Fight global warming, have a roof garden! / myLot

Roof Garden - Some companies are putting gardens on their roof in a bit to fight global warming by going green on their roofs.

Singapore

November 19, 2008 8:45am CST

http://www.cityfarmer.info/category/roof-garden/ This is such an innovative idea. I sure wish they would do the same here in Singapore. Given that we are a small island country with a lot of high rise building. And with the aging population growing, it would be a very good activity for the older folks to keep them busy in their retirement. It would also be a good source of food that could add to the local markets to keep prices low. And if they also will invest in some solar panels on the roof that charges batteries that will run the lights in the nights, that would cut our carbon emissions by quite a bit too. I sure hope the government can look into this and divert some of their infrastructure budget to do so. And with that, hope that it will also reduce some of our cost to maintaining the estate by reducing the service and conservancy fees we pay from the savings they get from these roof top activities. A win win situation for both the people and the government! An impossible dream? You think? Tokyo did it. Why not us?

1 person likes this

2 responses

kun2349

@kun2349 (23381)

• Singapore

20 Nov 08

A roof garden?? I thought there's one in singapore too, but dunno is at which hospital.. hehe ^_^ I did read and seen about the proposal b4, but i'm not sure if it's being put into action.. haha ^_^ I think if there's one, it will look very nice, and that not only toyko had done it, hongkong had done it too.. hehe

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put into action

ahgong

@ahgong (10064)

• Singapore

20 Nov 08

Not only Hong Kong, even Vancover is doing it! And those countries have seasons where the sun do not shine very strongly. I wonder why here in hot sunny Singapore, they never do it? As in make the roof tops arable by planting food that could benefit anyone and everyone! And with the solar panel installed, I am sure it will be able to charge enough batteries to light the whole block for the night! Sheez~~~ with so much of the budget ploughed into infrastructure, why not put some of that into something more useful that would benefit the locals who pay the taxes. It reduces cost for both the government and the people. But here, we only see prices go up. They never come down once it goes up.

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ahgong

@ahgong (10064)

• Singapore

23 Nov 08

Like I said, there is no lack of funds in the government coffers. Spending some to make roof tops more useful than just sitting water tanks, I am sure the project will work. And if they also install some solar panels to charge batteries that could go towards lighting the block at night, it will do a lot to save the carbon emission that our government is so keen to cut as well. I am sure with some creative barricades, there will be some measures of prevention to the problems you mentioned. If other countries are doing it and making it a success, there must be some value to it. It is a pity we cannot tap on this vast resource of roofs into arable land that we so lack! I still think it is a feasible idea. Just need to iron out the kinks to make it work. Why do you think we pay so much taxes for top scholars to be our government for?

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arkaf61

@arkaf61 (10881)

• Canada

12 Dec 08

I have been reading about roof gardens for some time. I really like the idea and I actually have tried a small one of my own on my flat roof. I didn't think about food, but it's an idea of course. Maybe some lettuce, tomatoes, etc.... I would be all for solar panels on the roof if - like any other good ideas it wasn't taxed more than what it should . I just learned recently that if I want to do that I will have to pay extra taxes. Strange I would think that me helping the environment should be rewarded instead of taxed... oh well .... LOL

1 person likes this

@ahgong (10064)

• Singapore

12 Dec 08

I am so curious, how much would it cost you to install solar panels on your roof. So much so it is enough to power some of the appliances of your home. I read with interest some on where I am, did just that and he is starting to reap benefits from it. I do not know if he was taxed extra for installing those solar panels. But I would love to be able to do the same where I am living!

And the reason for the additional tax would be for what? Did they explain it to you why you have to pay extra taxes for installing solar panels on your own roof?