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video of the week

what's new
May 2008


in the news
upcoming events

Present:  Submit Greenroof/Greenwall Project Profiles to Greenroofs.com's international project database

Present: Green Roofs: A Sustainable Strategy, online course for CEU's

2008: Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Design 101, 201, 301, 401, Green Walls 101 Courses, & Symposia, North America

May 11-13: National Association of Home Builders National Green Building Conference, New Orleans, LA

May 13: Ecoroof Technical Workshops, Portland, OR

May 13: Green Drinks, New York, NY

May 15: D.C. Greenworks' 3rd Annual Green Carpet Gathering, Washington, D.C.

May 15–17: AIA 2008 National Convention and Design Exposition, Boston, MA

May 17-18: Chicago Green Festival, Chicago, IL, USA

May 19: Spring Energy Symposium: How Valuable is Your Roof? Florham Park, NJ
                                                                    
>>more

news links

Haworth Inc. officials believe their new headquarters will inspire change
MLive.com,
by Shandra Martinez
May 11, 2008

Holland, MI. "This is an office building? Step into the three-story atrium at the new Haworth Inc. headquarters, and you might think you're in a modern museum or upscale mall...Crowned by one of the largest sedum-planted roofs in the state, the building is 50,000 square feet larger and one-third more energy efficient than its predecessor..."                             >>more


Saving energy by going green
Chambersburg Public Opinion,
by Robert Kessler
May 11, 2008

University Park, PA. "This past week a vanload of Extension educators traveled to Penn State to learn a little more about energy and ways to help with energy issues. We visited a "green" roof on the new forestry building that reduces a lot of stormwater runoff from the building. Green roofing is being used more and more by companies building new..."            >>more


There's No Place Like (the smart, green) Home
Lower Hudson Journal news,
by Barbara Hines
May 10, 2008

West Harrison, NY. "...Green roofs, that is, a roof of a building that is partially or com-pletely covered with vegetation and soil, have proven over the long term to be part of a Best Management Practice (BMP) in the fight against global warming. A green roof retains or slows down storm..."      >>more


Council debates whether new sewer plan is green enough
Kansas City Star,
by Karen Dillon
May 9, 2008

Kansas City, MO. "Can the public trust Kansas City leaders to implement green solutions such as green roofs and rain gardens into the overhaul of the city’s massive sewer system? Or should green solutions be part of a federally mandated plan to fix the sewers?..."              >>more


Green proposals for downtown Columbia
Baltimore Sun,
by June Arney
May 9, 2008

Columbia, MD. "Solar arrays, "green" roofs and storm-water management that doubles as civic art and takes place only when it's raining are among the ideas for improving the environment in the redevelop-ment of downtown Columbia, a consultant told residents this week..."            >>more


‘Green’ Neabsco development gains steam
Inside NoVA,
by Elisa Glushefski
May 8, 2008

Prince William, VA. "A Merrifield-based developer plans to bring green roofs—an environmentally friendly trend largely seen in European and urban design—to a mixed-use project in the U.S. 1 corridor...the rooftops for two mixed-used buildings would have courtyards filled with greenery and trees, one featuring a pool and deck that would not only absorb stormwater runoff and reduce air pollutants but would also offer a place for residents to go in their leisure time..."                              >>more


£100m public square to create 500 jobs
Argus Lite - Brighton,
by Lawrence Marzouk
May 8, 2008

Brighton and Hove, England. "...Devel-opers want to transform the Sackville Trading Estate in Hove into a public square surrounded by 170 homes, shops, restaurants, offices and a supermarket. The new flats will be large, in response to Brighton and Hove City Council's request for family-sized homes, and all will have access to roof terraces...The plans also aim to be sustainable with extensive roof gardens, improved bus facilities, car clubs and car share schemes..."            >>more


Ajman firm unveils $408m Boulevard project
Trade Arabia,
by Staff
May 8, 2008

Ajman, UAE. "...The Boulevard, Ajman; a $408 million mixed use master development...The 170,000 sq ft, 3-level shopping mall will join the hotel to offer a central leisure and shopping zone offering a spa, roof gardens, and a vast food court. The project also features fine dining; fully equipped health clubs and rooftop swimming pools..."                       >>more


City's first green roof won't be last
Lancaster Newspapers,
by Jennifer Todd
May 8, 2008

Lancaster, PA. "...Though Seavey said the energy-saving benefits are key, he said storm-water runoff is probably where the firm will see the largest difference...Seavey received some help with the cost in the form of a grant from Gov. Ed Rendell's Energy Harvest program. National Novelty Brush Co. shared nearly $500,000 in state funds with five other local businesses. As part of the initiative, green roofs are planned at the Bare Building at 39 E. Chestnut St., Box Company Flats at 225 E. Grant St., Penn Stone at 190 W. Ross St., Two Dudes Painting at 750 Poplar St. and the new YMCA at 265 Harrisburg..."    >>more


