green roofs essay

Crafting the Perfect Proposal Essay: A Comprehensive Example and Guide

When it comes to academic writing, one of the most compelling and influential forms is the proposal essay. If you've ever wondered how to craft a persuasive proposal essay or why this type of writing is important, you're in the right place. This article will walk you through everything you

When it comes to academic writing, one of the most compelling and influential forms is the proposal essay. If you've ever wondered how to craft a persuasive proposal essay or why this type of writing is important, you're in the right place. This article will walk you through everything you need to know, using "proposal essay example" as our focus keyword to ensure clarity and relevance throughout.

What is a Proposal Essay?

A proposal essay is a type of writing that proposes an idea or solution to a problem and provides evidence to convince the reader why the proposed idea or solution is good or viable. It's a persuasive piece that blends critical thinking with a structured approach to argumentation.

In essence, you're selling your idea. This type of essay can be particularly effective in academic, professional, and personal contexts where proposing a new course of action or a change in policy is necessary.

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Key Elements of a Proposal Essay

Before diving into a proposal essay example, let's break down the key elements that make up this type of essay:

• Introduction : This section sets the stage for your proposal. Here, you present the problem you're addressing and provide some background information to give context. It's also where you clearly state your proposal.
• Problem Statement : Detail the problem you're addressing. Explain why it's important and why the reader should care about it. Use statistics and facts to support your claims.
• Proposal : This is where you introduce your solution. Explain what you're proposing, how it works, and why it's the best option. Be specific and detailed.
• Plan of Action : Outline the steps necessary to implement your proposal. This should include a timeline and any resources required.
• Benefits : Highlight the advantages of your proposal. Explain how it will solve the problem and any additional benefits it might bring.
• Conclusion : Summarize the main points and restate the importance of your proposal. Encourage the reader to support or adopt your proposal.

Writing a Proposal Essay: Step-by-Step Guide

To illustrate how to write a compelling proposal essay, let's go through a step-by-step guide using an example. We'll use "The Benefits of Renewable Energy Adoption" as our proposal essay example.

Introduction

Start with a hook to grab your reader's attention. You could use a startling statistic or a thought-provoking question.

Example : "Did you know that over 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from fossil fuels? As the world grapples with climate change, it's clear that we need a sustainable solution. This proposal essay example will explore the benefits of adopting renewable energy to address this pressing issue."

In your introduction, provide some background information and clearly state your proposal.

Example : "Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. By transitioning to these clean energy sources, we can reduce emissions, create jobs, and promote a healthier environment."

Problem Statement

Explain the problem in detail, using facts and statistics to back up your claims. This helps to establish the significance of the issue.

Example : "The reliance on fossil fuels has led to severe environmental degradation. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), fossil fuel combustion accounted for 31.5 gigatons of CO2 emissions in 2020 alone. This contributes to air pollution, climate change, and health problems, costing economies billions of dollars annually."

Present your solution clearly and concisely. Explain what you're proposing and why it's a viable solution.

Example : "To combat these issues, I propose a nationwide adoption of renewable energy sources. By investing in solar, wind, and hydropower infrastructure, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and foster sustainable development."

Plan of Action

Detail the steps required to implement your proposal. Include a timeline and necessary resources.

Example : "The transition to renewable energy can be achieved through the following steps:

• Investment in Infrastructure : Allocate funds to build solar farms, wind turbines, and hydropower plants.
• Government Incentives : Provide tax credits and subsidies to businesses and households that install renewable energy systems.
• Public Awareness Campaigns : Educate the public on the benefits of renewable energy and how they can contribute.
• Research and Development : Invest in R&D to improve the efficiency and affordability of renewable technologies.

This plan can be rolled out over the next decade, with periodic assessments to ensure progress."

Highlight the advantages of your proposal, using data and examples to support your points.

Example : "Adopting renewable energy will have numerous benefits. Economically, it will create millions of jobs in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. Environmentally, it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, leading to a healthier planet. According to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the U.S. could meet 80% of its electricity needs with renewables by 2050, significantly cutting emissions."

Summarize your main points and restate the importance of your proposal. Encourage the reader to support your idea.

Example : "In conclusion, the transition to renewable energy is not just a necessity for environmental sustainability, but also a significant economic opportunity. By adopting renewable energy sources, we can create jobs, reduce emissions, and ensure a healthier future for generations to come. It's time to embrace a cleaner, greener energy future."

Proposal Essay Example: A Real-World Scenario

Implementing Green Roofs in Urban Areas: A Proposal

Urbanization has led to significant environmental challenges, including increased air pollution, urban heat islands, and a loss of green spaces. As cities continue to grow, finding sustainable solutions to these issues becomes more critical. One innovative and effective approach is the implementation of green roofs. This proposal essay explores the benefits of green roofs, outlines a plan for their installation in urban areas, and argues for their adoption as a standard practice in city planning.

The rapid urbanization of cities around the world has resulted in several environmental problems. The most pressing issues include air pollution, increased temperatures due to the urban heat island effect, and the reduction of natural green spaces. These problems not only degrade the quality of life for city residents but also contribute to broader environmental concerns, such as climate change.

• Air Pollution : Cities are hotspots for air pollution, with vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and construction contributing significantly to poor air quality. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 91% of the world’s population lives in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits.
• Urban Heat Islands : The urban heat island effect causes cities to be significantly warmer than their rural surroundings due to human activities and the prevalence of heat-absorbing materials like concrete and asphalt. This can lead to higher energy consumption for cooling, exacerbating greenhouse gas emissions.
• Loss of Green Spaces : Urban development often comes at the expense of natural habitats, leading to a loss of biodiversity and green spaces that are essential for ecological balance and human well-being. The presence of green spaces in urban areas is associated with numerous benefits, including improved mental health and reduced stress levels.

To address these issues, I propose the widespread implementation of green roofs in urban areas. Green roofs are roofs covered with vegetation and soil, which can be installed on both new and existing buildings. They offer a range of environmental, economic, and social benefits, making them an ideal solution for sustainable urban development.

Key Components of the Proposal :

• Design and Structure : Green roofs consist of several layers, including a waterproof membrane, drainage layer, growing medium, and vegetation. They can be categorized into extensive (lightweight, low-maintenance) and intensive (heavier, more diverse vegetation) types.
• Implementation Plan : The proposal includes a phased implementation plan, starting with pilot projects in key urban areas to demonstrate the benefits of green roofs. This will be followed by incentives and regulations to encourage widespread adoption.
• Funding and Support : The proposal outlines potential funding sources, including government grants, public-private partnerships, and green bonds. It also emphasizes the importance of public awareness campaigns and community involvement.

Benefits of Green Roofs

Green roofs provide numerous advantages that can help mitigate the environmental problems associated with urbanization.

Environmental Benefits

• Improved Air Quality : Green roofs can help reduce air pollution by filtering airborne particles and absorbing pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Plants also produce oxygen through photosynthesis, contributing to cleaner air.
• Temperature Regulation : By providing insulation and reducing heat absorption, green roofs can significantly lower rooftop temperatures and mitigate the urban heat island effect. According to a study by the National Research Council of Canada, green roofs can reduce cooling energy demand by up to 75%.
• Stormwater Management : Green roofs absorb rainwater, reducing runoff and alleviating the burden on urban drainage systems. This helps prevent flooding and reduces the risk of water pollution.
• Biodiversity Enhancement : Green roofs create habitats for various plant and animal species, promoting urban biodiversity. They can support pollinators like bees and butterflies, contributing to the health of urban ecosystems.

Economic Benefits

• Energy Savings : The insulation provided by green roofs reduces the need for heating in winter and cooling in summer, leading to significant energy savings. The U.S. General Services Administration reports that green roofs can reduce energy use by up to 50%.
• Increased Property Value : Buildings with green roofs are often more attractive to buyers and tenants due to their aesthetic appeal and environmental benefits. This can lead to higher property values and rental income.
• Extended Roof Lifespan : Green roofs protect the underlying roofing materials from UV radiation and extreme temperature fluctuations, extending the lifespan of the roof and reducing maintenance costs.

Social Benefits

• Enhanced Well-being : Access to green spaces has been shown to improve mental health and well-being. Green roofs provide urban residents with a connection to nature, which can reduce stress and enhance quality of life.
• Community Engagement : Green roof projects can foster community involvement and education about sustainable practices. They provide opportunities for urban gardening and green space creation in densely populated areas.

The implementation of green roofs in urban areas requires a well-structured plan that includes pilot projects, policy development, and community engagement.

Phase 1: Pilot Projects

• Selection of Sites : Identify key buildings in various urban areas that are suitable for green roof installation. These could include public buildings, schools, commercial properties, and residential complexes.
• Design and Installation : Collaborate with architects, engineers, and landscape designers to develop green roof designs that meet the specific needs of each site. Ensure that installations are carried out by qualified professionals.
• Monitoring and Evaluation : Set up a monitoring system to evaluate the performance of green roofs in terms of temperature regulation, energy savings, air quality improvement, and stormwater management. Collect data to support the expansion of the program.

Phase 2: Policy Development

• Incentives : Develop incentives to encourage property owners and developers to install green roofs. This could include tax breaks, grants, and low-interest loans.
• Regulations : Introduce building codes and regulations that mandate or encourage the inclusion of green roofs in new developments and major renovations. Establish standards for green roof design and maintenance.
• Public Awareness : Launch public awareness campaigns to educate residents, businesses, and policymakers about the benefits of green roofs. Highlight successful pilot projects and share best practices.

Phase 3: Widespread Adoption

• Expansion : Based on the success of pilot projects, expand the green roof program to more buildings and urban areas. Prioritize areas with the highest levels of air pollution and urban heat islands.
• Community Involvement : Engage communities in the planning and maintenance of green roofs. Provide training and support for urban gardening initiatives and community green space projects.
• Research and Innovation : Invest in research and innovation to improve green roof technologies and practices. Explore new materials, plant species, and design techniques to enhance the effectiveness of green roofs.

