Botanic Bus BOTOBÜS On İstanbul Streets

The İstanbul Transportation Authority (İETT) has started a new, environmentally friendly public transportation service known as BOTOBÜS, a botanic bus featuring a small garden on it.

İETT bus 87 embarked on its first journey on Wednesday between Edirnekapı and Taksim. “The BOTOBÜS, which has a garden on its roof, will water its plants with the air conditioner's water,” said Fatmanur Yılmaz, the İETT environmental engineer in charge of the project.

According to Yılmaz, the garden is located on the roof of the bus, which receives direct sunlight in the summer. It will save energy as the garden will keep the bus cool and decrease the use of the air conditioner. The garden will be watered with the air conditioner's excess water by using the drip irrigation method.

Yılmaz said BOTOBÜS will have plants on it that can remain green during both summer and winter. She also said BOTOBÜS roofs will have real gardens with real plants, which will reduce the emissions of the buses. The project aims to draw attention to global warming and the environment.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)