Smith + Gill Tapped for Ultra-Green Abu Dhabi Project
Architectural Record,
by Tim McKeough
May 7, 2008

Abu Dhabi, UAE. "Desert buildings that produce more energy than they consume may no longer be the stuff of mirages. Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture recently won a competition to design Masdar Headquarters, a 1.6-million-square-foot, zero-waste, zero-carbon facility that it predicts will generate not only enough power to run itself, but also surplus energy to help fuel buildings surrounding it...Underneath the canopy, a series of interconnected volumes, topped by green roofs, provide space for offices, retail stores, and residences..."             >>more


New Natomas school roof is green - and growing
Sacramento Bee,
by Laurel Rosenhall
May 6, 2008

Natomas, CA. "...With a few sprinkles of water, plants will spring from its top, forming a cover of vegetation across the roof of the H. Allen Hight Learning Center. The school's "green roof" is one of many construction features designed to save energy when the campus opens in August with 500 students. It's also likely the first local example of a building trend sweeping across rooftops worldwide..."         >>more


GDL08: Living Roofs - Joe Swift
Kits and Mortar,
by Suw
May 6, 2008

UK. "Max Fraser: Living roofs are green houses, important for biodiversity, good for the environment, and facilitating better rain runoff. Old Mayor of London introduced a scheme to promote them, important in cities. Introducing Joe Swift, presenter of Gardeners’ World, here to talk about living roofs and green walls. Joe: Ken Livingstone was into living roofs, so interesting to see how this develops with the new Mayor. As our cities become harsher and harsher, green roofs become more and more important..."                                 >>more


Women's Giving Circle Awards $60000 to Campus Projects
University of Arkansas Daily Headlines,
Press Release
May 5, 2008

Fayetteville, AR. "...Mark Boyer, asso-ciate professor in the department of land-scape architecture, was awarded $10,000 for a project titled “Green Roof Demonstra-tion Plot Trials.” The purpose of this project is to measure the benefits of green roofs in Arkansas through the construction of 12 mock roofs on the university’s new Watershed Research Education Center. The mock roofs..."                        >>more


Energy conservation hits the roof
Chicago Daily Herald,
by Gwen H. Jader
May 5, 2008

Chicago, IL. "...At Lakeside Lofts, a 96-unit environmentally friendly new-construc-tion loft development at 2025-2035 S. Indi-ana in the South Loop, two large botanic gardens on top of the parking garage contain four-season plantings along with seasonal flowers...The 93-unit eco18, a condominium development at 1818 S. Wabash Ave., boasts a green roof. X/O Condominiums, a 496-unit high-rise and townhouse enclave at 18th and Prairie Avenues, is planning three green roofs. Plans for The Catalyst, a 217-unit building at 123 N. Des Plaines, call for a green roof on the fifth floor...Bartlett Town Center, a mixed-use development of condominiums and lofts in downtown Bartlett, is bringing the green roof concept to the West sub-urbs...In the Northwest suburbs, Parkview condominiums in Arlington Heights on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Eastman Street has a terrace/green roof...The Crossings at Morton Grove by Toll Brothers offers roof top decks..."                 >>more


SUNY Ulster Campus-Wide Energy
Hudson Valley Press,
by Staff
May 5, 2008

Stone Ridge, NY. "...Through its office of Continuing and Professional Education, SUNY Ulster recently brought on-line a host of new courses in the area of environmental sustainability. These include courses in green home design and renovation, alter-nate energy systems for the homeowner, green roofing, and a sustainable building advisor certification class..."          >>more


Rain or shine, the answer to climate change can be found on your roof
Times Online,
by Hannah Fletcher
May 3, 2008

UK. "...The number of green roof companies has increased fivefold in as many years. Where fewer than 10,000 square metres of sedum blanket were laid annually, that figure is now approaching 100,000...Green roofs might not reduce your water bills but, according to Dusty Gedge, the founder of Livingroofs.org and president of the Euro-pean Federation of Green Roof Associa-tions, they can cut your air-conditioning bills. As well as absorbing up to 60 per cent of rainwater, green roofs can lower the surrounding air temperature by up to 11C. “2005 and 2006...if we all had green roofs, we wouldn’t need air-conditioning." Just last month, Britain’s first policy on green roofs was produced by the Mayor of London. Sheffield, Bristol, Manchester and Birming-ham are all soon to follow..."          >>more