Green roofs offer a sustainable solution to some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing urban areas today. By improving air quality, reducing the urban heat island effect, managing stormwater, and enhancing biodiversity, green roofs can significantly improve the quality of life in cities. Additionally, they provide economic benefits through energy savings, increased property values, and extended roof lifespans, while also offering social benefits such as enhanced well-being and community engagement.

The implementation of green roofs requires a coordinated effort involving pilot projects, policy development, and community engagement. By taking a phased approach and leveraging funding sources and public awareness campaigns, cities can successfully adopt green roofs as a standard practice in urban planning.

Green roofs and walls – a growth area in urban design

Senior Lecturer in Urban Horticulture, The University of Melbourne

Disclosure statement

John Rayner receives funding from the Australian and Victorian Governments, the City of Melbourne and Melbourne Water and is affiliated with Green Roofs Australasia. He helped to write the 'Growing Green Guide' and is involved in the green infrastrucure display at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

University of Melbourne provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU.

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As the demand for greener and cooler cities increases, new “green infrastructure” technologies, such as green roofs and walls, are coming to the fore. But what are they?

Put simply, green roofs and walls are landscaped building surfaces. Australia has been relatively slow on the uptake of this movement, with much of the available expertise, systems and materials based in the northern hemisphere.

Last month saw the release of Growing Green Guide : a free guide to green roofs, walls and facades in Victoria – a collaborative local and state government project, which I contributed to.

And this weekend at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show there will be a pop-up garden display by the Melbourne School of Land and Environment demonstrating many of the ideas and techniques behind green infrastructure.

But for those who are not in Melboure and/ or won’t be able to give over their weekend to the delights of Australia’s urban horticulture industry, here’s a snapshot and some important design factors.

The impact of green infrastructure

Green roofs, as mentioned already, are a landscape constructed on a roof and include a range of different types. They can be a small, container beds two metres deep supporting trees and shrubs, or lightweight configurations of only a few centimetres in depth and more than a hectare in size covered in succulent and herbaceous vegetation.

Green walls fall into two very different types. Living walls support plants through irrigated, vertical containers or felt-based structures fixed to a wall surface. Green facades use climbing plants to provide green coverage over a wall, either directly on the building surface or more commonly using a steel trellis or cable system, with plants grown in-ground or in containers that are supported across the building facade.

The evidence of benefits associated with green roofs and walls is increasing as research efforts (from the US , UK and Australia ) expand across the globe. Green roofs have been shown in a number of studies to reduce building energy budgets, slightly reducing winter heating costs but providing more significant reductions to summer cooling.

A modelling study in Toronto on the implementation of green roofs across low-rise, flat roofs greater than 350 square-metres concluded that ambient air temperatures across the city could be reduced by up to 2C.

The benefits of retaining stormwater on green roofs are well established and tend to form the basis of many city green roofs tax or incentive schemes, particularly in North America.

Green roofs act like a sponge on a roof, absorbing and storing rainfall and allowing re-use form plants, in turn reducing urban water run-off. One study involving a green roof with a 60mm deep substrate (soil substitute) showed rainfall retention of almost 83%.

Green roofs and walls have been shown to increase property values, partly because people like to view them, but more because they provide more recreational and amenity uses. In one New York study rentals were shown to be 16% higher in buildings with green roofs compared to those without.

The dramatic growth in green roofs and walls across the US over recent years, despite generally poor economic conditions, suggests demand for these installations will continue.

Why not try this at home?

Naturally, green roofs and walls need to be planned and designed properly to ensure they are successful. The most significant issue to consider is weight loading. A roof or wall must have the structural capacity for the mass of a green roof, wall or facade installation – both at construction and over time.

Not all plants will succeed on the sometimes hostile and elevated environment of a roof or wall; and vegetation growth is strongly limited by the depth, available volume, air, water, nutrition and environmental conditions present at the site.

Low growing succulents, such as sedums , and drought-tolerant perennials including many Australian plants, are widely used because of these constraints.

Waterproofing is another key issue and most structures will require additional specialised treatments to ensure the integrity of the structure is not compromised by the installation. Excess water will need to be drained away, particularly from green roofs.

Most modern systems, such as those produced by German green-roof company Zinco , incorporate lightweight plastic drainage cells to provide this outcome.

While the Growing Green Guide was written to increase local understanding and skills amongst architectural and design professionals in Melbourne, it is also relevant to a wider Australian audience.

Who knows? Australia might even have its own version of New York’s aerial greenway [High Line](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line_(New_York_City) one day.

Are you an academic or researcher working in urban design? Contact the Arts + Culture editor .

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The Green Revolution Spreading Across Our Rooftops

By Kelly DiNardo

• Oct. 9, 2019

When David Michaels moved to Chicago this year, he chose the Emme apartment building in part because of the third-floor green roof, which has a lawn, an area for grilling, fire pits and a 3,000-square-foot vegetable garden.

“The green space was a huge factor in choosing this apartment,” Mr. Michaels said. “My wife and I are out there every other night, grilling or relaxing. And we like that they host classes out there.”

The Emme actually has two rooftop gardens — the one visible to residents on a deck on the third floor and a 5,000-square-foot garden on the roof of the 14-story building. Both are run by the Roof Crop , an urban farm that grows food for restaurants on a handful of roofs in Chicago. Residents at the Emme can also subscribe to regular bundles of rooftop-grown fruits and vegetables.

As concerns about climate change and dwindling natural resources grow, green roofs have become increasingly popular. The Toronto-based organization Green Roofs for Healthy Cities estimates an increase of about 15 percent in the number of green roofs in North America since 2013.

Replacing black asphalt and shingles with plants can lower the surrounding air temperature, filter dirty storm water and reduce a building’s energy use.

While it is difficult to calculate the savings, as utility costs vary from city to city, the National Research Council of Canada estimates a green roof can reduce air-conditioning use in a building by as much as 75 percent.

Beyond the energy savings, by lowering air-conditioning demand, green roofs also help to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

As understanding of the benefits grows, more cities around the world are passing green roof legislation. In 2010 Copenhagen began requiring green roofs on all new commercial buildings with a roof slope of less than 30 degrees. In 2016, the city of Córdoba in Argentina issued a bylaw that directed all rooftops — new or existing — of more than 1,300 square feet to be turned into green roofs. 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. More recently, the New York City Council passed a suite of measures to reduce greenhouse gases, including a requirement for green roofs, solar panels or a combination of both on newly constructed buildings. Other cities support green roofs through non-legislative measures; Washington, D.C.’s storm water regulations and Philadelphia’s tax credit both encourage green roofs.

Toronto was the first city in North America to pass a green roof law, in 2009, requiring new buildings or additions that are greater than 21,000 square feet to cover between 20 and 60 percent of their buildings with vegetation. Developers can opt out for a fee, but fewer than 10 percent choose to do so, according to Jane Welsh, the project manager for environmental planning at Toronto’s City Hall. Many that do seek exemptions are simply looking to install smaller green roofs than are required by the Green Roof Bylaw .

Since the law was enacted, roughly 640 green roofs, covering more than five million square feet collectively, have been constructed, effectively changing Toronto’s architectural DNA and making the city a leader in the green roof movement.

Simply put, a green roof is one that allows for the growth of vegetation, but the process is more involved than plopping down a few potted plants. Typically, a green or living roof is constructed of several layers including a waterproof membrane, a root barrier, a drainage layer, a growing medium — soil is too heavy — and plants.

As green roofs have become amenities for residents and employees, they often also include picnic tables, benches, fire pits and other extras.

Before Toronto’s green roof bylaw took effect, the Hugh Garner Housing Co-operative in the city decided to build one when its roof membrane needed replacement. Residents were presented with three designs — one that evoked a circus, one modeled after an English garden and one that brought to mind a city park. Residents voted for the park in the early 2000s, and today, the 22,000-square-foot roof features flower beds, trees, an herb garden, gazebos and specially-made picnic tables that are wheelchair-accessible.

“In the summer, every picnic table will have folks eating dinner out there,” said Beata Domanska, a resident and former board member who advocated the green roof. “People are up there playing cards, reading, sun tanning. We have member events there. We’ve even had weddings up there. It’s become part of the culture here.”

Of course, green roofs are not entirely new.

“We’ve been using soil and plants as a roofing material for thousands of years,” said Steven Peck, the founder and president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. “The Vikings would flip their boats over and cover them in sod because it’s a great insulator. What’s new is the research the Germans have done. They essentially invented the lightweight extensive system.”

In the 1970s, German horticulturists, construction companies and others began developing waterproofing technologies and researching blends of growing mediums that would be lighter than soil. In the 1980s, Germany passed a mix of local and federal laws encouraging green roof development and today the country features approximately 925,000,000 square feet of living roof. The movement began to take root in the United States and Canada in the early 2000s, with developers, architects and designers looking to imitate Germany’s achievement.

Today, the University of Toronto’s Green Roof Innovation Testing Laboratory has grown into a leader in green roof research. The state-of-the-art facility uses 33 test beds, a weather station and more than 250 sensors gathering data on soil moisture, flow rates, temperature, rainfall, humidity and amounts of sun and wind to help researchers assess and improve green roof performance.

Research like this helped overcome some early hurdles when ambitious designs, plant choice, lack of irrigation or a combination of factors left plants dying and green roofs turning brown.

“The focus has shifted from pretty to performance,” explained Vanessa Keitges, the chief executive of Columbia Green Technologies , the firm behind more than 1,500 green roofs in North America, including Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle and the Zella Apartments there, which feature a deck with an herb garden, outdoor kitchen, dog run and plenty of seating. “We’re getting better at fine-tuning the plant palette so you don’t end up with a brown roof. We’ve moved to drip irrigation instead of spray. We’re designing systems that are much easier to maintain. We want them to be goof proof.”

