2017 Urban Research Awards: CO2 Fertilization in an Urban Green Roof

Earth & Environment Ph.D. candidate Sarabeth Buckley will conduct a study on the impact of increased levels of CO₂ on green roofs in urban areas. Specifically, Sarabeth will purposefully expose the plants on edible green roofs to increased CO₂ by directing waste carbon dioxide (produced by human respiration) from the inside of buildings to the outside.

Buckley will conduct her experiments on the roof of the College of Arts & Sciences on the Boston University Charles River Campus. She will collect CO₂ data from classroom CO₂ monitors and use that data to determine how much carbon dioxide her green roof plants will be exposed to with the goal of determining if increased CO₂ spurs positive growth on edible plants.

Research on climate change and in particular the dependence of urban communities on external sources of good inspired Buckley to find out a way in which cities can be designed to both be more sustainable and self-sufficient while addressing causes of climate change. In addition, Sarabeth hopes to work with the BU community to establish this study as part of a network of “living labs” across the University.

Media Coverage:

Bates, Sofie. Eos. Rooftop Gardens Make Use of the Air We Breathe Below. 9 Jan. 2019.

Gellerman, Bruce. WBUR. This ‘Carbon Farm’ Grows Plants Using CO2 Harvested From People Inside The Building Below. 15 May 2018.

View more projects funded through our Early Stage Urban Research Awards