2007

Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Development (LID) Strategies and Practices
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Publication Number EPA 841-F-07-006,
December 2007

North America. "...report providing information to cities, counties, states, private-sector developers and others on the costs and benefits of using Low Impact Development (LID) strategies and practices to help protect and restore water quality. This report provides information on the cost savings and benefits that can be achieved by implementing LID practices versus conventional stormwater practices, and summarizes 17 case studies of developments that include LID practices and concludes that applying LID techniques can reduce project costs and improve environmental performance..."

A carpet of green UM business school's eco-friendly expansion to include green roof topped with hardy sedum
MLive.com, by Dave Gershman
December 31, 2007

Ann Arbor, MI. "...The expansion of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business is being done with several eco-friendly measures in mind, and one of them is the addition of a roof covered in plant material...Adding the green roof will save money because the business school won't have to build a retention tank for stormwater, and the underlying roof material is expected to last longer. But it's not only a question of dollars and cents. Installing the green roof is just the right thing to do, said Graham Mercer, assistant dean at the..."

Record rains
Waukegan News Sun, by Frank Abderholden
December 31, 2007

Waukegan, IL. "...In September Waukegan unveiled its community garden downtown in the appropriately called Green Town Development. People can join the Green Town project for a $20 membership. It aims to make the city greener with gardens, wind-power projects and green roofs on buildings...At the College of Lake County, the South Lake Educational Center scored a county first with its energy saving green roof project. Instead of a hard roof where water runs off, the new roof has plants that absorb some of the stormwater runoff..."

FOR HARTFORD
Hartford Courant, by Staff
December 30, 2007

Hartford, CT. "...Going green. In addition to developing a comprehensive green plan for buildings, vehicles and other facilities, Mr. Perez and the city council should lead an effort to attract green businesses. This is a burgeoning, $341-billion-a-year industry, which includes manufacturing with recycled materials, installing solar panels and green roofs, and sustainable landscaping. Somebody's going to grab the "green..."

Greece to transform airport into a park
Spero News, by Cordelia Madden
December 28, 2007

Athens, Greece. "...Their 700 million euro plan for a 530ha (hectare) park combines areas of indigenous vegetation with low-scale construction comprising housing for up to 20,000 inhabitants, as well as sporting and leisure facilities and a business centre that would accommodate 15,000 people. The buildings will be developed with respect to the environment, says Serero. Green roofs and balcony gardens are an integral part of the plan..."

Toronto Public Housing Gets Green Makeover
Architectural Record, by Alex Bozikovic
December 27, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "...the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) is pushing the agenda on design and sustainability with a $1 billion effort to rebuild an inner city housing project...Stephen Teeple describes the twelve-story building’s character as “a kind of clear urbanity, cut and opened up by nature and green roofs.” The square-plan tower will be built around a wide, irregularly shaped atrium, with a Piranesian network of planted terraces and a pedestrian bridge across the middle..."

Case Study: Center For Health And Healing
Construction.com, by Randy Gragg
December 27, 2007

Portland, OR. "...The team’s efforts to curb water usage and disposal grew as ambitious as Wilde’s energy goals. Green roofs and an on-site bioreactor were designed to process every drop of rainwater, groundwater seepage, and sewage on site, to then be reused for landscape irrigation, toilet flushing, or radiant cooling, as well as to charge a bio-swale that seeps into the nearby Willamette River...The newly-planted green roofs and landscapes have demanded more water than anticipated, Schnackenberg says, leaving the building’s cistern too empty at times to flush the toilets...”

Money to Help Kitsap Make Gains in Managing Sewage
Stormwater Kitsap Sun, by Christopher Dunagan
December 26, 2007

Puget Sound, WA. "...Stormwater Management Grants: Lions Park, $1 million: About 120,000 square feet of pavement will be removed and replaced with pervious pavement, which allows water to pass through. Vegetated filter strips and rain gardens will capture the flow from ball fields. The project also includes a new restroom with a "green roof" to showcase stormwater techniques. The project is designed to reduce pollution flowing into Port Washington..."

Congressional Briefs: Norton's Subcommittee Sets Ambitious Requirements for Federal and Commercial Sectors in Energy Legislation Signed into Law
Redding News Review, by Staff
December 24, 2007

Washington, D.C. "...Norton's Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management contributed sections in the bill on federal and commercial buildings that have "tandem effects,"...Norton will announce a greening D.C. initiative next year to invigorate the federal leadership role in energy conservation and renewable technologies and in the use of other greening strategies, such as green roofs..."

UMB plans to extend a development trend
Baltimore Sun, by Edward Gunts
December 24, 2007

Baltimore, MD. "...The Marriott hotel will rise on the west side of the block. Early plans call for a five-story hotel over a four-level garage, with retail space and a hotel lobby at street level. Besides preserving the historic buildings, the architects say they will try to include eco-friendly features such as "green" roofs that limit rainwater runoff..."

Green roofs taking root
The Register-Guard, by Susan Palmer
December 24, 2007

Eugene, OR. "The periwinkle died, but the moss thrived and so did the sedums, hardy succulents whose leaves store water. Now with autumn rains, young shoots of grass have begun poking up on Barbara Shaw’s roof. This is not your typical Oregon roof with unwanted greenery sprouting between shingles. Shaw, a Eugene homeowner interested in environmentally sustainable building techniques, installed the green roof on an addition two years ago..."

A springlike renewal for Lakeside
Richmond Times Dispatch, by Will Jones
December 24, 2007

Richmond, VA. "Business could bloom along Lakeside Avenue in Henrico County if the commercial stretch goes "green," according to a recent study by students at Virginia Commonwealth University...the Lakeside plan echoes many of the earlier ideas, but it also offers new ones, such as marketing the district to local Internet blogs and establishing it as a "green" business zone. The students suggested expanding Henrico's enterprise-zone incentives to encourage such practices as rain gardens, green roofs, permeable paving and energy-efficient lighting..."

HOK New York Designs First Commercial Building in Korea Aiming to Achieve LEED Platinum Criteria
PR-USA.net, Press Release
December 23, 2007

Incheon, South Korea. "...Gale International's new headquarters in Korea, a portion of the building and the site will be devoted to an extensive public exhibit area showcasing cutting-edge sustainable building materials, systems and technologies from United Technologies Corporation. The entire Songdo IBD was recently named a "green urbanism" pilot project by the U.S. Green Building Council. The building is designed to include raingardens, native landscaping, solar electric automobile charging stations, full daylight office space, optimized natural ventilation, fuel cells, rooftop wind turbines, a greywater recovery system, green roofs...The ability of the newly created habitat at both roof and ground levels will also be monitored to measure its ability to support insect and bird populations in conjunction with local high school science programs..."

Chicago's Next Lead: The Green Alley Project
Inhabitat, posted by Ali
December 22, 2007

Chicago, IL. "Chicago Mayor Richard Daly, who has already sent a successful wave of green roofs over the Windy City, has turned his sights towards his next environmental challenge: greening the city’s alleys... Neighboring property owners will also play a role in greening the city’s alleyways. The city is encouraging residents to contribute to the health of the urban ecosystem by implementing best management practices like using native landscaping, building raingardens, installing rain barrels, composting and, no surprise, considering green roofs."

Tip No. 94 of 100: Build green roofs
Carroll County Times, by Jordan Bartel
December 22, 2007

The World. "...Environment Canada found that a typical one-story building with a grass roof and about 4 inches of growing medium would result in a 25 percent reduction in summer cooling needs. Field experiments by Karen Liu in Ottawa found that a 6-inch extensive green roof reduced heat gains by 95 percent and heat losses by 26 percent compared to a conventional roof. Green roofs can already be found all over the world, from Switzerland and Canada to atop skyscrapers in Chicago. And as far as the EPA is concerned, they are certainly practicing what they preach. Dozens of EPA buildings stretching from Corvallis, Ore., to Narragansett, R.I., are outfitted with green roofs..."

Mixed-use modernism
Washington Times, by Deborah K. Dietsch
December 22, 2007

Washington, D.C. "After years of debate and revisions, the architectural designs for the old Washington Convention Center site finally got the go-ahead this week. These pairs of office, rental apartment and condominium buildings will inject a refreshing dose of contemporary "green" architecture into the heart of downtown with planted roofs and energy-conserving building systems..."

UniverCity population to triple
Burnaby Now, by Brooke Larsen
December 21, 2007

Burnaby, Canada. "...Phase 3 will also make the project the first in Canada to require developers to use green building practices, Mikkelsen said. Until now, those features - including green roofs - have been recommended, not required. "The people buying up where will get a more energy-efficient and healthier home," he added..."

UCF & Students Oversee Florida's Showcase Green Envirohome's (FSGE's) Green Roof Design & Installation
Florida's Showcase Green Envirohome, Press Release
December 20, 2007

Indialantic, FL. "UCF Stormwater Management Academy, with the aid of UCF students, will begin FSGE’s Stormwater Design implementation with a multi-phase green roof installation to help FSGE become a “Near-Zero Runoff Home™”. Germany has ~13% green rooftops, and FSGE, a hurricane rebuild and educational awareness project open to the public at no charge for one year of scheduled walkthroughs starting March 11, 2008, will increase awareness of this practice through the added outreach assistance of UCF, the 6th largest university in the U.S...."

Baltimore to hold major green roof event
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Press Release
December 20, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC), in concert with the City of Baltimore, is pleased to announce that the agenda for the 6th Annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show is now online. “We welcome the global green roof community to Baltimore, especially since we’re committed to making our city the greenest in America,” says City of Baltimore Councilman, James B. Kraft, who is also the chair of the Local Host Committee..."

A green ceiling
USA Today, by Annette Fuentes
December 20, 2007

U.S. "...From "green" buildings designed with energy efficiencies to research into renewable energy, lots of smart money is going into an array of solutions to clean up our collective act. But who will participate in the blossoming and profitable green economy?...Sustainable South Bronx, a partner in Green for All, is modeling the kind of green-collar job development that could benefit people across the country..."

Tired of paying energy bills?
HeraldNet, by Sarah Jackson
December 20, 2007

Bellevue, WA. "...the Zero Energy Idea House, a Bellevue project by Issaquah-based Shirey Contracting. Scheduled to be completed this spring, the 1,700-square-foot home will "show how comfortable and stylish an energy-efficient house can be by generating its own solar and wind power, while minimizing energy needs through a vegetated green roof..."

Beautifying Michigan
Novi News, by Kelly Murad
December 20, 2007

Novi, MI. "...Deputy community development director Barb McBeth was recruited to speak about green building initiatives in Novi and surrounding communities. "We thought the topic would be of particular interest to that group," Robinson said. Members of the audience seemed particularly interested in the concept of green roofs, which is a roof completely or partially covered in vegetation..."

Intrinsic Landscaping, Inc. Launches The Dream Green Team™- A Single Source Delivery Solution for Green Roof Projects
PR Newswire, Press Release
December 19, 2007

Glenview, IL. "With more and more builders discovering the benefits of green roofing, Intrinsic Landscaping Inc., one of the nation's premier installers of green roofs, has launched an innovative new approach for green roofing called The Dream Green Team™..."

STC mall site to get new life
Kane County Chronicle, by Amelia Flood
December 19, 2007

St. Charles, IL. "...An outdoor skating rink, green roofs, and about 800 apartments and condominiums could be built on the vacant St. Charles Mall site...ShoDeen also is looking to install green roofs and other environmentally-sensitive features, Eric Shodeen said..."

New face of Broad Lane in £15m development
The Star, by Bob Rae
December 19, 2007

Sheffield, England. "...The project, designed by a team from SMC Gower Architects, led by associate, Paul Gott, will also incorporate a 76-space basement car park and 10,000 sq ft of green roofing for small plants to compensate for the habitat lost by the redevelopment of the brownfield site which lies within the St Vincent's conservation area..."

Markham plans changes at Yonge and Steeles
York Region Era Banner, by David Fleischer
December 19, 2007

Markham, Canada. "...Liberty is in constant discussions with the town and Mr. O'Donnell said he was optimistic a compromise could be found. One piece of good news is that Liberty is aiming to equip the buildings with green roofs and other environmental features..."

S. Burlington commission holds City Center work session
BurlingtonFreePress.com, by Sara Buscher
December 18, 2007

South Burlington, VT. "...ideas were based on Seattle's "Green Factor" development strategy. Green roofs and green walls hosting vertical vegetation, community groupings of trees and plants versus traditional lollipop street-tree siting and raised container plantings were among the possibilities mentioned for mitigation of the runoff traveling toward Potash Brook and its associated wetlands..."

Ricciotti Designs Bamboo 'Pterodactyl' Nest
Architectural Record, by Robert Such
December 17, 2007

Paris, France. "...Wrapped in a bamboo latticework skin, the building is divided into three principal parts by a T-shaped courtyard. Ricciotti, who won the French Grand Prix d’Architecture in 2006, offers here a different approach to traditional Parisian courtyard design...In Ricciotti’s project, plant life will hang from green roofs in what he describes as an “imaginary Eden...”

'Green roof' to top redevelopment project
Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette, by Debra Pressey
December 16, 2007

Champaign, IL. "There may not be room to plant a forest in downtown Champaign, but local developers found a place to add an island. A green one, 44 feet off the ground. Work on a "green roof" that will top a two-story building undergoing redevelopment at 112 E. Washington St...the new University of Illinois College of Business building under construction will have a partial green roof... Markstahler said he also has long-term plans to develop two more green roof systems downtown: for his Uptown on Columbia condominiums and for Escobar's restaurant on East Columbia Avenue."