City planners are looking to green roofs to mitigate the urban “heat island” effect, which describes a metropolitan area that’s significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas because of human activity. Air temperatures in cities, particularly after sunset, can be as much as 22 degrees Fahrenheit (around 12 degrees Celsius) warmer than less developed regions. The elevated temperatures raise energy consumption, increase air pollutants and compromise human health, with extreme heat now causing more deaths in the United States than all other weather events combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The vegetation on a living roof cools the surrounding air through evapotranspiration, the process in which moisture in plant leaves evaporates into the air, essentially working like an outdoor air-conditioning system. In addition, the increased insulation and decreased need for air-conditioning means less overheated air is put back into the surrounding environment.

The plants on green roofs also work like a giant sponge, soaking up water and therefore reducing the amount of rainwater that reaches street level, lowering the risk of flooding, minimizing sewer system overflow and filtering dirty runoff.

“Cities are built to be impervious,” Mr. Peck said. “The water runs off buildings and streets, and when it hits streams and estuaries, it can cause erosion. It’s also incredibly contaminated. If you want to have drinkable, fishable, swimmable water in and around our cities, we need to capture storm water and use it as a resource, instead of just getting it away from the buildings as soon as possible.”

Beyond the long list of financial, health and environmental benefits, green roofs have become valued amenities in residential buildings.

“We were really keen on finding a place with outdoor space,” said Carolyn Kushner, who chose the apartment building 525W52 in New York in part because of the roof, which features lounge chairs overlooking the Hudson River, a large lawn, grilling stations, bocce ball and Ping-Pong and shuffle board tables, all surrounded by shrubs and greenery. Dr. Kushner and her partner — who proposed on the roof — go up there several times a week. “We have a glass of wine and watch the sunset. The city can be really overwhelming if you don’t get that kind of greenery. It’s nice to have someplace to escape to.”

One early cause of hesitation in adopting living roofs was the upfront cost. Green roofs cost two to three times as much as a traditional roof.

“With so many environmental initiatives, it often boils down to money,” Ms. Domanska said. “One of the ways we’re able to sell this is that a green roof significantly extends the life span of a roof. Over time it saves money. That was very attractive to the people who live here. Now people see all the benefits, but initially it was about the savings.”

Studies bear this out. A 2006 study from the University of Michigan compared the expected costs of conventional roofs with the cost of a 21,000-square-foot green roof and found that over its lifetime, the green roof would save about $200,000. Almost two-thirds of that would be in reduced energy needs for the building below.

“We’ve established best practices for creating green roofs,” Mr. Peck said. “We have political leaders looking for ways to improve the health and well-being of the people in their cities and also address climate change. We have research that shows the benefits of green roofs. It seems clear that the cities that invest in green infrastructure will be the cities that thrive.”

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Green Roofs

A green roof is a vegetative layer grown on a rooftop of a building. Also known as roof gardens, these green roofs serve as a large contributor to energy efficiency of buildings.

Green roofs reduce the temperature of the building and the surrounding air in multiple ways:

Shading: They provide shade to the top of a building.

Evapotranspiration: The plants in a green roof absorb water through their roots, and then use surrounding heat from the air to evaporate the water

While some roofs can reach temperatures of up to 90°F in the summertime, these two features can allow green roofs to actually be cooler than the surrounding air temperature! This in turn mitigates the urban heat island effect.

Green Roofs Today

Green roof production has grown significantly over the past several decades; with a 115% increase in green roof production recorded from 2010 to 2011 alone. In 2019, 14 respondents recorded 763 green roof projects, installing 3,112,818 square feet of green roofing¹. Washington D.C. installed the most green roofs in North America in 2018, installing over 700,000 square feet. Succeeding Washington D.C. were Chicago, Toronto, New York City, Seattle and Vancouver. Be sure to check out Green Roofs for Healthier Cities' Annual Green Roof Industry Survey (PDF) for more current green roof statistics!

The Green Features of a Green Roof

Multiple layers work together to produce a green roof’s high efficiency and quality:

The top layer of a green roof consists of vegetation. Chosen plants should be based on the type of roof, surrounding climate, and condition of the building. For flatter roofs and stronger buildings, taller and heavier vegetation can be used. Lighter and shorter vegetation is recommended for slanted roofs.

Growing Medium

The growing medium is the foundation for all the vegetation on the top later. The medium type, mixture and depth area all depend on the plants chosen for the green roof. A wind erosion layer, commonly made of burlap jute blankets, can also be installed to prevent wind from blowing top soil off the roof.

Root Barrier

Root barriers are associated with deep-rooted plants such as trees and shrubs. A root barrier prevents roots from reaching the membrane on the bottom layer, which when punctured, could potentially cause roof leaks and decay. Common materials used for this layer are foil or plastic.

A drainage layer is installed to adequately remove excess water from a green roof. Green Roof Solutions states that drainage systems are designed to ensure storm water can be used by the top plants for extended periods of time without oversaturation of the entire green roof system. Note that this layer can also be found above the root barrier layer as well.

The insulation layer is the protector of the membrane layer below. The insulation prevents the weight of the green roof from crushing the insulation and impairing the membrane. A light weight extensive green roof can include insulation below the membrane.

Membrane Protection

The roof’s membrane needs protection to prevent deterioration.  The protective layer can be a slab of lightweight concrete, insulation, thick plastic, copper foil or any combination of these.

A membrane is the bottommost layer of a green roof, and is the main separation between the green roof above and the structural supports below. Due to the excessive water amounts associated with green roofs, the membrane must be strong enough to support this water weight and to not let it seep through.

Types of Green Roofs

There are generally two types of green roofs that differ by cost, depth of growing medium, plant types and the potential for accessibility or use. Extensive green roofs are simpler, lighter weight systems commonly seen on residential buildings. The concept of extensive green roofs is to design a rugged, durable roof that requires little maintenance and no human interaction. Used vegetation consists of hardy, weather-resistant plants that can adapt to extreme climates. Intensive green roofs, on the other hand, more so resemble a traditional roof. There is almost no limit to the plants that can be used on these roofs, or the weight. Intensive roofs are commonly used for public areas, where people can walk and enjoy the area. Common differences between the two roof types are listed below:

A green roof may include components of these two types of green roof systems and be referred to as either semi-intensive or semi-extensive green roof.

Benefits of Green Roofs

A few of the many benefits to green roofs are listed below. For more benefits, be sure to check out greenroofs.org !

Aesthetic Improvement

Aside from their sustainable aspects, green roofs can be a beautiful addition to any building, and can be designed to become a public area for building occupants and guests. Greenroofs.com states that these public areas can increase a sense of community and overall public safety!

Energy Reduction

The needs for heating and cooling a structure reduce drastically due to the thermal efficiency of green roofs. Acting as natural shade and a heat-absorber for a building, a green roof can significantly reduce cooling costs by as much as 25%. This may depend on the type of climate your building is located in.

Increased Market Value

Installation of a green roof has been shown to increase the marketability of a building and add a value of 6%-15%. Significant aesthetic effects accrue to the owner, occupants and the surrounding community.

LEED Certification Points

A green roof has the potential of earning LEED points for a building in multiple credit categories.  

Moderate the Urban Heat Island Effect

The urban heat island effect is created when green space is replaced by buildings and hardscape, which tend to absorb heat at higher rates. This results in urban areas being hotter than nearby rural areas. The heat primarily comes from rooftops in urban areas since they are commonly painted black or other dark colors (which absorb heat rather than reflect it). Therefore, the installation of green roofs can lower the surrounding air temperature and help moderate the urban heat island effect³.

reduction in cooling costs

increase in market value

Reduced Air Pollution

The reduced energy demand from green roofs reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions related to energy production. Plants also remove air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions through two processes: dry deposition and carbon sequestration and storage. Lastly, green roofs help slow the rate of ozone formation by reducing overall air temperatures.

Saved Costs

Although installation costs are higher than traditional roofs, the lifespan and low-maintenance of a green roof can result in vast cost savings. Research from the University of Michigan showed that with initial roof costs of a green roof and a conventional roof relatively being $464,000 and $335,000, the green roof would actually save around $200,000 over its lifetime²! People can also install green roofs on their own, cutting down the costs significantly!

Stormwater Management

Green roofs – depending on size, density, and type – can capture stormwater and return it to the atmosphere through transpiration and evaporation. According to greenroofs.org, 70-90% of precipitation can be retained in the summer time, and 25-40% in the winter time. Green roofs can also reduce stormwater runoff by holding water within the substrate and therefore delaying the runoff time. By having a green roof, buildings could also eliminate roof drains and other stormwater management infrastructure.

Urban Food Production

Green roofs provide the possibility of growing edible gardens on top of buildings! Local and convenient, green roofs can source food just above occupants’ heads. Urban food production reduces the woes of long-distance food supply. They also contribute to community nutrition and social interaction.

Related Links

International Green Roof Association Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing (CEIR)

• Barmore, M., Peck, M. (2019). 2019 Annual Green Roof Industry Survey. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4115293/GreenRoofIndustrySurvey2019Report.pdf (PDF)
• Walbridge, S. (2016, August 3). The green roof: a worthwhile investment. Michigan State University. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_green_roof_a_worthwhile_investment
• Using Green Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands. (n.d.). United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-green-roofs-reduce-heat-islands

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Professional Practice

Green infrastructure: green roofs and walls.

ASLA 2010 General Design Honor Award. Rooftop Haven for Urban Agriculture, Chicago, Illinois. Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects   >

Overview: The Benefits Forests & Nature Reserves Wildlife Habitat & Corridors Cities Constructed Wetlands Green Streets Green Roofs & Walls

Green roofs can help regulate a building’s internal temperature, reduce stormwater runoff, and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Green roofs offer significant economic benefits, including a longer roof life and heating and cooling energy savings. Green roofs also provide an opportunity for urban food production, and increasing urban biodiversity. If well-designed and cared for, green roofs can offer people the psychological benefits of nature.

For more information on residential infrastructure, please visit our Residential Design Guides: Water , Energy , Planting , and Low-Impact Materials .

