Green Acres

One of the first things I noticed about Bern – besides the stunning view of the Alps – was the fact that many of the flat-roofed buildings had grass growing on them (pictures will be added later). It is not just Bern; green roofs dot the skyline of other Swiss cities as well like Basel and Zurich. I speculated that it may have something to do with insulation, or maybe they were intended as extremely unsafe lawn areas. Couldn’t figure it out….until I saw this article today on msnbc.com.

Turns out the concept is designed to reduce storm water runoff, lower the effects of pollution, and provide insulation. The green landscape is an added visual benefit. The article talks about how this environmentally friendly idea is increasingly being “exported” to the United States. Switzerland is referenced on page 3: “Endangered beetles and spiders have found refuges in Basel, Switzerland, where a city mandate requires green roofs to accompany all new flat-roofed buildings. Endangered rooftop orchids thrive in nearby Zurich.”

It is clear that conservation, recycling, and adopting ecologically friendly policies is a big deal here.