Chattanooga: Green roofing makes a comeback
Chattanooga Times Free Press,
by Amy Williams
May 3, 2008

Chattanooga, TN. "...Fidelity Trust Co., will install a green roof on its building at 714 Cherry St. The company completed renova-tions on the building in February and ordered the plants that will occupy about 2,300 square feet on the roof...The GPS roof, also close to 2,300 square feet, will have iris, phlox and even apple trees. The school’s green roof, funded by area busi-nessman Greg Vital, will be part of Bowman Terrace, supported by the families and friends of Nickey and Peggy..."      >>more


Fort Worth looks for ways to go green
TCU Daily Skiff,
by Ashleigh Whaley
May 2, 2008

Fort Worth, TX. "On April 11, the University of Texas at Arlington installed 1,000 square feet of soil and plants to the roof of the Life Science Building. This summer, the Botanical Research Institute of Texas will continue making plans to install what its director of development, Cleve Lancaster, says will be "one of the largest examples of green roof in North Texas" at BRIT's future headquarters next to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden...The team is testing five different types of green roofs, Kinder said. The testing platforms are 15 wooden-box roof modules, each 16 square feet, filled with current commercial products, transplanted native soil and experimental mulch designs..."      >>more


Greensburg showing way for Wichita
The Wichita Eagle,
by Randy Scholfield
May 2, 2008

Wichita, KS. "...The new master plan, approved in January, calls for every public building to be constructed to LEED platinum standards (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and platinum is the highest rating). There are also plans to build a dozen model "eco-homes" that would be testing grounds for a variety of environmental building materials and techniques from "green roofs" and double-paned windows to..."    >>more


Guest column: Tikkun olam
Diamondback Online,
by Miriam Boer
May 1, 2008

College Park, MD. "...While we're at it, why not install green roofs? As the name suggests, green roofs are roofs with plants growing on top. Think breezy, green, shady park - on a roof. Not only do green roofs compensate for the footprint of the building, they insulate better than traditional roofs. In this case, the buildings would actually increase the amount of verdure in the area, taking Lots 9 and 11 from..."          >>more


Take the long view, say fans of green buildings
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,
by Diana Louise Carter
April 30, 2008

Rochester, NY. "Building "green" not only is the right thing to do, it can improve your bottom line...wasting water or failing to use rainwater resources can cost companies down the road, or cost the community. Jendryaszek said a 14,000-square-foot roof planted with sedum and connected to a rainwater catching and recycling system can save about 200,000 gallons of water a year from going into storm drains...Broccolo Tree and Lawn Care booth demonstrated those sedum-planted roofs and walls built by Brighton's Green Living Technologies. Only three of the roofs have been installed locally - including the..."                >>more


Grant money and volunteers move ‘Tabor Commons’ project forward
The Bee,
by David F. Ashton
April 30, 2008

Portland, OR. “With more work to do, still leading the transformational process is neighbor Paul Leistner, Chair of Southeast Uplift neighborhood coalition...We just found out that we needed a new roof on the building,” Leistner revealed. “The metal roof is 50 years old; the project is going to be challenging. We wanted to do an eco-roof; this is our opportunity...”               >>more


Green-Collar Blues
The Plank on TNR.com,
by Dayo Olopade
April 30, 2008

U.S. "Over at Grist, Anna Fahey posts a persuasive set of facts and counterclaims geared at convincing those who are skeptical about the existence of so-called "green collar jobs."...But the work is being done: Fahey mentions no less than two dozen private organizations that traffic in preservation, efficiency retrofitting, renewables and construction. I'll add to the list...Sustainable South Bronx, which provides environmental stewardship training (green roofs, brownfield cleanup) to low-income minorities..."                     >>more


Rooftop gardens soar as high-level green space
Oak Brook Business Ledger
, by Adam Terese
April 30, 2008

IL. "...Aside from natural beauty to otherwise unused spaces, green roofs provide habitat benefits for wildlife. A green roof on a parking lot at Chicago’s McCormick Place has become a major stop for food and water for birds migrating across Lake Michigan, Andrea Cooper said...“There’s a green eco-conscious; it’s becoming almost pop,” she said. “People are wanting to do their own part, and this is one small way to do that.”             >>more


Sewage pump station plan raises stink in Sellwood
The Bee,
by David F. Ashton
April 30, 2008

Portland, OR. "...On the west side, Fanno Creek’s pump station is a red brick building with fake chimneys. It is a very attractive building. The City Council mandates that we use eco-roofs. We could blend the roof into the slope [at certain sites]...”   >>more


Urban planning needs green rethink: Viewpoint
BBC News,
by Martha Schwartz
April 29, 2008

U.S.
"...Unfortunately, I have found that we lag behind architects when it comes to participating in the conversation around sustainability; in fact, we are often relegated to presiding over green roof technology...I am not simply referring to gardens and majestic wildernesses; in fact, the most sustainable form of human habitation is the city..."                 >>more


Google
web greenroofs.com

features

May 11, 2008
greenroof project of the week

Guess Where I’m Located!

