This camera view captures live images of the Living Roof of the
Ortega Branch Library, the seventh San Francisco Public Library
branch built to Silver certification standards under the U.S.
Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) rating system. This living roof with native
species plantings reduces the library's carbon footprint by
reducing heat island effects and capturing rain water. With
creative roofing like this (and exterior paving materials) we
reduce the heat island effect of this building (i.e. thermal
gradient differences between developed and natural areas, if you
want to get technical). It’s important to minimize our impact on
the microclimate and on wildlife habitat. We selected native and
adapted plants that are well-suited to our climate, and require
less water than traditional ground covers such as grass.