Implementation of the sponge city: transformation and sustainable model solutions for roofs of the blue-green city
German Environmental Agency, FKZ 3723 48 301 0, project duration 6/2023 – 5/2026
The consequences of climate change pose enormous challenges for urban regions in form of prolonged heat waves, heavy rain events with floods and droughts. Therefore, the model of the climate-resilient city is becoming increasingly important. At this point, the principle of the “sponge city” makes a decisive contribution to a fundamental new way of handling with water by retaining rainwater, thus relieving the burden on sewage systems and also reducing the urban heat island effect through evaporative cooling. A mixed use of green roofs in connection with photovoltaic (so-called solar green roofs) complement each other particularly advantageously.
The project goals are, on the one hand, the development of an effective mix of policy instruments with which the blue-green infrastructure of a climate-resilient sponge city can be effectively implemented throughout in existing buildings. On the other hand, model solutions for green roofs are an important element of the blue-green infrastructure of a climate-resilient sponge city and should be developed.
The work packages WP 1 to WP 3 first summarize the state of knowledge and research on climate-resilient sponge cities. Thenpolitical instruments for implementing the necessary measures are identified. In addition, the socio-technical system of the sponge city is described in more detail and drivers and barriers to thetransformation into climate-resilient sponge cities are identified. This results in the 10 most important policy instruments for the implementation of the climate-resilient sponge city,with a focus on German small and medium-sized towns.
WP 4 presents the most effective green roof types for the sponge city and content-related criteria for a funding guideline and tender recommendations for solar green roofs It also gives recommendations for recycling-friendly sample roofs based on the using of building materials and the energy balance for the most important building types.
In the WP 5 led by Hydrotox, laboratory tests for 20 products/materials that come into contact with rainwater and are used in green roofs are tested according to CEN/TS 17459 in order to examine their ecotoxicological safety. A model of a green roof is replicated on a small scale in the laboratory and the infiltrated rainwater is examined for ecotoxicological effects. For comparison, the roof runoff water from the practical objects is tested.
Sponsor
German Environmental Agency (FKZ 3723 48 301 0)
Realisation
Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) gGmbH, Berlin, Dr. Daniel Johnson (Project management)
Prof. Dr. Manfred Köhler, landscape architect, University of Neubandenburg
Hydrotox GmbH, Freiburg, Dr. Ines Heisterkamp Dr. Stefan Gartiser
Water Technology Center Karlsruhe (TZW), Dr. Oliver Happel
Goetz & Heintze Garten- und Landschaftsbau GmbH, Stahnsdorf, Leonhard Goetz
Project duration
June 2023 – May 2026
Project description
The consequences of climate change pose enormous challenges for urban regions in form of prolonged heat waves, heavy rain events with floods and droughts. Therefore, the model of the climate-resilient city is becoming increasingly important. At this point, the principle of the “sponge city” makes a decisive contribution to a fundamental new way of handling with water by retaining rainwater, thus relieving the burden on sewage systems and also reducing the urban heat island effect through evaporative cooling. A mixed use of green roofs in connection with photovoltaic (so-called solar green roofs) complement each other particularly advantageously.
The project goals are, on the one hand, the development of an effective mix of policy instruments with which the blue-green infrastructure of a climate-resilient sponge city can be effectively implemented throughout in existing buildings. On the other hand, model solutions for green roofs are an important element of the blue-green infrastructure of a climate-resilient sponge city and should be developed.
The work packages WP 1 to WP 3 first summarize the state of knowledge and research on climate-resilient sponge cities. Thenpolitical instruments for implementing the necessary measures are identified. In addition, the socio-technical system of the sponge city is described in more detail and drivers and barriers to thetransformation into climate-resilient sponge cities are identified. This results in the 10 most important policy instruments for the implementation of the climate-resilient sponge city,with a focus on German small and medium-sized towns.
WP 4 presents the most effective green roof types for the sponge city and content-related criteria for a funding guideline and tender recommendations for solar green roofs It also gives recommendations for recycling-friendly sample roofs based on the using of building materials and the energy balance for the most important building types.
In the WP 5 led by Hydrotox, laboratory tests for 20 products/materials that come into contact with rainwater and are used in green roofs are tested according to CEN/TS 17459 in order to examine their ecotoxicological safety. A model of a green roof is replicated on a small scale in the laboratory and the infiltrated rainwater is examined for ecotoxicological effects. For comparison, the roof runoff water from the practical objects is tested.
Contact person at Hydrotox
Elena Perabo
Hydrotox GmbH
Bötzinger Str. 29
D-79111 Freiburg
Tel.: +49-761- 4 55 12-0
E-Mail: perabo(at)hydrotox.de