Project Green Roof
 Envision a concrete jungle and you think of the high-rise canyons of steel and glass that comprise our big cities with maybe a small park or two offering sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of everyday downtown life. Now, though, there’s a movement to bring the lush, green natural environment of the country to the city in another way. The rooftops of high rises are becoming more ecological-friendly. Residents and owners are finding that communing with nature is as easy as stepping out on the tops of their buildings. By combining the latest in modern construction with the beauty of natural green areas, architects are able to reduce “heat island” effects, control storm water runoff, and turn a rooftop wastelands into an urban oasis. Wild Side Guide Ken Tucker takes us to downtown Nashville where Mike Berkeley with GroWild Nursery is on a mission to cover a luxury high rise with native plants.
For more information about the idea of green roofs atop buildings, try the following web sites: www.hadj.net/green-roofs; www.greenroofs.com; and www.asla.org/land/050205/greenroofcentral.html.
To learn more about heat island effect visit www.epa.gov/hiri/about/index.html; eetd.lbl.gov/HeatIsland/LEARN; www.realclimate.org/index.php?p=44.
To learn more about stormwater runoff visit www.epa.gov/weatherchannel/stormwater.html; www.tennesseewaterworks.com.
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