The rooftops of a poor Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood are being transformed into green havens. The project was initiated by 53-year-old Luis Cassiano, a Brazilian environmental activist whose aim is not only to make the area more attractive. The main goal is much more important.

Houses in favelas are built with cheap materials. Their roofs are often covered with corrugated iron. Luis Cassiano's aim is to turn the grey metal into green havens because, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, plant roofs absorb heat and act as insulators for the buildings, reducing energy consumption for cooling or heating. This means that plants on the roof naturally cool homes during the hottest months.

"The biggest benefit is that the temperature goes down, but it also leaves the houses looking nicer and attracts birds and butterflies," Cassiano said.

The activist chose special plant species such as tradescantia zebrina fiddleheads and succulents with the ability to retain water so as not to burden or damage the buildings. The plants must be rupicolous, i.e. living on rocks, to survive the high temperatures raging in Brazil.

Cassiano hopes that more people will turn to green roofs. The plan is transferable to all buildings: luxury villas, shopping centres, apartment blocks, single-family homes or garages. The concept can work in all communities, beautifying the surroundings but also affecting electricity consumption and reducing indoor temperatures.

"People who live in favelas usually go for the fastest options like fans or air conditioning, but we can create plants in our habitat," sad the activist

"We can't put trees in favelas because there's no more space, but we have a lot of space on top of houses that can be used to plant on," Cassiano told Sky News.

Source: Sky News