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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: London's green rooftops, such as the one atop Nomura PLC's European headquarters, are thriving with rare orchids and bees, showcasing significant biodiversity benefits while also contributing to urban cooling.
🔭 The context: Green roofs help lower urban temperatures by storing and releasing heat, mitigating the 'urban heat island' effect, which can make cities up to 10 degrees hotter than rural areas
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Green roofs support urban biodiversity by providing habitats for various species, including rare orchids and bees, enhancing ecological health in densely built environments
⏭️ What's next: While green roofs offer cooling and biodiversity benefits, researchers suggest that white roofs, which reflect sunlight, might be more effective in reducing temperatures, though they require regular maintenance to stay effective
💬 One quote: “The more green roofs that we can get, especially in these highly urban areas the better,” says David Crowley, Environmental Manager at Nomura
📈 One stat: University College London found green roofs increase surrounding temperatures at night, leading to a “null average decrease” in overall temperature
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