Last updated: October 2021
This project was the first green roof in the city of Bologna, and it has been carried out by the University of Bologna in collaboration with the Columbia University of New York with the aim to prove more evidence on green roof stormwater performance. For the Engineering School of Bologna University the existing roofs had a load capacity that was able to host only an extensive roof, without the costly need of being reinforced. In the extensive roof type the vegetation is usually very drought resistant and plants can adapt to difficult environmental conditions, therefore sedum was chosen (1).
Green Roofs of the University of Bologna
Source: https://site.unibo.it/multicampus-sostenibile/it/energia/tetti-verdi
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Green roofs
- Balcony greens
- Green areas for water management
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
- Promotion of cultural diversity
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
The goals of the intervention consisted in analysing the potential impact green roofs have on containing water runoff and reducing the heat island phenomenon highly common in the city of Bologna (2).
- Thermal insulation - The vegetative cover contributes to the reduction of thermal dispersion between indoor and outdoor with a reduction in energy consumption;
- Acoustic insulation;
- Bioclimatic improvement - The green shells, replenishing that lessened biological mass due to the cementation, allow through the photosynthesis the transformation of carbon dioxide into oxygen. In addition, by reducing the emissions caused by the use of air conditioning systems, they contribute to improving environmental viability.
- High water retention - the elements of the package and the substrates are able to return to the environment by evapotranspiration up to 80% of rainwater, thus reducing the flow to the sewage;
- Decrease in the heat island phenomenon - vegetation permits dust retention (7).
Implementation activities
At the end of the planning process, it took few months for the roof to be installed. The first months required more careful maintenance since it was over summer. Plants needed to be watered more frequently. Constant observation of the roof were carried both viasually and through specific sensors. The approach was keeping half of the roof of the university building as the conventional concrete roof and the other half as green roof, in order to make a comparison of their performances in terms of water retention and heat mitigation (1).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
- Implement green walls or roofs to lower indoor temperature and provide insulation
- Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
- Install vertical or horizontal artificial surfaces that help with carbon storage and cooling
Main beneficiaries
- Researchers/University
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Researchers/university
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Other
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was launched by the University of Bologna in collaboration with Columbia University of New York. Departments involved in the project were: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Chimica, Ambientale e dei Materiali (DICAM) e del Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Industriale Edilizia e Costruzioni – U.O. Fluidodinamica (CIRI EC) in collaborazione con l’Ufficio Tecnico di Ateneo (AUTC), il Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie (DipSA) e l’Azienda Agraria dell’Università di Bologna (AUB).
The construction was managed by three companies: Seic Verde Pensile, Harpo spa and Casalini & Co. srl (1, 2, 3, 4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project was partly financed by LIFE+. The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value (3).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The intervention was part of the Environmental Sustainability Plan developed by the University of Bologna for the years 2013-2016 (3). )
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
- Public regional budget
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
No
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
References
1. Bonoli, A. et al. (2013). Green roofs for sustainable water management in urban areas. Bologna: Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, 153-156., Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
2. Universita di Bologna et al (no date), Progetto di ricerca Tetti Verdi dell’Università di Bologna, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
3. Comune di Bologna et al (2013) Official website of the project, I tetti verdi come tecnologie per la gestione delle acque urbane: studi sperimentali, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
4. Unibo Magazine (2014), I tetti verdi dell'Alma Mater arrivano anche al CAAB, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
5. Universita di Bologna (2013), Piano della Sostenibilta Ambientale (2013-2016), attached pdf, (Accessed 19-6-2020)
6. Universita di Bologna (no date), Multicampus Sostenibile, L’Universita di Bologna per la sostenibilta, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
7. University of Bologna (no date), Project update, Available at Source link (Accessed 12-7-2020)
8. Comune di Bologna (no date), Piano di Addatamento: Cita di Bologna, strategia di addatamento locale, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
2. Universita di Bologna et al (no date), Progetto di ricerca Tetti Verdi dell’Università di Bologna, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
3. Comune di Bologna et al (2013) Official website of the project, I tetti verdi come tecnologie per la gestione delle acque urbane: studi sperimentali, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
4. Unibo Magazine (2014), I tetti verdi dell'Alma Mater arrivano anche al CAAB, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
5. Universita di Bologna (2013), Piano della Sostenibilta Ambientale (2013-2016), attached pdf, (Accessed 19-6-2020)
6. Universita di Bologna (no date), Multicampus Sostenibile, L’Universita di Bologna per la sostenibilta, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
7. University of Bologna (no date), Project update, Available at Source link (Accessed 12-7-2020)
8. Comune di Bologna (no date), Piano di Addatamento: Cita di Bologna, strategia di addatamento locale, Available at Source link (Accessed 19-6-2020)
Green Roofs of the University of Bologna
Source: http://www.blueap.eu/site/i-tetti-verdi-come-tecnologie-per-la-gestione-delle-acque-urbane-studi-sperimentali/