How plants can help us be more sustainable

You do not need to be an environmental expert in order to understand the importance of plants for life on earth. Plants help minimize the stress levels whilst creating a positive feeling in your mind.

Green Roof Tops for an Eco-Friendly Building Structure

Basically, this is a vegetative layer that can be grown on the rooftop of a building. Green roofs, as opposed to conventional rooftops, help reduce energy consumption through the absorption of heat rather than attracting it thus offering a natural effect.

By minimizing the demand for an air conditioning system, green rooftops lower the emission of greenhouse gases along with other harmful pollutants that lower the quality of air in our environment.

Another major benefit offered by green roofs is that they can effectively minimize and slow down the runoff of stormwater in urban areas. Thus, a green roof can greatly lower the odds of sewer overflows and flash floods in cities.

During summer, green rooftops are able to retain as much as 90% of the precipitation which falls onto them while in the winter season, they are able to retain up to 40% of the total precipitation.

Better air quality

Studies have proven that plants are likely to improve the indoor air quality and can also be beneficial in countering Sick Building Syndrome among most office employees.

Even though there’s no specific cause identified as of yet, experts primarily relate it to poor air quality, unnecessary background noise as well as improper light conditions.

Since plants have greater surface regions and exchange water and various gases with the nearby surroundings, they can effectively tackle issues such as:

  • Increased levels of CO2 gas
  • Increased humidity
  • Increased levels of airborne dust
  • Rising air temperature
  • Natural Soil Stabilization and Cooling Effect

Green plants tend to offer a natural cooling effect. Leaves block the passage of heat coming from the sun. Plants are also known to offer a cooling effect via transpiration, even though without enough numbers of trees, such an effect can be minimal.

Transpiration allows water to evaporate from plant pores which cause the environment to cool down significantly through evaporative cooling. Additionally, plants help improve the soil quality using their roots that play a crucial role in binding soil. Also, plant leaves prevent the raindrops from eroding different layers of soil.

The Role of Plants in Balancing Our Eco-System

Plants, as well as trees, offer a sustainable ecosystem for insects, animals, and other life-forms on earth. Trees are a crucial component of several ecosystems. Tress, in addition to being an element of the carbon cycle, also offer food as well as shelter to many creatures. The truth is, most animals have a specific type of tree which they call their home. Meaning, every single tree can be a possible life-saver to some species.

To conclude, it would be safe to assume that plants and trees have a significant role to play in maintaining the right ecological balance on earth. Trees and plants form a true green culture on earth.