Center City Church Commissions "Green" Architect Frank Harmon for New Master Plan
PR.com, Press Release
December 16, 2007

Raleigh, NC. "First Presbyterian Church in Raleigh has commissioned Frank Harmon Architect to design a master plan for the entire church campus...The new building will feature such “green” elements as a vegetated roof..."

Fed-up Auckland apartment expert leaves for capital
National Business Review, by Bob Dey
December 16, 2007

New Zealand. "...In a recent development we put in measures to reduce stormwater, detention tanks, green roofs, reduced the impervious surface. The council doesn't take account of the positives we do..."

Green Building
Washington Post, Editorial
December 15, 2007

Washington, D.C. "The explosion of development in the Washington area speaks to its vibrancy and the opportunity that many seek and find. But this good fortune is a double-edged sword. The buildings and roads constructed to meet the demand take a toll on the environment...COG's recommendations center on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings, which are considered the gold standard of green building. We're talking solar panels, the use of recycled construction materials and green roofs that not only insulate but also absorb water..."

Roof raises local air quality
Albany Times Union, by Brian Nearing
December 14, 2007

Albany, NY. "The headquarters of the Social Justice Center will get one of the first "green" roofs in the city to help clean the air and insulate the building. Using a $25,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the center will install a rooftop layer of plants and grass atop the 800-square-foot surface, center Director Victorio Reyes said...Projects eligible to receive grants include inventories of polluting facilities in the community, air monitoring, green rooftops..."

Residents, businesses shell out for $2.1B tunnel tab
Washington Business Journal, by Vandana Sinha
December 14, 2007

Washington, D.C. "By next October, D.C. residents and businesses are likely to start paying another new tax...The fee places the burden on those with bigger parking lots and roofs that cause the dirty storm-water runoff... Adebo is under no illusion that the city's residents and companies will welcome a new tax. But he said the tax would offset other-wise projected increases in the water-and-sewer fees...WASA plans to give tax breaks to those who invest in water-saving devices like rain gardens or green roofs..."

['Tis The Season] Building Green
Jackson Free Press, by Kelly Bryan Smith
December 12, 2007

MS. "...Polk is the architect designing Lily Valley, a walkable eco-community centered around...Green roofs, highly insulated walls, solar hot-water heaters, and window ventilation will also reduce heating and cooling costs dramatically...Energy usage in the buildings will be 30 to 50 percent better than code; builders plan to use the latest green technologies such as low-flow showerheads, LED traffic signals and parking decks with green roofs for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design..."

Going Deep
Philadelphia citypaper.net, by Jason Tomassini
December 12, 2007

Philadelphia, PA. "...The Friends Center already has some solar panels and recently added a vegetated roof to help with the heating and cooling..."

Paying the price for leading the way
BBC News, by Chris Hogg
December 11, 2007

Tokyo, Japan. "On the flat roof of a department store in Tokyo's fashionable shopping district Ginza there is a wide patch of grass and some flower beds. It is about the size of a small suburban garden...In the summer when the temperature on the exposed concrete of the roof hovers between 60 and 70 degrees, underneath the soil it is just 30 degrees..."

Portland breeds another chic urban neighborhood
Crosscut, by Sam Bridges
December 11, 2007

Portland, OR. "...Trammell Crow Real Estate's Alexan, a 22-story apartment building under construction at the south end of the neighborhood, is designed to meet the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environ-mental Design) gold standard. It will have a green roof, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and an energy-efficient skin, according to Kip Richardson, whose firm, Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects, designed the apartment building. Similarly, The Meriwether and John Ross have sustainable features such as exterior glazing to reduce heating and cooling needs, green roofs..."

Baltimore Not Just for Orioles and Ravens -- Hilton Hotel to Bring as Many Birds as Conventioneers
Web Services Journal, by Marketwire
December 11, 2007

Baltimore. MD. "Hensel Phelps Announces Completion of One of Two Green Roofs to Top the New Downtown Baltimore Hilton Hotel; Hilton Green Roof W...Construction of the green roofs began in early November and the green roof on the East building is now complete, including 60,000 one-inch plugs of six different species of plants...The leading supplier of plants and plant expertise for extensive green roof systems, Emory Knoll Farms of Street, MD, is providing the six different species of plants for the green roofs on the Baltimore Hilton Hotel..."

Gov. Rendell: Advantage Grants Help Small Businesses Conserve Energy, Reduce Expenses
Earthtimes.org, Press Release
December 11, 2007

PA. "By upgrading a lighting system, purchasing high-efficiency manufacturing equipment, or installing solar power systems and vegetated roofs, a small business can improve its competitive advantage against by reducing energy consumption and cutting costs, said Governor Edward G. Rendell today. The Governor today said 48 small businesses across the state will receive $300,000 in Small Business Advantage Grants to incorporate innovative technologies that improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution...the 48 Small Business Advantage Grants projects, by county...PHILADELPHIA COUNTY BluPath Design Inc. - $7,500 for an energy-efficient boiler and prevegetated, modular green roof system..."

Arts center could help revitalize downtown Minot
Minot Daily News, by Jill Shramm
December 11, 2007

Minot, ND. "Downtown Minot’s revitalization efforts got a boost last week with an announcement that Artspace plans to build at the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue...Preliminary plans call for private roof gardens for the artists and a community roof and sculpture garden. Backes said the building would be Minot’s first “green” building, referring to its environmental friendliness. Artspace is considering incorporating solar energy into..."

Courtyard Living
Metropolis Magazine, by Linda Baker
December 10, 2007

Portland, OR. "A Portland-based competition announces the winning proposals that promote high-density housing...a commendation award was given to a design that stacks recycled shipping containers around a courtyard framed by wood trellises, eco-roofs, and pedestrian bridges..."

'A Simple, Practical Solution'
Voice of San Diego, by Jim Mumford
December 10, 2007

San Diego, CA. "Cities are facing climate change. Urban areas are warming up. Storm water overflow is contaminating beaches, bays, rivers and lakes. Development continues to encroach on the natural environment. Green roofs (or "eco-roofs") provide a simple, practical solution to all these problems...I planted San Diego's first occupied commercial green roof at my own business in Kearny Mesa..."

Snohomish County urban flooding likely hurt salmon
HeraldNet, by Lukas Velush
December 10, 2007

Snohomish County, WA. "Struggling salmon populations in south Snohomish County took a beating last week when normally tranquil streams such as North Creek and Little Bear Creek filled to over-flowing, biologists said...He said builders should be required to build up to reduce the footprint of structures, to build using porous concrete, to incorporate green roofs and rain gardens and to design projects to contain all storm water runoff on their..."

Finding the Financing for Your Green Building Project
GreenBiz, by Tilde Herrera
December 10, 2007

U.S. "...So these guidelines do mean for a building owner that there is a tax advantage to some of the opportunities in going green...these items can be used to reduce heating and cooling bills, as can cool or vegetated roofing. Vegetated roofing, which is plantings, is frequently quite expensive and increases the load on the roof, but is a nice amenity for occupants..."

Mpls. Arts Co. To Build In Minot
WCCO, by AP
December 10, 2007

Minot, ND. "Business leaders are excited about plans for a new downtown center for artists...The four-story building will have more than 50,000 square feet. The second, third and fourth floors will hold living quarters and studios for 26 artists. Preliminary plans call for private roof gardens, and a community roof and sculpture garden..."

More vacationers could enjoy park
Atlanta Journal Constitution, by Jim Langford
December 10, 2007

Jekyll Island, GA. "...With assistance from the nonprofit Southface Energy Institute, the village will feature Earthcraft and LEED construction standards. This means recycled water runoff systems, green roofs, multiuse trails and porous surfaces. We believe Jekyll can become a model for sustainable building practices in coastal environments..."

Kaine to Visit Charlottesville Monday
WCAV, by Matt Holmes
December 9, 2007

Charlottesville, VA. "...University of Virginia's School of Architecture and School of Engineering came to us about three years ago with the idea of finding a way to build affordable housing that's very green, very cutting edge," says Peter Loach, Deputy Director of the Piedmont Housing Alliance. Now that the historic home has been restored into an eco-Mod home, complete with green roofs and solar paneling, Governor Kaine comes Monday to check it out..."

Hyatt Regency Toronto Airport to Debut in 2010
Reuters, Business Wire
December 7, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "...Hyatt Regency Toronto Airport will be an environmentally sustainable project, designed to LEED silver standards. It will be energy efficient using state-of-the-art occupancy sensors to automatically turn off lights and guestroom televisions, and will feature green roofs and recycled building materials..."

What works to cut data centre energy usage
ITWorld Canada, by Carolyn Duffy Marsan
December 7, 2007

Suitland, MD. "...NOAA's Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) in Suitland, Md., also has an innovative roof. The building has one of the largest so-called "green" roofs in the Washington D.C. area...The landscaped roof helped NSOF, a 60,000 square foot building with 549 employees, receive the LEED Gold rating in early November..."

UK's first 'super garrison' step closer after meeting
The Northern Echo, by Jim Entwistle
December 7, 2007

Catterick Garrison, England. "Plans to build Britain's first "super garrison" in the North- East took another step forward last night...Public transport will also be improved, while "eco-roofs" on buildings will recycle rainwater for residents' gardens. Water will be heated by solar panels and the developers have vowed to use local and sustainably- sourced building materials...."

Energizers in State LEGO Robotics Competition
Centre View, by Roshni Gorur
December 6, 2007

VA. "...This year's theme was energy conservation and the challenge was to audit a community building and offer up recommendations. The team chose Greenbriar West Elementary's library..they made some recommendations that included programmable thermostats, green roofs..."

Civic Alert: At last a small tax increase!
Westmount Examiner, by Don Wedge
December 6, 2007

Montreal, Canada. "...Since her council days, Aitken has wanted to increase the use of Westmount property and in recent years has lobbied for green roofs. Environment Committee chair Jenny Patton shares those ambitions, but was looking for the right way to launch it in the City..."

Green, tech are next-decade themes
MLive.com, by Lynn Stevens
December 6, 2007

Grand Rapids, MI. "Construction is on the brink of change as drastic as the mass production of the automobile was. Mark Woods, COO of Signature Associates, confirmed the national trend. He predicted green roofs on all commercial buildings construction a decade from now. Woods, Frownfelter and Gary Lowe, senior director of McGraw-Hill Cos.'s Contractors and Services Segment, were part of a question-and-answer panel at the forum, which followed a series of roundtables during which attendees could chose from among 11 different topics, each led by industry experts..."

Sydney Plans to Green the City's Roofs
Inhabitat, by Jeremy
December 6, 2007

Sydney, Australia. "If Sydney-based architect Tone Wheeler gets his way, the Australian metropolis will soon be sporting brand-new rooftop playgrounds and open space areas as a means to green the city. How? By greening every single roof in Sydney! At least that’s the plan, thanks to a $48,000 grant from the City of Sydney Council to Wheeler’s group. The grant was given for research the possibility of installing green roofs on existing buildings..."

Rainfall Simulator, Green Roof Chambers Part of New UCF Stormwater Lab
University of Central Florida, by Chad Binette
December 5, 2007

Orlando, FL. "A new University of Central Florida lab that features a rainfall simulator, green roof experiments and more will host an open house from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5. The UCF Stormwater Management Academy lab is home to the world’s largest rainfall simulator, an 8-foot-wide by 30-foot-long arrangement of pipes that is connected to a 1,500-gallon water tank, said academy director Marty Wanielista...The lab includes 16 chambers in which researchers are experimenting with different plants and other materials that can be used on green roofs. The lab’s roof contains UCF’s second green roof. The first was installed on the Student Union expansion in 2004..."

Specialist focus: roofing: Liverpool's Paradise Project
Contract Journal, by Staff
December 5, 2007

Liverpool, England. "...Liverpool's vast new shopping development, led by main contactor Laing O'Rourke, is one of the most ambitious and eco-friendly in Britain, part of a dramatic phased regeneration scheme in the city costing nearly £1bn...However, it is not just retail therapy that will draw people in. The roofs of all the retail units and car parks are being planted with turf, trees and flowers to create a finish that is both beautiful and sustainable. This will be one of the largest green roofing projects in the UK were you to fly over the development, it would look more like a park than a retail complex..."

7 things you need to know about
Michigan Daily, by Jessica Vosgerchian
December 5, 2007

MI. "...Chicago is the model for the environmental policies of the nation's major cities. Chicago's Mayor Richard M. Daley imagines the entire city will appear green from above because of the frequency of vegetation-covered green roofs. In Michigan, Grand Rapids beats out every city, including Ann Arbor, for environmental progress..."

Flooded in 2006, frustrated residents again mopping up
Seattle Post Intelligencer, by Angela Galloway and Debera Carlton Harrell
December 5, 2007

Seattle, WA. "...For the second time in slightly less than a year, Seattleites swabbed out flooded basements in the wake of torrential rains on Monday...But don't look to the city for an easy fix based on expanding capacity, officials said. The city is not going to spend "billions and billions of dollars" to construct a larger system, Nickels said...Property owners can also help with "green" building strategies, such as vegetated roofs, mulched lawns..."

EPA and District of Columbia Agree to Go Green to Protect Rivers from Storm Water Runoff
U.S. EPA.gov, Press Release
December 4, 2007

Washington, D.C. "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a landmark agreement with the District of Columbia to implement major green infrastructure enhancements to protect the Potomac and Anacostia rivers from storm water runoff. In modifications to a Clean Water Act permit, the District has agreed to undertake innovative measures to stem storm water flow and pollution, using natural systems such as trees, green roofs, and vegetated...Highlights of the new measures include:...Creating a tax-incentive plan for the installation of green roofs. Requiring all new District-owned buildings and, where feasible, all major renovations of District-owned buildings to include green roofs..."

