2006:

We were in full force for our 5th Annual BIG GREEN HOLIDAY PARTY and RAFFLE and it was  fun... we secured a space that could hold well over 500 people!  We were so excited to have Alex Steffen from WorldChanging.org who said a few words about his amazing new book WorldChanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century (Abrams November, 2006)**.  Here are the Holiday Party details:

Date: Tuesday, December 12th, 2006
Time: 7:00 pm - midnight
Place: M1-5 bar
Location: 52 Walker Street (between Church and Broadway, one block South of Canal. www.m1-5.com
Cost: $15 suggested donation. Fabulous free green raffle prizes and organic food.

Contact Margaret at nyc@green-links.org for info about the party.  We were joined by many other green groups in the city and it's a way for us all to come together to celebrate the good work we're doing to make the world a better place.

** Margaret said:  "Word is that if we all buy the book from Amazon.com TODAY November 1st, it could shoot up to the #1 spot; So I would encourage you, and trust me, this is way worth it, if you're gonna buy it anyway, cause it will make a great gift, to buy it on November 1st and help make it a hit."

HOW: Walk, cycle, bus, subway, taxi (ok if more than two passengers.)

WHO: Anyone who likes networking and being social.

WHY: Fun, contacts, alcohol, info, gossip, inspiration, business and pleasure.

NEW: Just go up to someone and say "are you green?", and you'll be made welcome.

! STATUS: Informal, self-organizing network. Every month since July, 2001. Average attendance: 100.

GLOBAL: London | Berlin | Bristol | Bath | Canberra | Hamburg | Munich | Oxford | Reading | Warsaw | Tokyo | Washington, DC | Peterborough | San Francisco | Chicago | Sacramento | New York City | Providence | Twin Cities | Portland, OR | Seattle | Houston ~ 129 cities worldwide!

Green Drinks is a low key, informal, self-organizing network who meet at a different place each month with people who work in the environmental field for a beer - it's a chance to mix with others to network, share info and make friends.  It is a lively group of people who work in the areas of: architecture, energy, film, finance, publishing, fundraising, graphic design, sustainability in business, eco-materials, interior design, fashion design, law as well as folks in the non-profit and for-profit worlds.  

If you like to be social and learn more about what other green folks are doing in the city, come on down. We are an informal, networking group with an average attendance of 100 people who work and study in the environmental field and have met very month since 1990.

Organizers feel this might be a way for greenroofs folks to connect with other green folks in the city, and suggest you take a chance to mix with other like-minded folks, to network, share info and make friends.  Just go up to someone and say "are you green?", and you'll be made welcome.

Read more at www.greendrinks.org.  To get on the email circulation list, send an email to: nyc@greendrinks.org.  

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Green Roofs for Healthy Cities offered the Green Roof Infrastructure Design & Installation 201 Course in December 2006 on:

Portland, OR, Green Roof Infrastructure: Design & Installation 201 Course on December 8: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.  Contact www.greenroofs.org for more info.

For further information, please visit Green Roofs for Healthy Cities or contact Anna Sergeyeva at 416.971.4494, ext. 228 or asergeyeva@greenroofs.org.

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Green Roofs for Healthy Cities offered the Green Roof Ecological Design Workshop in December 2006 on the following dates:

 

Portland, OR Ecological Design Workshop December 8:  Contact www.greenroofs.org for more info.
 

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Symposia in November, 2006 - About Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Symposia:

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is co-hosting, with various municipal governments, a series of symposiums across North America. Primary objectives of these symposiums are to demonstrate the benefits of a green roof system and to develop an action plan on how to establish a local green roof industry through research and policy development. These one-day symposia will provide an opportunity for participants to learn from local and national experts about the general design and implementation of green roofs. Local case studies will be featured wherever possible. Afternoon focus group sessions will allow attendees the chance to identify with relevant city officials the local research needs and obstacles to implementation. Input gathered from the participants at the symposium will be used to create an action plan that will help guide the development of the local municipality's research program to further explore green roof technical performance and introduce supportive policy options. Registration for this event is $195 US, and includes a one-year individual membership to Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.

Please contact jsprout@greenroofs.org for more information.  To view the current agenda and for more info, please visit www.greenroofs.org.

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Come DOWNTOWN this month for Green Drinks at Ear to the Earth sound and image gallery!  Experience incredible sounds and sights from nature, remember those?  Bring your electric bill to sign up for Wind Power and Con Ed Solutions and your $15 admission covered!

WHAT: Green Drinks NYC ~ Every 2nd Tuesday of the month, 100 or so New Yorkers who are interested in exploring all things green and sustainable meet at different fabulous locations around the city.  It’s a great chance to mix with other green-minded folks, share info and make new friends.  Open to everyone.  $10 admission.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 10, 2006.  6 – 10pm.

