Preserving biodiversity in an urban environment can be
challenging. Diversity within a species, plant or animal, is a telling factor
of an ecosystems overall level of health. While urbanisation has been somewhat
difficult to control, especially against the cultural norms that prevail in
American society, there are ways that we can begin to make changes to how we
approach urban development.
A “Green Roof” is much like it sounds. It replaces typical
roofing materials with vegetation. On a green roof one will find a variety of
grasses, flowers, shrubs, and soil. If you’re lucky, you may even attract
wildlife who have found a comfortable home high from their predators. The
purpose of the green roof is to provide shade, sustainable cooling to the
building’s inhabitants, and provide a natural landscape that adds to our
environment. Topping our cities roofs with gardens provides additional habitats
for avian life, as well as additional safe resources for pollinating species.
The Environmental Protection Agency has endorsed the usage
of Green Roofs throughout the United States and has written several documents
that outline the benefits and costs of installation. The EPA states that Green
Roofs have been proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also assisting
in removing harmful particulate matter present in our city’s skies. Researches
have estimated that just 1,000 square feet of green roof can eliminate up to 40
lbs per year of particulate matter while also improving the carbon dioxide to
oxygen ratio in our air (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2013).
Despite our ability to create amazing architectural
structures, adding nature back to our designs is also adding to our future. As
long as there are wide open spaces being traded for urban development the trade
off between protecting our economy and protecting our environment will collide.
However, this disagreement doesn’t have to exist in opposition. Science is
finding that we have the ability to at minimum to offset every space that is
taken away by attempting to pay it back. While the the roofs may cost slightly
more up front, they also last 200 times longer than other materials and don’t
degrade, don’t need to be replaced, and don’t require much maintenance. Green
Roofs may actually be a good place to start, and allow this exchange to happen
harmoniously.
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