TTC rockets toward green
Toronto Star, by Tess Kalinowski
December 4, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "...The full cost of initiatives such as green roofs and more energy-efficient buildings won't be known until designs are done. In June, the commission approved a green roof (covered in plants for cooling) for the Victoria Park station redevelopment..."

Art and History vie for Presidio spot
San Francisco Bay Guardian, posted by Amanda Witherel
December 4, 2007

San Francisco, CA. "...The plans agreed on one issue -- parking would go underground. After that, they differ radically...A glassed atrium with photovoltaic film windows would provide heat and electrical power for the galleries and sod roof gardens would insulate parts of the buildings and “make them disappear.”..."

At conference, city will plan ways to lead in 'going green'
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, by Rich Lord
December 3, 2007

Pittsburgh, PA. "A Green Summit in February could lead to a raft of pro-environment legislation in Pittsburgh City Council, promoting everything from urban farms and more recycling to rubber sidewalks, Councilman William Peduto said last week...Residents could garden on vacant lots, using compost made from city-collected vegetable waste. Schools would have botanical "green roofs" that reduce storm water runoff..."

Peterson Air Force Base installs green roof
Fox 21, by Laura Forbes
November 30, 2007

Colorado Springs, CO. "In an effort to become more environmentally friendly, Peterson Air Force Base is installing a green roof on its headquarters. Its the first ever of its kind here in Colorado Springs. The project marks the beginning of a two year study to see if this roof really is as efficient and eco-friendly as officials hope it will be. If so, there could be more green roofs to..."

Downtown green: Eco-friendly housing projects becoming an urban trend
Deseret News, by Jasen Lee
November 30, 2007

Salt Lake City, UT. "...Various developers are targeting downtown and the nearby areas as locations to construct trendy condominium and townhouse projects, many of which will be "green" and energy-efficient. Information about many of those projects was on display at the Downtown Alliance's annual meeting Thursday at the Marriott hotel on West Temple Street...A lot of these buildings have white membrane roofs or green roofs to cut down on the heat in the city, using glass that conserves energy and lighting that uses less energy," said Angela Carlson with Radi8 Condos..."

Developers Use Green Thumb for Falls Church Blueprints
Falls Church News Press, by Diana Glazer
November 29, 2007

Falls Church, VA. "...the new Read building at 404 W. Broad Street, although not LEED certified, were recently spotlighted in the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce newsletter for its green components, as was the Waterford Development building the Spectrum, newly completed at 444 W. Broad Street. The Read building also boasts some additional green features...Both buildings boast the first green rooftops to grace the city..."

Seriously 'Green' Building Looks ... Normal
LiveScience.com, by Dan Kulpinski
November 29, 2007

Rockville, MD. "smart planning and design -and some smart technology-make the new building at the University System of Maryland's Shady Grove campus in Rockville an energy-efficient, green place...The 192,000-square-foot building, named the Camille Kendall Academic Center, is 29 percent more energy efficient than minimum design standards developed by the heating and cooling industry...Two green roofs, covered with plants, provide additional insulation and reduce stormwater runoff..."

Green Winter: Ski areas battling effects of climate change
Daily Camera, by David Reindel
November 29, 2007

Vail, CO. "...All across the country, ski areas are making moves to protect their playgrounds while becoming environmental examples for other industries...the company is one of only a few participating in a new pilot program designation for LEED neighborhoods. Ever Vail will incorporate geothermal sidewalks, green roofs, runoff control and micro-turbines set in a creek to run streetlights..."

Up On The Roof
KSNT, by Staff
November 28, 2007

Topeka, KS. "Many universities and businesses are now following LEED Building Principles. Short for leadership, energy and environmental design, LEED principles look at ways to conserve energy when constructing or renovating a building Washburn University is no stranger to these principals, and added it's newest green project to the science rooftop...Over five plants native to Kansas inhabit the rooftop of the science hall offering a little to no cost conservation of energy..."

Bill proposes green construction from 2010
Globes Online, by Lilach Weissman and Dalia Tal
November 28, 2007

Israel. "MK Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor) and MK Yohanan Plesner (Kadima) have submitted a private members bill mandating environmentally friendly construction in new public and private buildings on the basis of environmental standards to be set by the Standards Institutions of Israel and the Ministry of the Environment...The bill also establishes incentives, including discounts on local property taxes for all apartment blocks that apply rooftop gardens (green roofs) and use recycled water..."

Green Roofs Growing in Popularity, Study Finds
GreenerBuildings.com, by Staff
November 28, 2007

East Lansing, MI. "A Michigan State University study recently found that the area covered by green roofs increased 80 percent in 2006 compared to the year before. The study found that while growing, cost is a barrier to the spread of green roofs, which can cost twice as much as a conventional roof but lasts two or three times..."

A green industry is growing…on the roof
MSU Today, by Gordon Shetler
November 28, 2007

East Lansing, MI. "...Five years ago, the North American green roof trade show was held in a parking garage with cars driving by, Rowe said, one of the authors of the study. “Last year, the trade show was the real thing, with companies representing 25 countries in attendance.”...For example, based on data from other studies, the green roof on a portion of Rowe’s office building on campus is estimated to reduce cooling costs by 50 percent..."

W.P. Hickman Systems Partners With Earth Pledge in Urban Sustainable Development Effort
PrimeNewsWire, Press Release
November 26, 2007

New York, NY. "...through an innovative program known as Viridian, W.P. Hickman Systems and Earth Pledge, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of sustainable development, are committed to bringing sustainable "green" or vegetative roof installations to major metropolitan areas across the United States. The Viridian program's goal is to design and install 200 green roofs by 2010, specifically targeting low income housing developments and educational institutions across the country. Sixteen major metropolitan areas have been chosen for green roof installations..."

Grand plans for green design
FT.com, by Oliver Lowenstein
November 24 2007

Malmo, Sweden. "...Autumn sunlight glinted off the water in the western harbour; roof gardens were alive with flowers...Bo01 – named for the Swedish word bonollet (meaning “to dwell”) and the year 2001, when it was launched – is the first chapter in Malmo’s 20-year plan to create a sustainable “city of tomorrow” for an estimated 300,000 residents, transforming itself from a Baltic ship-building hub to a high-tech gateway to the region..."

PREFAB FRIDAY: Construisons Demain Green Prefab
Inhabitat, by Ali
November 23, 2007

Paris, France. "French designers continue to put the “fab” in prefab: Construisons Demain, a brilliant design from architect Eric Wuilmot, premiered at Batimat in Paris earlier this month. The system showcases low-energy living with three prefabricated wooden modules, resource and energy efficient systems, healthy finish materials, and inviting living spaces...At roof level, the courtyard is flanked by vegetated roofs that retain and recover rainwater..."

Eco-apartments on the market
edie.net, by Kate Martin
November 22, 2007

Brighton, England. "Rooftop allotments and on-site wind turbines are just two of the eco-friendly features that developers are using to attract buyers to a new development in Brighton...Residents will be able to make use of features such as roof top allotments where they can grow their own food, and roof gardens where they can relax..."

Gotham's Christmas tree gets greener
CNET News.com, by Martin LaMonica
November 21, 2007

New York, NY. "...In addition to the energy-conservation measures for this holiday season, Tishman Speyer said that next year Rockefeller Center will have a green roof and an ice chiller installed. The green roof, which will sit on top of Radio City Music Hall, will include desert plantings to reduce waste-water runoff. Green roofs also act as an insulator..."

What is the proposed Stormwater Management Ordinance?
TimesCommunity.com, by Beverly Hunter
November 21, 2007

Rappahannock County, VA. "This article summarizes key concepts about this proposed Ordinance, in response to questions asked by Rappahannock citizens and RappFLOW volunteers...Examples of LID site design cited in the draft ordinance include:...capturing rain water on a green roof..."

Turning disaster into a green building showcase
Contractor Mag, by Steven Spaulding
November 20, 2007

Indialantic, FL. "Mark Baker and his contacting business had been doing home construction on Florida’s Atlantic coast for more than 30 years, and in that time he had seen the worst that nature could inflict...Any runoff from the 85-gal. reservoir goes to a 5,000-gal. cistern. The cistern also collects rainwater, and has an attached irrigation pump. That pump then directs water to one of the Envirohome’s “living roofs.” The green roofs have 3- in. of soil media that will eventually be a home to approximately 60 native species..."

New plaza will have glass but not grass
OregonLive.com, by Fred Leeson
November 19, 2007

Portland, OR. "...The Portland Bureau of Parks & Recreation has earned final approval and plans to begin construction in January on a new urban plaza...The structure also contains a single public toilet. A vegetated eco-roof will be watered by rain or by water collected in a cistern..."

A garden in the sky
denverpost.com, by Joel M. Lerner, APLD, Special to The Washington Post
Updated November 19, 2007

Denver, CO. "...the Denver Botanic Gardens will soon unveil its publicly accessible green roof on top of the gift shop. "The Gardens is taking the lead in researching the most effective green roof plant material for the Rocky Mountain region," said Mark Fusco, senior horticulturalist and green roof designer..."

Global Warming: Wisdom should dawn on the developed world!
Merinews, by Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee
November 19, 2007

New Delhi, India. "...Eco-friendly buildings should have green roof. Besides aesthetic value, the green roof concept is a green idea for eco-friendly buildings in the urban environment. Such roofs facilitate biodiversity and manage excess rainwater. Green roofs will not be a cash cow for multinational corporations. They do not require any expensive hardware to sell. They can be built and maintained locally..."

Clinton Library Gets 'Green' Roof
The Associated Press, by Andrew DeMillo
November 19, 2007

Little Rock, AR. "Bill Clinton likes to brag about his presidential library being an eco-friendly building. Now even the roof is going green. Over the past two weeks, workers have been hoisting 90 species of plants and more than four truckloads of soil atop the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum to create a garden on an area surrounding Clinton's penthouse apartment. Instead of bare concrete, the glass and steel building will be topped with strawberries, ferns, switch grass, roses and other greenery..."

Green roof turns brown
The State, by Victoria Cherrie
November 19, 2007

Charlotte, NC. "The city’s first “green” roof atop the Discovery Place museum isn’t so green at all. In fact, the city recently replaced 3,000 drought-fried plants and spent an unexpected $5,000 on an irrigation system to keep the energy-saving experiment alive. The city launched the project last year, sharing a trend with cities across the nation that plant vegetation on rooftops to help lower roof temperatures and absorb harmful particles in stormwater..."

Water quality in NKY streams not improving
Community Press, by Jason Feldmann
November 17, 2007

KY. "...Increased awareness and public education, along with the implementation of green infrastructure approaches, are the only ways to begin fixing the problem, said Guilfoile and Yvonne Meichtry, chairperson of the Licking River Watershed Watch group. Effective measures, they say, include the creation of roof gardens..."

Green roof at new Guardian HQ 'dull, bland and cheap'
Camden New Journal, by Peter Gruner
November 16, 2007

London, England. "The Guardian newspaper – that bastion of social responsibility – was embroiled in a row this week over the “environmental” quality of a green roof at its new seven-storey building at King’s Cross...One of Britain’s foremost experts on green roofs, Dusty Gedge, who has advised Islington Council and King’s Cross developer Argent, said: “Of course, it depends on what kind of sedum roof they get..."

Kemp Hall Construction Ahead of Schedule
The Daily Gazette, by Myles Louis Dakan
November 16, 2007

Swarthmore, PA. "...The roof of Kemp Hall, pending the acquisition of an additional grant, will sport not one but three sections of green roof. Unlike the green roof of New Dorm, one of these sections will be accessible from a door as opposed to a ladder. Boyd estimates the cost of green roofing as between four and six dollars per square foot, and seemed confident that it would be installed..."

Hardy Succulents Take on a New Glow
New York Times, by Anne Raver
November 15, 2007

Street, MD. "...last week, I dropped by Emory Knoll Farms to visit with Edmund and Lucie Snodgrass, who have turned this old farm in Harford County, about an hour northeast of Baltimore, into an epicenter of green-roof plants. Over the past eight years, they have supplied projects as small as that 1,200-square-foot rooftop meadow in the Village, and as large as the five-acre roof atop a Library of Congress building in Culpeper, Va...."

Roof group gets grants for plants
Lancaster Newspapers, by Tom Knapp
November 15, 2007

Harrisburg, PA. "...Harrisburg has allocated nearly a half-million dollars to support a green-roof initiative in Lancaster County. "We got everything we asked for," Mary Gattis-Schell, a senior planner with the Land Recycling Program of the county planning commission, said Wednesday. "We're thrilled." The project will foliate the roofs of seven buildings in the county...The grant from Gov. Ed Rendell's Energy Harvest program totals $479,333 and will cover an estimated 79,000 square feet of rooftop in seven locations..."

Greener Green Roofs
ArchitectureWeek, by Christian Werthmann
November 14, 2007

The World. "The sedum roofs of today symbolize performance-oriented green roof design. Like fine-tuned engines, they run on leaner artificial substrates with almost no organic matter; volcanic rock or expanded shale, baked at 2000 degrees Fahrenheit (1093 degrees Celsius), make the substrates lighter and soil depths as thin as possible. They seem to be race cars in the fleet of green roofs — maximum performance paired with minimum weight..."