WHERE: Ear to the Earth at 3LD Gallery / Art Center, 80 Greenwich Street @ Rector, about 5 minutes walk from the World Financial Center.  Look for a glass facade to the right of the entrance to the Battery Parking Garage.  Map for details: http://www.3leggeddog.org/3LD/find.htm.

Ear to the Earth takes place October 6 - 14 in New York City and is a week-long festival of environmental sound and image with installations, panels, and concerts. Conceived and organized by Electronic Music Foundation, the aim of the festival is to inspire sensitivity to our natural and human environments through sound and foster engagement in environmental issues.   Click for the website.

SUPPORT NY WIND POWER: Sign up for Wind Power through Con Ed Solutions and receive free admission.  Bring a copy of your current electric bill to enroll.  Click for more info.

HOW: Walk, cycle, bus, subway, taxi (ok if more than two passengers.)

WHO: Anyone who likes networking and being social.

WHY: Fun, contacts, alcohol, info, gossip, inspiration, business and pleasure.

NEW: Just go up to someone and say "are you green?", and you'll be made welcome.

! STATUS: Informal, self-organizing network. Every month since July, 2001. Average attendance: 100.

GLOBAL: London | Berlin | Bristol | Bath | Canberra | Hamburg | Munich | Oxford | Reading | Warsaw | Tokyo | Washington, DC | Peterborough | San Francisco | Chicago | Sacramento | New York City | Providence | Twin Cities | Portland, OR | Seattle | Houston ~ 129 cities worldwide!

Green Drinks is a low key, informal, self-organizing network who meet at a different place each month with people who work in the environmental field for a beer - it's a chance to mix with others to network, share info and make friends.  It is a lively group of people who work in the areas of: architecture, energy, film, finance, publishing, fundraising, graphic design, sustainability in business, eco-materials, interior design, fashion design, law as well as folks in the non-profit and for-profit worlds.  

If you like to be social and learn more about what other green folks are doing in the city, come on down!  We are an informal, networking group with an average attendance of 100 people who work and study in the environmental field and have met very month since 1990.

Organizers feel this might be a way for greenroofs folks to connect with other green folks in the city, and suggest you take a chance to mix with other like-minded folks, to network, share info and make friends.  Just go up to someone and say "are you green?", and you'll be made welcome.

Read more at www.greendrinks.org.  To get on the email circulation list, send an email to: nyc@greendrinks.org.  

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The 2006 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO and 43rd IFLA World Congress was held on October 6–10, 2006 in Minneapolis, MN.  Education and field sessions covered issues from residential design to global issues of sustainability.  Leading experts in sustainable design were on hand to lead education programs and answer questions at the 2006 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO and 43rd IFLA World Congress.

Green Roof Sessions
On Saturday, October 7, the experts who designed the green roof for the ASLA headquarters building discussed the project and describe the context, design process, plant selection, implementation, and ongoing quantitative analysis of the project's environmental and structural impact.

Green Roof Design 101 and 201

Green roof technology is taking off in the U.S., and the landscape architecture profession is positioned at the forefront of this emerging market. Get a leg up on the competition with these certificate programs at incredible savings for ASLA/IFLA meeting registrants.  On Friday, October 6, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, an international organization dedicated to increasing the proliferation of green roofs,  presented two intensive, eight-hour green roof design courses. In Green Roof Design 101, the introductory course, attendees received an overview of the tools and techniques needed to meet green roof project objectives.  Green Roof Design 201, the intermediate course, provided an in-depth discussion of implementation issues.  Space was limited.

Open Forums on Sustainability
Two open forums focusing on sustainability were held on Saturday, October 7:

EPA Greenscapes: Building Sustainable Sites from the Ground Up—Soil

EPA Greenscapes: Building Sustainable Sites from the Ground Up—Water

Exciting Education Sessions
Water, brownfields, plants, and restoration are just a few of the subjects addressed by engaging programs throughout the meeting:

ASLA Green Roof Project

Millennium Report

Stormwater: Landscape Architects’ Role and a Neighborshed Approach to Stormwater Management

Sustainable Community Planning in China

Right Tree, Right Place: Selecting Trees for Urban Spaces Within An Urban Tropical Environment

SITES: System Integration Tool for Environmentally Sustainable Sites

Hong Kong Wetland Park—A MultiDisciplinary Exercise in Sustainability

LandTech: Wetlands Mapping

Planning and Redeveloping Brownfields

Defining Ecological Restoration Success: Principles, Project Case Studies, and Global Implications

Soil Biology—Sustainable Landscape Design and Management in the Public Urban Environment

Sustainability for the Virginia Capitol Square

Fascinating Field Sessions
Part education session, part professional tour, three of the 2006 field sessions highlighted local sustainable landscape architecture, providing a behind-the-scenes look at a number of extraordinary projects. Field session space was limited.

Innovative Stormwater Treatment

A Sustainable Approach to Residential Landscape Design

From Waste to Amenity: Stormwater Treatment and Reuse in Minneapolis's Heritage Park

Terrific Tours
One of this year’s tours, Conservation Development, highlighted innovative conservation development projects currently underway in the Twin Cities. Space was limited. Early Registration saved $100.

