Copyright Moss Catch System Yamagata Co.

Moss Catch System Yamagata Co. has developed a system that uses "moss mats" to instantly turn concrete or asphalt into living green surfaces. The company wants to use the system to promote greenery in cities suffering from problems such as the heat-island effect (abnormal warming of the atmosphere due to the high concentration of heat-absorbing buildings and roads, and the lack of greenery).

With the use of rice cultivation techniques, moss is cultivated on a mat made of tightly entangled rice roots. Only natural materials are used to produce the mat and no electricity or other energy is needed.

As it absorbs moisture and nutrients from the air, moss does not need soil to live. Because of its high water-retaining capacity, moss can survive even in drought conditions. Watering and fertilizing are not required. The moss mats are light in weight, so they place very little stress on the buildings to which they are applied. The company is promoting its product as a low-maintenance system to promote greenery, saying that the moss mats can be applied not only to roofs or walls of buildings, but also to roads, concrete river banks and dams, and sheet metal roofs of factories, etc..

Moss Greening to Curb Urban Heat Island Effect (Related JFS article) http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/027204.html

Posted: 2003/08/04 09:22:01 AM
Japanese version

TAG Eco-product/Business , Ecosystem , Global warming , Non-manufacturing industry