Green roofs benefits include:

• Green roofs can extend a roof’s lifespan by two or three times. According to Sustainable South Bronx, on a 90 degree day a green roof is about 80°F, while a black roof is 175°F, causing substantial wear and tear.
• A University of Michigan study showed that a 21,000 square feet $464,000 green roof will save $200,000 over its lifetime. “Nearly two-thirds of these savings would come from reduced energy needs for the building with the green roof.”    (1)
• Energy savings: A typical 2-3 story building could experience 15-25 percent savings in summertime energy costs.  (1)

Water Management

• Green roofs can catch 40-60 percent of stormwater, reducing flow into a city’s sewers (1)
• Green roofs led to approximately 65 percent reduced peak flows and 55 percent reduced runoff volumes, according to an E.P.A. overview of peer-reviewed literature. (2)
• Modelling conducted on Manchester, England, found that adding green roofs to all buildings in town centers, retail, and high-density residential could reduce run off by 17 - 20 percent.  (3)
• The green roof on FedEx’s Main Sorting Facility at O’Hare covers nearly 175,000 square feet, captures close to two million gallons of stormwater annually, and will save the company an estimated $35,000 in energy costs per year. (4)

Reducing Air Pollution, Urban Heat, & Atmospheric Carbon Levels

• A study quantifying ecosystem services resulting from Portland, Oregon’s green infrastructure practices in 2009 found that green roofs reduced particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM-10) by 7.7 lbs, created 8,270 + kWh/Acre energy savings, and sequestered 7.1 metric tonnes of carbon emissions per acre per year. (5)
• A modeling study found that adding green roofs to 50 percent of the available surfaces in downtown Toronto would cool the entire city by 0.2 to 1.4°F (0.1 to 0.8°C).  (1)
• A Toronto study found two green roofs with minimal vegetation reduced peak summertime roof membrane temperatures by 35°F and summertime heat flow through roofs by 70-90 percent compared with a conventional roof, substantially reducing energy needs for cooling. (1)
• A study conducted at the University of Central Florida found the maximum average day temperatures for conventional roof surface was 130°F, while the maximum average for green roof was 91°F, which is 39°F lower than the conventional roof. (1)

Green walls  include most of the benefits of green roofs, but also:

• Temperatures behind green walls can be reduced by as much as 10 degree celsius. 
• Green walls can help reduce sound reflection
• Through shading, green walls can lower temperatures in summer and reduce energy costs by 23 percent. (6)

Sources:   1. " Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies, Green Roofs ,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and  Sustainable South Bronx      2.  “The Illinois Green Infrastructure Study,”  Illinois Environmental Protection Agency 3.  “Microeconomic Evidence for the Benefits of Investment in the Environment – review.”  Natural England 4.  “Banking on Green: A Look at How Green Infrastructure Can Save Municipalities Money and Provide Economic Benefits Community-wide.”  ASLA 5.  “Portland’s Green Infrastructure: Quantifying the Health, Energy, and Community Livability Benefits,”  Environmental Services, City of Portland   6. “ Living Walls: A Way to Green the Environment ” Susan Loh, Australian Council of Built Environment Design Professionals, August 2008  

Organizations

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Center for Green Roof Research , Pennsylvania State University

International Green Roof Association Resources " Despite Economy, Green Roofs Bloom ," The Dirt " Green Roofs Reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect ,"  The Dirt " Majora Carter on Green Community Infrastructure ,"  The Dirt " Philadelphia's Cutting-edge Green Infrastructure Plan ,"  The Dirt " Scaling up Green Infrastructure ,"  The Dirt " Taking Nature to the City ,"  The Dirt Government Resources “ By-Law to Require and Govern the Construction of Green Roofs in Toronto ,” Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building and Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, March 2009 Reducing Environmental Heat Islands: Green Roofs  (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Report on the Environmental Benefits and Costs of Green Roof Technology  (City of Toronto Government, Canada) Research

"Planning for a Cooler Future: Green Infrastructure to Reduce Urban Heat,"   Urban Affairs , 2013

"Evaluation of Green Roof Plants and Materials for Semi-Arid Climates," Environmental Protection Agency, 2012

“Capturing Rainwater from Rooftops: An Efficient Water Resource Management Strategy that Increases Supply and Reduces Pollution,” Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), 2011

  "Green Roofs for Stormwater Runoff Control,"   Environmental Protection Agency, 2009

" Gray to Green: Jumpstarting Private Sector Investment in Green Stormwater Infrastructure ," Green Economy Taskforce, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, 2009 “ What is a Green Roof? ” How Stuff Works “ Urban Heat Island Mitigation Can Improve NYC’s Environment: Research on the Impacts of Mitigation Strategies ,” Sustainable South Bronx, October 2008 “ Reforesting the Built Environment: A Practical Feasibility Case Study in Christchurch ,” K.J. Mulligan and S.C. Page, 2008 “ Sound Transmission Loss of Green Roofs ,” Maureen Connelly and Murray Hodgson, 2008 “ Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies, Green Roofs ,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency " Introduction to Green Walls Technology, Benefits and Design ," Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, September 2008 “ Living Walls: A Way to Green the Built Environment ,” Susan Loh, Australian Council of Built Environment Design Professionals, August 2008

“ Quantifying Evaporation and Transpirational Water Losses from Green Roofs and Green Roof Media Capacity for Neutralizing Acid Rain ,” Robert Berghage, Al Jarrett, David Beattie, Kathleen Kelley, Shazia Husain, Farzaneh Rezai, Bret Long, Ayako Negassi, Robert Cameron, and William Hunt, 2007 " When Does Green Infrastructure Make Sense? Comparing Conventional Systems with Green Infrastructure ," Water Environment Research Foundation, June 2007 “ Green Roofs in the New York Metropolitan Region: Research Report ,” Cynthia Rosenzweig, Stuart Gaffin, and Lily Parshall (editors), Columbia University Center for Climate Change Research and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, 2006

“ Mitigating New York City’s Heat Island with Urban Forestry, Living Roofs, and Light Surfaces ,” New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, October 2006 “ Living Architecture Monitor, Fall 2008 ,” Green Roofs for Healthy Cities “ Green Roof Systems: A Guide to the Planning, Design and Construction of Building Over Structure ,” Susan Weiler and Katrin Scholz-Barth, Wiley, 2005

Role of the Landscape Architect

At the larger scale, landscape architects analyze the context and connectivity of green roofs within the urban landscape, seeing them as opportunities to create networks for wildlife habitat and stormwater management. Landscape architects also play a primary role in the details of green roof design, from selecting the plants to specifying the growth media and structural elements. Landscape architects also take advantage of the psychological benefits of providing more access to green vegetation and outdoor social spaces. From small urban rowhomes to apartment and office buildings and large institutions such as schools and government buildings, landscape architects meld the many social, educational, economic, and ecological benefits of green roofs.

ASLA Headquarters Green Roof , Washington, D.C. (Michael Van Valkenburgh & Associates, Inc.)

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitors Center , Brooklyn (HMWhite)

California Academy of Sciences , San Francisco, CA (SWA Group)

Changi Airport Terminal 3 Interior Landscape , Singapore (Tierra Design (S) Pte Ltd.) Chicago City Hall Green Roof , Chicago, Illinois (Conservation Design Forum)

Corporate Headquarters , San Francisco, CA (OLIN) Gannett/USA Today Headquarters , McLean, Virginia (Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd.)

Green Roof Innovation Testing (GRIT) Laboratory , Toronto (University of Toronto, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design)

Lafayette Greens: Urban Agriculture, Urban Fabric, Urban Sustainability , Detroit (Kenneth Weikal Landscape Architecture)

Manassas Park Elementary School Landscape, Manassas Park, VA (Siteworks)

Macallen Building , South Boston, MA (Landworks Studio, Inc.)

Museo del Acero Horno3 , Monterrey, Mexico (Surfacedesign Inc.+ Harari arquitectos) 

NYC Parks Green Roof: A Living Laboratory for Innovative Green Roof Design , New York, NY (NYC Parks)  Nueva School , Hillsborough, California (Andrea Cochran Landscape Architects) Rooftop Haven for Urban Agriculture , Chicago, Illinois (Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects) Washington Mutual Center Roof Garden , Seattle, Washington (Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg) Animations Leveraging the Landscape to Manage Water , ASLA

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What Is a Green Roof and How Does It Work?

• Nathan Patterson

A green roof, also known as a living roof or rooftop garden, is a roof that is partially or completely covered with vegetation.

The concept of green roofing is not new; in fact, it dates back to ancient times. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, are perhaps the earliest example of green roofs. In the middle ages, sod roofs were common in Scandinavia due to abundant turf and a lack of other roofing materials.

The modern green roof movement started in Germany in the 1960s and 70s, primarily as a way of managing stormwater. In recent years, green roofing has gained popularity worldwide because of its environmental benefits, such as reducing the urban heat island effect , improving air quality, and enhancing biodiversity.

Benefits of Green Roofing

Green roofs offer a number of environmental and economic benefits. They can:

• Reduce stormwater runoff by absorbing rainwater and releasing it slowly over time. This can help to reduce flooding and improve water quality.
• Improve air quality by filtering out air pollutants.
• Reduce the urban heat island effect by absorbing heat and reflecting sunlight.
• Extend the lifespan of roofs by protecting them from the elements.
• Provide insulation that can help to reduce heating and cooling costs.
• Create habitat for wildlife and improve biodiversity.
• Enhance the aesthetics of buildings and make them more attractive to tenants and buyers.

Types of Green Roofs

There are two main types of green roofing: extensive and intensive.

Extensive Green Roofs

Extensive green roofs are lightweight and require minimal maintenance. They are typically planted with sedum, succulents, and other drought-tolerant plants. Extensive green roofs can be installed on most roofs, regardless of their load-bearing capacity.

Intensive Green Roofs

Intensive green roofs are heavier and can support a wider variety of plants, including trees, shrubs, and grasses. Intensive green roofs require more maintenance than extensive green roofs. They are typically installed on roofs that can support the additional weight.

How Do Green Roofs Work?

