I would be very interested in research into using grey water to irrigate green roofs in arid climates (clearly a process with two main benefits). Any chance you could make it happen? If you could simulate a frost-free environment, I anticipate that a mix of aloe vera subspecies would work well; they tolerate drought but will take water when it is there, survive in minimal volumes of substrate, breed rapidly and could be harvested every few years.
My cousin just did one. It was actually first developed here in the US as a science experiment to save a very critically endangered butterfly from extinction. It worked-the whole roof was done with the butterfly's primary food source, cut short by habitat loss. We need to get people within Monarch migration zones to plant milkweed roofs. No toxic herbicides or pesticides up on these roofs, to traffic to contend with, and put them up high enough, most bug eating birds aren't interested.
Wouldn't it be cool if roads and/or sidewalks and pathways could be surfaced with solar panals, the sides of all buildings covered with vertical gardens and then the roof covered in plants as well? It would provide energy, biodiversity, aesthetic beauty, curb pollution, and suck up the loud city noises all at the same time! It would also be amazing to have "bridges" from one rooftop to another so the gardens could be connected and create a rooftop park.
I would be very interested in research into using grey water to irrigate green roofs in arid climates (clearly a process with two main benefits). Any chance you could make it happen? If you could simulate a frost-free environment, I anticipate that a mix of aloe vera subspecies would work well; they tolerate drought but will take water when it is there, survive in minimal volumes of substrate, breed rapidly and could be harvested every few years.
Sheffield seems to be the the Green Roof Centre of the UK - Let's hope that more cities in Britain will catch up :-)
My cousin just did one. It was actually first developed here in the US as a science experiment to save a very critically endangered butterfly from extinction. It worked-the whole roof was done with the butterfly's primary food source, cut short by habitat loss. We need to get people within Monarch migration zones to plant milkweed roofs. No toxic herbicides or pesticides up on these roofs, to traffic to contend with, and put them up high enough, most bug eating birds aren't interested.
Wouldn't it be cool if roads and/or sidewalks and pathways could be surfaced with solar panals, the sides of all buildings covered with vertical gardens and then the roof covered in plants as well? It would provide energy, biodiversity, aesthetic beauty, curb pollution, and suck up the loud city noises all at the same time! It would also be amazing to have "bridges" from one rooftop to another so the gardens could be connected and create a rooftop park.
I love living in this city. It's the greenest city in Europe apparently. TREES EVERYWHERE. FLY MY PRETTIES.
Predictions need to be over-done with this technology.