A good rainfall is vital for plants, trees and grass. But rain falling on roofs, concrete and roads poses a problem for the environment. This is because the runoff can carry pollutants directly into lakes, streams and rivers.
One solution to reduce this stormwater runoff is what is known as a green roof—a roof covered in living, growing plants. Architect Elizabeth Grant at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va. is testing how effective the roofs are at controlling urban runoff.
“Instead of having a plain roof that just has water coursing off of it all the time, you put the plants on there to hold the water for a period of time to slow down the flow of water off of it,” said Grant.
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