In urban areas, roofs cover a significant portion of land but a small portion of it is utilized for solar panels. Additionally, green roofs, which offer numerous advantages, are even less common.

While roofs are typically constructed to protect buildings from the elements, such as rain, wind, and sun, they may not always be readily adaptable for eco-friendly purposes. However, there are many roofs that can be modified for this purpose.

There are thousands of hectares of roofs that are ideal for solar panel installation. However, a majority of these roofs remain unused, despite the fact that solar energy production is more cost-effective than fossil fuels.

A recent example of such adaptation is at King’s College, Cambridge, where the ancient chapel’s east-west alignment made its roof perfect for generating electricity.

If every church in Britain were to follow suit, it would greatly benefit the UK’s climate objectives and serve as a noteworthy model.

Some buildings, such as factories, warehouses, and schools, have flat roofs which can be utilized for environmentally friendly energy production.

The most basic option is a lightweight clinker with sedums, which are plants with thick leaves and flat, nectar-filled flowers.

The additional thickness of the plants and clinker has energy-saving benefits as it provides insulation for the building during both summer and winter seasons. In addition, it helps to retain rainwater, decreasing the potential for urban flash flooding.

Source: theguardian.com