For more Conference info, please visit the ASLA website.

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Living Roofs: Cayuga Nature Center and Motherplants presented a one-day living roof workshop. We put a green roof onto a 320 square foot structure in one afternoon.  People came to familiarize themselves with the process of installing a living roof!

Date: Saturday, September 30 1pm-5pm / Rain Date: Sunday, October 1, 2006 1pm-5pm

Cost: CNC Members $25, Non-members $35

Registration: Highly recommended!

Living roofs reduce storm water runoff; moderate building temperatures, reduce heating and cooling costs; reduce heat radiation from buildings which causes the urban heat island effect; add to a building's aesthetic value; and increase green space for human enjoyment and wildlife value.

Visitors to Cayuga Nature Center can explore the wonders of the natural world first hand. The CNC houses over 40 live Animals in both indoor and outdoor exhibits. Explore our Butterfly House seasonally from June to August. Climb 50 feet into the tree canopy in Treetops, our six story observational tree-house. Or simply enjoy the outdoors while walking our five miles of interpretive trails, which meander through a mature deciduous forest, along gorges and streams, and past a variety of native plants and wildlife. Visitors to our Smith Woods property in Trumansburg can explore a rare old growth forest.

Local Schools and Educators can benefit from the many programs offered by the CNC. Connect the classroom to the natural world with one of our many Environmental Education programs, or challenge your students to surpass their perceived limitations on our TEAM Challenge ropes course.

Learn more about the Cayuga Nature Center here, and Motherplants here.
 

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West Coast Green is the largest residential green building conference + expo in the country.  The September 28-30, 2006 event was the inaugural conference for the western region of the United States, offering cutting-edge educational tracks, panels, continuing education units, a state of the art conference experience, networking forums, gala events, and more!

Greenroofs.com was a key outreach partner of West Coast Green, the first and largest residentially-focused green building conference in the country, and Publisher Linda Velazquez attended this astounding event.

Greenroofs.com offered its readers and subscribers a 20% discount on full conference registration. See below for details.

Thousands of Bay Area homeowners were invited to attend on Homeowner Day, September 30, when Robert F. Kennedy was our keynote speaker.  This landmark event come to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, September 28-30, 2006 in San Francisco, CA.  West Coast Green showcased over 250 exhibitors and 120 speakers, including keynotes by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Sarah Susanka (author of "The Not So Big House"), and industry leaders Ed Mazria, Peter Yost and Mark LaLiberte.

There were many designers/builders speaking about all aspects of residential building and one speaker focusing specifically on the green roof concept: Paul Kephart, Executive Director of Rana Creek.  Rana Creek designed the roofs of the Gap corporate headquarters and the California Academy of Sciences using sustainable strategies such as vegetative roofs.

More than 12,000 industry professionals and homeowners convened from all over the country to gain the tips and tools for building sustainably and successfully.  In honor of this momentous event, The City of San Francisco proclaimed the week of September 25th "Green Week."

NETWORK, SCHMOOZE, PROMOTE, LEARN, GROW YOUR BUSINESS....

For more details, visit us at www.westcoastgreen.com to learn why West Coast Green is the Largest Residential Green Building Event in the country.

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Green Roofs for Healthy Cities offered the Green Roof Infrastructure Design & Installation 201 Course in August on the following dates:

Chicago, Illinois Green Roof Design & Installation 201 Course on August 25: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at Best Western Inn of Chicago, Buckingham Room, 162 east Ohio Street, Chicago, Illinois. (Trainer: Virginia Russell)

This much anticipated second course in the green roof accreditation program covers in detail many different steps that need to be understood and incorporated into any successful green roof design and implementation including actors' roles and responsibilities, construction contracts and their administration, warranties, bidding process etc. This course is suite to those who have already taken Green Roof Design 101 or who already have a good general understanding of green roof design.

Those using AIA, RCI, or ASLA credits for application toward their local/regional association or for license renewal can acquire 7 education credits for participating in this course.

Tuition for this one-day course was $345 per person and included course materials, lunch, and a one-year individual membership of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities - the green roof industry association for North America. Co-host members received a $50 discount, where applicable.

For further information, please visit Green Roofs for Healthy Cities or contact Dayna Goucher at 416.971.4494, ext. 228 or dgoucher@greenroofs.org.

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An extraordinary opportunity was offered to take part in the Regenerative Designs and Landscapes Tour of Middle Germany, August 21-30, 2006.

Hosted by Roland Oehme and his father, Wolfgang Oehme, the world renowned, German-born landscape architect, this exclusive tour offered special insights gained from years of practice in landscape architecture and garden design, and from many years of travel to Germany visiting its significant buildings, parks, gardens, and garden shows.

