Faroe Islands' traditional grass roofs reduce CO2 emissions

DW (English)

Rooftops are laid out like lawns, and they need mowing regularly! The roofs are green in more ways than one: They turn carbon dioxide into oxygen, improving air quality and cutting emissions. And they boast other qualities, too.

Transcript

00:00It's not your average lawn that Rakul Heikse is mowing.

00:10Her house has a traditional turf roof.

00:13It's a method of insulation that dates back a thousand years or more.

00:17The village of Gasedalur is close to a cliff edge on one of the Faroe Islands, positioned

00:22far out in the North Atlantic.

00:25Stables built centuries ago by sailors and warriors called Vikings are still in use.

00:30We always try to make as small an imprint on the environment as possible, and this is

00:36probably a good way.

00:38The Faroe Islands lie between Iceland and Norway in one of the most remote corners of

00:42Europe.

00:43They belong to Denmark.

00:46The 18 islands are home to more sheep than people.

00:49Due to the harsh climate and thin layer of soil, there are few trees.

00:54But there's lots of grass.

00:56The strips of turf provide insulation.

01:01This restaurant is in Torshavn, the Faroese capital.

01:05The grass roof will blend into the landscape.

01:07And that's not all.

01:10It is not only beautiful, it's very good for isolation and also very good for noise reduction.

01:20When we have the hail and rain and snowstorms, you can hear nothing at all on the roof of

01:27the houses.

01:29Green roofs can absorb around two kilograms of CO2 per square meter each year.

01:34These living tiles convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, reducing the climate warming

01:39emissions.

01:45Local architect Heidi Polsen is delighted that one of her favorite building materials

01:49can also play an important role.

01:54Before it was just a material on the roof.

01:59Now it's a tool against climate change.

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