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september 2004 International Green Roof Congress The Times They are A-Changing: Trends and Challenges for the Green Roof Market of the Future
By Wolfgang Ansel, DDV, IGRC All photos courtesy Wolfgang Ansel
How will the green roof market develop within the next few years? What are the challenges and the risks for the green roof trade? Is there a recipe for future success? These and other questions will be discussed during the International Green Roof Congress (IGRC) in Stuttgart-Nuertingen, Germany on September 14 and 15, 2004.
The look towards future trends requires a comprehensive review of the green roof position within the political, ecological, economical and technological framework: The current status will point the way for future developments. In order to provide a solid platform for these discussions, well-known German and European landscaping, roofing and environmental lobby groups have initiated an outstanding green roof event. Speakers from Europe, Asia and from North America will share their knowledge with the audience. The agenda of the Congress will feature all current green roof topics - take a look at the updated Programme highlighting Speakers, Topics, Registration, Tours and more, and here for the Congress flyer.
One of the major hosts of the International Green Roof Congress is the German Roof Gardener Association (DDV). Founded already in 1985 this organization carries out an intense and successful public relation work for the ecological green roof idea in Germany. Apart from press releases, information brochures and trade fairs the DDV organizes a large number of training courses and seminars each year. The main targets of the DDV are the emphatic dissemination of the ecological green roof idea and the promotion of high quality and reliable green roof build-ups in Germany. On an international level the DDV supports the IGRA (International Green Roof Association) which offers the platform and the infrastructure for the international spreading of the ecological green roof idea.
Apart from the DDV and the IGRA another host is the FLL (Landscape Development and Landscape Construction Research Society) which publishes internationally acknowledged guidelines and standards for green roof technique and installation. They will present the latest English version of the “Guideline for Planning, Implementation and Maintenance of Green Roofs, at the Congress”.
Green Roof Innovations
The times they are a-changing. The disastrous side effects of global warming are becoming more and more apparent. Simultaneously, the worldwide energy consumption and the prices for oil and gas are increasing in a dramatic way. Consequently, the use of sustainable technologies will become an essential key factor for the survival of modern economic systems. Future-oriented technologies like solar energy, thermal insulation and rainwater utilization may be combined with green roofs thus leading to various ground-breaking advantages. "Synergy” is the magic word. Specific examples of the often unknown ecological and economical benefits of these innovative combinations will be presented at the Congress in Stuttgart-Nuertingen.
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Green Roofs and Photovoltaic Panels in Germany; Photo Source: ZinCo |
Green Roof Practice
Questions of green roof technology and installation will also play an important role within the Congress programme. There is no better advertising for the green roof trade than a durable, well-functioning and attractive green roof. However, there is still a lot of prejudice in the public opinion with regards to the reliability of green roofs that slows down the development of the green roof market. Therefore, the knowledge of the potential sources of failure and practical strategies are key factors for a sustainable success for planners and green roof contractors. Green Roof Research
In the late sixties, a lot of green roof studies were conducted at various German universities and research centres were also installed within these last decades. Just in the field of extensive green roofs alone, almost 1000 papers have been published. It is time to share and exchange information with upcoming research groups all over the world and to overcome the language barrier. Therefore, the International Green Roof Congress has invited research groups from the USA, Europe and Asia and guarantees a simultaneous translation of the presentations in English, German, and Japanese. Studies on substrates, water retention, urban heat island effect and plant selection criteria will be presented by acknowledged green roof experts.
Green Roof Architecture
The number of ecological green roof projects has increased dramatically within the last years. At present green roofs can be found in nearly all big cities around the world. Urbanization is a global problem and green roofs are a global instrument to overcome the negative side effects of covering natural areas. Depending on the local conditions and building construction, different ecological and economical functions of green roofs may be the focus of each structure’s architectural concepts, for example:
- The largest green roof worldwide will be the Financial District “Banco de Santander” in Madrid, Spain. Extensive green roof areas and intensive green roof gardens for recreational amenities will be installed on more than 1,000,000 sf.
- The Church of Latter-Day Saints Conference Centre in Salt Lake City, Utah, is well integrated within the natural landscape in a harmonious way due to its multi-leveled green roof planted with firs, pines and meadowland, see photo below.
 | Susan K. Weiler landscape architect (Olin Partnership) and lecturer at Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania will speak about the “Church of Latter-day Saints Conference Center” in Salt Lake City (American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award and Sustainable Communities Green Roof Award); Photo Source: Susan Weiler |
- The DaimlerChrysler Project at the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, Germany, combines the ecological green roof benefits of the storage/reuse of rainwater within a modern concept.
The possibilities of green roofs are almost unlimited and the future will only bring further innovations.
International Information Exchange
The international exchange of these new and exciting developments is not only desirable, but just a simple necessity with regards to an efficient environmental policy. In this context, the International Green Roof Congress offers an outstanding forum for discussion and cooperation among green roof experts from all over the world. If you have ever planned to visit Germany in order to learn more about modern green roof technology and research there is no better chance to make it.
In conclusion, I believe everyone will profit from the expansion of the national and international green roof sector: the green roof companies, the population, the environment, and of course, our future generations who would only experience unecological, gravel-covered flat roofs from pictures and from story-telling, not from their own built environment. Please join us for a lively international meeting on September 14 and 15 – I hope to see you in beautiful Stuttgart-Nuertingen!
 | Public playground as part of the roof on a private property in Geislingen, Germany |
The website of the International Green Roof Congress is www.greenroofworld.com; please visit us here for complete details of the Congress Programme, short biographies of the speakers, an overview of the subjects as well as an online registration form. For more information about the International Green Roof Congress, please contact:
Wolfgang Ansel, Congress Manager
PO Box 2025
72610 Nuertingen
Germany
email: ansel@greenroofworld.com The website of the International Green Roof Congress is www.greenroofworld.com. Visit us here for the detailed Congress Programme, short biographies of the speakers, an overview of the subjects as well as an online registration form.
Wolfgang Ansel has studied biology at the University of Hohenheim, Germany. He was a scientific assistant at the Institute of Landscape and Plant ecology from 1995-2002. His main research focus is plants and environmental education. He also holds an economics degree from the University of Hagen (marketing and environmental economics). Wolfgang Ansel is currently the manager of the German Roof Gardener Association (DDV).
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