Coberturas Verdes - Um Passo para a sustentabilidade

Abstract

The human population has favoured urban living for a long time, rather than life in the countrysi-de, wich usually provides a greater harmony between Man and Nature. Cities grow at a frantic rhythm, as well as everything related to them. If this growth is not exponential, it3;s probably only because of rea-sons of an economic nature. This growth shows repercussions on an urban planning level, as well as on environmental, human, social and economic ones. Thus, it has become essential to think on urban solu-tions with a decreasing environmental impact and, somehow, restore the cosy relationship between Man and Nature. Cities could be described as becoming increasingly impermeable, creating a shortage of parks and open spaces along with problems related to climate change. Building3;s roofs represent a large percentage of the built-in and impermeable areas of the cities, lacking any useful purpose most of the times. Green roofs present themselves as an useful alternative to currente design practices, being applicable to both new and pre-existing buildings, acessible or not, flat or sloped, as long as they meet the necessary requirements. In a way, green roofs offer a return of the parks and open spaces previously occupying the built-up area on the ground level, providing at the same time benefits at the environmental, human and economic levels by increasing the number of usable green spaces. This paper sets out the history of this type of roofs, the implications of climate changes on several levels, the advantages and disadvantages of this type of solution and the different types of green roofs, their concept, and all aspects to be considered on their design and maintenance base on research on con-sulted essys, published works and thesis. Green roofs are used all over the world, from cold to hot weathered countries, and on either tradi-cional constructions to the most technologically advanced ones. Many countries recognize their advan-tages, stimulating their implementation through fiscal incentives. What is the current status of this type of solution in Portugal? In order to find out wich is the situa-tion of our country for this type of roof coverage, some surveys were compiled and made available on-line to anyone who wanted to participate in the research. An analysis of the answers led to some conclu-sions on the level of knowledge and receptivity of both general population and construction Professio-nal regarding this subject.