Green Goes Mainstream at Greenbuild 2007
CoStar Group, by Sasha M Pardy
November 14, 2007

Chicago, IL. "...Of course, Greenbuild 2007 had to be green itself. President Clinton opened the conference by congratulating representatives of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) -- the owner and operator of McCormick Place (the convention center where the conference was held) for receiving LEED Certification for the new McCormick Place West Building. The USGBC says the 720,000-square-foot building is the largest new-construction facility in the country to be certified. Green features of McCormick West include an 150,000-square-foot green roofs..."

Proponents of Marietta Armory renovation are thinking green
Marietta Times, by Sam Shawver
November 14, 2007

Marietta, OH. "...Mayor Michael Mullen agreed. “The use of passive solar energy, geothermal heating, and roof gardens are concepts we want to include in this project,” he said. “And with a green building you not only get energy efficiency, but it also would make operating the facility easier for a non-profit group like WASCO to manage more efficiently...”

City gets energy grant to build 'living' roofs
Lancaster Newspapers, by Ad Crable
November 14, 2007

Harrisburg, PA. "...The green roof grants will provide some but not most of the $1 million estimated to build the living roofs on 79,000 square feet in the city. Planning to build green roofs are: New YMCA on Harrisburg Avenue; Renovation of the Bare Building, the former city police station, 202 N. Duke St; National Novelty Brush Co., 505 E. Fulton St; Penn Stone, 190 W. Ross St; Two Dudes Painting, 744 Poplar St; Box Company Flats, 225 E. Grant St. Columbia Borough also was to share in the grant, but has dropped plans for a green roof on borough hall because of structural problems..."

Landscaping choices can boost healthy environment
San Antonio Express, by Rebeca Chapa
November 14, 2007

U.S. "...As awareness about climate change, renewable resources and a healthier environment grows, so grows the dictionary we use to talk about these topics...I traveled to Portland, Ore., earlier this year for a story about green building. The city is a leader in sustainable development and eco-friendly practices. A common sight is the "eco-rooftop," or a vegetated roof..."

Marks wants sustainable Westmount
The Suburban, by Dan Delmar
November 14, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "...The City of Toronto recently won a sustainability award for its Green Roof program. The CDN-NDG borough put the city’s first green roof on top of the Maison de la Culture on Côte des Neiges over the summer..."

Q&A: Can we avoid more flooding?
BBC News, answered by Professor Tom Coulthard
November 13, 2007

UK. "...The use of intensive and extensive roofs (green roofs with plants, shrubs and grass) can help to control rainwater run off and attenuate surface water drainage...But the planning authorities are reluctant to pass them and builders don't want to build them. When is the UK going to really start combating global warming and flooding by installing more of these roofs?..."

Once-hot office park may be rebuilt as Edina 'Gateway'
Minneapolis Star Tribune, by Mary Jane Smetanka
November 13, 2007

Edina, MN. "...Representatives of Miller Dunwiddie Architecture told the city Planning Commission last month that the development would be "green" in design, stressing energy efficiency, good use of daylight, solar lighting and green roofs that can absorb storm water..."

Brighton eco apartments up for sale
Green Building Press, by Staff
November 13, 2007

Brighton, England. "...The development will also include a community centre that will house a number of charitable organisations and provide a resource for local people to use. Residents at One Brighton will be able to make use of several green features, including growing their own food on roof top allotments, and enjoying sky and roof gardens..."

Overland Park City Council action: 'Green' storm water regulations pass
Kansas City Star, by Jennifer Bhargava
November 13, 2007

Overland Park, MO. "...Some examples of green solutions that will be more expensive are incorporating natural retention ponds and wetlands that can handle a lot of water after a heavy storm. Other suggestions include rain gardens and green roofs..."

The greening of innkeeping
Providence Journal, by Christine Dunn
November 11, 2007

Westerly, RI. "... Miller said the Weekapaug Inn and the Stone House Club may become the first hotels in Rhode Island to be Leader-ship in Energy & Environmental Design certified...Other environmental features planned for the Weekapaug Inn include a vegetated “green roof” in one section to offset the heat-loss of a flat roof..."

Lancaster acting locally on world climate pact
Lancaster Newspapers, by Bernard Harris
November 10, 2007

Lancaster, PA. "...At a ceremony Tuesday afternoon, Gray, the Lancaster City mayor, will pledge the city to working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions...and some city businesses are considering installing "green" roofs, roofs topped with grass or some other vegetation. Green roofs reduce the rain water that would otherwise go through the city sewer system and vegetation-reducing carbon dioxide in the air..."

Next thing that may go green? Your roof
Nevada Appeal, by Joanne Skelley
November 10, 2007

Carson City, NV. "Green roofs may be the next eco-building design wave...A green roof sounds like a great idea, particularly in areas where rain falls. But, what about in Nevada? Since we receive little precipitation through the summer, we would need to put sprinklers or other irrigation on the roof for plants to grow. Another concern is whether there is a qualified roofing contractor in..."

D.C. offers up cash to buildings to go green on top
Washington Business Journal, by Vandana Sinha
November 9, 2007

Washington, D.C. "D.C. is coaxing the city's landlords and homeowners to make the tops of their buildings more green -- and offering them a little green, in turn, to get there. The city's Department of Environment is extending a five-year subsidy program for building new green roofs to existing building owners, hoping the move bumps up the fewer than 300,000 square feet of green rooftops, a miniscule fraction of the city's 250 million square feet of roof space..."

75th anniversary celebrated at Scottsdale's Taliesin West
AZ Central.com, by Kate Nolan
November 9, 2007

Scottsdale, AZ. "...Schuler laughed when someone asked whether cultivating roof gardens was a solution for Phoenix's heat island problem, as some environmentalists have recommended. "We need the roof for energy collectors, and water is too valuable here to put a garden on the roof..."

Up on the roof is where this garden - and jobs - will grow
AXcess News, by James Baetke
November 8, 2007

Washington, D.C. "...The green economy is a $341 billion-dollar industry and creates 5.3 million jobs, according to a 2006 study by Management Information Systems Inc., rivaling or exceeding the chemical industry, the apparel industry and the pharmaceutical industry. Clay belongs to D.C. Green Works, an environmental nonprofit group hired by the District of Columbia to integrate green roofs on city-owned terraces and rooftops. On Tuesday, Clay and several other green-collar workers were planting a variety of low-maintenance sedum and other plants that can withstand dry conditions and wind on the ninth-floor terrace of a D.C. government building to create a "carpet of..."

'Green Roof' is a First in Northern Montgomery County
Earthtimes.org, Press Release
November 7, 2007

Germantown, MD. "Northern Montgomery County's first non-residential green roof has been successfully installed in a three-story office building by Therrien Waddell Construction Group (TW). The 8" to 12" sedum plants will blanket the roof of Germantown's 19875 Crystal Rock Drive..."

Green building expo showcases industry's $60 billion potential
Medill Reports, by Jim Collins and Ki Mae Heussner
November 7, 2007

Chicago, IL. "...Through Friday at McCormick Place, purveyors of eco-roofs, permeable concrete, high-efficiency toilets and other sustainable products will try to capitalize on this growth..."

Green homes for Hereford
24dash, by Jane Gething-Lewis
November 7, 2007

Hereford, England. "Green roofs have been installed on a ground-breaking development of new affordable homes in Hereford to help cut the cost of living in them. The four houses developed for Herefordshire Housing off Kilvert Road, Newton Farm, have roofs planted with sedum, a low maintenance plant, to boost insulation...The £500,000 development on the site of former derelict garages was made possible by Spectrum Development Partnership..."

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities recognized for leadership in Green Building
GRHC, Press Release
November 7, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a not-for-profit association for the green roof industry, has earned a spot on Green@Work magazine’s Green Build Top 25 List. The list, which recognizes leadership in the green building industry, is featured in the November 2007edition of the US-based magazine for corporate social responsibility. The issue’s release will coincide with the US Green Building Council’s annual Green Build show taking place Nov. 7-9th in..."

Daley weighs ambitious plan to promote 'green'
Chicago Tribune, by David Greising
November 6, 2007

Chicago, IL. "Wind turbines on Sears Tower and a "green" roof on the Merchandise Mart are two high-profile concepts on the drawing board as part of a wide-ranging, environmentally friendly development plan under consideration by the city...A first step toward Chicago's plan will be revealed Wednesday when former President Bill Clinton visits Chicago to announce assistance for retrofits of large commercial buildings. Chicago will pilot test the "Clinton Climate Initiative," a program backed by $5 billion in funding from some of the world's largest banks..."

Greenroofs as High Performance Design
Reed Construction Data, by Linda S. Velazquez
Posted November 5, 2007

The World. "Increasingly, high performance buildings, green design practices, and sustainable technologies are becoming major architectural influences and are now setting standards within the international construction industry...Greenroofs are fast becoming green staples of chic sustainability in mainstream architecture and high performance building. Greenroofs are vibrant and exciting alternatives to the average..."

Publisher's Note:  This is my first in a series of occassional columns with Reed Construction Data.

Shelter from the storm
scenta, by Staff
November 5, 2007

UK. "Our houses are built to shelter us from the elements, but more and more is being done to design buildings which care for the environment as well...The phenomenon is already widespread in Germany, where over 30 million square metres of green roofs have been erected since 2000, and grassy verges just might be coming soon to a rooftop near you. ‘Green Roofs are certainly increasing in popularity in the UK,’ says Anna Cooper from the Green Roof Centre..."

Garden with a view: Rooftop can expand your space
Chicago Daily Herald, by Pat Rubin
November 4, 2007

Chicago, IL. "A 4-foot ladder leaning against a narrow, shoulder-high deck takes you face to face with Bob and Fran Clarke's roof garden. Take a few steps to the left, and another, taller ladder leads you up onto the roof of the house and under the massive limbs of a 43-year-old pin oak, where you get a bird's-eye view of the wildflowers and succulents that inhabit the 4-by-16-foot shed roof garden. A catwalk on the lower side gives Bob room to walk the length..."

Green roof enhances house's uniqueness
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, by Kevin Kirkland
November 3, 2007

Pittsburgh, PA. "...that didn't stop Eric and Mary Fisher from making one part of the second-story deck at the house Mr. Fisher designed for them in Shadyside. Though the house is surrounded on three sides by traditional homes, the living roof looks to its neighbors more like a patio garden than an over-grown roof. A rectangle measuring 41 by 14 feet, it is level with the decking and accessible from the couple's bedroom..."

Turning a Roof Into a Garden in the Sky
washingtonpost.com, by Joel M. Lerner
November 3, 2007

U.S. "...The benefits of gardening on the roof are so many that the Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging cities to start roof garden programs. The EPA's goal is decreasing the heat-island effect found in cities, which raises temperatures in urban and suburban areas by several degrees. The agency estimates that increasing an urban area's acreage of planted space by just a few percentage points can lower temperatures several degrees, significantly reducing smog and saving millions of dollars in energy costs..."

Beachwood firm Tremco to build Clinton Library's "green" roof
Cleveland.com, by Peter Krouse
November 2, 2007

Little Rock, AR. "A Beachwood firm has been tapped to put a green roof on the Clinton Library in Little Rock, Ark. Tremco Inc. submitted the winning bid for the project, which includes putting a variety of plants and grasses over a section of roof that will double as a garden area for former President Clinton's personal office and residence. "He'll be able to walk out into it," said Ralph Velasquez, manager for sustainable technologies in Tremco's roofing and building maintenance group..."

Shades of Green
Colorado Biz Magazine, by David Lewis
November, 2007

Denver, CO. "...If not for the crane gracing the skyline, you probably wouldn’t realize the image on the cover of this month’s ColoradoBiz was taken atop an office tower. About 20,000 square feet of the Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters in Denver is covered with vegetation planted to insulate the building and minimize storm-water runoff. The 418,000-square-foot building at Wynkoop and 16th streets, which opened in September 2006, was built for the EPA to LEED standards..."

Champions of Sustainability
Midwest Construction, by Don Talend
November, 2007

Chicago, IL. "...But city government is not the only driving force behind the sustainable construction movement in Chicago. Three private-sector initiatives are relying heavily on the Internet to connect contractors, developers, owners, architects and engineers to sustainable construction resources and each other...Another Chicago-based sustainable construction growth initiative is a nonprofit entity for now: GreenBean, a Web-based central repository of information about sustainable construction projects in the Chicago metro area..."

A unifying force
Professional Roofing, by Kaylee Alberico
November, 2007

U.S. "The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress is probably the most important industry organization you know the least about...the Alliance contributed $100,000 to Penn State, State College, Pa., to help fund the university's green roofing and solar energy research, which includes research of green roof systems' R-values conducted by Jelena Srebric, a Penn State associate professor of architectural engineering and adjunct professor of mechanical and nuclear..."

Up on a (Green) Roof
Hawaii Business, by David K. Choo
November, 2007

Manoa, HI. "In a sunny corner of Manoa, Leyla Cabugos, a master's candidate in botany at the University of Hawaii, is conducting one of only two research projects that are studying green-roof applications in the Islands. Currently, she is carefully monitoring the growth of five different native Hawaiian ground covers and sedges in 28 planter boxes, 576 square feet in all..."

A landscape in the sky
Shed Style, posted by Debra Prinzing
November 2, 2007

Los Angeles, CA. "Wouldn’t it be great if succulents could transform the residential rooftops of the West? Well, it’s happening…one roof at a time...Designed by Pamela Berstler and Marilee Kuhlmann for a client in LA’s Sherman Oaks community, this green roof is a spectacular example of how overhead plantings enhance a..."

