Planting Your Roof

Filed in archive Edge Technology on September 27, 2006

One of the "newest" environmental technologies that have cropped up in the last decade is the concept of "roof gardens". Is this really a new concept? It isnt. If this sounds familiar, this is because roof gardens made the Hanging Gardens of Babylon distinct and one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World.

The Hanging Gardens appeared back in the 7th century BC in what is now known as Iran. The design of hanging gardens was primarily for aesthetics, but the other users of the this concept, like the Scandinavians and the Germans of the middle ages, used it for practical and highly functional reasons.

Today, there is a resurgence in hanging gardens. It is now called Green Roof Technology. This technology saves a lot of energy, one due to cooling effect and two due to reduction of the Heat Island effect.

This week I will feature some of the notable examples of Green Roof Technology, leading design concepts, and some very impressive roof gardens you can find in densely populated areas. Tune in!