Liu Lu

• Led project in analysis of network traffic using machine learning in corporate environment, leading to filing an intellectual property patent with Google
• Ran a start-up in mobile-centric software for trucking navigation and dispatching

I'm doing this...

• For plants: reclaim green space lost to roofs
• For the bees: no-maintenance flowers to fight colony collapse and fight declining pollinator populations
• For the sewers: reduce runoff by capturing and utilizing rain water
• For the house: protect the shingles from sun and prolong their life

The planters must be...

• No-maintenance for 5 years, which means
• It can withstand winds in MA even on a 45-degree sloped roof
• It is drought tolerant
• It contains perennials or self-seeding annuals with nitrogen fixing plants.
• Better for the house than a bare roof, which means
  • It protect the shingles from the sun
• Affordable, which means
  • Cost of materials is below $30 per planter
• Portable, which means
  • It weighs less than 51 lb, which is a safe lifting weight according to OHS
  • It doesn't require the resident to install additional waterproofing on their shingles

Current Design

Stability on Roof

Planter Design

Drainage to Keep the Roof Dry

Portable Weight

Plant Choice

Water Retention

Open Questions

• How much additional static load can a roof take? How heavy is a planter once it's saturated with water? Can a roof take that plus snow?
• What are people's priorities?
• Why is this better than standard planters on the patio?

Help the Project

If you like the idea, let's get in touch! I'd love to hear your thoughts, both positive and critical, on the design and the presentation. If you'd like to help, I need alpha testers, helping hands in the Boston area, and connection to architects/builders who can tell me about the static load's effect on the roof.

Thanks for reading!