Forest Heights cracks down on stormwater pollution Gazette.Net, by Daniel J. Gross Forest Heights, MD. "...The town’s efforts to convert its grounds into a demonstration site to show others how to eliminate stormwater runoff began in 2007, when the Town Council planted a small number of trees along the parking lot as a way to catch polluted water leaving the lot. Additional efforts took off in 2008 when the town converted its dilapidated roof to a green roof — one lined with vegetative garden beds to consume and filter rainfall..." [5.16.12] When a Ticket-Taker and Turnstile Aren't Enough Wall Street Journal, by Julie V. Iovine Brooklyn, NY. "...The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, entering its second century, is hardly a novice at branding, but at the new Visitor Center it is exercised with comprehensive aplomb...Similarly, the green roof (designed, as were the rain gardens and other landscape elements, by HM White) is no small engineering feat. With a pitch of up to 27 degrees, it requires complicated networks of special soils held in place with cleats and geo-nets involving drip irrigation systems woven into capillary fabrics..." [5.15.12] Open-Air Status Symbols Wall Street Journal, by Ralph Gardner Jr. New York, NY. "...I'm speaking of roof envy: the jealous feelings aroused toward those who own, or at least have access to, outdoor spaces...There's also a section devoted to "green" roofs, both literally and figuratively, those planted to reduce New York's "heat-island" effect and storm-water runoff. After leaving the Standard East Village we visited Cook+Fox Architects, the firm's drought-resistant sedum-planted roof is featured in the book..." [5.14.12] Cities Must Adapt To Climate Change Now Green Building Press, by Staff UK. "Europe should seize the opportunity of improving quality of life while adapting to climate change in cities, according to a report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). The report also warns that delaying adaptation will be much more costly in the long-term...Many adaptation measures can make cities more pleasant places to live. Malmö in Sweden manages rainwater flows with a new open storm-water-system. Here, green roofs and open water channels lead rainwater into collection points that form a temporary reservoir..." [5.14.12] |