Where in the
Greenroof World?


Kelly Luckett

Inaugural Column for The Green Roof Guy

Same Guy, New Editor Name, Renewed Focus
By Kelly Luckett, LEED™ AP

Hello once again green roof fans,

The green roof industry continues to grow and evolve and so must we all.  As the "Roving Exhibitor" has been engaging in and reporting on a broad range of green roof activities, it’s been suggested that perhaps the Roving Exhibitor has outgrown that title. For quite some time now, friends and business associates have referred to me as "The Green Roof Guy."  So, I humbly submit that this designation may better suit the scope of my column as we head into the future together.  So, without further ado - let’s get started.

I had hoped to be reporting on completed wind and fire guidelines that were headed for International Code Council (ICC) acceptance.  However, the process turned out to be far more nuanced than I could have possibly imagined.  For those of you who are unaware of the ongoing efforts, I’ll review a bit.  The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) submitted a building code change proposal last spring that gained unanimous acceptance by the ICC.  The simple proposal merely states that green roof systems will be subject to the same wind and fire testing standards as any other roofing systems.  Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it?  However, the American Standard Testing Methods (ASTM) has developed testing standards for most every building material used in construction, except, of course, green roofs.  As a member of the ASTM green roof task force, I can tell you that...                   >>more


Inaugural Sustainable Roofing Technologies Column
By Ralph Velasquez

Dear Readers,

Many of you have come to know me as the ASTM Editor on this website for a few years now and I have enjoyed being your ASTM conduit during that time.  While that has been true, I have always believed that more needed to be communicated to the market about sustainable roofing and their design.  Recently, the Publisher/Editor of Greenroofs.com, Linda Velazquez (no relation) asked if I would be willing to write a more regular column about this very topic, something I have agreed to do.  Perhaps Kelly Luckett, who also writes for this website, under the (former) “Roving Exhibitor” column can continue the important task of reporting back to you on our semi-annual ASTM meetings.  Kelly is also part of the committee and already writes a great column.  Guess I should ask him.

Photo Courtesy Ralph VelasquezClick to see Project Profile

Left: Victorville City Hall PV's, Victorville, CA, Photo Courtesy Ralph Velasquez;
Right: BedZED (Beddington Zero Energy Development), Beddington, Surrey, England,
Photo Courtesy ZedFactory.com.

So what is sustainable roof design and why write about it in this forum?  Perhaps a little history will help give context.  I have been in the roofing industry since 1978, having been mentored by great roofing professionals whose careers reached back into 1940’s.  I even had the pleasure of meeting our company’s founder who started my current company (Tremco) back in 1928.  Some of what I remember from those early days...           >>more


Exclusive Feature
Commemorating a True Greenroof Pioneer, Leader, and Friend in Dr. David Beattie

Dr. Dave J. Beattie

A memorial service was held for the late David J. Beattie, retired Associate Professor of Horticulture on April 5, 2008 at New Covenant Baptist Church in State College, PA. Pastor Gary Finn, Berean Baptist Church officiated.

Photos from friends and colleagues:

Photo Courtesy Roland Appl

Dr. Dave speaks about Penn State's work at the International Green Roof Congress in Nürtingen, Germany in September, 2004; Photo Courtesy Roland Appl.

Photo Courtesy Roland Appl

Dr. Dave entertains a full conference room; Photo Courtesy Roland Appl.

Photo Courtesy Roland Appl

Always in the thick of things, here's Dr. Dave and friends when we visited Hundertwasserhaus, Plochingen, on the ZinCo Green Roof Tour. You can see Aramis Velazquez, Kelly & Trish Luckett, Randy Sharp and Roland Appl, among many others; Photo Courtesy Roland Appl.

Photo Courtesy of Christine Thuring

Christine Thuring, our Student Editor, and her advisors, Dave Beattie & Rob Berghage in Basel, Switzerland, 2005.

Photo Courtesy Ed Snodgrass

The Green Roof Plant Family, Emory Knoll Farms (spring 2005): Dr. Dave Beattie, Ayako Nagase, Dr. Shazia Husein, Sarah Murphy, Ed Snodgrass, Christine Thuring, Dr. Rob Berghage, and Joerg Breuning;
Photo Courtesy Ed Snodgrass.