The highlights of the tour included two 2006 State Garden Shows, Berlin's magnificent botanic garden, Potsdam's historic & contemporary gardens (including the Foerster garden & nursery, Sanssouci (the summer residence for Friedrich the Great), & the former Federal Garden Show), two totally unique Hundertwasser buildings, the Bauhaus architecture school & Woerlitzerpark (one of the best German estate gardens in Dessau), the garden with the largest rose collection in the world, the dramatic restoration of the open pit coal mine into a recreational paradise with the large lake as its centerpiece in Bitterfeld, and the one of a kind Ferropolis or "city of iron."

Furthermore, we explored Germany's pioneering and responsible society actively pursuing a sustainable lifestyle, as exemplified in the latest in green building technology, recycling programs, beautiful public parks and gardens, climate cooling roof gardens, lively pedestrian town centers, creatively fun playgrounds, hemp & organic food stores, solar & wind power, delicious, healthy cuisine, and more unique and inspirational places and people.

This tour was designed for the person with an adventurous spirit and the ability to exercise on some days. We walked large distances on most days; and on some days swimming and bike riding was optional.  Tour participants needed to have been healthy and fit, and capable of walking several miles each day. This was not a motorcoach tour. We traveled in large vans, used public transportation, and walked as necessary. This allowed for a more intimate and richer experience with the local people and customs.

Land costs were estimated at $3,290, with a single room supplement of $300. Included in the cost were the accommodations and transportation for 10 days and 11 nights, all breakfasts, and 5 lunches & 5 dinners. Airfare was not included.

Past:  I welcome you to join us on this wonderfully unique tour of gardens and sustainable living in an undiscovered and blossoming region of Germany. A deposit of $200 (made payable to Roland Oehme) and completion of the Reservation Form (see below) is required to confirm a seat on this tour. Full payment and application deadline is Monday, July 10, 2006. The detailed itinerary and terms & conditions will be sent to you upon receiving your deposit.

Please contact me for any questions regarding this trip: Roland Oehme, T 410.825.3269 or greenharmonyendeavor@yahoo.com.

Bis bald! (See you soon!)

Roland Oehme

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The "Green Building Innovation" Symposium was held on August 23-25, 2006 in Berlin - Adlershof, Germany, co-hosted by:  The Department VI of the Berlin Senate, The Green Roof Centre of Excellence, FBB, EFB and FBR.   The Symposium addressed rain water usage including Rain Water Systems, Green Facades, and Green Roof Infrastructures.  Venue: Berlin-Adlershof, Rudower Street, Audience Hall Schrödinger Zentrum 0 115.

The symposium was held in German, but August 23rd was the "Academic Day," which was presented in English.

August 24 was the official day presented by the Berlin Senate where results of the project "Building of Physics in Berlin - Adlershof" was presented, where monitoring of cooling with living walls was investigated since 2002. Results of this project were launched at this symposium (in German, but with an special environmental mapping program of Berlin and the projects of Berlin - Adlershof also for our English speaking guests).

On August 25 a day trip through the history of eco - city projects in Berlin was offered,  demonstrating an overview of more than 25 years in green building technology realized in Berlin.

Please contact Manfred Köhler below for any detailed questions and visit The Green Roof Centre of Excellence website in English here.

Manfred Köhler: koehler@hs-nb.de
Tel. 0395 - 56 93 210 oder / 203 / Fax /299
Landscape Architect, BDLA,
Member of FLL, FBB, GRHC

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Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the City of Boston were pleased to co-host the fourth annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards, & Trade Show on May 10-12, 2006 in Boston, MA.  Conference Information:

"Learn from dynamic plenary and concurrent sessions featuring presentations by green roof experts from around the world...

Explore what's new in green roof technology, products, and services with over 75 trade show exhibitors...

Network with more than 800 global green roof leaders in all areas of green roofs: Design; Research; Policy; Contracting; Building...

Your 2006 Registration Package Includes:

· Presentations by over 40 speakers from 10 countries on three different tracks: Research,  Design, and Policy
· One Ticket to the Mayor's Opening Night Reception on the Exhibition Floor
· Lunch on the Trade Show floor, Thursday May 11
· Awards of Excellence Luncheon, Friday May 12
· One Copy of the Official Conference proceedings CD-ROM, featuring speaker presentations (Retail Value: $75)
· One year Complimentary Individual Membership in Green Roofs for Healthy Cities ($125 Value)

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

45 Speakers, Including:

Dr. John Todd, Keynote Speaker
Dr. Todd was named Time Magazine's “Hero of the Earth” in 1999, and is recognized as one of the 20th Century’s top inventors for Invention and Innovation. He is the inventor of Living Machines, or ecological engines, for the treatment of wastes, production of foods, generation of fuels and the restoration of damaged aquatic environments. He will be the featured speaker at dinner on Thursday, May 11.

