More greenery, less concrete
Rooftop gardens and urban green-blue space can mitigate the warming of a megacity like Dhaka, according to experts.
Normally, average temperature of Dhaka remains about 2 degree Celsius higher than that of the rural areas in summer and monsoon.
Temperature in the capital has been increasing over time with the rapid pace of urban development, construction activities and movement of vehicles and declining vegetation and waterbodies, said Dr Ashraf Dewan of School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtain University, Australia.
He said this while presenting findings of a research on “Mitigation Strategies for Warming of Dhaka Megacity: Implications for Sustainable Development”.
The seminar was orgnised by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS); Curtain University, Australia and Dhaka University’s Meteorology department at BIISS auditorium yesterday.
In his presentation, Dr Dewan said rise in temperature in planned areas such as Gulshan and Uttara is higher than that of unplanned areas due to high use of cooling technology.
According to him, density of buildings, population, transportation and lack of green-blue space are mainly responsible for this.
He further said heating is detrimental to public health. It is related to outbreak of deadly diseases, such as dengue and other fevers.
Rivers, lakes, parks, street trees and water fountains provide significant thermal comfort, he said, adding that micro green spaces in buildings also provide thermal comfort, and create a positive impact on productivity. It is also a good source of food, fruit, flower and recreation in the building area, he added.
Thermal comfort is the condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment.
Mahfuz Kabir, research director at BIISS, said large urban parks that include waterbodies help mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effect.
UHI is an urban or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities.
Parks also facilitate recreation and provide space for water storage and balance, contributing to the quality of urban life, and maintain ecological values.
Ecological value is defined as the level of benefits that the space, water, minerals, biota, and all other factors that make up natural ecosystems provide to support native life forms.
The research also suggested that buildings should be constructed in such a way that they provide enough interior and exterior space. In addition, ground premises should be utilised for tree plantation.
Corporate tax and cash incentives should be provided to architectural firms that design green buildings only, he said. “The construction companies and private builders should also get tax rebates if they construct such buildings and space.’’
Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle.
Kabir suggested that tax rebate should also depend on the amount of greenspace to the total space of the apartment. Rebate can be introduced for renters, subject to greening the facade, rooftop, wall, balcony, lawn and interior.
Shamsul Alam, member of general economics division of Planning Commission, suggested harvesting rainwater for watering rooftop gardens.
He said there is a scope to improve the study and make it understandable for all. Also, there is no need to use scientific terminology, he noted.
M Fazlul Karim, chairman of BIISS, said, “Dhaka has the highest density of population in the world while its air is contaminated with heavy metals that are harmful to the human body.”
Nazrul Islam, chairman of Centre for Urban Studies, moderated the seminar where Prof Ruhul Salim of school of economics, finance and property of Curtin University, also spoke.
productivity. It is also a good source of food, fruit, flower and recreation in the building area, he added.
Thermal comfort is the condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment.
Mahfuz Kabir, research director at BIISS, said large urban parks that include waterbodies help mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effect.
UHI is an urban or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities.
Parks also facilitate recreation and provide space for water storage and balance, contributing to the quality of urban life, and maintain ecological values.
Ecological value is defined as the level of benefits that the space, water, minerals, biota, and all other factors that make up natural ecosystems to support native life forms.
The research also suggested that buildings should be constructed in such a way that they provide enough interior and exterior space. In addition, ground premises should be utilised for tree plantation.
Corporate tax and cash incentives should be provided to architectural firms that design green buildings only, he said. “Construction companies and private builders should also get tax rebates if they construct such buildings and space.’’
Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle.
Kabir suggested that tax rebate should also depend on the ratio of green space to the total space of the apartment. Rebate can be introduced for renters, subject to greening the facade, rooftop, wall, balcony, lawn and interiors.
Shamsul Alam, member of general economics division of Planning Commission, suggested harvesting rainwater for watering rooftop gardens.
He said there is a scope to improve the study and make it understandable for all. Also, there is no need to use scientific terminology, he noted.
M Fazlul Karim, chairman of BIISS, said, “Dhaka has the highest density of population in the world while its air is contaminated with heavy metals that are harmful to the human body.”
Nazrul Islam, chairman of Centre for Urban Studies, moderated the seminar where Prof Ruhul Salim of school of economics, finance and property of Curtin University, also spoke.
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