How Green Roofs Can Help Cities | NPR

We took a field trip to the largest green roof in New York City. Then we imagined what the city could be like if all of its roof space was green.

Note: A previous version of this video incorrectly thanked the Audubon Society. We meant to thank the NYC Audubon Society.

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[popov]

I am so happy that this video exists. I studied green roofs and their benefits for my honour project and everything said in here is scientifically accurate. It makes me hopeful, especially the energy saving potential it gives. Keep it up NPR, I am rooting for you and this project!

[DougGrinbergs]

Stats: $3M saved, 7 million gallons storm water absorbed, 26% less energy used, 6°F cooler, 25 bird species, 300, 000 bees. NYC est. 1B sq ft roofs. Asphalt roof temp as high as 170° vs. green roof 80°.

[corvus]

yesss. why haven't we covered every roof in grass years ago!?

[TylerSimonds]

Yeah they do! So much unclaimed potential. Thanks for this great video showcasing the net benefits of a green roof. We live in an exciting time.

[valentia]

There’s also the benefits of food security, hands-on learning for children, air and water pollution mitigation, carbon sequestration, stress relief/ mental sanctuaries for people, and an opportunity to bring communities together.

[standardannonymousguy]

Thank you for sharing. Michael Legit nailed it at 2:44 when he mentioned Ed that many green spaces are "unconnected" to other green spaces which means that pollination is drastically more difficult.

[jpkeogh]

I live in Ireland and the government has let parts of parks grow wild to help insects travel instead of cutting down weeds. It helps them survive and helps insects like bees pollinate a lot easier 😎 definitely onto something with the green roofs !!

[mekkerzegtdekoe]

I love greenroofs. As a water engineering student I would love to work and build all those greenroofs. :)

[strandekgrpsystems]

Green roofs are more popular for us as a flat roofing business.
Customers benefit not only from aesthetics, but better insulaton (and reduced energy bills) too!

[andreaberryman]

My cousin in Britain just did a green roof. I wonder why people aren't getting incentives/funding for this. We need hundreds of rooftops of milkweed. I know it has been done already for one butterfly nearly knocked out from habitat loss. We have a very serious problem with accepting wildlife. All those "creepy crawlies". ☹

[sandrabeltrao]

Amazing video! Well done! Green roofs provide so many urban benefits yet six years on, NYC is no closer to this beautiful vision outlined in this film. Wondering what it would take to make it a reality. Perhaps a follow-up video? Thank you.

[Qce-id]

What is most exciting about a project like this is the opportunity to get creative in making new ecosystems. Experimenting with combinations of plant communities that haven't been found together in nature before.

[RooferNews]

Green roofs are getting more popular. The Science Times just released some new research about green roofing.

[iritnaymark]

This is so cool! every piece of green could help. Besides the huge environmental benefit, it would create a positive impact on people's day to day life style for sure.

[HaoSci]

YES! Thanks a lot for making a video about Green roofs.

[RyanGuill]

Are there structural changes necessary for most green roofs? the weight of the soil, plants and especially holding the water that was initially designed to just run off seems significant.

[swedishpsychopath]

Thank you to Norway for inventing the green roofs back when Vikingry started in Norway 1000's of years ago.

[eskcmxp]

Very informational and helpful! Thank you NPR😁♥️

[kadinzaofelune]

I read the article on disadvantages to green roofs. I just want to leave two points. As far as homes in the States, make sure you have engineered for the additional weight and that the contractor knows how to correctly build a flat roof. P.S. They aren't actually flat. The last point is more and more insurance companies are doing drone surveys and cancelling your homeowners policy if they don't like what they see. So we as a community of green citizens need to make sure we are supporting legislation that keeps this from happening.

[patraisaiah]

Thank you for sharing this with us I am from India I am desperate to know how we reduce temperature inside the building I am searching in the net for the methods I love my home town but there is 49 degree Celsius in summer so we visit only during winter's and himudity is 80 percent can I get any solution for all these situations