The California Academy of Sciences' beautiful new living-roof may well spark a revolution
San Francisco Chronicle, by Carol Lloyd
November 2, 2007

San Francisco, CA. "...It's also arguably the greenest museum in the world, built to achieve a platinum rating from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design's Green Building Rating System. But the undulating green roof, planted with four native ground covers and five local wildflowers, will be a destination in itself. And in some ways, these hills of 1.7 million plants growing in 50,000 biodegradable coconut husk trays comprise the most inspiring element of the whole museum...According to Mark Palmer of San Francisco's Department of the Environment, the green roof is gaining in popularity. "We're seeing more and more residential applications for turf roofs in the building department," he said, adding that the Department of Building Inspection is currently working on a set of criteria for living roofs..."

Smith College to erect new science building
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian, by Leah Thorton
November 2, 2007

Northampton, MA. "...Designed by architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the building's innovative design aims to promote energy efficiencies through the use of renewable resources for construction and natural elements for climate control. The building will have green roofs, porous pave-ment, vegetated swales, and the use of shading for natural temperature control - all as a means to promote..."

Green Roofs as Urban Ecosystems: Ecological Structures, Functions, and Services
BioOne Online Journals, by Erica Oberndorfer, Jeremy Lundholm, Brad Bass, Reid R. Coffman, Hitesh Doshi, Nigel Dunnett, Stuart Gaffin, Manfred Köhler, Karen K. Y. Liu, and Bradley Rowe
November, 2007

The World. "Green roofs (roofs with a vegetated surface and substrate) provide ecosystem services in urban areas, including improved storm-water management, better regulation of building temperatures, reduced urban heat-island effects, and increased urban wildlife habitat. This article reviews the evidence for these benefits and examines the biotic and abiotic components that contribute to overall ecosystem services..."

Green roofs offer energy savings, storm-water control
EurekAlert, Press Release
November 1, 2007

The World. "An article in the November 2007 issue of BioScience describes the history and summarizes the benefits and challenges of green roofs—roofs with a vegetated surface and substrate...The complete list of research articles in the November 2007 issue of BioScience is as follows: Green Roofs as Urban Ecosystems: Ecological Structures, Functions, and Services. Erica Oberndorfer, Jeremy Lundholm, Brad Bass, Reid R. Coffman, Hitesh Doshi, Nigel Dunnett, Stuart Gaffin, Manfred Köhler, Karen K. Y. Liu, and Bradley Rowe..."

Higgins Group: record results for 13th year as profit hits £11m
Contract Journal, by John Leitch
November 1, 2007

London, England. "...“The highest MMC score, well above 58%, is on our £6m project for London and Quadrant Group where we have such features as green roofing and biomass boilers. This is a client who is always looking to try out new options.” Asked if having green roofs results in having rabbits scampering up on the rooftops, Llewellyn said no. However there are more insects and birds..."

The art of the living roof
Los Angeles Times, by Debra Prinzing
November 1, 2007

Los Angeles, CA. "Plant a rooftop; change your life. That's Pamela Berstler's mission. By converting traditional heat-generating roofs into energy-saving ecosystems where succulents and wildflowers flourish, the West Los Angeles landscape designer hopes to transform the local landscape, one green roof at a time...Pasadena recently included green roofs in its mandatory green building policies for new municipal buildings..."

Greener Green Roofs
Architecture Week, by Christian Werthmann
October 31, 2007

Basel, Switzerland. "...They seem to be race cars in the fleet of green roofs — maximum performance paired with minimum weight. The simple soil mixtures and roof sections of the early days of green roofs developed into multilayered complex systems supporting the homogenous surface of succulents...Stephan Brenneisen, a Swiss green roof specialist and ecologist, claims that many of the thin substrates on sedum roofs lose their effectiveness over time..."

Green roofs start to sprout on urban homes
Christian Science Monitor, by Caitlin Carpenter
October 31, 2007

U.S. "...after a substantial renovation, their flat roof has come alive – literally...But besides finding a practical solution to a recurrent problem, Carter and Chase wanted a tangible way to show they were "walking the walk" when it came to their environmentalism...Karen Weber, founder of the green-roof promoting organization, Earth Our Only Home, says there are numerous benefits to green roofs...Until recently, several factors have limited the number of green roofs on homes, says Melissa Muroff of Roofscapes in Philadelphia..."

Businesses have variety of options to make their buildings eco friendly
Examiner.com, by Aaron Cahall
October 30, 2007

Baltimore, MD. "From simple air-friendly paints to big-ticket roof gardens, there are more options than ever for businesses looking to go green with a new building, or with renovations to their existing workspace..."

Stevenson teacher to incorporate green roof into classroom project
Chicago Daily Herald, by Abby Scalf
October 29, 2007

Chicago, IL. "Ron Carmichael plans to add some greenery to Stevenson High School. But once it's installed, no one will be able to see the green roof. That is, unless they study the temperature in the room below it. Carmichael, along with his environmental science students, plan later this year to install a 750-square-foot green roof above his east building classroom..."

Winthrop Club: Where luxury meets LEED
Chicago Sun-Times, by Marcy Marro
October 29, 2007

Evanston, IL. "...The Winthrop Club is set to become the first residential building to achieve Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification through the U.S. Green Building Council by incorporating 25 green initiatives into the building...Green roofs on the parking garage and the building roof will consist of native landscaping that thrives in Illinois. Rainwater will be recaptured and reused for vegetation...“Eco-friendly building is the direction the industry is going, and builders who are doing it now are ahead of the curve,” Horner continued. “The need to incorporate green practices into our building is a response to the growing demand among socially conscious buyers. It is also driven by a shrinking supply of raw materials and the increased availability of rapidly-renewing resources...”

Homegrown Restoration
Monterey County Herald, by Laith Agha
October 29, 2007

Monterey, CA. "They call it a "living roof" — the flora-covered top of the California Academy of Sciences Museum under construction in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park...Before heading to San Francisco, the plants are grown in "biotray" modules — biodegradable trays designed by Rana Creek for the academy roof. The biotrays, which are 17 inches by 17 inches and 3 to 6 inches deep, are made of coconut coir — the fibers between the outer shell and the husk — and filled with soil. The trays are placed on the 160,000-square-foot rooflike tiles..."

'Green roof' researched at SIUE figures in TV show
Belleville News Democrat, by Teri Maddox
October 28, 2007

Edwardsville, IL. "...The associate biology professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was part of a St. Louis team that traveled to Arizona in April to put a green roof on an environmentally friendly home that will be featured on tonight's episode of the ABC reality series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." "It was awesome," said Retzlaff, 48, of Glen Carbon, who also serves as chairman of the SIUE biology department. "Where else can you go and see hundreds of people building an environmentally friendly home and completing the project in seven days? It was a real testament to what we can do when we put our minds to it..."

Publisher's Note: Read about this project here, and see this ABC Extreme Makeover - Home Edition episode on Greenroofs.TV.

Underground parking looks up
Robertson County Times, by Staff
October 27, 2007

Nashville, TN. "...One of the best places to start when discussing the advantages of underground parking can be found at Metro's Public Square. Nashville won an international award from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities with its green space at the Metro Courthouse. The park visible when traveling by the courthouse is actually a "green roof" to an underground parking lot..."

Weekend Pass
Scotsman.com, by Alex Aikman-Smith
October 27, 2007

Balmaha, Scotland. "...Our tastefully decorated bedrooms were on the first level and both had balconies from which to absorb the breathtaking scenery. Some of the lodges are single level and have 'living eco roofs' made from sedum alpines..."

PREFAB FRIDAY: pieceHomes
Inhabitat, by Ali Kriscenski
October 26, 2007

U.S. West Coast. "pieceHomes premiered at Dwell on Design last month with seven modern prefab designs that take full green advantage of factory-built construction...The flexibility gives homeowners the chance to bring affordability into the pieceHomes prefab package which can include solar panels, green roofs and low or no-VOC paints and finishes among other green building elements..."

Lessons from green roofs in Elk River and St. Paul
Coon Rapids ECM Publishers, by Joe Nathan
October 26, 2007

MN. "Folks in Elk River and St. Paul now have green plants up in the sky. That’s because Elk River’s Twin Lakes Elementary School, and Community of Peace, a St. Paul chartered public school, have installed “green roofs.” Everything I read urges communities to adopt this idea...Beyond the green roofs, these two schools illustrate something else. There is so much to be learned from innovative, effective district and chartered public schools. We must get better at spreading what the most talented educators have created."

Green-roof guru delivers the gospel
Louisville Courier-Journal, by James Bruggers
October 26, 2007

Louisville, KY. "...With the city of Louisville moving forward with its first "green roof," Mayor Jerry Abramson welcomed one of the movement's leading experts last night. Trying to inspire, Ed Snodgrass of Emory Knoll Farms in Maryland took more than 100 local architects, developers and other invited guests on a photographic tour of green roofs around the world..."."

Report looks at green
University of North Carolina The Daily Tar Heel, by Emily Stephenson
October 26, 2007

Chapel Hill, NC. "...The report also praised initiatives such as UNC's water-retaining "green roofs." These planted areas on roof-tops absorb moisture to prevent runoff. The green roof atop the new FedEx Global Education Center also recycles collected rain water, which flushes the building's..."

Ballet school and student residence for Hatfields
London SE1, by Staff
October 26, 2007

London, England. "...Residents of the student accommodation – which would be accessed from the Paris Garden side of the building – would enjoy the use of roof gardens and a terrace with trees on the podium between the towers. The south-western and south-eastern corners of the towers would feature 'living walls' of greenery..."

Beloit College's largest project
Beloit Daily News, by Ashley Rhodebeck
October 26, 2007

Beloit, WI. "...Recycling the old hall ties into the Center for the Sciences' commitment to environmental features. Beloit College is seeking a U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, and the process is going well, Spencer said. The facility's green features were planned to include a green vegetated roof..."

Penn Sprouts Down-to-Earth Green Roof
Architectural Record, by Violet Law
October 25, 2007

Philadelphia, PA. "Most green roofs are located out of sight and beyond reach, but the future tenants of a residential and retail project now under construction in Philadelphia will get to enjoy a green roof designed to serve as both a garden and a storm-water treatment system. The roof will be located atop the ground-floor retail podium of the Radian, a 154-unit privately owned student housing-complex on the University of Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia campus...Locally based Pennoni Associates is responsible for the landscaping and engineering, while Roofscapes, a green-roof specialist also of Philadelphia, is providing technical assistance..."

Green Roofs Cost More, Pay Dividends
KETV.com, by Staff
October 25, 2007

Omaha, NE. "...The areas of Omaha that have combined sewers -- if you can reduce the amount of water going into these sewers, you are reducing the problem," said Kent Holm of the Douglas County Environmental Services Department. "You are not going to solve the problem with green roofs but you are going to be able to reduce some of that water..."

FOLLOW MY LEED
New York Post, by Katherine Dykstra
October 25, 2007

U.S. "...Buildings accrue points for their eco-friendly elements, such as bike storage, proximity to public transportation, reuse of existing materials and maximization of daylight. And, though most people think solar panels and green roofs when they hear "green building," it's often what you can't see that makes a building eco-friendly..."

Wachovia Greens Its Data Centers
Wall Street & Technology, Posted by Penny Crosman
October 24, 2007

U.S. "...Wachovia plans to build at least 300 green financial centers, in accordance with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification standards, by the year 2010, starting with eight green banking offices in California. By the end of 2008, every new Wachovia financial center opened throughout the U.S. will be built to LEED specifications. Wachovia also is building a green, 1.2 million-square-foot office tower at its Charlotte headquarters. This building will feature a green (vegetated) roof, will harvest rainwater for site irrigation..."

Charter school goes green in big way
Minneapolis Star Tribune, by James Walsh
October 24, 2007

Minneapolis, MN. "...Today, the school dedicates its new gymnasium building, complete with one of the first "green roofs" on a public school building in Minnesota. The gym roof, covered with soil and plants, is designed to make the building gentler on the environment, said Karen Rusthoven, Community of Peace's director and..."

Surge in Green Roofs Research Helps Planet
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Press Release
October 24, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "A record-breaking number of research papers were submitted for
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities’ upcoming annual sustainable communities conference in Baltimore,
Maryland – and that’s excellent news for the planet..."

The time for green roofs
International Herald Tribune, by Elisabeth Rosenthal
October 24, 2007

The World. "...There are not many technologies that give you so many environmental benefits," said Dusty Gedge, founder of LivingRoofs, a group that promotes and provides advice for green roof installation in London. "But a living roof is not a piece of hardware that you can just install; it's an ongoing process. So architects and builders and consumers have a hard time dealing with it. It's not like a solar panel." Ed Snodgrass owns Emory Knoll Farms in Maryland, the biggest nursery devoted exclusively to green roof plants in the United States. He said that green roofing was a difficult sell because it was hard for consumers to grasp and quantify the diverse benefits, and because it did not satisfy people's desire for..."

New England Construction
Reed ACP Construction Data, by Staff
October 22, 2007

Londonderry, NH. "...A 31,800-square-foot plant office building is under construction in Londonderry, N.H., for Stonyfield Farm, with North Branch Construction, Inc., of Henniker, N.H., as construction manager. The new two-story building will be constructed with a structural steel frame and metal siding and be built for sustainability, with such "green" features as a vegetated roof, sunshades and solar panels..."

Chicago's green cred is good, but not platinum
Chicago Tribune, by Blair Kamin
October 21, 2007

Chicago, IL. "...But look beyond the tourist-friendly facade of median planters on Michigan Avenue and the much-publicized green roof atop City Hall and you run into some troubling numbers: Chicago has just 29 buildings and projects that bear the equivalent of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval from the U.S. Green Building Council, the Washington-based non-profit that sets the standards for what is officially considered green...During his 18-year tenure, the city has planted half a million trees, built more than 80 miles of landscaped medians, and built or negotiated 2 million square feet of green roofs -- more than all other American cities combined..."

