Solutions journalism is news about how communities and organizations are responding to social and environmental problems. The stories in this collection show how green roofs are being implemented around the world and detail their effectiveness. Eleven European cities are collaborating to implement green roofs in order to improve public health. This includes Rotterdam, a city in the Netherlands, which is utilizing green roofs as a tool to capture rainwater and prevent flooding. San Francisco has required 15-30% of new construction to have green roofs, and similar requirements have been approved in Denver and Portland, OR. Meanwhile, Tokyo focuses on using green roofs as a source for food in crowded urban areas.
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An average roof endures not only some of the harshest weather conditions in the winter, but it also gets up to 90 degrees hotter than the surrounding air during the summer. Green roofs can save money on air conditioning and heating as the vegetation and soil provide natural insulation year round. In addition, green roofs can be used as gardens or farms, allowing money also to be saved on groceries. Project Drawdown considers green roofs as one of the solutions for combating climate change and is just as beneficial for owners as it is for the planet. Join the Earth Month Ecochallenge to take action on this climate solution.