Chinese Roof Gardens

 

Green roofs are catching on throughout the world. Germany and Japan are well known for some very innovative architects who are building lots of green roof projects. In our part of the world, Chicago and Toronto are leading the way. Now the world is looking to China as a country that’s working to green the urban environment. As China has some huge cities with massive populations, this is a great way to help the environment. The Chinese Economic Net has more on green roofs in China:

After studying on the developing trend of roof greening at home and abroad, Liu Guoxiong, general manager of Beijing Green Environment Design and Service Co., Ltd., is convinced that there is a big potential in the market: “I was born in Beijing and grew up in Beijing. The urban environment of Beijing has a lot to be improved. Compared with traditional garden and park greening, the roof greening in China is at the initial stage, and it will definitely be vigorously popularized in the future.”

Doctor Luo Xiangjun, an expert on roof garden, mentioned that greenery coverage of Beijing plans to reach 45 percent in 2008 while such a rate at present is 41.8 percent. It is quite difficult to increase even a little bit on this basis. According to statistics, the cost of removing and greening in megalopolises like Beijing and Shanghai, where land is as precious as gold, is startlingly ranging from 10 thousand Yuan to 50 thousand Yuan per square meter. Yet the roof greening is much cheaper, “at least no land cost thereof”, said Wang Xianmin, secretary general of Beijing Roof Garden Association to the reporter. It is introduced that the cost for high-grade roof garden is no more than 500 Yuan per square meter, and the simple grass roof 150 Yuan per square meter. The price is still decreasing.

If you want to learn more about green roofs, check out these sources:

GreenRoofs.com/

EarthToys Article on Green Roofs.

EcoBackyard.com