Scientists reveal how green roofs cut rooftop temperatures by 40°F
Green roofs are being increasingly adopted in urban areas to combat the 'heat island' effect by using vegetation and soil to provide natural cooling. Research indicates these installations can lower rooftop surface temperatures by 30-40°F through shading and evaporation.
Why it matters
As urban heat waves become more frequent, green infrastructure offers a sustainable, energy-efficient solution to reduce building cooling costs and improve urban climate resilience.
Cities have a habit of storing heat. Roads, walls and rooftops absorb sunlight during the day and slowly release it back into the surroundings after sunset, leaving built-up areas warmer than nearby rural landscapes. Among these surfaces, rooftops often receive little attention despite covering large portions of urban space. A dark, exposed roof can become extremely hot during summer, adding extra strain to buildings and the people living inside them.Across many cities, an alternative is appearing above streets and neighbourhoods. Empty roof surfaces are being transformed into living spaces covered with plants, soil and carefully designed layers that help buildings cope with rising temperatures.How green roofs use plants and water to cut rooftop heat by up to 40°FA green roof is not just a set of plants placed on the roof surface of a building.
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