Green Roof Impact Heat Islands

Smart surfaces have also been shown to make infrastructure cooler and more resilient.

Green roof impact heat islands.

The first is evapotranspiration which is the process of using heat in the air to evaporate water in plants and soil. Researchers attributed this to the increasing issue of urban heat islands which in turn increased the severity of heat waves in city areas. Extreme heat events often affect our most vulnerable populations first. A green roof or rooftop garden is a vegetative layer grown on a rooftop.

Green roofs provide shade remove heat from the air and reduce temperatures of the roof surface and surrounding air. Green roofs and the urban heat island effect green roofs like other green spaces in cities can have a positive effect on the uhie. Plants and soils evaporate moisture. This evapotranspiration cools the air around the building.

Green roofs combat the urban heat island effect through three fundamental functions. Using green roofs in cities or other built environments with limited vegetation can moderate the heat island effect particularly during the day. Trees green roofs and vegetation can help reduce urban heat island effects by shading building surfaces deflecting radiation from the sun and releasing moisture into the atmosphere. Green roofs repainting dark surfaces and increased tree planting can all help lower temperatures in summer months.