Researchers
from the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering of the University
of Seville have published a study in which they indicate that it would be
necessary to have between 207 and 740 hectares of green roofs, depending on the
scenario that is contemplated, to reduce the effects of climate change in
relation to the maximum temperature rises of between 1.5 and 6 ºC that are
estimated by the end of the century. This would require between 11 and 40% of
the buildings in the city.
In this project,
published in the review Building and Environment, they have used Landsat 7
ETM+ and Sentinel-2 satellite images to obtain the normalised difference
vegetation index (NDVI) and ground temperature. Given the inverse relationship
observed between their values, it has been possible to determine the additional
area of vegetation needed (in this case of green roofs) necessary to reduce the
temperature by the same amount as it is predicted to rise in different climate
change models for Seville.
"To
mitigate the effects of climate change, we can talk about two types of options:
to attack it at its origin, by eliminating or reducing the human factors that
contribute to it (such as, reducing emissions, controlling pollution, etc.) or
developing strategies that allow for its effects to be reduced, such as, in the
case that concerns us, increasing green areas in cities, using, for example,
the tops of buildings as green roofs," states the University of Seville
researcher, Luis Pérez Urrestarazu.
The installation
of these gardens would provide better insulation for the buildings, which would
mean, on one hand, an energy saving for their owners, and, on the other, if
there were sufficient green roofs, an improvement in environmental conditions,
contributing to a reducing pollution and cushioning the higher temperatures.
"To fight
against climate change, this is without doubt a necessary strategy at a global
level. However, local measures can be established that contribute to this
global strategy and which can help to reduce the local effects that might be
produced in one's own city," adds Pérez.
The University
of Seville research group 'Naturación Urbana e Ingeniería de Biosistemas (Urban
Naturalisation and Biosystem Engineering)' works on different projects
connected to non-conventional urban naturalisation, especial vertical gardens,
and in aquaponics, joint production of plants and fish.
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