Green Roof Drought 2011 New York Times

April 22 2011 12 53 pm kate galbraith grass at the city hall in midland tex may not fare as well under outdoor watering restrictions issued because of a severe drought.

Green roof drought 2011 new york times.

Inspired by a summer of relentless heat and drought designers in austin tex are using native prairie grass to create landscapes that thrive in even the worst of conditions. The same year san francisco began requiring that 15 to 30 percent of roof space on new buildings incorporate solar panels green roofs or both. Grant blankenship for the new york times ranchers whose grass was killed by drought cannot afford to sustain cattle with hay or other feed which is also climbing in price. According to a new york study green surfaces would substantially reduce the city s heat island effects.

Find breaking news multimedia reviews opinion on washington business sports movies travel books jobs education real estate cars. New york city s sewers are. More recently the new york city council passed a. These assemblies offer numerous potential benefits from absorbing rainwater runoff and providing insulation to mitigating the urban heat island effect and providing greenspace.

As its name suggests a vegetated or green roof includes shallow rooted plant material that can withstand extreme climatic conditions atop buildings. The upside of landscaping your roof is well documented. By john collins rudolf february 25 2011 2 56 pm rising global temperatures resulting from emissions of human origin could tip the southwestern united states into a period of prolonged extreme. The new york times.

The major obstacle to the spread of green roofs is the initial cost which can be anywhere from 15 to 35 per square foot some two to three times the cost of a non green roof.