WO2015095220A1

WO2015095220A1 - Vegetation based roof top cooling system

Info

Publication number: WO2015095220A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/070651
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul S. Mankiewicz
Original assignee: GAIA INSTITUTE
Current assignee: GAIA INSTITUTE
Priority date: 2013-12-16
Filing date: 2014-12-16
Publication date: 2015-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-16

Abstract

A system for cooling a roof using water and vegetation include a first planter. The planter has a base, a wall extending from the base a distance from an edge of the base forming a rim about the wall. At least one slot formed in said wall to provide communication between an interior of the wall and an exterior of the wall. A second planter has a base, a wall extending from the base, a distance from an edge of the base to form a rim, and at least one slot formed in the wall to provide communication between an interior of the wall and an exterior of the wall. An anchor extends between a slot formed in the wall of the first planter and the slot formed in the wall of the second planter when the first planter and said second planter are substantially adjacent to each other.

Description

VEGETATION BASED ROOF TOP COOLING SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 /916,641 , filed December 16, 2013.

[0002] This application is directed to a system enabling the use of roof vegetation to cool a roof top, and more particularly, a system having one or more planters for roof vegetation which enables the holding and distribution of water across the roof from vegetation group to vegetation group disposed in each planter. These same planters remove pollutants and excess nutrients in the process.

[0003] The cost of cooling an environment utilizing refrigeration and air conditioning is a function of energy cost, water availability, and cost of equipment. For the foreseeable future, energy, even "renewable energy" costs are predicted to increase with the ever growing energy demand across the planet. Furthermore, local global temperatures for the most part are increasing throughout the planet. Water is becoming more and more scarce despite the predicted and threatened increase in water level. Prior art air conditioning systems require energy to cool an environment. Therefore, the cost of cooling the environment such as the interior of a commercial building, apartment or a house is projected to increase if cooling is accomplished through known air conditioning and refrigeration mechanisms. The issue becomes even more acute where, as in third world countries, there is little or no infrastructure for cooling the interior of a building because the cost of building such infrastructure must also be included in the overall calculated cost.

[0004] It is known that water regulates temperature on the earth. This results from vegetation removing heat out of the lower atmosphere in the form of vapor phase water. Studies by the Gaia Institute and others have shown that the retention of moisture in the form of water and water vapor acts as a thermal regulator and can be utilized through vegetation incorporated as part of the building structure in a way that minimizes overall material and energy cost. See Paul Mankiewicz et al. Green Roofs and Local Temperature, Living Architecture Monitor. Studies, such as those performed by the Gaia Institute, have shown that by planting vegetation on a roof, the interior climate of the building can be controlled with much less reliance on the use of air conditioners. However, although "green roofs" are known and have been used on an ad-hoc basis, no prior art green roofs have provided a mechanism for regulating the excess rain water and gray water to more efficiently use the water across the green roof systems to cool the structure beneath as is required if a green roof is to effectively replace or complement existing air conditioning systems. Furthermore, prior art green roofs suffer from water run off when too much water is applied to any one area of vegetation as compared to under watering of others, causing runoff and wasting the water's cooling potential.

[0005] Accordingly, a structure and/or system which overcome the shortcomings of the prior art green roof is desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A system is made of one or more planters dimensioned to support soil and vegetation therein. The planter has a base with a hexagonal outer rim. A hexagonal wall extends from the base and is spaced from the rim. At least one side of the hexagonal wall is formed with a slot and/or locking port connector therein. A pipe is disposed within at least one slot/port and extends from the interior of the hexagonal wall to the exterior of the hexagonal wall. In one embodiment at least two planters are disposed adjacent each other with the pipe/port extending from the interior of a wall of a first planter to the interior of a wall of a second planter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the

accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the purposes of illustrations only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In the drawings:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roof vegetation planter for the system constructed in accordance with the invention; [0009] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a roof vegetation planter constructed in accordance with the invention;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a vegetation planter in accordance with the invention; and

[0011] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a system formed from two or more vegetation planters constructed in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 -3 wherein a roof vegetation planter, generally indicated as 8, making up the primary constituent member of the system, and constructed in accordance with the invention is provided. Planter 8 includes a base 10. An enclosing wall 1 2 extends from base 10 to form an enclosed holding pen dimension to receive and retain a growing medium such as natural and artificial soil sufficient, uniquely including also a floating medium, to support vegetation. In a preferred embodiment wall 12 contains at least one slot 1 8 formed therein.