Green roofs typically consist of several layers.

• The waterproofing membrane is the critical first layer of a green roof system. It ensures the underlying roof structure and the building interior remain dry, thus protecting the structural integrity of the building. This layer is made from highly water-resistant materials such as bitumen, PVC, or thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO). Modern waterproofing membranes often have self-sealing properties to automatically seal minor punctures or cuts that may occur during installation or maintenance. They are designed to withstand root penetration, UV exposure, and severe weather conditions, ensuring a durable and long-lasting waterproof barrier.
• A drainage layer to collect and channel rainwater away from the roof.  This layer is essential for preventing water from pooling on the roof’s surface, which can lead to structural damage and leaks. It also allows excess water to be stored temporarily before being absorbed by plants or drained away.
• A filter membrane to prevent soil particles from clogging the drainage layer.
• The growing medium, typically a lightweight mixture of soil, sand, and organic matter, provides the necessary nutrients for plants to thrive. It should have good water retention properties while also allowing excess water to drain away.
• Plants, which can range from sedum or grasses in extensive green roofs to trees and shrubs in intensive ones. The selection of plants depends on factors such as climate, building structure, and maintenance capabilities.

Installation Process

The installation process for green roofs varies depending on the type of roof, building structure, and location. However, there are some general steps that most green roofs follow:

• Structural assessment: The first step is to assess whether the building can support the weight of a green roof. This requires careful evaluation by a structural engineer.
• Waterproofing: The waterproofing membrane is then installed to protect the roof structure and interior of the building.
• Drainage layer: Next, a drainage layer is installed to ensure proper water management on the roof.
• Filter membrane: A filter membrane is then placed on top of the drainage layer to prevent soil particles from clogging it.
• Growing medium: The growing medium is then added, providing a suitable environment for plants to grow.
• Plants: Finally, the selected plants are planted on top of the growing medium, and any additional features such as irrigation systems or walkways are installed.

Green roofs require ongoing maintenance to ensure their longevity and effectiveness. This may include watering, fertilizing, weeding, and pruning.

Green Roofs in Action

Green roofs are becoming increasingly popular around the world. There are now green roofs on a variety of buildings, including homes, offices, schools, and hospitals.

One example of a green roof is the City Hall in Chicago, Illinois. The City Hall’s green roof covers approximately 2.9 acres and is planted with a variety of native plants. The green roof helps to reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and reduce the building’s energy consumption.

Another example of a green roof is the Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan. The plant’s green roof covers approximately 10 acres and is planted with sedum and other drought-tolerant plants. The green roof helps to reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and reduce the plant’s energy consumption.

Green roofs are also increasingly appearing on residential homes. These living roofs can be installed on new constructions or retrofitted onto existing structures. Like their commercial counterparts, residential green roofs are typically comprised of a waterproofing membrane, a drainage system, a growing medium, and a layer of vegetation.

Extensive green roofs, with their lightweight design and low-maintenance vegetation, are commonly chosen for residential applications. These roofs not only provide a green space that enhances the home’s aesthetic appeal, but they also offer tangible benefits such as improved insulation, reduced energy costs, and extended roof lifespan.

Installing a green roof on a home requires careful consideration of the roof’s load-bearing capacity, appropriate plant selection for the specific climate and roof conditions, and potential maintenance needs. Homeowners may also need to comply with local regulations and obtain necessary permissions.

Despite these considerations, the rewards of a residential green roof can be substantial. It’s a step towards sustainable living, providing a personal oasis that benefits not only the homeowner but also the broader environment by promoting biodiversity, improving air quality, and mitigating the urban heat island effect.

The Future of Green Roofs

Green roofs are a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to improve the quality of our buildings and our cities. They offer a number of benefits, including reducing stormwater runoff, improving air quality, reducing the urban heat island effect, extending the lifespan of roofs, providing insulation, creating habitat for wildlife, and enhancing the aesthetics of buildings. As green roofs become more affordable and easier to install, they are expected to become even more popular in the years to come.

Stronghold Roofing & Solar

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FAQ’s – Green Roofing

Yes, a green roof can be installed on a home. However, it is essential to consider the roof’s load-bearing capacity and obtain the necessary permissions before installation.

Green roofs offer numerous benefits, including reducing stormwater runoff, improving air quality, reducing energy costs, extending the lifespan of roofs, providing insulation, creating habitat for wildlife, and enhancing the aesthetics of buildings.

The lifespan of a green roof can vary depending on factors such as maintenance, climate, and plant selection. With proper care, extensive green roofs can last up to 40 years, while intensive green roofs can have a lifespan of 60+ years.

Yes, green roofs require maintenance to ensure their longevity and effectiveness. This may include watering, fertilizing, weeding, pruning, and regular inspections.

Regulations for installing green roofs can vary depending on location. It is essential to consult with local authorities and obtain necessary permissions before installation. 

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Green Roofs on NYC Overview Research Paper

Problem statement, goals and objectives, state-of-the-art review, methodology, inference/conclusion.

Considerable progress in comprehending the relations between greenhouse gases and the severity of weather events has been seen in the past few decades. Research demonstrates that anthropogenic warming accelerates the rate of heatwaves, and dynamical models of forecasting depict this pattern will persist longer (Tewari et al. 1). With the exponential increase in urban population, many challenges such as pollution, especially air, water, and noise, urban heat island, and global warming will likely ensure due to insufficient vegetation places. It can certainly be affirmed for such areas that the scarcity of greenery leads to a notable surge in the environmental temperatures, thereby affecting the thermal comfort situations of indoor surroundings. Therefore, the application of greenery systems in building roofs remains one of the leading strategies for curbing the effects of growing urban heat islands, as witnessed in New York City.

The adoption of green roofs is increasingly gaining acceptance in urban housing designs. The new intervention has not only become instrumental in addressing some of the key environmental challenges but also brought along economic gains. Vegetation systems are regarded as one of the leading solutions to realizing sustainable and livable cities having minimal disruptions from urban heat island-associated concerns. Foliage’s presence principally consisting of green roofs is increasingly being embraced as part of building’s architectural designs.

From this perspective, incorporating recommended plants into buildings in cities can enhance the quality of municipal surroundings (Tewari et al. 3). Such green systems will better air and water quality, provide dense vegetation cover in town settings, stormwater management, carbon emissions management, and reduce heat island impacts.

Apart from the profound positive impacts on the environment, vegetation systems offer additional advantages to the community, such as economic and social elements while improving the aesthetics of the town and valuations of real estate. Consequently, by utilizing various green systems, it is possible to alter the micro-climatic status of current structures in eco-friendly and cost-effective ways (Tewari et al. 5). Town settings, which already grapple with urban heat islands, will continue to suffer unless suitable strategies are adopted. Consequently, the goals of this research are to evaluate the effects of vegetation through green roofs on urban heat islands in New York and Phoenix. Specific objectives of the study include:

• To evaluate the connection between heat waves and urban heat islands, as well as their mitigation through green rooftops in Phoenix (PHX) and New York City (NYC).
• To offer a pragmatic assessment of green roofs in managing urban heat island-associated concerns.

Due to the indecision of future town designs forecasting for New York and Phoenix, the study presumes that the metropolitan features of both cities will not change significantly. The adoption of green rooftops aims to address the effects of urban heat islands. Moreover, rising levels of greenhouse gas and their negative consequences on the environment are emphasized by many nations, prompting the development of innovative designs and solutions for buildings to reduce such effects (Besir and Erdem 916). To verify the extent of the impacts of roof foliage systems in minimizing associated urban heat islands, researchers narrowed down on the heatwave that occurred in North America in 2006. Since the heatwave was severe, it led to the loss of more than 100 lives.

Cities experienced more resolute conditions due to the engagement of heat waves with the urban heat island. The study also measures the urban greenery stations in these two cities to demonstrate the outcome of diverse urban land use. The study also incorporated numerical experiments and model setups to investigate the association of urban green roofs and urban heat islands in the regions of interest, NYC and PHX (Tewari et al. 10). Therefore, the study assesses urban heat islands’ intensity in a future climate and the influence of green rooftops in mitigating the negative consequences.

Given rooftops are separated from one another, such scenarios’ oasis effect is accounted for in the building design for enhanced efficacy. Studies by McCarthy and Oleson examined anthropogenic heat radiations and urban geometry on the intensity of urban heat islands. Both Santamouris, Wang, and Yang established the effectiveness and popularity of green roofs in mitigating the adverse effects of urban heat islands (Besir and Erdem 916).

Moreover, Besir and Erdem (917) show the significance of green roofs to both the environment and the building itself. The benefits range from lowering greenhouse gas discharges, enhancing city water quality, and reducing the risk of flooding by holding excessive water to reducing air pollution and associated urban heat island impacts. It also helps in absorbing noise pollution, averting acid rain by escalating PH value, and improving the health of city dwellers.

Simulations carried out in the study employed an advanced research version. The adopted model of weather examination and projecting combined with the canopy concept expand the illustration of various urban developments (Tewari et al. 2). Through these popular concepts, the study explored the influence of green roofs in alleviating urban heat islands. The simulation method was performed in a three-kilometer plane spatial resolution for an enhanced realistic depiction of surface heterogeneity.

The study applied a double-nested strategy to concentrate on NYC and PHX regions. In the manifold nested approach, the outer domain included a plane grid positioning of about fifteen kilometers. The insets comprised a double nested classical domain placed over NYC and PHX, both having straight resolutions of roughly three kilometers. The models were conducted for 22 incessant days coupled with performing four numerical simulations (Tewari et al. 2). Because of the doubt about future city design projections for NYC and PHX, the researchers presumed the urban features of both municipal areas might not alter for upcoming climate scenarios except by adopting green roofs.

Data Collection

The research gathered data through the simulated numerical model to gauge the effects of green rooftops in reducing urban heat islands within Phoenix and New York cities.