Design Track
Dr. Manfred Koehler, University of Applied Sciences, Neubrandenburg, Germany
Dr. Koehler is one of the foremost researchers on green roofs and vertical gardens. Dr. Koehler will be overseeing a session on living walls highlighting the opportunities for restorative, biophillic architectural design.

Research Track
Hyukjae Lee, Doctorate Student at Meiji University, Division of Agriculture
For the first time, quantifiable measurements on the aesthetic benefits of green roofs has been researched. Hyukjae Lee will present his method of quantitatively clarifying the effects of rooftop greening in improving the scenery.

Policy Track
Michael Berkshire, Green Projects Administrator, City of Chicago
Through a unique combination of Mayoral commitment, policy development and implementation, and incentives, 200 green roof projects are establishing roots in Chicago. These vibrant rooftops will add over 2,500,000 square feet of vegetation to this densely developed, Midwestern city. Michael Berkshire will present on recent activities undertaken by the City to encourage more projects and the growth of a local green roof market.

See the entire Agenda on the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities website.

Make sure you come visit Greenroofs.com at Booth # 426!  We are a Media Partner for this event.

In-Depth Training Courses and Workshops:

DESIGN 101 - Introductory Course
This introductory training course on green roof infrastructure design presents many of the tools and techniques needed to meet your green roof project objectives on schedule, to specification, and within budget. The focus of the training will be on enhancing your skills in:

· Identifying the costs and benefits of green roofs to reach your green roof performance goals;
· Identifying a variety of green roof products and understanding the performance criteria of different green roof elements, and their relevance to your design intent;
· Understanding the major design principles for a successful green roof project and the causes for error which might lead to an unsuccessful green roof project;
· Determining the various professions and competencies required to optimally implement your successful green roof project.

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION 201
Green Roof Implementation 201 is GRHC’s second course in the Green Roof Accreditation Program. Registrants should have already completed the Green Roof Design 101 Introductory Course or have a solid understanding of green roof design and available technology.

This course provides the necessary information that will equip you to project manage the design and installation of a green roof. You will learn:

· Essential qualifications for your project team
· Critical questions you need to ask your client (matching their ecological requirements to design practicalities)
· Identifying building code/municipal permit issues
· Liability issues (including insurance, waivers, guarantees etc.)
· Design and implementation issues for new and retrofit buildings (including structural loading concerns, drainage, erosion control, storm water retention, etc.)
· Sub contracting and scheduling concerns
· And much more

ASTM AND FLL STANDARDS WORKSHOP
Until recently the only accepted guidelines for green roof construction were those developed by Forschungsgesellschaft Landschaftsentwicklung Landschaftsbau. e.V. (FLL), in Germany. Although many green roof products available in North America have been tested in Europe and meet FLL standards or have FLL certification, there have been no guidelines specific to the North American marketplace.

The ASTM (American Standards for the Testing of Materials) Green Roof Task Force (E.06.71.07) chaired by Michael Gibbons (Architectural Systems Inc.) is addressing this need by developing guidelines and testing procedures specifically for green roof products. The good news is that while development continues, four standards have already been completed and published. These four standards establish a common basis for comparing fundamental green roof properties, such as maximum weight and moisture retention potential.

In this workshop, you will learn:

· How to interpret the four ASTM standards and other FLL tests currently being used in North American testing laboratories
· How these standardized tests will affect the North American industry as their use becomes more widespread
· Why they are important to designers, specifiers and manufacturers
· Why you should consider testing your products
· Costs of conducting performance tests
· New standards and test procedures under development/adapted from FLL

GREEN ROOF DESIGN FOR BIODIVERSITY WORKSHOP
"Most people feel connected to nature, often for reasons that can be hard to explain. Some feel a strong spiritual bond that may be rooted in our common biological ancestry. Others are inspired by its beauty. Human cultures around the world profoundly reflect our visceral attachment to the natural world. Thus cultural diversity is inextricably linked to Earth’s biodiversity." David Suzuki

Learn...

* Why Biodiversity is Important
* Advanced Green Roof Design
* Case Studies
* Sustainable Landscaping Principles
* Methods and Techniques of Urban Ecology

Experience...

* The Bio Diversity Green Roof Design Charrette
* The Integration of Nature and Architecture
* A Fun and Stimulating Workshop with Two World Leaders in Natural
Green Roof Design

Create Your Own Ecological Models for Green Roofs!

GREEN ROOF POLICY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
Planners across North America are becoming increasingly interested in green roofs and their potential to mitigate some of the damaging environmental effects of new and existing development in an urban setting.

However, many developers and building owners will argue that green roofs add to the cost of construction and do not often provide sufficient short-term payback. Given the public as well as private benefits that green roofs offer, it has become increasingly important for policy makers to develop the types of incentives that will encourage or require new developments and retrofits to include green roofs.

This half-day workshop will examine what kind of incentives currently exist in other jurisdictions, how the incentives are tied to performance standards and how policy makers can assess what types of incentive programs will work best in their areas. It will also provide a framework for planners and governmental agencies to gain an understanding of the multi-faceted impacts of green roofs and areas of consideration for implementing green roof policy."

