During my subway ride home from Manhattan to Astoria, I noticed something exciting right by Queensboro Plaza. One of the nearby buildings, there in Long Island City, has a cultivated green roof. The roof is divided into sections, each with small plants growing. It sits on top of a building with an awesome mural of vampires and movie stars. Although a number of roofs exist in the area with sprouted volunteer plants, this one is definitely on purpose. There are sprinklers on the roof directed at the plants that go on in intervals.

It’s exciting to see green roofs happening more and more throughout the city. In addition to aesthetic reasons and possibly increasing free public space, green roofs save energy by provided insulation for the buildings below. They save money, as well, by cutting the costs of heating and cooling the building. In addition, their plants add oxygen into the air. I’m so glad to randomly come across one on my commute.