Study: Green roofs curb global warming

WASHINGTON — Green roofs are becoming more popular, with the number of green roofs increasing by more than 35 percent from 2007 to 2008 in the United States, according to LiveScience.

In addition to soaking up pollution and noise, the plants in green roofs naturally absorb carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas behind global warming, the story stated.

Brad Rowe, a researcher at Michigan State University, said: "In Stuttgart, Germany, 25 percent of all roofs are green. It's just normal. I think we can get to that level here. It's possible to choose plants where you don't need to water them if you're in a place like Arizona, if you have the right cactus species, for instance. They can also bring in birds and butterflies, help improve biodiversity. And there's also aesthetics, and how do you put a dollar value on that?"

For the study, scientists at Michigan State University measured carbon levels in plant and soil samples collected from 13 green roofs in Michigan and Maryland over a two-year period, the story noted.

Researchers found that replacing traditional roofing materials with green roofs in an urban area the size of Detroit, with a population of about one million, would capture more than 55,000 tons of carbon — a figure roughly similar to eliminating a year's worth of carbon dioxide emitted by 10,000 mid-sized sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and trucks, the story added.

According to the story, the researchers are scheduled to detail their findings in the October 1 issue of the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

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