Visit http://greenroofs.org/boston/index.php for complete info.

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Green Roofs for Healthy Cities offered the Green Roof Design 101 - Introductory Courses in April on the following dates:

Pittsburgh Green Roof Design 101 on April 6:  8:30am - 5:00 pm at OMNI William Penn Hotel, Frick Room, 530 William Penn Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Trainer: Patrick Carey)

Knoxville Green Roof Design 101 on April 6: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at the Greenwaste Composting Facility, 8707 Joe Daniel Rd, Knoxville, Tennessee. (Trainer: Haven Kiers)

Toronto Green Roof Design 101 on April 25: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at George Brown College, CFSE Building, Room 129, 209 Adelaide Street east, Toronto, Ontario.

Chicago Green Roof Design 101 on April 28: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at the Civic Opera House, Room 632, 20 N Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois. (Trainer: Haven Kiers)

For further information, please visit Green Roofs for Healthy Cities or contact Dayna Goucher at 416.971.4494, ext. 228 or dgoucher@greenroofs.org.

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The Greenprints Sustainable Communities by Design Conference & Trade Show was held on March 23 and 24, 2006 at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta, GA.  The website states, "In 2006 we are excited to be convening in the heart of Technology Square, an award-winning development and home to several LEED projects. Technology Square integrates the Georgia Institute of Technology Campus with midtown Atlanta’s thriving corporate, retail and residential community.  Pre-conference LEED workshops and pre- and post-conference tours are also offered.

In addition to educational tracks on residential, commercial and community design and development, Greenprints boasts a "green" tradeshow with the latest green building products and services, as well as hands-on learning opportunities and an alternative fuel vehicle show. There is also plenty of time to network with our sponsors, exhibitors and other attendees to make the most of your Greenprints experience."  Since 1998, Greenprints has provided a forum for changing the way practitioners think about architecture, planning and the use of natural resources. Southface, in partnership with the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, and with the support of numerous other government and industry sponsors, has hosted Greenprints informing thousands of participants interested in Sustainable Communities by Design.

The Southface fundraising Gala Event, the Visionary Dinner, will be held on March 22, 2006 at the Georgia Freight Depot.  Southface, along with Atlantic Station and Jacoby Development, will present the Argon Award for Success in Sustainability to a Georgia-based business leader or institution in recognition of a significant commitment to environmental stewardship.  For more info on the Visionary Dinner, click here.

Greenroofs were specifically addressed here in the following Site Sessions Tracks, presented by the USGBC Atlanta Chapter and EarthCraft House:

Thursday, March 23 from 9:45 am-12:45 pm:  Eco Office Hard Hat: Behind the Walls of Platinum  The Southface Eco Office is a 10,000sf showcase of "state of the shelf," market-ready sustainable technologies and a shining example of the integrated design process. Learn from the architects, engineers and greenroof designer how this building is tracking LEED Platinum and drastically reducing energy and water needs while exceeding stormwater retention and treatment requirements. Come along as they take you behind the walls to see the inside workings of one of the world’s few Platinum LEED Buildings.

and

Thursday, March 23 from 1:00-4:00 pm:  Woodward Academy  Paula Vaughan was the session leader and highlighted the 5,000 sf greenroof atop this Atlanta area school.  See the Woodward Academy project profile in the Greenroof Projects Database.

Also, Alex Wilson, publisher of BuildingGreen, spoke in the following:

Commercial Track: Materials: From Construction Waste to Construction Product
Presented by Cynthia Poselesnzy - Packer Industries & Alex Wilson - BuildingGreen.
This session is a study of material reincarnation.  Our speakers will take you through the processes that construction waste goes through to become recycled material, then show you how to use the material in its new life.

Learn more here, including track descriptions, sessions and speaker bios, and about registration for Greenprints and the Visionary Dinner.

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The Houston Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects held their March Section meeting on Thursday, March 23, 2006 at 7:00 PM in Houston, TX (see details below) and the public was invited as well. 

JOIN US AT THE MARCH HOUSTON/GULF COAST SECTION ASLA MEETING!

WHAT: March ASLA meeting with speaker Jennifer Appel, RLA, ASLA, LI, of www.LandscapeHouston.com and www.LandscapeVitamins.com, Discussing “Green Roofs.”  Beverages and snacks shall be served!

Green Roof Design: Green roofs have been built since ~1000 years before Christ.  Learn the tips to create a green roof that doesn't leak, has carbon sequestration and requires very little maintenance.

WHEN: Thursday, March 23rd at 7pm

WHERE: Clark Condon Associates
10401 Stella Link Road
Houston, TX 77025
Ph: 713.871.1414 (office located south of 610 on Stella Link)

HOW: Please R.S.V.P. by e-mailing Pamela Newman at pnewman@rfld.com or calling
713. 975.6288.