Photo Courtesy of Dr. Christy Boylan

Dave & wife Kris and Dr. Christy Boylan while visiting Ireland; Photo Courtesy Dr. Christy Boylan.

Photo Courtesy Dr. Rob Berghage

Dr. Dave Beattie & and friends at Penn State's Center for Green Roof Research; Photo Courtesy Dr. Rob Berghage.

See more photos and read commentary from the Greenroofs.com Editors  >>more


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industry news: company/organization/
government/university

aia

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and green design solutions that protect and enhance the environment. The projects will be honored at the AIA 2008 National Convention and Design Exposition in Boston.  Half of the 2008 Top Ten Green Projects list includes living roofs:

Garthwaite Center for Science & Art, Weston, MA.  The partial green roof manages stormwater, lowers heating and cooling loads, and shades the building from solar heat gain with overhangs.
Macallen Building Condominiums, Boston, MA.  The building features two green roofs, one of which is irrigated with collected storm water runoff.
Nueva School Hillside Learning Complex, Hillsborough, CA.  This three-building complex is constructed into a hillside 
and incorporates two green roofs.
Queens Botanical Garden Visitor Center, Flushing, NY.  Three interconnected spaces are sheltered by a sloping green roof.
Yale University Sculpture Building and Gallery, New Haven, CT. The green roof on the gallery and native plant landscaping, which includes mature trees, serves as a connective habitat patch for avian species moving through the urban corridor between these parks.

And the Honorable Mention 2008 Top Ten Green Project:
IRS Kansas City Campus, Kansas City, MO. Belowground parking, green roofs, and low-flow fixtures contribute to stormwater management, while low-flow fixtures reduce potable water use.


american hydrotech

American Hydrotech is offering a free online continuing education course on green roofs for the architectural community:  Green Roofs: A Sustainable Strategy.  Presented by Steve Skinner, Garden Roof Program Manager, the course allows architects to earn one AIA/CES Learning Unit, including one hour of health, safety and welfare credit. In addition to AIA, the following organizations, among others, have also certified this course and will give their members credit upon completion: CSI, ASLA, RCI.

Read more from the American Hydrotech Press Release "American Hydrotech, Inc. Sponsors Green Roof Continuing Education Course," and visit their web page for complete information.


asla

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) celebrated April as National Landscape Architecture Month. Read more from the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Also, the ASLA Green Roof Project page has been updated and now includes a listing of press coverage for the green roof, and an observation log on plant growth. See the ASLA HQ greenroof profile here.


bsr/ashrae/usgbc/iesna

Comments on Proposed Standard to Prohibit Irrigation on Green Roofs were  due on April 7, 2008: BSR/ASHRAE/USGBC/IESNA Standard 189.1P, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, specifically:

6.3.2.4 Roofs. The use of potable water to spray roofs for thermal conditioning purposes or irrigation of vegetated roofs is prohibited.

Bob Adams of GreenFeathers LLC & Blooming Nursery Inc. says, "ASHRAE 189p is a proposed ASHRAE standard that is being drafted so that municipalities etc can have specific requirements that are adoptable by law to provide requirements for all high performance buildings in the community...." Read more commentary submitted by David Mackenzie of Live Roof, LLC. here.  See the entire ASHRAE proposal and comment forms here.  Via Patrick Carey of hadj design.


city of honolulu

Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his Energy and Sustainability Task Force worked collaboratively to produce a sustainability plan which is "the practical “nuts and bolts” application of the principals outlined by the Mayor’s Vision for the 21st Century Ahupua`a. The goal is a Honolulu that is more self-sufficient and sustainable in terms of its infrastructure and operations and one that is more in harmony with our island environment."

The Community Sustainability Center library building was selected as a testing area for several sustainable (energy conservation and renewable energy) systems.  Among others, sustainable technologies to be demonstrated include greenroofs and micro wind/solar electric systems.  See the "Mayor's Energy & Sustainability Task Force - Working Toward the 21st Century Ahupua`a" Version 1.1, of April 2008 here, pp. 15-16.


green roof safari

Click here to learn more!

This fall 2008, Green Roof Safari will visit a kaleidoscope of green roofs from Frankfurt to Zürich — institutional, commercial & residential, Hundertwasser, biodiversity, solar panel integrations, alternative materials, old and new installations: we will visit them all. The tour will interface with local professionals who have contributed to green roof policies and designs in their city or region, and will take in eco-socio-cultural jaunts along the way.

This Survey will help identify the needs and interests of public and private professionals with interests in green roof design, policy, and research. To obtain a robust baseline of information, your feedback from these 10 simple questions is essential.

