ALL ABOUT ROOFTOP GARDENS

ALL ABOUT ROOFTOP GARDENS

Theresa is on her lunch break. There are wonderful bushes, trees and flowers around her. There is even an orange butterfly flying around. Is she at a park? Definitely not. She is on the roof of the City Hall. “Even though it’s the center of the town, it’s not very noisy, and it’s relaxing,” she says. “I feel as if I am in a park when I’m sitting out here.” Rooftop gardens are not only made so that the buildings look better. They are also a part of the building green movement across the country. Supporters say that building green has become popular because energy conservation is beneficial for the planet. (1)..... By building a green building companies can save millions of dollars in time. They reduce electricity and heating bills. How do rooftop gardens help us protect the nature? The plants on green roofs absorbs the heat during the day. (2).....  The average temperature in city centers is usually hotter than other parts of the city. People who work in green buildings say that they are grateful for the natural insulation during the summer months. Nowadays architects and engineers need to consider many different things while they are building buildings. For example, architects try to position a building so that the side which gets the most direct sunlight doesn’t have so many windows. They also plant trees in places where the sun hits the building to provide shade and keep the building cool. (3).....  . Larger areas require more heat or air conditioning and more light bulbs. Building green can sometimes cost more. Architect Paulina Calderon designs environmentally friendly schools. (4).....  . It is worth the cost because the planet will last longer if people put more effort into keeping it clean and healthy. “We want to contribute to our environment through our architecture,” she said. “It’s not really that much expensive but what it gives you in return absolutely worth it.”