SPONSOR: Tree Town USA

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The February monthly social meeting of New York Green Drinks was held on Tuesday, March 14 from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. at “SOHO 323, 323," West Broadway between Grand and Canal streets.  Click here for directions.

Green Drinks is a low key, informal, self-organizing network who meet at a different place each month with people who work in the environmental field for a beer - it's a chance to mix with others to network, share info and make friends.  It is a lively group of people who work in the areas of: architecture, energy, film,  finance, publishing, fundraising, graphic design, sustainability in business, eco-materials, interior design, fashion design, law as well as folks in the non-profit and for-profit worlds.  

If you like to be social and learn more about what other green folks are doing in the city, come on down!  We are an informal, networking group with an average attendance of 100 people who work and study in the environmental field and have met very month since 1990.

Organizers feel this might be a way for greenroofs folks to connect with other green folks in the city, and suggest you take a chance to mix with other like-minded folks, to network, share info and make friends.  Just go up to someone and say "are you green?", and you'll be made welcome.

Read more at www.greendrinks.org.  To get on the email circulation list, send an email to: nyc@greendrinks.org.

GLOBAL meetings in: London | Berlin | Bristol | Bath | Canberra | Hamburg | Munich | Oxford | Reading | Warsaw | Tokyo | Washington, DC | Peterborough | San Francisco | Chicago | Sacramento | New York City | Providence | Twin Cities | Portland, OR | Seattle | Houston |

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On March 10 the "Turning Green: Roofs, Neighborhoods, Cities" Conference was hosted by The Urban Ecology Centre at 200 Sherbrooke St. West (UQÀM’s Sherbrooke and Pierre-Levasseur pavillons),  in Montreal, Canada.  The Urban Ecology Centre, a non-profit organisation, works for sustainable community development with education, research and policy development campaigns and promotes ecology, citizenship and participatory democracy.  Montreal’s first major urban-greening event with French and English language content, the Turning Green: Roofs, Neighborhoods, Cities conference included workshops, capacity, synergy, programs and policies for greening Montreal’s roofs and urban landscape, with examples of green roofs and sustainable building implementation from Portland to Chicago to Toronto through Minneapolis, Québec and Montréal.

Representatives from leading North American cities, such as Portland – continental leader in adopting ecological practices, Minneapolis - the rain-water management champion, Toronto – green roofs policy specialist, Québec – site of several urban greening projects, and the city of Montréal – where green roofs are emerging as a must for a healthy city, were there to present their green roof and sustainable building achievements.

Buyers, decision-makers, building industry professionals and suppliers, government and municipal administration representatives, home-owners, building managers and the public  gathered to discuss and learn during this day-long conference, consisting of workshops, panels and plenary sessions. The conference addressed all aspects of urban greening while providing fertile ground for fruitful exchanges and networking. At the end of the day, participants shared and built a common vision of the issue of green roofs.

Among the topics covered were: green roof policy in Canadian cities; urban greening challenges and perspectives; the impact of urban greening on human health; tools – such as LEED – for promoting sustainable building design; and the development of the local eco-building industry. The technical, political, structural, organisational, social, ecological aspects - and their synergy, were presented and discussed by the experts. From rooftop gardens, to high-altitude agronomy, from greening professional education and social housing to research on the impact of green roofs and homeowners’ greening options - all of these and more were covered during this exceptional event. The conference featured detailed presentations of policies, programmes and incentives put in place by public entities and private corporations to support the spread of rooftop greening in high-density urban areas. And, simultaneous English-French translation was available for the major plenary and panel sessions.

For the registered participant, complementary hospitality included light morning breakfast and coffee, midday lunch and a closing cocktail. The trade show area gave participants numerous opportunities to make contacts and find resources. Registration fee was $100 for professionals and representatives of institutions ($85 before Feb.28) or $30 ($25 before Feb.28) for private citizens, students and members of non-profit organisations and housing cooperatives.

The conference Turning Green: Roofs, Neighborhoods, Cities was an initiative of the Urban Ecology Centre in partnership with Aedifica, Alternatives, Atelier Habitation Montréal, Conseil régional de l’environnement de Montréal, Vivre en Ville; with the financial support of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Fonds d’action québécois pour le développement durable (FAQDD), Fonds en efficacité énergétique and Alternatives; and our media partners Formes and Place Publique.

This conference was part of a campaign for a widespread implementation of rooftop greening in Montreal. Ecological and economic advantages of rooftop greening are numerous: in urban areas, besides sound rainwater management, green roofs contribute to mitigating the urban heat island effect, provide natural cooling for buildings, improve air quality and absorb greenhouse gases.

Read more by downloading the PDF here, or contact Jacob Nerenberg, Green Roofs Project Manager, Urban Ecology Centre, at: 514.281.8381.