For questions or comments, please contact Christine Thüring at: christine.thuring@gmail.com.


green roofs for healthy cities

Green Roof & Wall Design Awards Announced on May 7, 2008: Stunning green roof on the new California Academy of Sciences building and Vancouver Aquarium green wall among this year’s winners of GRHC’s Awards of Excellence design awards.  GRHC is pleased to announce the seven project design winners of its annual Awards of Excellence - a program showcasing the extraordinary vision and leadership of forward-thinking green roof and wall project design teams.

The Green Roof News Spring 2008 - Policy & Planning Living Architecture Monitor features:

Remembering David Beattie; New GRHC Book Showcases Award-Winning Projects;
Projects: A Cathedral to Green Roof Design, Major green wall project for METRO light rail system in Phoenix; a scalloped green roof in California, the CIA’s smart move in Northern Virginia; and Holmes on Homes, plus about the conference and much more.  Click here to read excerpts.

More GRHC Press Releases:
Green Roof Market Grows by 30% in 2007 [4.21.08]
Toronto Makes No. 1 on Top 10 list of Best Canadian Cities for Green Roofs [4.21.08]
Award Winning Green Roofs Book Launch [4.11.08]


igra

The International Green Roof Association (IGRA) releases their current issue of "Green Roofs News" featuring the ‘Meydan’ shopping centre in Istanbul/Turkey and the FiftyTwoDegrees office building in Nijmegen/ Netherlands. Other topics include Setting a good example: Waitakere City Council Green Roof in New Zealand; Practical considerations for rubble/brown/ biodiverse living roofs; About to go: Green Roof Policies in the UK; A free international community resource: The Greenroof Projects Database; A Reminder: World Green Roof Congress 2008 in London, and a Preview of upcoming IGRA newsletter topics.

Download the IGRA 2008 Green Roof News Spring newsletter here.


new york state department of environmental conservation

Applications are now being accepted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for approximately $900,000 to support urban forestry projects across the state (Commissioner Pete Grannis).  DEC is seeking proposals for Urban and Community Forestry projects that will enhance New York's urban landscapes with healthy trees and provide environmental, health, and economic benefits. Grants will be available to municipalities, public benefit corporations, public authorities, school districts and not-for-profit organizations that have a public ownership interest in the property or are acting on behalf of a public property owner, and will range from $2,500 to $75,000, depending on municipal population, with a 50/50 match requirement. Eligible projects include green infrastructure projects including greenroofs and rain gardens.

Deadline is June 4, 2008 - for more info see the Press Release of 4.14.08.


nrca/ceir

With an understanding that the built environment faces long-term, irreversible market trends that demand a focus on environmental stewardship, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) has established the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing (CEIR)-a separate 501(c)(6) organization to promote the development and use of environmentally responsible, high-performance roof systems.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the center's core purpose is to establish a forum that will draw together the entire roofing industry into the common cause of promoting and increasing the knowledge base of environmentally friendly roof systems.  Read the entire NRCA Press Release here.


werf

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) is requesting proposals for research that will provide education, outreach, and training on decentralized stormwater management techniques to critical target audiences. WERF will provide $112,000 for the development of innovative tools and training that lead to greater awareness, understanding, and use of decentralized stormwater management techniques; appropriate implementation for stormwater management; improved water quality; energy savings; and other benefits (e.g. aesthetics). Read the whole story.

Decentralized approaches manage stormwater at the source (site level) using multiple techniques to control the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff. These methods include rain gardens, porous pavement, cisterns, vegetated roofs, and many other practices. Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. (EDT), June 20, 2008. Visit WERF's Open RFPs page for more information.



Are you a greenroof related non-profit or for-profit with news or information to benefit or inform the public?

 Send us your updates
for posting under
industry news to:
news@greenroofs.com


greenroofs.com news

We just came back from Baltimore from the GRSC Conference, and are creating a page just to share comments and photos.  We always raffle a free one year Premium Listing in the Greenroof Directory, a $599 value - and this year's drawing goes to:

Sky Vegetables
Keith Agoada, President
George Adams, Partner
www.skyvegetables.com

Congratulations, Sky Vegetables!  If you want to learn more about them, please come back in a few days when we'll have all the information needed to create their full page color brochure.

Click here to find your product or service!
 

Click Here to Order Your DVD!

