Such is the cry of a Park Slope resident who recently showed a crowd of New Yorkers (including yours truly) how to start a green roof garden. Since starting a roof garden is a bit more complicated than planting on the ground, he took us step by step through the process, including how to set it up, what to grow, and how to maintain it.
A green roof generally means a carpeting of plants on a roof, which improves the energy performance of buildings, and reduces storm water runoff. Though many urban dwellers have flowerpots or container gardens on their roofs, these aren’t providing the energy savings that green roofs do.
So Jeff Hens set out to create a vegetable garden that would provide some of those benefits. While his garden far from carpets his roof, it does sit right against the roof membrane, helping to insulate his house, while providing fresh food for his family…”
Solar panels, wind turbines and hydroelectric schemes sprinkled across the island meet the energy requirements of almost all of its residents. With a $2.64 million electricity grid switched on back in 2008, operating independently of the UK’s national grid, the island wasn’t able to bring in big energy companies, so they did something unthinkable – they used their electricity economically – keeping consumption under 5 kilowatts, with a limit for businesses at 10 kilowatts.The island also enjoys a wonderful geographic locale. It has abundant sun, and wind – what some would call ‘harsh’ weather conditions, but a phenomenon the islanders use to their benefit. They even have free heating in public spaces, like churches and their community center.
What’s even more shocking – the island is owned by its residents! In 1997 Eigg Islanders bought the farm – quite literally. Anyone who lives on the island for more than six months becomes a member of the resident committee that decides who things are run in their town.”
