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The "Green Roofs", very popular in Scandinavian countries and with a long history also in Germany, are conquering adepts in Latin America -- like Mexico, where the gardens implantation over the roofs of the edifications are directing interests and acceptance.
Besides Mexico, where the govern studies the creation of laws to regulate the "naturation" in large scale, "green roofs" started appearing also in Bolivia and Cuba, where researches are looking for solutions for the tropical conditions of these places, in urban spaces with a high density.
Besides Mexico, where the govern studies the creation of laws to regulate the "naturation" in large scale, "green roofs" started appearing also in Bolivia and Cuba, where researches are looking for solutions for the tropical conditions of these places, in urban spaces with a high density.


The idea is transforming the "green roofs" in little lungs of the great cities, making corridors for facilitating the atmospheric circulation, for getting the microclimate better, for reducing the energy consumption, for decreasing the air-conditioned use in hot regions and for isolating the cold thermic sensation in regions of severe winters. Under a roof covered by vegetation, the low temperatures take more time to reach the inward spaces -- a low-impact problem of countries like Brazil, but an essential question for European countries and mountainous regions of Mexico and Bolivia.
In rainy climate localities, the natured areas can retain from 15% to 70% of the pluvial water volume, preventing the inundation occurrence -- another interesting aspect. Researches show that, for a thin green cover of 100 m2, about 1400l of rainy water are not taken to the public ways. Multiply this amount by the sum of all the covers of a great city and see the contribution for reducing this problem.

Green roofs also reduce the prejudicial effects of the ultraviolet rays, of the temperature apexes and of the wind effects, as on those roof the temperature do not cross over the 25º C -- against the 60º C of the conventional roofs.
Talking about prices: green roofs costs vary between 80 and 150 dollars by the m2 -- almost the half part of the conventional structures price. There are two green roofs patterns: the intensive ones, basically elevated parks which can sustain bushes, trees, passages, benches, etc.; and the extensive ones, created by its environmental benefits and not for being accessible cover gardens.
Chicago City Hall green roof is the most famous of the world, reuniting intensive, extensive and intermediary systems. The most ancient and known green roof are the Babylon Hanging Gardens.

Chicago City Hall