By Rubina Obaid
Utilizing the green roofs for sustainable energy generation through Plant Microbial Fuel Cell (P-MFC) technology thus a biomass energy technology is generated through living plants and combines bioelectricity and biomass production on a common surface.
Depletion of natural resources, global warming, air, and water pollution are few of the environmental impacts which can be attributed to human activities. Hence, switching towards sustainable energy sources to practice remedial measures in order to tackle acute environmental consequences is essential. Green roof strategy is a key measure that has been taken to increase green spaces in urban areas to obtain ecological benefits. This encourages covering roofs of buildings or homes with plants usually with turf, grass, plants, and flowers and the covering would provide considerable amelioration in heat and thermal impact to the occupants along with aesthetic value to the environment. It also provides numerous energy-saving benefits and improved stormwater management as many plants offer better environmental factors that greatly influence the precise balance of water on a green roof.
Selection of the right plants with substrate depth, proper composition, and irrigation methods play an important role in influencing the water balance and existing moisture captured by the rain and energy consumption. Rainwater is intercepted by the foliage and gets evaporated before reaching the substrate surface in addition to this, vegetation type greatly influences stormwater retention as photosynthesis metabolism has a major effect on transpiration. Deeper substrates are capable of retaining more water and therefore provide better support to the plants Path to biomass building. As they have greater shoot and root, biomass is more effective in water runoff than those with less biomass such as sedum.
Utilizing the green roofs for sustainable energy generation through Plant Microbial Fuel Cell (P-MFC) technology, as biomass energy technology is generated through living plants and combines bioelectricity and biomass production on a common surface. The environmental performance of P-MFC has not been established strongly yet and it is in its early stage and in the phase of development. Enhanced power output and derivatives obtained through P-MFC are going to improve environmental performance. Whereas the length of the time carbon remains in the of the green roof before it gets decomposed still needs to be quantified Path to biomass building. Increased plant biomass which contributes to carbon sequestration depends upon the diverse species, physiological characteristics of the plants and the impact of climate to mitigate heat and improved carbon sequestration of the green roofs.
Bare tiles on rooftop has relatively higher thermal capacity and stores more energy and heat as the temperature rises and makes the building or home hot. The inner temperature of the building gets, even more, higher than the outer environment due to the accumulation of heat energy and it remains hot even in the afternoon. This reflects that bare roof delays the daily cooling effect even at night and works as the reservoir of heat energy. With extensive shrub shielding, soil thickness and more biomass; play a significant role in storing and transmitting heat which is then passed to rock wool with the help of moisture. The shrub has the densest and complex biomass structure and the ability to mold the passive cooling function than plant vegetation while grass has a simple biomass structure yet it has also got the capability to create passive cooling with a concentration of transpiration foliage.
Reference links:
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2020Spring/index.php#/16
