Abstract
Green roofs (GRs) are a sustainable alternative to conventional roofs that provide multiple ecosystem services. Integrating GRs into urban areas is highly relevant considering the rapidly increasing built-up in cities. Therefore, this paper systematically and comprehensively reviews the recent literature from 2011 to 2019 on GRs to identify the challenges and perspectives related to the urban integration of GRs. The review suggests that the effectiveness of GRs in delivering ecosystem services is largely dependent on context-specific parameters such as weather conditions and existing construction or design-related parameters. Integrating GRs into urban areas can be challenging given the diversity of actors, functions, and conditions characterizing these areas. Although significant research has already been conducted on GRs, research covering more geographical locations and contexts is needed. The review points out the need to include future urbanization scenarios, such as tall buildings while analyzing the impact of GRs on ecological networks. Additionally, the review emphasizes the inclusion of urban morphological parameters alongside an analysis of the impact of GRs on microclimate regulation and air quality. In terms of social acceptance, this review points out the need to consider the temporal cycles of vegetation for noting users’ perspectives. Additionally, further research is required on the social impact of GRs, considering their influence on property prices. Lastly, the review stresses the need for more city-scale studies on the impact of GRs on ecosystem services.
Highlights
IntroductionIt is essential to significantly transform the way urban spaces are built and managed to ensure the sustainable development of cities [3]
A recent review by Francis and Jensen [35] that focuses on three specific ecosystem services provided by Green roofs (GRs), namely urban heat island (UHI) mitigation, air quality, and energy consumption, suggests that the evidence is inconclusive about the benefits of GRs, and they can be useful only under certain conditions
The effectiveness of GRs in delivering ecosystem services is largely dependent on context-specific parameters, such as weather conditions and existing construction or design-related parameters
Summary
It is essential to significantly transform the way urban spaces are built and managed to ensure the sustainable development of cities [3]
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