Data Presentation

Data for this research was presented through:

Data Analysis

Data analysis reveals an effective interaction between climate change and urban heat island intensity, which is expressly dependent on the environment and local climate. For instance, the findings show that green roof vegetation is a vital element in comprehending the relations. A warm climate can make urban heat islands increase in New York more than in Phoenix since the former has a substantial dry urban environment (Tewari et al. 3). The green roofs strategy proved an effective measure in offsetting the urban heat island in the city.

The interaction of heat waves and urban heat islands and their mitigation through green rooftops in both Phoenix and New York cities was investigated using numerical simulations and observations. A key outcome is that a warm climate increases the interactions between heat waves and urban heat islands. Using the green roof technique can significantly be employed to eradicate urban heat islands (Tewari et al. 14). Moreover, green roof systems serve as energy-saving outfits in edifices while also offering multifunctional advantages such as thermal insulation and comfort, evapotranspiration, and wind blockage potential. The cities should encourage building owners to adopt green roofs for the enhanced realization of the benefits.

Evidence presented in the study shows the effectiveness of green roof technology in offsetting urban heat islands coupled with other benefits. Therefore, it is highly recommended for most cities to consider adopting this strategy (Tewari et al. 15). Moreover, a limitation in the investigation is that NYC and Phoenix have different city vegetation and morphologies. Nonetheless, the study employed similar urban vegetation and morphological parameters in investigating these two cities.

The limitation was encompassed since the modeling of NYC, and Phoenix nested domains happened under one parent purview. Although the effect of employing similar town parameters and greenery systems is unfamiliar, the researchers trust that the comparative consequence of the communication of urban heat islands and heatwave in these municipalities would remain identical. It is believed that even in future climatic scenarios, the inferences would remain unchanged.

Therefore, with this positive correlation between green roofs and management of urban heat islands, local authorities should, moving forward, attempt to institutionalize and even expand rooftop vegetation systems in NYC and PHX by approximately 10% (Besir and Erdem 936). The move will help in minimizing the effects of local temperatures, which have been projected to rise in the future from many anthropogenic activities in cities.

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IvyPanda. (2022, July 5). Green Roofs on NYC Overview. https://ivypanda.com/essays/green-roofs-on-nyc-overview/

"Green Roofs on NYC Overview." IvyPanda , 5 July 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/green-roofs-on-nyc-overview/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Green Roofs on NYC Overview'. 5 July.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Green Roofs on NYC Overview." July 5, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/green-roofs-on-nyc-overview/.

1. IvyPanda . "Green Roofs on NYC Overview." July 5, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/green-roofs-on-nyc-overview/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Green Roofs on NYC Overview." July 5, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/green-roofs-on-nyc-overview/.

Green Roofs: An urban agricultural opportunity

Millennials who live in the cities find it difficult to relate to stories shared by the older generation. As elders of the family walk down the memory lane and get nostalgic, the current generation draws up a blank. Most of these stories relate to the open areas and green spaces that stretch as far as eyes could see. Cities are breeding grounds for opportunities and growth. However, they are also places where one could only see tall buildings and vehicles.  Though people migrate to cities for a better life, it is natural to connect with their roots. One such ingenious idea is the green roof concept. Though this idea has been in use since the Hanging Gardens of Babylon , it has become one of the most sought-after designs in the past two decades.

Green roofs are a layer of vegetation installed on the roof of the building. It can be created on any roof as it brings an array of benefits to the table. Broadly there are two types of green roof systems:

• The intensive green roof system is a layered system that requires a lot of maintenance and care from the owners. It holds the advantage of being the type of system in which one can choose the type of vegetation they want. Space can also be made usable. 
• The extensive green roof system is a layered system in which an owner does minimum intervention and lets the vegetation grow like they do in the wilds. The roof space with an extensive green roof system is not for recreational activities. However, they are for non-accessible terrace space.

Though there is a broad level design principle to execute the idea, each green roof is a unique scenario and is dealt with individually. All green roofs would have a layered structure with top vegetation accompanied by a growth medium, filter fabric, and a drainage system. Under the drainage layer, coatings of waterproofing, root repellent, and various insulation layers such as thermal and haze control are installed. 

Below are five examples of green roofs highlighting the details of the project:

1. School of Art, Design and Media at NTU, Singapore | Green Roofs

Completed in the year 2006, the ADM inside the NTU campus is one of the most iconic buildings on various fronts. The tapering building has main arcs at 45 degrees that intersect the third arc, forming a sunken courtyard that acts as the central space of the building. Varying between two-five storeys, the glass building accentuates the thoughtfully designed multi-level courtyard and reflects it. 

The sloping curved roof of the building is accessed by a series of steps running along the inner edge of the curve. Due to the steep slope of the curves, only 1/6th of the roof can be used for recreational purposes. The crown portion of the curved roofs is used by the students as a collaborative space. The intensive green roof system has two types of grasses, namely Zoysia matrella and Ophiopogon as a vegetative layer. 

Irrigated by an automatic sprinkler system that is integrated with a rainwater harvesting system, the green roof of the building is one of the most sustainable features of the building, not only on the water conservation front but the air conditioning loads are also lesser compared to other buildings with a similar footprint. 

Due to a thoughtfully designed green roof, the surrounding air is cleaner and cooler and there are no urban heat islands created due to the massive structure . With minimal reflected heat and solar heat gain due to intelligent orientation and blending of the building with the surrounding landscape, the building is a high-performance sustainable building. 

The multi-layered green roof structure primarily consists of the top vegetation layer, and four interrelated organic matter that includes crushed volcanic rocks, washed sand, pumice, and a moisture retention layer to moderate the soil conditions throughout the year. The turf slows the surface runoff as well as retains the water on its surface, ensuring the drop in air temperature around the building by evaporative cooling. 

The green roof that acts as a natural insulator, coupled with the almond-shaped courtyard reflects the heat and brings in natural light ensuring ample daylighting is achieved. 

2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center, Brooklyn

Masterfully embedded into the hillside that existed in the Northeastern corner of the Brooklyn botanic garden, the visitor center is an intelligent addition. Designed by Weiss/Manfredi the LEED Gold-certified glass building consists of a semi-intensive green roof spreading over a 10,000 sq. foot of vegetation that includes grasses, spring bulbs, and perennial wildflowers that are mostly native species. 

The leaf-shaped green roof is home to around 40,000 plants that helps in regulating the climate as well as create biological diversity as it was designed as an experimental landscape. To add dynamism to the project, the architects consciously chose non-perennial plants, thus the green roof changes from season to season. In combination with the extensive plantation around the building and the three water gardens, the green roof effortlessly knits the building into the surrounding lush landscape . 

Envisioned as an urban oasis the architecture and landscape are so perfectly weaved together that the demarcating line is close to diminishing. Also accessed from the top of the berm bisects the Visitor Center, the stepped ramp connects the entryway to the main area. While the fritted glass façade cuts down the thermal heat gain in the southern side, the northern side is artfully built into an existing berm thus creating thermally insulated spaces. 

The living roof ensures less heat gain thus decreasing the heating and cooling requirement and the geo-exchange system lends a sustainable solution for heating and cooling of the interior spaces. The urban surface runoff is drastically decreased by the leaf-shaped vegetated roof that collects the water and manages the stormwater harvesting it efficiently. Acting as a transition element between the urban area and the surrounding landscape, the undulating green roof on the western side was designed with woodland bio infiltration basins. 

The roof system is described as type three assembly, it consists of a mineral drainage system under a lightweight growing medium. The root permeable separation fabric ensures that the fine-grained growing layer doesn’t blend in with the granular layer that absorbs the moisture to regulate the runoff. An extensive amount of roof stabilization was done to more than half of the area of the gable roof by securing banana cleats to a geogrid net. 

Due to a variety of water-loving plants around 200,000 gallons of water is harvested from the building each year. As a result of the biodiversity of the plants that are housed on the green roof, a variety of birds and pollinators set nests in the vicinity.

3. Meera Sky Garden House, Singapore

Located on the island of Sentosa, the 9150 Sq.foot house was designed with the sole intention of reducing the dependency on mechanical ventilation. Due to the closely spaced building the sides of the building have a solid wall construction , while on the front side the plan is stepped back at each level creating terraces on each level. The green roof on each floor creates an overhang that shades the lower floor, minimising the solar heat gain from that large expanse of the façade glazing that brings in ample natural light. 

Conceptualised as a structure that enhances the quality of life and brings one closer to nature, the entire building has sustainability integrated at multiple levels. The terrace gardens on each floor help in water retention and regulate the runoff of the rainwater, thus conserving water and replenishing the water table. The micro-climate of the three-storey structure is regulated by the multi-level terrace gardens that also serve as family space for the occupants. 

The curved roof of the top floor accentuated the building making it stand out amongst the other buildings of the neighborhood. The main ideology behind the terraces of each level was to visually as well as functionally induce a feeling of living in a countryside house with surrounding sprawling lawn areas on each level that connected with the landscape and sea at each level. 

The three-storied structure has garden space on first- and second-floor levels as well as the curved roof that acts as a crown of the project. These gardens are home to a variety of

A lush grass lawn creates a blanket over the entire area of the terraces, making them accessible for the user. The intensive green roof system of the terrace includes a fine growth medium layer under which an extensively planned drainage system is installed to collect the runoff. 

As the water retention capacity of the roof is high, the terrace helps in cooling the air by evaporative cooling, and the cool air is circulated through cross ventilation in the smartly planned spaces. The trees purify the air and cut down the noise disturbance of the touristy island, creating serene living spaces .

4. ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall, Japan 

Built in the center of the Fukuoka city’s park, the building artfully balanced the demand of a developer for maximum utilisation of FSI and the environment and social need for open green spaces that encourage interaction and growth of the culture. Due to limited space availability in the urban area, the new government building had to be located in a park. 

The imposing multi-storied building’s design inspired by the hanging gardens of Babylon was designed to step back the layout at each level creating terraces on the front portion of the building. The 15 levels of terraces house around 1,00,000 Sq. feet of landscape area, home to a multitude of native species. 

