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GREEN BALCONIES AND TERRACES: A SOLUTION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

Country:Kenya
Student(s):SORAYA FIRTH PRAYOSHA BUDHDEO JIYANA KERAI
Grade Level:Upper Primary (grades 3-5, ages 8-11)
GLOBE Educator(s):Beatrice Shiro Oyange
Contributors:RICHARD MUEMA RAMA CHIGAMBA
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Surface Temperature
Presentation Poster: View Document
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:03/10/2022
Mombasa is the second largest city, located along the Indian Ocean in Kenya. It has a rapidly growing population; hence the increasing demand for housing and infrastructure. Due to this increase in demand, many buildings are being constructed to accommodate the increasing population needs. This has contributed to the clearing of more vegetation cover for construction in order to meet the population rise. Furthermore, most of the modern houses which have been erected do not have vegetation cover in their surroundings since the vegetation has been cleared. This increase in human activity within the city of Mombasa has greatly resulted to Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. UHI is the increase in temperature within the cities as compared to the surrounding suburbs due to increased human activity. This project aimed at investigating ways in which we can increase the vegetation cover within the buildings. This will help in purifying air and reducing the levels of temperature, hence contributing to climate change. Within this project, we reused and recycled plastic waste such as empty water and soda bottles, oil and detergents containers, among others. These materials were creatively designed into beautiful containers and were used for growing plants for the balconies and terraces of the many high rise buildings within Nyali area in Mombasa. Some of the plants included air purifying plants such as the snake plant (Sansevieria laurentii), spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), English ivy (Hedera helix) among others. These plants help in purifying the air and reducing the effect of urban heat island. We had 150 plants: 30 were used for demonstration and the rest given as donation during community awareness program. Some community members have started embracing green balconies. This will help to purify the air in the atmosphere and the impact of Urban Heat Island which contribute to global warming and climate change. The project also encourages reusing and recycling of plastic waste. This effect caused by clearing of vegetation to build more houses, has had a ripple effect across the county and the world at large. Climate change as a matter of great concern to the world has been aggravated by these human activities. This project is part of the mitigating measures to keep the temperature levels on check which mostly make the lives of Mombasa dwellers uncomfortable. Key words: urban heat island, green balconies and terraces, climate change



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