The Green Economy’s Living Skin

By Chris de Morsella on August 24, 2009 3 Comments "Energy Saving Potentials and Air Quality Benefits of Urban Heat Island Mitigation", "Thermal Performance of Green Roofs through Field Evaluation", air pollution, brownfield restoration, Climate Change, CO2, concrete jungle, Department of Energy, DOE, energy, energy efficiency, environmental footprint, evapotranspiration, global warming, green design, green economy, green parking lots, green roofs, green walls, heat wave Europe 2003, heat waves, insulation, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, National Research Council of Canada, natural environment, natural habitat, peak energy demand, potable water, shade trees, shading, smog, South Coast Air Quality Management District, sustainable economy, thermal mass, urban design, urban forest, urban habitat, urban heat island, water pollution, water quality, Water Scarcity, wetland restoration

Green roofs, green walls, green parking lots, shade trees, the greening of urban spaces in general, the restoration of urban waterways, wetlands and the re-greening of brownfield areas; can all be thought of as different techniques to nurture a green living skin over regions of urban development. While there are many important differences between each of these separate techniques as well as their underlying technologies they all share a common overarching goal of bringing an analog of the natural living green skin that characterizes the natural landscape back into our urban areas. They all promote the restoration and re-integration of these heavily populated areas back into the surrounding natural environment.