Educational Activities to support Green Roofs Literacy

Abstract

Green roofs are building rooftops that are fully or partially covered with vegetation. They are multifunctional and provide several ecosystem services. Their potential application is undervalued being necessary more literacy on their use and implementation. Green roofs can contribute to water quantity regulation in cities by reducing stormwater runoff, improve air quality, reduce noise pollution, provide carbon sequestration and energy savings. Also, they have an aesthetic value and support local biodiversity. Concerning climate change they are particularly interesting to address temperature and extreme precipitation issues (UNEP, 2014). At the level of ungraduated students is of crucial importance to address the inclusion of green roofs in buildings and cities, that relates pivotal subjects for comprehension of the Earth System, human settlements and support the build-up of the adaptive and mitigation capacity of cities. Having this in consideration, we intent to present three proposals for educational activities addressing green roofs to be used by teachers or course instructors: i) green roof field trip, ii) green roof design exercise and iii) city model. These resources can be used separately or in combination aligned with the defined approach. The intention of the "green roof field trip" is to have a clear view how green roof looks like and integrates the building and the landscape, as its interaction with the surroundings. The observation of the green roof at different levels (social, environmental and economic), which potential benefits it provides and the materials used are some of the questions to be addressed. In the "green roof design exercise", the intention is to students design during the class, a green roof solution for their school/class building in order to address the benefits and advantages that it could provide. They would have to have background information on the classification of green roofs, their multifunction and components. Concerning the "city model" the intention is to build a model of a city and incorporate green infrastructures, including green roofs and other nature-based solutions, that are of great relevance concerning the mitigation and adaptation to climate change. This approach will provide the view to the students of an interconnected and resourceful city, towards achieving an urban circular economy. Keywords: green infrastructures, education for sustainability, educational resources, educational activities