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The G.R.E.E.N. Research Report

Dr. Bill Retzlaff of SIUE

By Dr. Bill Retzlaff, the G.R.E.E.N. Editor
All Photos and Graphs Courtesy Bill Retzlaff and Kelly Luckett

...The primary goal of G.R.E.E.N. is to address issues of concern to the green roof industry in the Midwest and at other green roof locations nationwide using scientific (hypothesis-driven) research evaluations.  Relevant to this article, most of our research projects are right on the SIUE campus while some are at locations further away (like the project in Chicago in this article).  Our ancillary goal is to educate students (potential future industry leaders) about this emerging environmental technology by engaging them in green roof research.  It is rare that classroom education is coupled with practical, hands-on experience with an emerging technology – our students hear and learn about green roof technologies in the classroom, then develop and implement their green roof experiments on the roof and in the field.  In addition, each student’s research discoveries and outcomes help guide future research and industry directions in the development of green roofs. In my first Greenroofs.com research reports, I described our fully replicated green roof storm water trials and reported in depth about our research results.  In this report, I’d like to talk to you about a commercial installation that became a “research” project – with an interesting outcome and valuable insights regarding seasonal placement of green roofs...                      >>more

The great FROZEN green roof project

The Bank of America Chicago greenroof - click to see the profile in The Greenroof Projects Database

Mark and Mike Crowell are on the EPDO membrane (with breath showing) and you can see the frozen highway embankment in the background. It was about 5° F at this time on December 9th, 2006.


student forum ramblings

Green Roofs on the Curve
By Christine Thuring, Student Editor

Hello green roof enthusiasts!

If you’re coming to Baltimore, for the 6th annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show, please stop by the Greenroofs.com booth (#108) to say hello! In the meantime, I’d like to share with you a little bit about what I’ve been up to and what this conference holds.

I’ve been very busy the last few months organizing North American’s first green roof tours to Europe: Green Roof Safari! This 6 day tour runs from Frankfurt to Zürich and features a diversity of green roof projects and conversations with local policy-makers, designers and researchers. Offered from Sept. 8 – 13 and Sept. 21 – 28th, the tours sandwich the World Green Roof Congress (Sept. 17 – 18) in London UK. Visit www.greenroofsafari.com.

At the GRHC trade show, you can find postcards and brochures about Green Roof Safari at the Greenroofs.com booth (#108). My colleague and co-founder of the tours, Jörg Breuning, can tell you more, too, at the Green Roof Service booth (#318)...        >>more


The Green Walls Column
Green Walls: Outer Beauty, Inner Function

By George Irwin
All Photos Courtesy George Irwin unless otherwise noted

Touchy, feely and gorgeous in New York City from GLT.

As a child I was mesmerized by the bean seeds starting to poke up over the rim of old cafeteria milk carton that had the top cut off.  I clearly remember my teacher lining up the milk cartons, mostly chocolate, along the window sill.  As the week went on the mass of bean seeds look like a single carpet - I thought that was neat.  And as a teenager I always admired the clean cut and straight lines of a professionally manicured lawn.  Seeing the dark and light striped green color variations of the outfield grass I would ask myself how they did that - and I thought that was cool.  As a young landscape entrepreneur the site of mass annual plantings, over grown trellises and displays of natural wild flowers would make me stop and look, and that too, was pretty awesome.  These are all very specific things that caught my attention.

These visual experiences are all related to color, shape, texture and presentation; the point is it was eye catching.  You don’t need to be a psychologist to realize that visual affects are an attractant and at times stimulating.  Of course there is more to just visual attractants than plants; in fact, anything can be a visual attractant depending on what it is and who it is perceived by - but green walls are different, and I haven’t met anyone yet who didn’t think a green wall wasn’t “cool.”

Here we will discuss the use of green walls as visual attractants, artistic expressions, marketing campaigns and one of a kind pieces of art.   Although most will find the green wall itself a work of art, you have to look beyond the initial beauty to see that there is also environmental and economic... >>more

Musée du quai Branly vegetated "Vertical Garden" wall by Patrick Blanc in Paris, France;
Courtesy Greenroofs.com


guest feature article/ recommended readings

A green roofing resource
By James R. Kirby, AIA
Graphics Courtesy Professional Roofing Magazine

The NRCA Green Roof Systems Manual—2007 Edition

With the proliferation of the sustainability movement within the construction industry, green roofing is touted as one of the ways to make roof systems more environmentally friendly. Recognizing this trend, NRCA began developing a green roofing manual in 2004. And in 2007, NRCA published The NRCA Green Roof Systems Manual—2007 Edition.

The manual provides in-depth information about green roof system projects. The information contained in the manual was developed by NRCA member contractors and applies to roofing contractors, designers, manufacturers, and third-party individuals involved with green roof system design and installation.

Although some information is provided about green roof system components, such as drainage layers, moisture-retention layers and filter fabric, if you use the manual, you primarily will find specific information about selection, design and installation of waterproofing membranes appropriate for green roof systems.

