One of the joys of pedaling through different countries is seeing the way other people live. I fell in love with these green roofed homes in Norway:
Not only are green roofs beautiful, they have many Eco-friendly advantages:
- Dramatically reduce heating and cooling costs
- Extend a roof’s lifespan
- Filter heavy metals out of rainwater
- Filter pollution and carbon dioxide from the air
- Reduce storm-water run-off
- Provide habitat for insects (we need more bees) and other wildlife
- Help to stabilize a house
- Blend into woodland/rural surroundings
- Lower urban air temperatures
The cons are that green roofs cost more to construct than non-green roofs.The biggest cost being the waterproofing membrane(s).
Cities around the world are jumping on the green roof bandwagon:
York University, Toronto
- Toronto is the first City in North America to have a bylaw to require green roofs on new development.Toronto also offers green roof incentives.
- Copenhagen requires new flat-roofed buildings to have green roofs.
- London’s Mayor Boris Johnson (whose hairdo rivals Donald Trump’s) proposes that all major new developments within London are required to have a green roof.
- The city of Basel in Switzerland has the highest area of green roofs per capita in the world.
- Many German cities provide subsidies to developers who use green roofs.
- British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Vancouver offers courses in green roof technology.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see more green roofs in our communities?
Cycling Gypsies 
Apsolutely wonderful!!!
Judging by Boris and Donalds `thatch`, it is in grave danger of blowings away.
Green roofs in Scandanavia is very popular. My first house in Denmark had a thatched roof and every Spring and Summer the thatchers are out and about in my area. I never get tired of watching them apply their art.
Steve