Environmental and Social Benefits of Extensive Green Roofs Applied on Bus Shelters in Edinburgh

The presence of green roofs in urban areas provides various ecosystem services that help mitigate climate change. They play an essential role in sustainable drainage systems, contribute to air quality and carbon sequestration, mitigate urban heat island, support biodiversity, and create green spaces...

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Main Authors: Zuzana Koscikova, Vladimir Krivtsov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/10/1831
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author Zuzana Koscikova
Vladimir Krivtsov
author_facet Zuzana Koscikova
Vladimir Krivtsov
author_sort Zuzana Koscikova
collection DOAJ
description The presence of green roofs in urban areas provides various ecosystem services that help mitigate climate change. They play an essential role in sustainable drainage systems, contribute to air quality and carbon sequestration, mitigate urban heat island, support biodiversity, and create green spaces supporting public well-being. Bus stops provide good opportunities for installing green roofs. Various cities worldwide have started installing green roofs on bus shelters, but often without thoroughly comparing expenses and the resulting benefits. This study quantifies the social and environmental benefits of installing green roofs on bus shelters in the City of Edinburgh. An assessment of the benefits and their monetary values was conducted using the B£ST analysis tool combined with manual calculations, which is easily transferable to other cities worldwide. It was compared to the current situation with no green roofs installed at bus stops. Installation of green roofs on all bus shelters in the City of Edinburgh may result in £12.9 million–£87.2 million in total benefit present value. The total cost was projected to be £15,994,000. By green roof installation, the City of Edinburgh can be closer to being carbon-neutral by 2030, a sustainable city as part of the City Plan 2030 and City Vision 2050.
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spelling doaj.art-27351a2c69d444ddbe4e777374a57d4a2023-11-19T17:03:11ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2023-09-011210183110.3390/land12101831Environmental and Social Benefits of Extensive Green Roofs Applied on Bus Shelters in EdinburghZuzana Koscikova0Vladimir Krivtsov1School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Alexander Crum Brown Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, UKSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 1.03H Rutherford Building, The King’s Buildings, 190 Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UKThe presence of green roofs in urban areas provides various ecosystem services that help mitigate climate change. They play an essential role in sustainable drainage systems, contribute to air quality and carbon sequestration, mitigate urban heat island, support biodiversity, and create green spaces supporting public well-being. Bus stops provide good opportunities for installing green roofs. Various cities worldwide have started installing green roofs on bus shelters, but often without thoroughly comparing expenses and the resulting benefits. This study quantifies the social and environmental benefits of installing green roofs on bus shelters in the City of Edinburgh. An assessment of the benefits and their monetary values was conducted using the B£ST analysis tool combined with manual calculations, which is easily transferable to other cities worldwide. It was compared to the current situation with no green roofs installed at bus stops. Installation of green roofs on all bus shelters in the City of Edinburgh may result in £12.9 million–£87.2 million in total benefit present value. The total cost was projected to be £15,994,000. By green roof installation, the City of Edinburgh can be closer to being carbon-neutral by 2030, a sustainable city as part of the City Plan 2030 and City Vision 2050.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/10/1831blue-green citiesecosystem servicesgreen infrastructurecost benefit analysisclimatic mitigation<i>Sedum</i>
spellingShingle Zuzana Koscikova
Vladimir Krivtsov
Environmental and Social Benefits of Extensive Green Roofs Applied on Bus Shelters in Edinburgh
Land
blue-green cities
ecosystem services
green infrastructure
cost benefit analysis
climatic mitigation
<i>Sedum</i>
title Environmental and Social Benefits of Extensive Green Roofs Applied on Bus Shelters in Edinburgh
title_full Environmental and Social Benefits of Extensive Green Roofs Applied on Bus Shelters in Edinburgh
title_fullStr Environmental and Social Benefits of Extensive Green Roofs Applied on Bus Shelters in Edinburgh
title_full_unstemmed Environmental and Social Benefits of Extensive Green Roofs Applied on Bus Shelters in Edinburgh
title_short Environmental and Social Benefits of Extensive Green Roofs Applied on Bus Shelters in Edinburgh
title_sort environmental and social benefits of extensive green roofs applied on bus shelters in edinburgh
topic blue-green cities
ecosystem services
green infrastructure
cost benefit analysis
climatic mitigation
<i>Sedum</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/10/1831
work_keys_str_mv AT zuzanakoscikova environmentalandsocialbenefitsofextensivegreenroofsappliedonbussheltersinedinburgh
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