Multilayer Green Roof for Smart Resilient City

Compared to conventional green roofs that only installed vegetation or other green infrastructure, multilayer green roofs are an innovative tool that combine the green infrastructure with blue infrastructure with a rainwater harvesting system. Multilayer green roof enables rainwater to permeate from the soil and be harvested and stored in water tanks. This innovation can contribute to the sustainable management of water, energy and food not only on the building but potentially in the local area, and be a valid support for the creation of smart and resilient cities,

Multilayer Green Roof can help cool the air and reduce the urban heat island effect in the surrounding area. There is also an example where the collected water is sprinkled on to the streets around the building to reduce the neighbourhood temperature. Collected rainwater can also be used for various domestic uses, reducing the pressure on the water supply system. Water mass collected in higher buildings can also be used as an additional source of sustainable energy with the help of a micro-hydropower system. Additionally, the Multilayer Green Roof can be used as a tool of urban agriculture that contributes to lowering the carbon footprint of local food demand, reducing the transport and energy consumption while limiting pollution and reducing food waste. 

Reference:

Cristiano, E., Deidda, R., & Viola, F. (2021). The role of green roofs in urban Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem nexus: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 756, 143876.

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