Lighten Green Roof Load with Synthetic Soil

Japanese brewer Suntory Ltd. said it had created an alternative to soil to help keep cities green. Applications include soil to cover roofs and walls for greenery — green roofs.

“This will make it possible to plant greenery on roofs and walls of buildings that have less load capacity,” said Suntory’s executive general manager Norio Kanayama.

Suitable for expanding green space in urban areas because it is lighter and more solid than soil. The soil is made of a synthetic substance, urethane.

Leafy plants growing in the synthetic soil can reduce the roof temperature by 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) — cool roofs.

Of course, there’s considerable irony in trying to save the planet by covering concrete buildings in fake plastic dirt, but then again, such a solution is about as Japanese as it gets, no? Engadget

Read the entire article, an interesting item to watch develop in the future.

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1. 

   Will Gorman says:

   September 5, 2008 at 1:36 pm

   This is great news, and I thought Suntory only made whiskey!

   reply