Slot/port 18 forms a passageway between the interior of wall 1 2 and the exterior of wall 12. In a preferred embodiment, wall 1 2 is disposed on base 10 a predetermined distance 9, from an edge 1 1 of base 10 to form a peripheral rim 14 about wall 12.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, wall 12 is formed as a polygon, and more preferably by way of non-limiting example, a hexagon. Accordingly, wall 12 is formed with sides 16a— 1 6f in the disclosed embodiment, but also be formed as a circular cylinder. For reasons discussed below, in connection with the system of Fig. 4 each side 16a-16f of wall 1 2, in a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, is formed with a respective slot 18a - 18f formed therein.

[0014] Although not necessary for performance of the invention, in a preferred, but non-limiting embodiment, rim 14 has a shape which is substantially the same as the shape of wall 12, i.e., as seen from the drawings, in this exemplanary embodiment, a hexagon. One or more holes 17 are formed through rim 14 to facilitate the use of an anchoring fastener such as a nail, screw, rivet or the like, and/or the alignment of the trays with one another. [0015] As specifically seen in Fig. 3 wall 12 may be formed with at least one tapered surface so that wall 12 as shown in this drawing has a profile of a truncated triangle. In other words, there is a gap h between an outer face 20 of wall 12 and an inner face 22 of wall 12 as seen in Fig. 3 in a preferred, but non-limiting embodiment the gap h may be hollow. This allows for nesting of a plurality of planters 8, one upon the other during storage and transfer. As a function of the dimensions of planter 8, planter 8 may accommodate anything from simple flower and grass type of vegetation to shrubs and small trees. By way of example, the height of wall 12 may extend from about four inches to about 3 feet as a function of the type of vegetation required, the amount of soil required and the amount of moisture which is desired to be retained. The length of each respective side 16a - 16f of wall 12 may also vary from about eight inches to about eighteen inches as a function of the amount of soil, moisture and type of vegetation being retained.

[0016] Planter 8 may be made of any light weight durable material such as plastic, sheet metal, and more preferably low carbon foot print materials such as wood, modified wood products, or recycled plastic materials, and may be produced by standard molding and/or 3-D printing .

[0017] During use, planter 10 is filled with a growing medium such as natural soil or an artificial soil. Nutrients may be added as desired. Vegetation is provided into the soil as either a seedling, sapling, cut growth or transplant. As planter 8 captures water as a result of rain, condensation or other means, the water and moisture is utilized by the vegetation within wall 12. If there is excess water, the water will flow through slots/ports 18 to be distributed across the roof as the growing medium and water below the vegetation will be cooler than the environment through the warm season, the water in this system will have a cooling effect in its own right. In this way, the retention of the water by the vegetation and the soil acts to lower the overall temperature of the environment. The vegetation also removes the heat converting the water into its vapor phase. Also, because much of the heat energy from the sun that is usually absorbed by the roof is now absorbed and utilized by the vegetation, the roof itself is now shielded from much of that heat energy. Furthermore, as a welcome by- product of the cooling system, carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere as a result of photosynthesis.

[0018] Reference is now made to Fig. 4, wherein a system 50 containing two or more planters 8 indicated as 8a - 8g, each constructed in a manner discussed above, is provided. In a preferred embodiment, each planter works best when in a system as described herein. As can be seen, system 50 is made of two or more planters 8 disposed in abutting or adjacent configuration so that one side of rim 14 of a first planter 8a overlaps rim 14 of a second planter 8f.

[0019] For ease of description planters 8a, 8f are used for illustrative purposes to show how each planter forms a part of system 50. Each planter 8a, 8f, constructed as discussed above, includes a respective base 10a, 1 0f, extending walls 12a, 1 2f , forming a holding area within walls 12a, 12f , and a rim 14a (14f not shown) about respective walls 12a, 12f. Walls 12a, 1 2f each have one or more sides 16a-f, each side having at least one slot 18a-f therein.

[0020] It should be noted, that the construction of each planter 8 is such that a respective slot 18 of a first planter 8a, by way of example, is substantially coaxial with a slot 18 of abutting planter 8f. An anchor 30 extends across overlapping rims 14 and is disposed between adjacent planters 8a, 8f within a respective slot 18c and slot 18f of each of adjacent planters 8a, 8f , by way of example.

