In class, I have been studying different types of green roofs. this week we read an article about the growth and benefits of rooftop farms and gardens in Chicago. This article relates to what I'm learning because rooftop gardens and farms are excellent examples of green roofs. It is important to learn about these topics so we can be properly informed while designing our own homes, whether for a project or real life, as well as generally understanding what may well be the future of agriculture.Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC), an organization that promotes green roofs, has decided to target the city of Chicago for development for a number of reasons. One reason is that Chicago was already known for its green development and rooftop gardens, so the organization had a start to work from. Another reason is that there were already green organizations reaching out to the city and they could be even more successful in their green developments by forming partnerships. These reasons, among others, were deciding factors in GRHC’s choice of Chicago.
The phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island Effect describes how an urban area is warmer than a rural one. It is caused by a variety of factors, including lack of vegetation that would otherwise filter and cool the air, artificial materials and vibrant colors that absorb and radiate heat, and the exhaust from our cars and factories. The Urban Heat Island Effect affects humans by amplifying the amount of energy we need to cool our buildings, which in turn has a significant effect on our economy and by increasing health hazards such as heatstroke. It also affects the environment as a whole, since the increased need of energy uses up resources and the overall increase in heat contributes to global warming.
Albedo is the amount of light or radiation reflected by a surface. The albedo of a surface ranges from 0 to 1, 0 representing a surface that absorbs all the light that reaches it while 1 represents a surface that reflects all the light that reaches it. Albedo affects communities in relation to the Urban Heat Effect - a rooftop or wall with lower albedo will absorb heat, contributing to a warmer urban area, while a surface with higher albedo will reflect it. So, if as a builder and/or consumer you are designing or choosing the roof of your house, it makes sense to consider the albedo of the surface material you choose.
A rooftop farm is pretty much what it sounds like - a green way to grow food on your roof. There are many benefits to having them, such as much greater efficiency in food production, opportunity for city-dwellers to reconnect with nature and agriculture, and reduced seasonal limitations. Because of these reasons, rooftop farms are becoming more and more popular. Overall, rooftop gardens and farms and a firm understanding of how the Urban Heat Effect and the concept of albedo affect these green rooftops is a great way to learn how to improve the green quality of the home you're buying or designing.