The manual

The manual is divided into four main sections: General Green Roof Project Considerations, Green Roof System Guidelines, Green Roof System Construction Details and Glossary.

Considerations

The General Green Roof Project Considerations section provides an overview of general information concerning the design and installation of quality green roof systems...   >>more

A semi-intensive (moderate depth) green roof system


recommended readings

By Linda S. Velazquez,
ASLA Associate, LEED AP

BUILDING GREENer - Guidance on the use of green roofs, green walls and complementary features on buildings

BUILDING GREENer - Guidance on the use of green roofs, green walls and complementary features on buildings (C644), by Paul Early, Dusty Gedge, John Newton, and Steve Wilson, 2007 from CIRIA, London, England.

Once again from the United Kingdom comes another must-have advice and guide book to be added to our green building reference arsenal.  Published by CIRIA, the Construction Industry Research and Information Association - a not for profit UK organization which "manages collaborative research and produces information aimed at providing best practice solutions to industry problems" - the book is written by well known and respected environmental design leaders.  John Newton hails from Ecology Consultancy, Dusty Gedge and Paul Early from Livingroofs.org, and Steve Wilson from the  Environmental Protection Group (EPG).

Condensed Research
The authors jointly present BUILDING GREENer - Guidance on the use of green roofs, green walls and complementary features on buildings as a comprehensive assessment of published research and information on living roofs and walls, and how such low tech features as nesting boxes can easily be incorporated to encourage greater biodiversity in our building construction practices...        >>more


A View from the Sky Trenches
The Minions Project: A Bio-Regional Greenroof Research Call

By Patrick Carey

I have never ceased to be surprised at the ingenuity and zeal of people determined to discover a solution to a problem.  With green roofs, living walls, and other biophilic building elements, some of the biggest challenges are the collecting and analyzing of data.  Every approach has its shortcomings.  If a manufacturer of a product or provider of a service offers research data, there is always the possibility of conflict of interest.  If an academic institution offers research data, the implications of the results may be highly limited to the micro-climates of the test apparatus.  If a layman does research, there is always the possibility of lack of scientific rigor in designing the experiment, collecting the data, and analyzing it...    >>more


advertiser press releases

Liquid Plastics - 05.01.08
Liquid Plastics Inc. Goes “Green”

American Hydrotech - 03.13.08
American Hydrotech, Inc. Sponsors Green Roof Continuing Education Course

GreenGrid® - 03.05.08
Weston Recognized with Two Environmental Business Journal Achievement Awards

Liquid Plastics - 02.21.08
Decothane, the only moisture-triggered polyurethane meeting the new ASTM D7311-07 standard

Tecta America Corp. - 02.08
Tecta America Expands into Arizona; Acquires Standard Roofing

Greenroof Directory and Banner Ad customers may send
Advertiser Press Releases to:

media@greenroofs.com


project press releases

GreenGrid® - 5.07.08
Roofing Systems from Mule-Hide® Products Co. Inc., Weston Solutions Inc. and American Construction Metals to Top Museum of Science and Industry Exhibit

GreenGrid Greenroof atop the mkSolaire Smart Home

See Michelle Kaufmann Designs' mkSolaire™ Smart Home at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago in the
 Greenroof Projects Database.

GreenGrid® - 4.17.08
First GreenGrid® Installation in Atlanta Area by WESTON

See Atlanta's Bunzl Administration Center of the High Museum of Art  in the
 Greenroof Projects Database.

American Hydrotech - 02.08.08
Northpark 500 Green Roof Renovation Completed

Click here.

See Northpark 500 in the
 Greenroof Projects Database.

Everyone can send Project Press Releases to:

projects@greenroofs.com


classifieds
properties

Greenroof Property for Sale: 3TEN HAUSTUDIO, Atlanta, GA, USA
in Castleberry Hill - Atlanta's Art District

3TEN HAUSTUDIO

The greenroof


joblinks

Professional Senior Gardener Position Available with Halsted Welles Associates - New York, NY

Sustainable Technologies Group Specialist Position Available with Tremco, Inc. - Portland/Seattle/Tacoma

Vegetated Roof Summer Internships Internship Available with TectaGreen/Magco - MD, D.C. area

Project Specialist Position Available with Roofscapes, Inc. - Philadelphia, PA

Position Wanted in plant selection and biodiversity/performance evaluation for green roof projects

Position Wanted in civil/environmental engineering working on sustainable design

Position Wanted in an architectural field capitalizing on education and interest in sustainable design

Position Wanted to develop and promote green-based projects, policies, products, and services            >>more


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