Author(s) :

Jacob J..

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is a phenomenon where urban cities experience significantly warmer temperatures than their surrounding rural areas due to human activities and darker-colored surfaces. The UHI effect poses significant environmental, economic, and public health risks. This literature review synthesizes existing research to investigate green roofs as a nature-based solution, their impact, and evaluates the effectiveness of extensive and intensive green roof types. An analysis of the three mechanisms that green roofs use to impact temperature: evapotranspiration, shading, and thermal insulation was conducted. A key finding is that their performance is not uniform; intensive systems generally provide superior cooling but require deeper substrates and greater plant biomass, while extensive systems are less impactful but offer a more cost-effective, accessible alternative. However, the cooling potential of both types is also dependent on climate and soil moisture, with a certain “tipping point” below which evapotranspirative cooling is far less effective. The review concludes that green roofs are an effective strategy for reducing Urban Heat Island Intensity (UHII), but their optimal implementation depends on designs based on the context, supportive policies such as mandates and financial incentives, and the local climate. Future research should focus on the long-term performance of green roofs, as they are a recent solution to the anthropogenic climate-induced UHI effect, and determine which plants are optimized for efficiency across different climatic zones and water usage.