The living roofs brimming with flowering and non-flowering plants, herbs, trees, and shrubs create a canopy visually transforming the glass building into a giant stepped garden from a utopian region. Architect Emilio Ambasz proved that ‘where there is will, there is a way’ and executed every person’s fantasy to construct a building without disrupting nature. 

The iconic building’s landscape was envisaged as a mountain of nature and the vegetation changed with the passing of each season. The accessible terraces on fourteen floors house community spaces for meditation and congregation while the terrace on the 15th floor was designed as a glorious belvedere that bestowed a panoramic view of the bay area and mountains. The intensive green roof system adopted for the terraces was separately designed for each floor based on the type of vegetation the terrace housed. 

The growing media had various combinations and the depth of it ranged from 1′ to 2′. The building that was planned as a home for 37,000 plants from around 76 native species has now developed into 50,000 plants from a colossal number of 120 species, proving that nature has taken over the building. A study conducted in 2001 proved that the microclimate inside and around the building had a huge temperature difference of 15 degrees. 

Due to the thick foliage on the building, the surrounding air is purified and the ambient noises are filtered, creating a peaceful reprieve amid the hustle and bustle of the city. The rainwater harvested from the building ensures it has been recharging the groundwater thus saving the city from water shortage issues. 

5. The Vancouver convention centre, Vancouver | Green Roofs

Located on the waterfront of Canada’s most culturally vibrant city Vancouver, the convention center was envisaged as a building that harmoniously amalgamates built and open spaces, creating an ecologically responsible architecture. The LEED Canada-certified building was envisaged as a celebration of people and place and aimed at setting a benchmark for sustainable buildings. One of the most iconic concepts that were incorporated in the building is the six acres green roof that is touted as the largest living roof in Canada. 

Abode to 40,000 native plant species and grasses, the intensive green roof system has about 1′ deep growing media that has a sustainable irrigated system integrated with waterproofing and root repellent media layer. The system was designed with a metal deck, Densdeck, 4″ insulation media, and a filter cloth. The non-accessible green roof is also home to 240,000 bees in four colonies, whose honey is harvested for the restaurant . 

The living roof was designed to function as an insulator that cuts as much as 95% of the solar heat gain in summers and has a solar retention capacity of 26% in winters, mediating the microclimate in the area, thus reducing the heating and cooling loads of the building.

The slope ranging from 3% to 56% has ILD’S patented EFVM (Electric Field Vector Mapping) system. The slope of the roof built on natural topography creates an ecological and visual connection between Stanley Park and the North Shore Mountains. 

Due to the sloping profile of the roof, a natural drainage system is ensured, additionally, it also ensures an innate seed migration pattern. The building has an integrated stormwater drainage system that harvests the surface runoff that is slowed down and retained by the green roof and integrates it with the waterfront. The wastewater produced by the building is treated and reused for the landscape, conserving potable water. 

The glass skin brings in diffused daylight while diminishing the demarcation between the indoor and outdoor spaces . Since the roof is non-accessible to the public it has developed into a natural habitat for various migrating and native species alike. Though it is inaccessible for people, viewpoints from various locations are designed to enjoy the beauty of the natural habitat in the centre of a busy city.  

Urban areas are perceived as the place for buildings while green areas are taken as spaces that belong in country/rural sides. While the world is rushing towards growth in lighting speed architects hold the responsibility of balancing development and environment. Sustainability in buildings is a concept that has been getting the attention of designers in the past two decades but sustainable development is a concept that has to be well thought of by architects. 

“The good building is not one that hurts the landscape, but one which makes the landscape more beautiful than it was before the building was built.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

The green roof is a very perceptive idea that ensures one could give the space utilized for building a structure back to the environment. Though it has its own set of challenges and additional costs for designing and integration, it helps in the reduction of operational costs of building, adds aesthetic value to it, and also creates a space for repose. It helps a person in establishing a connection with nature and would help in the global warming crisis. 

Srinidhi Sriraman is a climate responsive architect who believes in giving back to the environment. A travel enthusiast who strongly believes “what is life worth if there are no stories to tell.” She took to writing to share, learn and also grow in the process.

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The collapse of a building on Spain’s Mallorca island leaves 4 people dead, officials say

Spain’s National Police have released details on four people killed when a building housing a bar and restaurant club collapsed on the island of Mallorca.

Medics take injured people away from a building that collapsed in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Thursday May 23, 2024. Spanish emergency authorities say that four people have died and 21 more have been injured when a building collapsed on the island of Mallorca. (Isaac Buj/Europa Press via AP)

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Medics take injured people away from a building that collapsed in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Thursday, May 23, 2024. Spanish emergency authorities say that four people have died and 21 more have been injured when a building collapsed on the island of Mallorca. (Isaac Buj/Europa Press via AP)

MADRID (AP) — Four people died and several more were seriously injured Thursday when a building collapsed on the island of Mallorca, Spanish emergency authorities said.

Emergency services said that seven more people had been very seriously injured while another nine were seriously injured. They were being attended at local hospitals.

The accident occurred in the city of Palma on the Mediterranean island popular with tourists.

Spanish news agency EFE and other media said the building housed a restaurant called “Medusa Beach Club” located near the beach.

Public television for the Balearic Islands, IB3, reported there were people dancing on a terrace that collapsed on top of another floor underneath.

No cause has been given for the collapse of the building.

Emergency services are continuing to search the site and attend the wounded.

Storms kill 4 in Kentucky, leave towns damaged

The roof of a home in bowling green was torn off and framing was thrown all over the property..

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WSMV) - Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced during a press conference on Monday that four people were killed during Sunday’s storms.

Governor Beshear confirmed that three women, ages 67, 62, and 48, died from injuries sustained from the storms. Additionally, a 34-year-old man was killed. Beshear also said a fifth person is in critical condition and clinging to life.

According to our NBC affiliate the Hopkins County Coroner said the 48-year-old woman was identified as Sandra Eckard of Dawson Springs, Kentucky. They added that Eckard died from blunt force trauma and that her husband is in the ICU.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency for the state, which has seen devastating damage from the Memorial Day Weekend storms.

Severe weather continues to move through the commonwealth with multiple reports of wind damage and tornadoes. I have issued a State of Emergency to ensure the communities impacted have the resources they need to respond. — Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) May 27, 2024

The storms left much destruction behind in Kentucky. A house north of Bowling Green lost its roof during the storms overnight.

Parts of the roof were blown off the house on Allen Michael Lane and others collapsed into the structure. Broken-up framing and debris from the roof were thrown all over the property.

“It was shocking to see it was this close that it could that it could have been us,” Michelle Naufel reflected. “I am fortunate.”

Naufel and her family took shelter as the storm rolled through the area.

Despite some debris in yard, they were spared of any damage but some her neighbors weren’t so lucky with recovery now underway across this community.

I certainly feel for the folks that did get hit, I’m glad that their safe, that they weren’t hurt or anything but there’s apart of you that’s thankful it wasn’t you

“I certainly feel for the folks that did get hit, I’m glad that their safe, that they weren’t hurt or anything but there’s apart of you that’s thankful it wasn’t you,” Naufel said.

The Bowling Green area likely experienced a tornado on Sunday based on the severity of the damage but it has yet to be confirmed by the National Weather Service.

Despite the damage, there have not been any reports of injuries or fatalities in Warren county, where Bowling Green is located.

Two deaths were reported due to the weekend’s storms until a third death was reported out of Hopkins County.

The storms also knocked out power for thousands of Kentucky households and businesses as the Warren Rural Elec Co-Op Corporation (WRECC) announced on Monday morning that 11,800 were still without electricity. The power company said it expects restoration efforts to last several days.

Copyright 2024 WSMV. All rights reserved.

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A Federal Judge Delivers Another Urgent, Scathing Warning About the Supreme Court

It takes a lot of courage for a lower court judge to criticize the Supreme Court, but Judge Carlton Reeves has long felt a responsibility to speak candidly to the public about threats to their civil rights. In an opinion on Monday, he calls for the abolition of qualified immunity—a noxious legal doctrine that insulates violent and corrupt government officials, especially law enforcement, from accountability. He embedded this call to action in a broader critique of the Supreme Court’s selective application of precedent—with a focus on the cavalier reversal of Roe v. Wade —as well as its pernicious distrust of democracy. Reeves’ opinion warns all who wish to listen that a broad array of our constitutional liberties are in serious and imminent jeopardy.

A Barack Obama appointee, Reeves sits on a U.S. District Court in Mississippi. His latest opinion was sparked by facts that he sees all too often and has written about before : the egregious violation of a criminal suspect’s constitutional rights as an innocent person wrongly charged with a crime. It began when detective Jacquelyn Thomas of Jackson, Mississippi, accused Desmond Green of murder. The detective’s only evidence was a statement made by Green’s acquaintance, Samuel Jennings—after Jennings was arrested for burglary and grand larceny, and while he was under the influence of meth. Thomas allegedly encouraged Jennings to select Green’s picture out of a photo lineup after he identified someone else as the killer. Allegedly, she also misled the grand jury to secure an indictment, concealing Jennings’ drug abuse as well as the many inconsistencies and inaccuracies in his statement.

Jennings later recanted, admitting that, in his meth-addled state, he’d provided a bogus tip. A judge finally dismissed the charges. By that point, Green had spent 22 months in jail, serving pretrial detention. The facility was violent. The food was moldy. He slept on the floor. His cell was infested with snakes and vermin.

Green then sued Thomas, accusing her of malicious prosecution in violation of the Constitution . Thomas promptly asserted qualified immunity to defeat the lawsuit. This doctrine protects government officials from liability unless they run afoul of “clearly established” law. In other words, there must be an earlier case on the books with similar, “particularized” facts that explicitly bars the official’s actions. If there is no near-identical precedent that unambiguously prohibits those acts, qualified immunity kicks in, the lawsuit is tossed out, and the case never even reaches a jury.

