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Chapter 12GREENROOFOur cities, suburbs, and towns create local heat islands. The level our impact onthe local environment is so great that average temperatures in most places wherepeople live have become several degrees warmer than would occur naturally in theselocations. You cant pour concrete or lay asphalt and expect this not to happen. Theonly answer is to return the land to a more natural state such that the cooling effectsof plants can do what is necessary to maintain a hospitable and healthyenvironment. That means putting the soil back and growing things on every possibleinch of the land that weve currently covered.Of course corridors for roads and railway tracks will be with us, and need to be. Agreen roof can eliminate the need for an air conditioner while also providingaddition insulation in the winter. On top of these money savers green roofs returnlocal average temperatures in the community to natural lives. These roofing systemsalso last longer and dont need to be replace as often as conventional shingle system.BenefitsR Reduces heating in summerby up to 40%R Additional insulation inwinterR Reduces rain run-offÜ More than 20% of homes in Germany have a green roof.162