Citgo Grants to Groups in the Bronx, 2007/2008
New York Times, by Staff
October 21, 2007

Bronx, NY. "...$85,000 to Youth Ministries for Peace & Justice to build green roofs, rain gardens and improved tree plantings to reduce stormwater runoff, and to fund community members who want to do the same, as well as to train young people to care for trees for possible employment with city agencies..."

Tulip Bahçeşehir to be built by Ken Young
Turkish Daily News, by Fehim Genç
October 20, 2007

Ankara, Turkey. "...Ken Yeang, a well-known Malaysian architect, has created shared green spaces and terraces in a different approach to apartment design for...Kocatepe says that according to Yeang, the rooftops count as living space and that buildings have not four but five fronts. He says that the roof gardens and green spaces between apartment stories will be shared spaces for the residents..."

SIUE Associate Professor Appears On Extreme Makeover Home Edition
SIUE News, by Staff
October 19, 2007

Piñon, AZ. "Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Associate Professor Bill Retzlaff, a faculty member and chair of the biological sciences department, prepared environmentally friendly features for a home on Extreme Makeover Home Edition. The segment will air at 8 p.m./7 p.m. central time Sunday, Oct. 28, on ABC TV. Retzlaff, who also is the coordinator of SIUE’s Green Roof Environmental Evaluation Network (G.R.E.E.N.), worked with local green roof consultants and research colleagues Kelly Luckett, president of Green Roof Blocks, a division of St. Louis Metalworks, Mike Crowell, vice president of St. Louis Metalworks and Vic Jost of Jost Greenhouses, Des Peres, Mo..."

Visitation goes green with school program
Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph, by Staff
October 19, 2007

Cincinnati, OH. "The seventh-grade students and teachers at Our Lady of the Visitation School in Green Township are working to help the future of our planet, one step at a time. In partnership with Wm. Kramer & Son Roofing and Sheet Metal, the students are planting, installing and maintaining a sustainable "green" roof on the school... Inspiration for the idea came to Visitation’s technology teacher, Jane Kramer, on a recent trip to New York City. "I was on the top of the Chrysler Building looking down upon the rooftops and thought about how different the view would be if all of the rooftops were green..."

How to Truly Go 'Green'
CU Columbia Spectator, by Kirsten Scheu
October 19, 2007

New York, NY. "...While Columbia has been taking plenty of great steps to increase campus sustainability, finding out about these measures has been difficult at best...So the student groups are finally communicating. The next step is to work towards constant communication between the administration and students about each other’s environmental initiatives...So green roofs are coming? All of the cleaning supplies used on both Barnard and Columbia’s campuses are environmentally friendly? Good for you, Columbia! Just keep us in the know..."

Hundreds of units planned
Coquitlam Tri City News, by J. Warren
October 19, 2007

Port Coquitlam, Canada. "...Barco:...plans call for 700 to 750 units (54 for some type of affordable housing), about 1,100 parking spaces, 6,500 sq. ft. of public/ amenities space, 3,000 sq. ft. for a daycare and 20,000 sq. ft for commercial space. It would be built to LEED silver standards with landscaped roofs...Townline: Plans include a main street that divides the area in two. There would be three towers (two at 26 storeys and one at 32 storeys) for 690 units, and about 1,000 parking spaces. It would be built to LEED gold standards with green roofs..."

Smith College Breaks Ground On Ford Hall
HULIQ, by Staff
October 19, 2007

Northampton, MA. "Smith College and Ford Motor Company celebrated the ground-breaking today for Ford Hall, a $73 million dollar sciences and engineering facility that will serve as home for the college’s Picker Engineering Program...Ford Hall will be certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “green” facility when it opens in 2009. The facility, the first LEED-certified structure to be built on the Smith College campus, will incorporate green roofs, porous pavement, vegetated swales and environmentally responsible..."

Developer Donates ENY Building to Philanthropic Group
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, by Linda Collins
October 19, 2007

Brooklyn, NY. "Downtown Brooklyn develop-er Ron Hershco of United Homes has donated a building to Rush East New York...McNeal proudly explained that their vision was a “green” one and included rooftop gardens and green walls. Green walls are growing walls that serve the same purpose as green roofs, protecting, insulating, reducing energy usage and helping with drainage, she said. Both will be created and maintained by Rush partner the Horticultural Society of New York (HSNY)..."

Going Green Can Start At The Top
First Coast News, by Pablo Pereira
October 18, 2007

Los Angeles, CA. "Walking around the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California, you'll come across various gardens, but some of them are actually green roofs. Lynn Tjomsland, the manager of grounds and gardens at the Getty Museum explained, "It's a huge departure from a traditional roof. A flat black roof or a flat white roof. All of a sudden you've got a space that's living and visually quite attractive..."

Montreal Matters: How green is your neighbourhood?
Hour.ca, by Stephanie O'Hanley
October 18, 2007

Montreal, Canada. "...The centre educates people about green roofs and promotes cool islands - "greening residential blocks in the backyards, alleyways, as well as in the front," Rose explains...A parking space reserved for car-sharing group Communauto is covered with permeable pavement - a plastic interlocking grid filled with soil and plants. A bicycle shelter has a roof where different green-roof technologies are being tested to see whether plants can survive consecutive winters on the unheated structure...Alternatives and Santropol Roulant manage the Rooftop Garden Project that grows food for a meals-on-wheels program and encourages container gardening on roofs, balconies and staircases..."

Southern Maryland Notebook
Washington Post, by Jenna Johnson
October 18, 2007

St. Mary's County, MD. "...The two-story school, named Evergreen, was designed to leave only a "small footprint" on the environment. The $20 million "green school" is to feature natural lighting, waterless urinals and a vegetated roof designed to reduce energy use by up to 25 percent and water use by up to 40 percent..."

Nature is the Best Medicine
emagazine.com, by Jean Johnson
October 17, 2007

MA. “...The therapeutic value of a quiet meditative environment for individuals affected by a serious illness like cancer is widely recognized,” says Dr. Bruce Chabner, clinical director of the Cancer Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. There the Howard Ulfelder, MD Healing Garden on the eighth floor of the hospital has an enclosed pavilion from which patients, visitors, and staff can view the 6,300 square-foot garden year round. “Our healing garden is an important complement to the excellent clinical care we provide....”

Mayor of London names B&Q director as environmental champion
DiyWeek.net, by Staff
October 17, 2007

London, England. "The 'London Leaders' programme was launched with the announcement of 15 individuals from all walks of London life...The appointees also include an urban regeneration champion who will be persuading city institutions to adopt 'living roofs', a vicar who is expanding a city farm programme..."

A roof grows in Manheim
Lancaster Newspapers, by Tom Knapp
October 17, 2007

Manheim, PA. "The future roof of a suburban Philadelphia residential and commercial complex is spread over the fields and greenhouse tables of a Manheim-area nursery. On Tuesday, representatives of the Lancaster County Roof Greening Project showed off the living-roof materials at Creek Hill Nursery, where owner Ron Strasko explained the particulars of the plants chosen to insulate a 2.5-acre roof and alleviate stormwater runoff..."

Plants reach for the sky on green roofs
Canada.com, by Kathryn Young
October 16, 2007

Canada. "Rare plants aren't typically found high in the sky, but a Halifax professor has discovered the roof atop St. Mary's University library makes a fine spot for increasing biodiversity and protecting rare flowers... Lundholm's ongoing research is part of a second generation of studies on green roofs, looking into such areas as biodiversity and acoustical benefits, said Maureen Connelly, head of research programs at the Centre for the Advancement of Green Roof Technology at the British Columbia Institute of Technology..."

Diverse champions aim to inspire Londoners to go green
Environmental Data Interactive, by Sam Bond
October 15, 2007

London, England. "The London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC), appointed by the city's Mayor, have named 15 London Leaders who will demonstrate, in a practical way, how individual action can make a positive difference...The leaders include...an 'urban ecologist' who plans to persuade city businesses to retro-fit green roofs on their offices..."

Publisher's Note: Dusty Gedge, co-founder of livingroofs.org, is the 'urban ecologist' named above - congratulations, Dusty! Read the London Leaders Press Release here.

Emaar MGF Launches Palm Drive At Gurgaon In Haryana Featuring...
MiddleEastEvents.com, Press Release
October 15, 2007

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. "...Palm Drive is spread over 31.6 acres and will consist of 1,238 residential units –apartments and villas - when completed. Palm Drive will feature sky terraces and an exclusive set of apartments with private elevators that opens to balcony views. While the apartments will exude avant-garde architecture, the independent villas will have landscaped balconies, roof gardens and pocket gardens..."

Ecological education
China Internet Information Center, by Staff
October 15, 2007

China. "...The new materials and economical technologies for energy saving have also been applied in the rebuilding or renewal of historic buildings, including the use of heat insulation, energy efficient windows, architectural sun shading, roof greening and energy-saving lighting," says Chen..."

Hedge in the clouds
Scotsman, by Louisa Pearson
October 14, 2007

Scotland. "...wouldn't it be great to live under a green roof, I thought. Those lucky children will be able to pretend they're Teletubbies and Hobbits. Some day, I vowed, I will have a green roof. The first port of call in making the dream a reality is..."

Green Roofed Gas Stations?
Triple Pundit, posted by Nick Aster
October 12, 2007

Port Washington, WI. "Whether or not a gas station can be LEED certified, I've no idea, but this creative entrepreneur in Port Washington, WI plans to give his gas station a green roofed touch. Not only that, but he plans to build it into a hillside so that the roof becomes the "front yard" of the building higher up the hill (which happens to be his house)..."

Gas under grass: Filling station may go underground
JS Online, by Lawrence Sussman
October 11, 2007

Port Washington, WI. "Rick Fulop was looking for a creative way to make his 40-year-old Clark service station - he calls it "an eyesore" - stand out...wants to rebuild the business in the hillside. He lives in the house above, and the station's roof would be part of his yard..."

Case Study of Charleston's 'Green' Church Presented at Duke Endowment Conference
Carolina Newswire, by Staff
October 11, 2007

Raleigh, NC. "When the Duke Endowment sponsored a conference last month to explore green building design how it can be used to meet church congregation's spiritual and economic needs, organizers invited Raleigh-based architect Frank Harmon to present an actual case study of a completely "green" church...Harmon discussed his work on the Circular Congregational Church in Charleston, SC, during the Endowment's conference "Trends in Modern Church Architecture: ?The Artistry and Greening of Our Churches"..."What we did was to design the most 'green' Sunday School we could, with respect for its place -- not only its place in Charleston but in the 21st century," Harmon explained. "The new addition to Lance Hall has a green [or vegetated] roof, which keeps the building cool and collects rainwater..."

City of Toronto budget woes delay green roof guidelines
Daily Commercial News, by Saul Chernos
October 11, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Some green building and roofing initiatives on City of Toronto construction projects will be put on hold due to operating budget cuts...Rob Andrusevich, a senior communications advisor with the city, confirmed a hiring freeze will impact some environmental initiatives, including Toronto Building’s plan to develop the city’s new green roof standard...Peck says the City’s fiscal uncertainty “clearly requires provincial leadership to upload areas of provincial responsibility so that it can continue to promote practices such as green roofs, which are fundamental to...”

Adams-Bickel Builds 'Green' School
Earthtimes, Press Release
October 11, 2007

Radnor, PA. "Adams-Bickel Associates, Inc. (ABA), an award-winning contractor serving private and public clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, today announced the official dedication of the $48 million Radnor Middle School in Wayne, Pa. The new, environmentally friendly middle school opened its doors to nearly 1,000 students on September 4...The Radnor Middle School is a four-story, 194,822 square foot building with numerous green building features, including a green vegetated roof, terrazzo floor..."

Green roofs taking root across Va.
Richmond Times Dispatch, by Carlos Santos
October 10, 2007

VA. "Virginia's roofscape is turning greener. Atop the Albemarle County Office Building in Charlottesville, plants cover 9,000 square feet of what was once a tar-and-gravel roof...The University of Virginia aims to replace many of its flat traditional roofs with green roofs and to plant them on some newly constructed ones, including sections of the massive South Lawn project currently under construction...In downtown Richmond, the 12,000-square-foot roof of the four-story SunTrust Bank building on Main Street is covered with..."

Greenbridge Development by McDonough and Partners
Inhabitat, posted by Jorge
October 10, 2007

Chapel Hill, NC. "Greenbridge, the latest super-green mixed-use residential project by William McDonough of Cradle to Cradle fame broke ground on Monday in all its sustainable glory. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the development will offer 98 condos and retail establishments, green roofs, solar panels, rainwater runoff systems, and even a a community learning center to teach sustainable living practices..."

Completely Grounded
Metropolis Magazine, by Jade Chang
October 9, 2007

Irvine, CA. "Over the next three years the Orange County Great Park will grow into a 1,300-acre stretch of new and reclaimed wilderness, topped with layers of cultivated gardens and museums...We’re going to be considering ways of harnessing solar power so that we can largely be independent, the buildings are embedded in landscape so they have huge planted roofs..."

Green design
Malaysia Star, by Staff
October 9, 2007

The World. "...Some high-rise buildings capture, recycle and reuse their wastewater. That’s what wetlands do. Green roofs capture and purify storm water, and plants clean the air and provide habitat..."