[0021] Anchor 30 may be a C clamp, or a stick providing a friction fit within each adjacent slot, or a large hollow rivet, and is most preferably, a pipe dimensioned to extend from within a first wall 12a of a first planter 8a into the interior of a second wall 12f of second planter 8f by way of demonstrative example, and may have a width sufficient to provide a friction fit within respective slots 18. In this way, a water transport mechanism is provided to promote travel of excess water which is normally run off between a first planter 8a and a second planter 8f while preventing movement of one wall 12 relative to a second wall 1 2.

[0022] In one embodiment, primary anchoring may be provided by affixing planter 8a to the adjacent planter 8f by an anchoring means such as a screw, nail, rivet, or other fasteners, provided through substantially overlapping holes 17 where rims 14a, 14f overlap one with the other. Although in many cases the weight of soil and vegetation contained within system 50 is sufficient to maintain system 50 in place further anchoring may be provided by extending the anchors through holes 17 and into the roof or other supporting or tensile structure.

[0023] It should be noted, that system 50 may be built of planters formed in any shape from a circle to any polygon. What is required is abutting wall sides 16 with slots 1 8 formed therein, and that respective slots 18 be substantially coaxial between a slot from a first planter and a slot for a second planter. However, the inventor has observed that the greatest density of planting area is provided by a wall 12 and a rim 14 having a hexagonal shape.

[0024] During use, two or more planters 8 are positioned adjacent to each other as shown in Fig. 4 to form a system 50. Slots 18 are aligned between adjacent planters 8. An anchor 30 is disposed across the overlapping rims 14a, 14f (not shown) of planters 8a, 8f by way of example to extend through the respective slots 18a, 18f of a first planter 8a and an adjacent second planter 8f. In a preferred embodiment, anchor 30 is a tube extending from the interior of a wall 12a of a first planter 8a to the interior of wall 12f of a second planter 8f. A growing medium such as organic or artificial soil along with any desired nutrients is placed within a respective wall 1 2 of each planter 8. Planters 8 are positioned adjacent each other with a respective side of rim 14 overlapping a respective side of a rim 14 of an adjacent planter 8. As water is trapped in the soil within each planter 8a, 8f, any excess water will flow through respective pipes/ports 30 to balance the water load amongst planters 8a-8g to equally distribute the cooling action of the vegetation, distribute trapped water and prevent the waste of cooling capacity represented by water run off. It should also be noted that there is a limited degree of movement of each third polygon as it is added. Adjacent planter pairs form a corner such that any third planter placed in the corner self aligns the slot of the third planter with the slots of first and second planter. Residence of water within each planter and between planters also acts as a water treatment train, in the process of holding and moving water. [0025] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. It is further to be understood that all values are approximations, and are provided for purposes of description.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1 . A planter for a roof cooling system comprising: a base; a wall extending from the base a distance from an edge of said base forming a rim thereon; and at least one slot/port formed in said wall to provide communication between an interior of said wall and an exterior of said wall.

2. The planter of claim 1 , wherein said wall is formed as a

polygon having three or more sides.

3. The planter of claim 1 , wherein a respective slot is formed in

each side of said wall.

4. The planter of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of holes

formed along said rim.

5. The planter of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the rim

substantially matches a shape of the wall.

6. The planter of claim 2, wherein said polygon is a hexagon.

7. The planter of claim 1 , wherein said wall is formed with a

gap therein dimensioned to receive a wall of a second planter within the

gap.

8. A cooling system for a roof comprising: a first planter comprising a base; a wall extending from the base a distance from an edge of said base forming a rim thereon; and at least one slot formed in said wall to provide communication between an interior of said wall and an exterior of said wall; a second planter having a base; a wall extending from the

base a distance from an edge of said base forming a rim thereon; and at

least one slot formed in said wall to provide communication between an

interior of said wall and an exterior of said wall; and an anchor extending between the slot formed in the wall of the first planter and the slot formed in the wall of the second planter when said first planter and said second planter are substantially adjacent to each other. a residence and flow of water partly driven by cooling evaporation that constitutes a water treatment train within, between and among planters.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said anchor is a pipe.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said wall of said first planter

is formed as a polygon having three or more sides.

1 1 . The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one slot is

formed in each side of said wall of said first planter.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a respective

plurality of holes formed in the rim of said first planter and the rim of the

second planter.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of holes

formed in the rim of the first planter substantially overlap the plurality of

holes formed in the rim of the second planter when the first planter is

disposed adjacent the second planter, such that the rim of the first planter

overlaps the rim of the second planter.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said polygon is a hexagon.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein at least said wall of first planter 13 formed with a gap therein dimensioned to receive the wall of a second planter within the gap.