Up On The Roof

GUEST BLOGGER: Serena Zhang, Rising High School Senior and Fifty Forward Summer Intern

I, like most people, have been grudgingly complaining about oil prices. However, let us not forget that as human population increases, space is also becoming a pricier and more prized commodity. At a time when our earth is straining to support 6.7 billion of us, we cannot sacrifice green space at the expense of building new infrastructure.

My solution? Use roofs. Roofs, for the most part, have been flat, lifeless blocks-screaming to be filled…with something! We could install solar panels for using sunlight more efficiently or plant a little garden there, where the grass and flowers will have optimal sun.

My vision entails a whole neighborhood park at the top of a residential building! The elevator can easily bring residents to this new “top floor”, where protective shields ensure the inhabitants’ safety. Below the roof surface, soil-encased cells will not only support plant growth, but will also allow extra rainwater to seep down to the storm water storage compartment. The stored water can be then filtered into drinking water or can be used to replenish the soil in times of drought.

In my vision, I hope that developers will not have to choose infrastructure over sustaining greenspace, or vice versa. This is my hope for the future: what is yours?

-Serena