Green development
The Daily Tar Heel, by Robert C. Gunst, Jr.
October 9, 2007

Chapel Hill, NC. "Architects from William McDonough and Partners broke ground Monday on the Greenbridge mixed-use community, located at 601 W. Rosemary St. Set to open in fall 2009, Greenbridge will be a leading example of sustainable living as the first building in North Carolina with a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold certificate ...Greenbridge will include green roofs, solar thermal panels, water-conserving fixtures, natural lighting, construction waste recycling, low E glass windows and energy star appliances that will cut utility costs by 50 percent..."

The building is small, its environmental stance big (PDF)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, by Maria Sapporta
October 8, 2007

Atlanta, GA. "It can be done. Sustainable architecture and green building principles can be applied to even the smallest buildings and homes. The best example in Atlanta is a 2,820-square-foot, two-storefront building on Edgewood Avenue near the Martin Luther King Jr. Center..."

Businesses receive state award
The Olympian, by Staff
October 8, 2007

Olympia, WA. "The Evergreen State College and Yelm Earthworm & Castings Farm are two of the 11 companies and agencies to receive the 2007 Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices. Evergreen was recognized for a number of sustainability projects, including construction of its environmentally friendly Seminar II Building, which uses natural ventilation, recycled materials and living roofs..."

Student Works : project_KHAYELITSHA
Archinect, posted by Quilian Riano
October 8, 2007

Khayelitsha, South Africa. "...In Khayelitsha shipping containers are used for everything from offices and shops to homes... provide appropriate structural rigidity to most of the building as well as for the roof gardens ...as helpful as Dorothy, Tom, and Barbara proved to be, the students wanted a closer conversation with the Khayelitsha community and by their own initiative applied for a series of grants to finance a group trip to Africa. After the successful grant writing effort 5 students and Steven flew to Capetown in the summer of 2007. While there, the group would talk and interact with the local community, create prototypes of some of the more experimental features such as the edible garden roof..."

New 'green' roof project could change the way homes are built
ABC12.com, by Deborah Wrigley
October 8, 2007

Houston, TX. "...In the 1930's, rooftop gardens were part of any penthouse. The old Hogg building in downtown Houston has its manicured mid-rise grounds. More recently, UT's School of Public Nursing added native grasses to what had been an asphalt roof. Greenhouse gases have already been reduced. Now at the University of Houston central campus, another roof has gone green. Geoffrey Brune with the U/H Architecture School said, "If all the buildings in Houston had green roofs then the temperature would be very different..."

Consuming the Earth
Columbia Daily Tribune, by Terry Ganey
October 7, 2007

Columbia, MO. "...Michael Goldschmidt, an assistant professor of architectural studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia, said despite Missouri’s broad climate swings, there is growing interest in the state to construct environmentally sustainable buildings...One of the characteristics is the use of "green roofs"..."You will see more and more of these," Goldschmidt predicted. That drew a smile from Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman, who was in the audience. Hindman supported a plan to install a green roof on the extension of City Hall, but the Columbia City Council rejected the idea..."

Footbridge tops new greening spots
News.gov.hk, by Staff
October 7, 2007

Hong Kong, China. "Hong Kong's high population and building density poses a serious challenge to landscape architects. To keep the city looking fresh and green, the Highways Department has introduced new plant species...We will identify suitable locations to test the study's recommendations, including planting on the roofs, parapets, columns and piers of footbridges and flyovers. Striking the right balance between greening and structural maintenance is very important..."

Homarama goes green with first certified green-design home
The Virginian-Pilot, by Janette Rodrigues
October 6, 2007

Norfolk, VA. "...Reichardt, the TCC adjunct professor who created the class, stood on the sidelines and smiled proudly as students peppered pioneering green builder Charles "Chuck" Miller with questions about the house's features for conserving energy and natural resources. Along with some arcane queries about tank-less hot water heaters, air filters and duct-system air leakage, the students wanted to know about the carpet made with recycled textiles and plastic bottles, the "living roofs" - two rooftop gardens designed to cut utility bills by providing insulation..."

Local DC entertains energy efficiency for all schools
Examiner.com, by Michael Neibauer
October 6, 2007

Washington, D.C. "...Her bill would require that every new boiler be the "most efficient model" and every new roof be green... Up-grading schools' energy and water efficiency won't come cheap, at least up front. The standard roof, for example, costs about $1.50 per square foot, while green roofs often cost up to $8.50 per square foot..."

Going green, ‘living roof’ is environmentally friendly
The Buffalo News, by Aaron Besecker
October 4, 2007

North Tonawanda, NY. "In building their new garage-turned-office, Joy and Scott Kuebler of Zimmerman Street wanted to go green. So on Wednesday afternoon, they invited fellow architects, developers, government officials and architectural students into their backyard to witness the beginning of construction of an environmentally friendly roof..."

Bait shop owners see green options for site
JS Online, by Mike Johnson
October 4, 2007

Village of Pewaukee, WI. "For nearly 26 years, John Laimon and his wife, Loie, have operated Smokey's Bait Shop, a local landmark on Park Ave. and Pewaukee Lake...So, the Laimons are proposing to build two three-story buildings that would have a total of 15 upscale condominiums on the sites of Smokey's, 129 Park Ave., and the Atheneum building at 145 Park Ave., next to Smokey's...For example, Laimon said, the buildings will have green roofs with vegetation to control water runoff..."

2 days of Green Building workshops planned for homeowners, professionals
Bellingham Herald, by Staff
October 4, 2007

Bellingham, WA. "Built Green, a program of the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County, presents the fourth annual Fall Green Building Conference on Oct. 17 and 18 at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal...Oct.18 workshops are for developers, business and building industry professionals. They are designed to further attendees’ understanding of green building theories and practices. Topics include a case study of Seattle’s High Point Neighborhood, living roofs, low impact development, indoor air quality and financing ...10:15-11:00 AM-Session 1 - Living Roofs (Technical/Innovation/Environment) - Patrick Carey, Hadj Design Group..."

New plan for 'green fund' proposed
Baltimore Examiner, by Jaime Malarkey
October 4, 2007

Baltimore, MD. "...The proposal, announced from a restored shore on the St. John’s College campus in Annapolis, calls for an annual fee of 1 cent per square foot of houses after the first 1,000 feet and 1 cent per square foot of “hardened surfaces” in other buildings. County governments will collect and administer the fee. Existing commercial and industrial property owners could receive a fee reduction for eco-friendly improvements, such as installing green roofs and removing pavement. Counties would keep up to 5 percent of collected fees to offset administrative costs..."

Up on the (Green) roof
Tonawanda News, by Phil Dzikiy
October 4, 2007

North Tonawanda, NY. "...The Kueblers of North Tonawanda held a demonstration event Wednesday afternoon to introduce and explain the new “green roof” that will cover the new 450-square-foot office and garage built next to their Zimmerman Street home. The couple believes it will be the first residential green roof in Western New York...“It was a good opportunity for us to implement sustainable concepts that we ask our clients to embrace,” she said..." 

OSU tests green roofing options
Corvallis Gazette Times, by Kyle Odegard
October 4, 2007

Corvallis, OR. "...Visitors to the Oak Creek Center for Urban. Horticulture on Wednesday climbed a staircase to a platform about eight feet off the ground, where they were level with 25 test plots. Those Oregon State University garden beds, perched on stilts, now are home to succulents and grasses planted in a pumice-laden mix....Portland has 80 green roofs, however, including the 15-story Portland Building, which Shroll is conducting research atop. The city is seen as a leader for its eco roof incentives, such as tax breaks. The city of Corvallis currently has no such incentives, she said. Neither Corvallis nor Albany has a green roof so far..."

Tour of 'eco-roof' test plots available tonight at OSU
Statesman Journal, by Don Currie
October 3, 2007

Corvallis, OR. "Oregon State University researchers have started a Green Roof Technology project to learn more about so-called 'eco-roofs' and their viability in the Pacific Northwest. Lead researcher Erin Shroll's study area includes 25 test plots at the Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture on OSU's campus and the roof of the Portland Building in downtown Portland..."

Center gets noticed for being green
Atlanta Journal Constitution, by George Chidi
October 3, 2007

Gwinnett County, GA. "...Putting plants on the roof is one of the many environment-friendly features that has made the building the first in Gwinnett County to receive recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program...Roofers from Chicago-based American Hydrotech Inc. laid about 4 inches of soil in containers onto a base of recycled paper before planting the drought-resistant plants...As a result, the center and buildings with similar designs might be eligible for a partial refund of the storm water fee...Dennis Yanez, national marketing manager for American Hydrotech, said that in some places, such as Chicago, builders are eligible for fast-track permitting when they build a living roof..."

Business plants roots, goes green
Business Gazette, by Patricia M. Murret
October 3, 2007

Montgomery County, MD. "...Environ-mentally-friendly ‘‘green roofs” will be one option commercial developers encounter on an a la carte menu of choices next fall when Montgomery County’s new ‘‘Green Building Law” is implemented, said Sandra Batterden, manager of the county’s Department of Permitting Services. The law, passed in November 2006, requires commercial buildings of 10,000 square feet or more to meet a minimum ‘‘green-building” standard. Last week the county permitting department began advising the County Council on a host of acceptable options, ranging from...to energy-saving fixtures that reduce light pollution and storm management choices like the ‘‘green roof...”

DM rewards green builders in fresh move
DesMoinesRegister.com, by Donnelle Eller
October 3, 2007

Des Moines, IA. "For the first time, Des Moines is offering economic development perks for energy and environmental conservation, such as cutting carbon emissions, squeezing energy use and building green roofs...She said many cities and states have embraced green-building incentives, including giving environmentally conscious builders tax breaks, adding more square feet to a project, waiving building permit fees and fast-tracking construction inspections. Santa Monica, Calif., for example, has provided grants up to $35,000 since 2004 to commercial developers who meet national green-building guidelines..."

Philadelphia Eagles, Upper Dublin Township, United Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh, Exelon, Phipps Conservatory & Gardens, Great Valley School District, Eastern University Lead Recipients of Green Power Awards
Business Wire, Press Release
October 2, 2007

PA. "Special Award to DCNR Secretary DiBerardinis at Annual Event Honoring Businesses, Institutions, Government, Individuals as Green Power Heroes...Friends Center Corporation (Philadelphia), for incorporating green building practices in campus renovations, including a vegetated roof and a 10-kilowatt solar array; Tobyhanna Army Depot (Tobyhanna, Monroe County), for installing a 14,141 square foot vegetative green roof on headquarters..."

Tours planned of green roof test site
Albany Democrat Herald, by Staff
October 2, 2007

Corvallis, OR. "...Green roofs, or eco roofs, can mitigate storm water run-off and reduce the pressure on already stressed infrastructure. The subject of new research at Oregon State University, these roofs are planted with an array of succulents in an engineered growing medium that absorbs rainfall and slows the speed of storm water through wastewater treatment facilities. “Storm water management is a primary reason that many city governments are interested in green roofs, said Erin Shroll, the lead researcher on OSU’s Green Roof Technology project..."

Condos Not Dead Yet — Provided They're Green
Building Design and Construction, by Robert Cassidy
October 1, 2007

Chicago, IL. "...At $170 million, 340 on the Park—currently, the tallest all-residential tower in Chicago—is replete with green features: bamboo flooring; variable-speed exhaust fans in the kitchens, toilets, and laundry rooms; a reflective cool roof on top and a vegetated green roof at the second-floor level...Chieftain Group is building a 336-unit mixed-use project that encompasses a 37-story high-rise, a seven-story loft structure, and retail commercial in between. The planned development will seek LEED certification...A functional green roof garden, complete with dog run, plus a park space at grade...Dynaprop, which will act as its own contractor, is finishing up construction documents with Wight & Co. and The Engineering Studio, Park Ridge, Ill., and plans to break ground in early 2008. Among the anticipated green features...a 12,000-sf green roof garden..."

On rooftops, it's blue, white -- and green
Penn State Live, by Jeff Mulhollem
October 1, 2007

University Park, PA. "With the installation of three more green roofs on Penn State buildings, the University is reinforcing its position as an ecological leader among institutions worldwide. Last year, green roofs were installed on the new Forest Resources Building (4,700 square feet) and on the top of a horticultural facility known as "The Root Cellar" (4,500 square feet) not far from Eisenhower Parking Garage. Over the next couple of years, green roofs will be installed on three buildings under..."

Rocket Science – An edible rooftop garden in Portland
The Oregonian, by Kym Pokorny, Linked by Michael Levenston in City Farmer News
October, 2007

Portland, OR. "...When you scrape your eyes off Portland’s skyline and focus on what’s going on just below eye level, you may begin to doubt your urban sureness. The usual flat-topped, tar-papered city rooftop has been overtaken by edible productiveness, food that ends up in front of customers at the new Rocket restaurant. Although chef’s gardens are nothing new in the restaurant nirvana of Portland, Rocket’s rooftop commercial garden is the region’s first and shrinks the city’s footstep on the planet..."

Green Accounting Firms
CPA Technology Advisor, by Rob Carmines, CPA, CITP, MST, CFP, PFS
October, 2007

U.S. "...You may be familiar with the push to require commercial buildings to utilize rooftop gardens as a way to increase energy efficiency as well as give back to the environment. These systems are now also being utilized in residential housing. A website promoting this genre of roofing is www.greenroofs.com. According to the site, these roofs are to be highlighted on the television show “Extreme Makeover – Home Edition” on ABC (probably in the fall)..."

21 O'Fallon Street - The William A. Kerr Family Foundation Building
STL Construct Net, by Staff
September/October 2007

St. Louis, MO. "...The first wind turbine in St. Louis city is among the features that earned the Kerr Family Foundation at 21 O'Fallon Street a platinum rating on the U.S. Green Building Councils Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system..."Other green features include: A green roof terrace..."

