Green roofs have become increasingly popular thanks to their benefits related to climate adaptation, mitigation, and urban biodiversity management.
These vegetated surfaces on the rooftops of buildings absorb excess stormwater, reduce energy use by insulating buildings, and cool neighborhoods, tempering urban heat islands while also creating urban habitats for plants, pollinators, and wildlife.
But, in the U.S., green roofs are typically planted with non-native plants in sterile soils, and their effectiveness declines over time.
A Dartmouth-led research team set out to determine if managing green roof soil microbes could boost healthy urban soil development, a methodology that could be applied to support climate resilience in cities.
Read more at: Dartmouth College