTLY TAKEN  HOLD IN THE U.S., BUT THE IDEA BEGAN OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO IN GERMANY, WHERE THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN FIFTY SQUARE MILES OF GREEN ROOFTOP.   

THE BENEFITS ARE IMMENSE. GREEN ROOFS HELP INSULATE FROM BOTH HOT AND COLD TEMPERATURES, KEEPING COSTS DOWN.  THEY FILTER AIR AND ABSORB RAINWATER, RELIEVING OVERWORKED SEWERS WHILE PROVIDING A RELAXING SPACE FOR RETREAT.  IN BEIJING, HUNDREDS OF GREEN ROOFED BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN LINKED TOGETHER TO COLLECT WATER AND ALLEVIATE DROUGHT.  WITH GREEN ROOFTOPS IN THE U.S. UP EIGHTY PERCENT LAST YEAR, EXPECT TO SEE MORE GARDENS CROPPING UP ON ROOFTOPS EVERYWHERE.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

To learn more, visit Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.