This shield has allowed a repulsive amount of wrongdoing by police and prosecutors to go totally unpunished. Cops are permitted to brutally beat, murder , steal from , and conspire against innocent people because the rights they violate are, ostensibly, not “clearly established.” Courts regularly apply the doctrine when there is a tiny discrepancy between a previous case and the facts at hand as an excuse to let the officer off scot-free. And over the past few decades, SCOTUS itself has expanded qualified immunity to new extremes . The result, as Reeves wrote, is “a perpetuation of racial inequality”: Black Americans experience more violations of their civil rights than any other class, yet qualified immunity denies them a remedy in even the most appalling circumstances.

Here, though, Reeves refused to let the doctrine devour the Constitution. He concluded that there is sufficient on-point precedent to show that Thomas’ malicious prosecution, if proved, violated Green’s “clearly established” rights. So the case may go to trial. That, however, was not the end of his analysis—because, as he pointed out, the concept of qualified immunity is unlawful, unworkable, and indefensible.

The first problem is that judges made up the doctrine as a special favor to other employees of the government. Congress, as Reeves explained, gave individuals the power to sue state officials in federal court through the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, enacted after the Civil War so newly freed Black Americans could sue racist and abusive local police. Congress did not establish anything like “qualified immunity” in the statute. Rather, the Supreme Court invented the doctrine in 1967 , purporting to protect cops who commit illegal arrests in “good faith,” and imposed it unilaterally on the nation. It then crept, kudzu-like , into other areas of law.

“The People never enshrined qualified immunity in the Constitution,” Reeves wrote. “Our representatives in Congress never put it into the statute or voted for it. No President signed it into law. If anything, it represents a kind of ‘trickle-down’ democratic legitimacy.” In recent years, the Supreme Court has not bothered to account for qualified immunity’s origins, but rather maintains it on the basis of respect for precedent: It exists already, so it might as well keep existing.

And here is where Reeves goes for the jugular: The Supreme Court has tossed out far more defensible and entrenched precedent on the basis of far feebler excuses. How can it justify keeping qualified immunity around while recklessly destabilizing vast areas of settled law it doesn’t like?

SCOTUS has suggested that law enforcement officers have come to rely on qualified immunity, creating a “reliance interest” that counsels keeping the doctrine. But when the court overruled Roe in 2022’s Dobbs decision, Reeves wrote, the majority rejected that “kind of vague, ‘generalized assertion about the national psyche.’ ” Instead, Reeves wrote, the justices “thought voters should resolve reliance interests, not judges.” He then repurposed Dobbs ’ most notorious lines : “After all, just like women, law enforcement officers and their unions ‘are not without electoral or political power.’ ” Law enforcement officers, like women, can “affect the legislative process by influencing public opinion, lobbying legislators, voting, and running for office.” If courts can’t protect women’s bodily autonomy, he asked, why should they do the bidding of police unions?

Dobbs , Reeves went on, “also reflects the Supreme Court’s desire to remove itself from the center of a hot-button issue and return it to the electoral process.” Police reform, like abortion, is undoubtedly a “controversy on issues of life and death, where passions run high.” Yet even after Dobbs , SCOTUS “has not yet seen fit to return this contested issue to the democratic process,” Reeves opined. “It is not clear why.” After all, “the current court is certainly not shy about overturning precedent.” And the list of cases on the chopping block “seems to grow every year.” Teachers’ unions and racial minorities have watched the court gut precedent that shielded them for decades. Why should cops get favored treatment? Merely because of SCOTUS’ “policy-based choice” to “privilege government officials over all others.”

Reeves has a complex history with reproductive rights. He was the district court judge who struck down the Mississippi law that the Supreme Court later upheld in Dobbs when overruling Roe . His emphatic opinion famously accused the Mississippi Legislature of misogynistic “gaslighting,” analogizing the state’s defiance of Roe to its earlier defiance of Brown v. Board of Education . It’s evident that, to Reeves, the Supreme Court’s embrace of democracy in Dobbs rings hollow alongside its rejection of democracy in so many other areas, including the Second Amendment. (In a pointed footnote, he called out the court for treating the right to bear arms as a uniquely absolute, unlimited freedom —while greenlighting the erosion of other liberties that it values less.)

The judge folds together these rather scathing observations by reminding us that the Supreme Court’s creation and expansion of qualified immunity is, itself, a rejection of democracy. The Framers, after all, envisioned jury trials as a bulwark of democratic power, a check by “We the People” on government abuse. It was, Reeves wrote, designed to be exercised “one dispute at a time, day after day, rather than on fixed election days.” Unfortunately, an arrogant “judicial supremacy has too-often deprived the people of their proper role” in deciding whether public officials should be liable for their unconstitutional acts. Qualified immunity “reflects a deep distrust of ordinary people” in direct conflict with the Constitution. “In the same way we trust the collective judgment of voters in elections, we must trust the judgment of jurors in deciding cases,” Reeves wrote. They can resolve “tensions and contradictions case by case, as the evidence dictates.” All judges must do “is tell jurors the truth.”

Will the Supreme Court listen? The conservative justices seem disinclined to reevaluate their cynical, selective concerns about precedent and democracy. But with this opinion, Reeves has given the public yet another reason to question these justices’ increasingly dubious wisdom and integrity. Just as importantly, other judges may take note of Monday’s critique and follow Reeves’ suggestion of narrowing qualified immunity wherever possible. They might even join him in calling for its eradication, forcing SCOTUS to either stand by its handiwork or reevaluate it. The judge’s simple suggestion boils down to this: If we’re going to do democracy, let’s actually do democracy—not whatever partisan, half-baked substitute this Supreme Court is trying to pass off to the people.

Storms kill 4 in Kentucky, leave towns damaged

F RANKFORT, Ky. (WSMV) - Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced during a press conference on Monday that four people were killed during Sunday’s storms.

Governor Beshear confirmed that three women, ages 67, 62, and 48, died from injuries sustained from the storms. Additionally, a 34-year-old man was killed. Beshear also said a fifth person is in critical condition and clinging to life.

According to our NBC affiliate the Hopkins County Coroner said the 48-year-old woman was identified as Sandra Eckard of Dawson Springs, Kentucky. They added that Eckard died from blunt force trauma and that her husband is in the ICU.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency for the state, which has seen devastating damage from the Memorial Day Weekend storms.

The storms left much destruction behind in Kentucky. A house north of Bowling Green lost its roof during the storms overnight.

Parts of the roof were blown off the house on Allen Michael Lane and others collapsed into the structure. Broken-up framing and debris from the roof were thrown all over the property.

“It was shocking to see it was this close that it could that it could have been us,” Michelle Naufel reflected. “I am fortunate.”

Naufel and her family took shelter as the storm rolled through the area.

Despite some debris in yard, they were spared of any damage but some her neighbors weren’t so lucky with recovery now underway across this community.

I certainly feel for the folks that did get hit, I’m glad that their safe, that they weren’t hurt or anything but there’s apart of you that’s thankful it wasn’t you

“I certainly feel for the folks that did get hit, I’m glad that their safe, that they weren’t hurt or anything but there’s apart of you that’s thankful it wasn’t you,” Naufel said.

The Bowling Green area likely experienced a tornado on Sunday based on the severity of the damage but it has yet to be confirmed by the National Weather Service.

Despite the damage, there have not been any reports of injuries or fatalities in Warren county, where Bowling Green is located.

Two deaths were reported due to the weekend’s storms until a third death was reported out of Hopkins County.

The storms also knocked out power for thousands of Kentucky households and businesses as the Warren Rural Elec Co-Op Corporation (WRECC) announced on Monday morning that 11,800 were still without electricity. The power company said it expects restoration efforts to last several days.

What does John Green's book of essays say about the Indy 500? About the Indianapolis nod

Author John Green is no stranger to Indianapolis and the Indy 500, which is Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Green has many works in his back pocket, including several with nods to Indianapolis. It seems fitting to revisit some of the mentions as we wait for drivers to start their engines.

The IndyStar has several guides to get fans ready for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing including a printable starting lineup , how to tune in to the race from outside the racetrack and what people can bring to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

What to know about John Green and the Indy 500:

What does John Green's book of essays say about the Indy 500?

In " The Anthropocene Reviewed ," Green writes essays reviewing different topics from Halley's Comet to Diet Dr Pepper and even the Indianapolis 500, the IndyStar previously reported.

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He wrote the Indy 500 review during the pandemic.

“I wanted to write about my experience of suddenly being unable to go to the race, and how it felt to go through all the same rituals that I always go through on that Sunday, and to bike to the race as I always do and to arrive at an empty Speedway, with the gates locked shut."

"It can be hard at times because we have to get used to a new normal to be able to reflect on how much has been lost in the last year and a half," he said. "And obviously the loss of fans at the speedway wasn't one of the big losses, but it was a loss. One loss among billions. For me, it was a way to feel that."

But people don't have to feel that loss again as they can attend the race on Sunday.

The book, which was released in 2021, is his first work of nonfiction and is inspired by his podcast of the same name where he also published monthly reviews.

'The Anthropocene Reviewed': John Green's new nonfiction book finds wonder in Diet Dr Pepper, Indianapolis 500

What John Green books mention Indianapolis?

"The Fault in Our Stars" and "Turtles All the Way Down" are both situated in Indianapolis.

In the latter, there are many references to the city, including:

• White River
• Pogue's Run
• Michigan Road mansion
• Applebee’s at 86th and Ditch
• IU Health North Hospital
• The Indianapolis Star
• The Indianapolis Prize
• Juan Solomon Park

Others are reading: John Green’s ‘Turtles’ at home in Indianapolis

Is John Green from Indianapolis?

Not originally.

In his webpage , Green states that he grew up in Orlando. He moved to Indianapolis in 2007 when his wife got a job at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the IndyStar previously reported.

John Green on TikTok: Author still can't stop talking about how great Indianapolis is

How to watch 'Turtles All the Way Down'

The movie adaptation is now available streaming on Max .

When is the 2024 Indy 500?

This year's Indy 500 race is on Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

David Lindquist, Rachel Fradette and Ethan May contributed to this article.