The efficiency of green roofs to mitigate urban heat island effect in Rio de Janeiro

Nowadays, a frequent topic of discussion is deterioration of the quality of the urban environment. Given that the majority of people live in urban areas, it is necessary to address this issue. The buildings, streets, and other infrastructure that comprise urban environment typically make cities hotter than surrounding rural areas. The integration of vegetation in the form of green roofs into the urban fabric is particularly important to reduce this temperature discrepancy. This paper attempts to evaluate the efficiency of green roofs to mitigate the urban heat island effect through monitoring temperatures in Rio de Janeiro. The 1.82 degrees C of the difference in average air temperature between the green roof and the reinforced concrete flat roof was found within this study. This work provides useful information for policy-makers and decision-makers to utilize one of the green strategies for lowering urban temperatures, saving energy, and improving the quality of life.