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Two Birds, One Stone: Green Roof Gardening in the City
https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2019/05/01/green-roof-gardening-new-york-city/Two Birds, One Stone: Green Roof Gardening in the City
by Guest Blogger|May 1, 2019
By Nabilah Islam
I’m a New York native, born and raised in Ozone Park, Queens. My family has a decent amount of space in our small backyard to grow fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, chili peppers, squash and cucumbers are just a few items we grow each summer. The garden saves us money during grocery trips, helps us eat healthier, and also adds a little more greenery and fresh air to the city.
Most New Yorkers don’t have a backyard, though, especially in the more densely populated neighborhoods. Physical space is so scarce, it’s imperative to make use of the little space that is available to us. And it turns out there’s a lot of space if you just look up.
The city has over 40,000 acres of rooftop space available for green roofs. The benefits of green roofs are extensive, including improving air quality and nutritional health. We’re at an interesting time where awareness of climate issues and desire for healthier eating habits are at an all-time high. In some ways, these concerns go hand-in-hand and so can their solutions.
According to C40 Cities, cities account for over 70 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Some research suggests that green roofs could be one way to cut some of those emissions through offsetting the output from buildings, cars, and intense human activity. A 2009 study done by scientists from Michigan State University found that installing green roofs over an area the size of Detroit could sequester 55,000 tons of carbon. That’s equivalent to taking roughly 12,000 cars off the road each year.
…
by Guest Blogger|May 1, 2019
By Nabilah Islam
I’m a New York native, born and raised in Ozone Park, Queens. My family has a decent amount of space in our small backyard to grow fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, chili peppers, squash and cucumbers are just a few items we grow each summer. The garden saves us money during grocery trips, helps us eat healthier, and also adds a little more greenery and fresh air to the city.
Most New Yorkers don’t have a backyard, though, especially in the more densely populated neighborhoods. Physical space is so scarce, it’s imperative to make use of the little space that is available to us. And it turns out there’s a lot of space if you just look up.
The city has over 40,000 acres of rooftop space available for green roofs. The benefits of green roofs are extensive, including improving air quality and nutritional health. We’re at an interesting time where awareness of climate issues and desire for healthier eating habits are at an all-time high. In some ways, these concerns go hand-in-hand and so can their solutions.
Green roofs add some color to lower Manhattan Photo: Alyson Hurt/Flickr
According to C40 Cities, cities account for over 70 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Some research suggests that green roofs could be one way to cut some of those emissions through offsetting the output from buildings, cars, and intense human activity. A 2009 study done by scientists from Michigan State University found that installing green roofs over an area the size of Detroit could sequester 55,000 tons of carbon. That’s equivalent to taking roughly 12,000 cars off the road each year.
…
