Rooftop farms...challenge climate change
Weather of Arabia - In the heart of the charming French capital, Paris, rises a group of magnificent buildings that form an integral part of its architectural identity. These buildings are not just stone structures that reflect the city’s ancient history, but are also witnesses to the challenges that Paris and the entire world faces in the field of change. the climate.
Increasing temperatures and weather fluctuations represent serious challenges, and building roofs in Paris have become one of the places seeking to confront these challenges with unique and creative methods. In this article, we will highlight how to transform the rooftops of buildings in Paris into squares to combat climate change and promote sustainability in this charming city.
Rooftop farming... where did it start?
Answer: In France, there is a law aimed at encouraging the cultivation of plants on the roofs of buildings. The French House of Representatives passed a law requiring new buildings in commercial areas to direct their efforts towards placing plants or solar panels on parts of their roofs. This law aims to achieve several environmental and economic goals, including providing an insulating element for buildings, thus reducing the cost of heating and cooling and increasing the life of buildings. It also has environmental benefits in preserving biodiversity and providing living spaces for birds.
Environmental activists in France noted that this law did not go far enough and they hoped for it to be applied more widely, as some of them believe that the roofs of buildings should be completely covered with plants instead of only partially. It should be noted that the concept of environmentally friendly roofs is known in several countries, and it can be It carries great environmental benefits.
Where is the largest rooftop farm in Europe located?
The answer: The “Natur Urban” farm is located on the roof of one of the pavilions of the Paris Exhibition “ Porte de Versailles” , which receives 7 million visitors every year. The first phase of it was successful, as it began to harvest its fruits, with the hope of expanding it to become the largest in the world.
The farm contains more than 30 types of fresh crops on an area of more than 15 thousand square meters, equivalent to the area of 3 football fields. It provides healthy food to the population daily, uses techniques that prevent urban pollution, and guarantees products free of pesticides and chemicals. It seeks to be a model for agricultural production. Sustainable. The farm also relies on a completely closed cycle without soil or chemicals, and uses organic and mineral nutrients, which are carefully monitored via an electronic system. The crops are also displayed locally and sold to restaurants with high nutritional quality and exceptional taste.
Farming at “Natur Urban” is practiced by a team of gardeners, relying on various agricultural techniques, including vertical, horizontal and cylindrical farming. It allows the use of innovative techniques for growing climbing plants such as tomatoes and strawberries. It displays roots that hang in the air and is washed regularly using a mixture of water and nutrients. .
How do rooftop farms challenge climate change?
Answer: Green roofs and the farms located on them are considered innovative solutions for sustainable urban planning, as green roofs show a wide range of environmental and economic benefits in contrast to those traditional roofs of concrete and asphalt that do not make the most of the upper spaces, and cause environmental problems. With the increasing climate challenges, they become It is necessary for many cities to build new buildings with green roofs to achieve significant environmental benefits.
Stephen Beck, founder of the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities organization, said that green roofs reduce the waste of space and contribute to saving it for productive purposes. He pointed out that traditional roofs do not absorb rainwater, while green roofs contribute to absorbing it. In addition, they work Green roofs help reduce city temperatures and contribute to enhancing biodiversity.
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Sources:
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