An integrated method to valuate the function of green roofs in absorbing air pollutants; Case study: Tehran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc. in Environmental sciences, College of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

2 Assistant professor, College of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Abstract

Tehran is the capital city of Iran and its inhabitants are suffering from air pollution.
Green roofs can be one of the choices to deal with this problem. In this paper, ability of
green roofs in absorbing four air pollutants (PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO2) in Tehran was
valuated. First, the potential of 1 m2 of a hypothetical green roof in Tehran in absorbing
PM10 and SO2 during 1 year was estimated using a dry deposition model. Absorbing
potential of green roof for NO2 and CO2 was taken from other studies. Next, the reduction
of each air pollutant was valuated using replacement cost method. Then, results were
generalized to the total roof areas of the residential buildings in Tehran for the green roofs
life span. Estimations showed that value of green roofs covering an area of 94,093,625 m2
in reducing PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO2 during 50 years in Tehran will be 506,361,775 $.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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