Addressing the Water–Energy–Food Nexus through Enhanced Green Roof Performance

Jeremy Wright, Jeremy Lytle, Devon Santillo, Luzalen Marcos and Kristiina Valter Mai
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Jeremy Wright: Environmental Applied Science and Management Program, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Jeremy Lytle: Building Science Program, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Devon Santillo: Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Luzalen Marcos: Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Kristiina Valter Mai: Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Urban densification and climate change are creating a multitude of issues for cities around the globe. Contributing factors include increased impervious surfaces that result in poor stormwater management, rising urban temperatures, poor air quality, and a lack of available green space. In the context of volatile weather, there are growing concerns regarding the effects of increased intense rainfalls and how they affect highly populated areas. Green roofs are becoming a stormwater management tool, occupying a growing area of urban roof space in many developed cities. In addition to the water-centric approach to the implementation of green roofs, these systems offer a multitude of benefits across the urban water–energy–food nexus. This paper provides insight to green roof systems available that can be utilized as tools to mitigate the effects of climate change in urbanized areas. A new array of green roof testing modules is presented along with research methods employed to address current issues related to food, energy and water performance optimization. Rainwater runoff after three rain events was observed to be reduced commensurate with the presence of a blue roof retention membrane in the testbed, the growing media depth and type, as well as the productive nature of the plants in the testbed. Preliminary observations indicate that more productive green roof systems may have increasingly positive benefits across the water–energy–food nexus in dense urban areas that are vulnerable to climate disruption.

Keywords: green roofs; stormwater management; urban agriculture; blue roofs; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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