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Green Roofs for Healthy Cities offered the Green Roof Design 101 - Introductory Courses in March on the following dates:

Cincinnati Green Roof Design 101 on March 3:  8:30am - 5:00 pm at Drake's Center, A-Level Conference Center, Room G, 151 West Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Edmonton Green Roof Design 101 on March 22: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at the Canadian Western Bank Building, Western Room, 10303 Jasper Ave. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Trainer: Patrick Carey)

Calgary Green Roof Design 101 on March 24: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at Alberta Roofing Contractors, Classroom 2, 2380 Pegasus Rd NE, Calgary, Alberta. (Trainer: Patrick Carey)

San Francisco Green Roof Design 101 on March 31:  8:30 am - 5:00 pm at Marine's memorial Club, Heritage Room, 609 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California.

For further information, please visit Green Roofs for Healthy Cities or contact Dayna Goucher at 416.971.4494, ext. 228 or dgoucher@greenroofs.org.

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Green Roofs for Healthy Cities offered the Green Roof Design 101 - Introductory Courses in February on the following dates:

Richmond Green Roof Design 101 on February 24:  8:30 am - 5:00 pm at McGuire Woods LLP, One James Center 901 East Cary Street, 2nd Floor, Richmond, Virginia.

New Jersey Green Roof Design 101 - Introductory Course on February 17:  8:30 am - 5:00 pm at Rutgers State University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Room 253, 33 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

For further information, please visit Green Roofs for Healthy Cities or contact Dayna Goucher at 416.971.4494, ext. 228 or dgoucher@greenroofs.org.

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US Composting Council 14th Annual Conference and Tradeshow | Hyatt Regency Hotel | Albuquerque | Jan 22-25, 2006

The US Composting Council held their 14th Annual Conference & Trade Show, January 22-25, 2006 in Albuquerque NM.  It's North America's largest exposition for the composting, wood waste and organics recycling industries!
 
  The USCC Conference hosts the largest trade show in North America targeted for the composting, wood waste & organics recycling industry. Nowhere else will you have the opportunity to interact with nearly 100 leading equipment manufacturers, product suppliers and service providers that can meet your current and future needs. Explore all the new equipment, products and technologies for your business. There is no better place to learn about new ideas, new products and services to make your job better, more efficient or more profitable.

  The USCC’s Annual Conference & Trade Show is the composting and organics recycling industry's premier & largest event, providing industry professionals with educational, networking, and career advancement opportunities. Meet & network with more than 500 of your peers from nearly every state in the US as well as colleagues from more than 10 countries.

  Continuing Professional Education credit & CEU's were available from ASLA & SWANA for attending the U.S. Composting Council's 14th Annual Conference & Trade Show.

  The Conference Program includes more than 70 presentations by a number of nationally and internationally renowned speakers, a veritable Who’s Who in the Industry. Simply refer to the Conference Program & Brochure and the depth of content offered becomes clear. Increase your know-how -- and your profits -- with more than 70 educational and technical presentations, and much more...

Greenroof-related speakers included:

Track 2. ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS USING COMPOST: HEALTHY SOILS, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

COMPOST IN SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES & STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
The Soil and Water Connection, Part II Compost in Sustainable Landscapes. Functional Soil and Landscape Systems. Wayne King, ERTH Products, LLC, Georgia

GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVES AND LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT
Construction & maintenance considerations in building GreenRoofs & Rain Gardens. Bill Hunt, NC State University

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities was a Conference Sponsor.

For the conference program, please click here.

For the conference brochure, please click here & here.

For conference Highlights, please click here.

The January monthly social meeting of New York Green Drinks was held on Tuesday, January 10 from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. at  “GSTAAD,” 43 West 26th Street (between 6th Ave and Broadway).  Tel: 212.683.1440.  Website: www.gstaadnyc.com for details and photos.

Green Drinks is a low key, informal, self-organizing network who meet at a different place each month with people who work in the environmental field for a beer - it's a chance to mix with others to network, share info and make friends.  It is a lively group of people who work in the areas of: architecture, energy, film, finance, publishing, fundraising, graphic design, sustainability in business, eco-materials, interior design, fashion design, law as well as folks in the non-profit and for-profit worlds.  

If you like to be social and learn more about what other green folks are doing in the city, come on down!  We are an informal, networking group with an average attendance of 100 people who work and study in the environmental field and have met very month since 1990.

Organizers feel this might be a way for greenroofs folks to connect with other green folks in the city, and suggest you take a chance to mix with other like-minded folks, to network, share info and make friends.  Just go up to someone and say "are you green?", and you'll be made welcome.

Read more at www.greendrinks.org.  To get on the email circulation list, send an email to: nyc@greendrinks.org.

GLOBAL meetings in: London | Berlin | Bristol | Bath | Canberra | Hamburg | Munich | Oxford | Reading | Warsaw | Tokyo | Washington, DC | Peterborough | San Francisco | Chicago | Sacramento | New York City | Providence | Twin Cities | Portland, OR | Seattle | Houston |