You might call it a living roof, an eco-roof, or even a rooftop garden; in every case it's a roof that has been planted with vegetation. And while it's literally as green as the plants that grow there, it's also "green" in the Earth-friendly sense: The plantings can serve as natural insulation, reduce sewage system loads and air pollution, and counter the "heat island effect" (raised temperatures in urban areas). The roof is typically covered with a layer of waterproofing material, then with soil or another planting medium, and planted with grasses, flowers, groundcover, or even shrubs and trees. Irrigation systems are sometimes included. However it's designed, it sure beats old-fashioned black tar on a hot city day.

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