A cobertura verde como instrumento sustentável: estudo de caso da fazenda urbana de Belo Horizonte

Abstract

Currently, society has been changing the environment and causing problems such as pollution, floods, climate change and heavy traffic. The construction industry is one of the segments that most causes social and environmental impacts, therefore the industry must seek innovation through the use of technologies with a lower potential of causing negative impact. One of the instruments that have been intensified in Brazil is the green roof, a constructive method that uses waterproofed surfaces togrow vegetation on roofs, patios or previously unused spaces. The technique aims to expand the green areas of urban centers, reduce electricity consumption, improve air quality and aesthetics, avoid flooding and ensure thermal and acoustic comfort. Therefore, the present monograph aimed to learn about the technology in order to verify its compatibility with the pillars of sustainability and to carry out a case studywith an urban farm (fazenda urbana in Portuguese) of Belo Horizonte. Thus, the principles of sustainable construction were analyzed, and a brief summary of its concept and the main landmarks that promoted it was presented. The historical context and the related public policies were researched, pointing out the origin and the evolution of green roofs. The main constructive technologies used for its implementation were also presented, highlighting the characteristics of the most used systems. Delimiting the social, environmental and economic aspects involved, themain benefits and challenges of the technique were evaluated. Furthermore, a case study was carried out at Fazenda Urbana BeGreen Boulevard aiming to learn about the innovative system in Brazil and to identify, in practice, certain theories diagnosed in the study. Finally, it was concluded that the green roofs and the Fazenda Urbana have particular characteristics that distinguish one technology from the other but bothare viable under the scope of sustainability. They have the potential of being implemented in any Brazilian region and, although they present some challenges, their benefits are predominant. Another aspect that was also identified was the need for the adoption laws and strategies to encourage the use of these technologies and for changes in the current culture of construction and use methods.