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How do you mow that thing?

Yes, very manicured indeed. Now how do you manicure it again??

First, you get a goat who's not afraid of heights...

But, um, as people in water conservation zones are encouraged to rip up their lawns because of the watering and fertilizing issues, how is this green-green again? I guess it depends on climate zone and involves also the insulating properties it provides to the structure.

If I remember right (and surely someone will kindly correct me if I don't), they are usually done with greenage that wouldn't be acceptable in the suburban lawn but will perform well in the climate and doesn't require maintenance so no lawnmowers or goats on the roof. But I learned this from a cute landscaper fella, so I may have gotten it all wrong.

I think you're right Laura -
- they often don't use regular grasses per-se, but sedge, clover, alfalfa, etc. instead.

here are some other great shots of "green roofs" ....love the one with the livestock!
http://www.blinkdecor.com/renovatorsroundtable/index.php?s=green roofs

more images of great "green roofts" (with the correct link!)
http://www.blinkdecor.com/renovatorsroundtable/?p=114

drought tolerant plants (i.e. succulents) can be a great option for a green roof since they require little to no maintenance.
though the selling point to a home owner for a green roof is the cooling effect it will have on the building (caused by the evapotranspiration process) the biggest benefit actually comes from their ability to treat and retain stormwater and limit the amount of run off do to impervious surfaces.

What you're after here is a groundcover that thrives on the local rainfall. So you should be able to find something that works in LA, but here in Phoenix, it probably makes more sense to use the roof for solar panels. Look around at what happens to untended vacant lots -- does greenery spontaneously seed, sprout, and prosper?

green roofs vs. solar panels aren't exactly comparable. they serve entirely different functions.
green roofs provide the biggest benefit in urban areas where they help to diminish the "heat island" effect as well as retain stormwater.

green roofs work best with succulents as mentioned above. think cactus, not lawn. Lawn in my mind would basically negate the benefits and reduce the green roof to a gimmick, or at best an architectural flourish.

I think that green roofs can be a solution to climate change and can improve cities healt!
I found many information about them in the site http://www.greenroofs.gr