'Green Roof' should be considered for Saenger Theatre
PensacolaNewsJournal.com, by Larry B. Johnson
September 30, 2007

Pensacola, FL. "While reading "Additional $6 million approved for Saenger" in the Sept. 15 Pensacola News Journal, I thought of an innovative way to renovate the old theater: "a green roof," a statement our city could make concerning the economic and environmental benefits of building green...Recently, Coastkeeper Taylor "Chips" Kirschenfeld, who also serves as the environmental programs manager for the Escambia County Engineering Department, obtained a $1 million grant from the Florida Department of Environ-mental Protection to construct a green roof on the new Escambia County One Stop Office Building on Fairfield Drive..."

'Green roofs' could cool warming cities
New Scientist, by Catherine Brahic
September 28, 2007

Cardiff, Wales. "Covering city buildings in vegetation – creating “green roofs” and walls – could substantially save energy by reducing the need for air conditioning on hot days, say researchers. Green roofs and walls can cool local temperatures by between 3.6°C and 11.3°C, depending on the city, suggests their new study. Eleftheria Alexandri and Phil Jones at the Welsh School of Architecture, at the University of Cardiff in the UK, mimicked the microclimate around and inside buildings using computer modelling..."

Bank with grass roof to open
Bizjournals.com, by Staff
September 28, 2007

Denver, CO. "UMB Bank Colorado said Friday it will open a "green" banking center -- billed as the second structure in Denver designed with a grass roof -- on Oct. 1. The bank is a unit of..."

Taller and Greener
GoodCleanTech, by Steven Volynets
September 28, 2007

New York, NY. "...Occupying 2 acres of Sixth Avenue, between 42nd and 43rd Street, this glass, steel and aluminum giant also promises to be the greenest edifice in the United States. As such, it is likely to earn U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rank of (Platinum)...The Bank of America Tower will save millions of gallons of water annually through such innovative devices such as a gray-water system to capture and reuse all rain and wastewater, while planted roofs will reduce the urban heat island..."

Asia Property Report: A higher design at Aqualina Samui
Asia Property Report, by Staff
September 28, 2007

Koh Samui, Thailand. "As Koh Samui becomes an ever more sophisticated destination for property buyers, new design concepts are beginning to emerge that match and even exceed the progressive ideas on display in more established destinations like Phuket and Bali. Aqualina Samui is one such project, and will exemplify an almost futuristic approach to design with function emphasized over form and special features such as grass-planted roofs and ultra-spacious..."

A Green Firm Grows
Rapid Growth, by Tom Leonard
September 27, 2007

MI. "...That's where Live Roof comes in. The company, a subsidiary of Spring Lake-based Hortech, Inc, specializes in growing and distributing the plants used to assemble living, or green, roofs on a variety of buildings old and new...the national movement toward green roof installations is generating new opportunities and jobs for a variety of suppliers, contractors, and innovative startups like Live Roof which, according to the sign out front, is currently hiring a grower and a computer programmer. Founder David MacKenzie takes particular pride in using the greenest available production standards in his operation..."

Rana Creek Wins Contract to Design Green Roof on San Francisco Transbay Terminal Center
JRJ.com, by Staff
September 27, 2007

San Francisco, CA. "Rana Creek, the California-based company specializing in habitat restoration and regenerative design, announced their win as the Lead Ecologist for the 5.4 acre park to sit atop the new state-of-the-art Transbay Terminal Center in San Francisco. The team was awarded the contract to construct a "living roof" over two competing proposals submitted during the Transbay Terminal Center Competition...  Designed to house more than six native plant communities, the Transbay Terminal Center's green roof will feature bodies of water, statuesque trees and an urban park dedicated to sustainability..."

Living roofs bring wildlife to the city
edie news centre, by Kate Martin
September 27, 2007

Manchester, England. "If the city council's planners give the project the green light, work will begin early next year to cover the roof of the pavilion building in Piccadilly Gardens with plants and grasses designed to attract insects and birds. Council bosses are encouraging living roofs as part of their goal to become Britain's greenest city and help the city adapt to climate change..."

Property Profile: East London icon 'The Arthaus'
24dash.com, by Jon Land
September 27, 2007

East London, England. "...The Arthaus’s reputation as a creative hub is set to continue with a striking mixed-use redesign of the 80,000 sq ft site, combining 34,000 sq ft allocated for 45 apartments and three town houses, 23,000 sq ft for affordable housing and 18,000 sq ft of commercial space to be used as studios for artists, designers and media professionals...A large communal roof garden with views across offers outside space, with some apartments benefiting from private roof terraces and roof..."

Flora may enrich Aderhold's roof
Red and Black, by Kelly Shaul
September 25, 2007

Athens, GA. "Graduate students taking nature and sustainability spent their first month of classes this fall developing designs for a functional and aesthetically pleasing green roof for Aderhold. "I try to set projects up as if (my class were) a real design firm," said assistant professor R. Alfred Vick, who teaches the landscape architecture course in the School of Environmental Design. "I'm not saying (the designs) will be funded and built tomorrow, but the students worked with a real site, a real client and real..."

New Pavilion for Prairie Ridge Eco-station Protects Garden, Visitors & Environment
Carolina Newswire, by Staff
September 25, 2007

Raleigh, NC. "...Frank Harmon, FAIA, the architect for all other structures at Prairie Ridge, gave two young interns in his Raleigh office a challenge...Cole and Lambeth designed a pressure-treated wood structure with steel tie member that includes an 8-foot by 16-foot platform covered by a sloping 22-foot by 14-foot "green" or vegetated roof...The green roof also serves as an experiment for a larger version that will be used on the future Prairie Ridge Lodge..."

ASLA Releases Green Roof Performance Report
LANDOnline, by Staff
September 25, 2007

Washington, D.C. "On Wednesday, September 19, ASLA announced the findings of monitoring data from the first year of the headquarters’ green roof at a morning press briefing. The results found that the roof retained thousands of gallons of stormwater, reduced building energy costs by hundreds of dollars a month, and significantly lowered outdoor air temperature. From July 2006 to May 2007, the roof prevented 27,500 gallons of stormwater—nearly 75 percent of all precipitation on the roof—from flowing into Washington, D.C.’s sewer and stormwater system..."

The Green Standard?
Fast Company, by Anya Kamenetz
October, 2007

U.S. "...But what does the plaque on the front of a $700 million glass tower really mean? Asking that question exposes some serious cracks in the world's biggest green-building brand name--Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design...Jerry Yudelson, who has written five books on LEED and marketing green buildings, highlights the peel-and-stick method in his forthcoming book Marketing Green Building Services: Strategies for Success. He calls solar panels and green roofs "two of the most important emerging green technologies..."

Council green group talks trash, scrap and grass
Canoe.ca, by Sean McKibbon
September 25, 2007

Ottawa, Canada. "..Among the initiatives, the municipality's first "green roof," a 5,000-sq.-ft. section of the roof over the sedimentation basins of the city's water filtration plant, played host to the announcement...The city plans to cover sections of the treatment plant every year, learning as it goes, he said. The city will also look at the suitability of other city buildings for green roofs..."

More green spaces 'can boost eco-town planning'
24dash.com, by Staff
September 24, 2007

UK. "More green spaces and medium density housing is required in order to combat climate change in Britain's towns and cities, according to a new report from the Town and Country Planning Association... Large canopy trees, green cover and green roofs where there is no space for a garden at ground level can all help to keep summer temperatures in cities cooler and minimise the risk of urban flooding..."Combining this with a comprehensive programme of green roofs will actually keep maximum temperatures below current levels throughout the century...”

Interview with Jennifer Appel, RLA, LI, CSFIA
Houston Construction News, by Staff, PDF Page 18
September, 2007

Houston, TX. "Jennifer Appel defines green building as the art of building ‘anything’ using local and or recycled materials – usually as an innovative technique utilizing materials that are non-toxic to the environment or users incorporate the ‘smartest’ technology for energy efficiency...5. Green roofs – over walkways, parking lots and structure – to replace habitat and to reduce urban heat island..."

More green pilot projects in works at city
Ottawa Citizen, by Jake Rupert
September 24, 2007

Ottawa, Canada. "...They also unveiled the City of Ottawa's first green roof, announced plans to encourage public institutions and businesses to promote cycling by installing showers in buildings, and released the city's first directory of environmental initiatives...The announcements were made at the Britannia water filtration plant Monday, where the city unveiled the green roof, literally a lawn on a roof..."

Topping Off, for the Environment
Washington Post, by Miranda S. Spivack
September 21, 2007

Germantown, MD. "Frank Mondell and Jerry Williamson, successful Montgomery County developers, were beaming during a recent rooftop celebration for their new office building in Germantown. Their pride and joy? Small, unremarkable plants that will soon carpet the roof and provide a way to capture and filter rainwater...They do get something more tangible than just satisfaction from the deal: Montgomery County, whose permitting office asked them to try out the green roof, waived a $75,000 fee for failure to install the more typical storm water management system...In the District, several green roofs are in the works as part of an agreement reached in a lawsuit seeking to resolve a long-standing problem with sewage overflows..."

New Charles Houston Center Underway
Alexandria Gazette Packet, by Chuck Hagee
September 21, 2007

Alexandria, VA. "Groundbreaking ceremonies officially kicking off construction of the new $15 million Charles Houston Recreation/Community Center to replace the existing 30-year-old structure at 901 Wythe St. were held last Saturday morning with City officials lined up tossing the traditional shovel of dirt. Scheduled to open in late winter of 2009, the new building will incorporate green building features such as a vegetated green roof..."

A garden rooted on the rooftop
globeandmail.com, by Alwynne Gwilt
September 21, 2007

Canada. "When Mike Moody put out a couple of plant boxes on the roof of a low-rise apartment building in Toronto to see if they would flourish, he didn't think it would become a full-time hobby...The city of Toronto increased incentives this year for creating environmentally friendly roofs, offering developers $50 a square foot in grants, up from $10 in previous years. There are other dangling carrots as well. "Builders know the city is very keen on it, and if they put one in their permit [is] often expedited," said Rick Buist, owner of..."

Insurance industry starts to wise up to climate change
ClimateChangeCorp.com, by Jenny Fyans
September 20, 2007

UK. "British insurers launch ClimateWise in response to global warming, a project designed to promote greener policies, lobby government and take advantage of emerging markets...Through ClimateWise, insurers will promote products that insure “climate-friendly” technologies (such as energy efficient technologies, domestic micro-renewable energy generation) and “climate-proof” measures (such as flood defences, green roofing and the use of heavyweight building materials). Lower premiums may be offered to encourage uptake..."

Vail Resorts Outlines Specific 'Green' Measures for $1 Billion Ever Vail Development
PR Newswire, Press Release
September 20, 2007

Broomfield, CO. "Vail Resorts, Inc. has announced more detailed plans for making the $1 billion Ever Vail the largest LEED-certified, multi-use resort development project in the nation...This past June, Ever
Vail was accepted into the pilot program for LEED's new "Neighborhood Development" certification program, putting it on the path to becoming the largest LEED-certified project for resort use in the U.S. ..Incorporate green, living roofs on several of the buildings within the project..."

Cascadia college building will be green inside and out
DJC.com, by Robin Rogers
September 20, 2007

Bothell, QA. "...The Center for Global Learning and the Arts treats rainwater in several ways: through a 500-square-foot vegetated roof that captures water before it gets to the site, through a storage system that collects rainwater and reuses it to irrigate landscaping, and through the natural filtration processes in an adjacent..."

Landscape Architects Review the Benefits of Green Roofs
Chronicle of Higher Education, posted by Scott Carlson
September 20, 2007

Washington, D.C. "Green roofs might be on top of buildings, but landscape architects have long regarded them as part of their domain. The American Society of Landscape Architects, often known simply as ASLA, will release data from a study of the green roof on its building in Washington, D.C..."

Green Roofs Taking Root in Outer Boroughs
Brooklyn Downtown STAR, by Richard J. Bocklett
September 20, 2007

Queens, NY. "...Among the environmentally friendly features is the artistically crafted green roof on the center's auditorium, which slopes down to the garden's grounds in a seamless blend of architecture and landscaping. Adjoining the energy-generating, photovoltaic-paneled main building, this 8,000-square-foot green roof sports an array of native plant species, such as Little Bluestem Grass and Prairie Cropseed, which impedes building heat loss in winter and excessive solar heating in the..."

New canopy for the asphalt jungle
Washington Times, by Tom Ramstack
September 20, 2007

Washington, D.C. "Part of the solution to pollution and flooding from D.C. storm-water runoff is up on the roof, according to a new report. As much as 10 percent of the water that now gets funneled into sewers and rivers around the District could be absorbed on roofs of buildings if more owners plant vegetation on them, according to the study released yesterday by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in conjunction with Howard University...Late last year, the D.C. Council passed legislation requiring all new local government buildings to meet environmental building-industry standards, beginning in 2008. Green roofs are one of the features that can help buildings meet those standards..."

TS Quatro building green roof, brownstones in downtown Ypsilanti
Metromode Media, by Jon Zemke
September 20, 2007

Ypsilanti, MI. "...The design-and-build contracting firm plans to renovate its headquarters at 201 North Park St., by adding an expansive green roof and then building a handful of brownstones behind it...The intensive green roof will be the crowning achievement in the renovations. Covering 4,000 square feet, the roof will not only be walkable but will also..."

Fraser Schools building green roof to save energy, teach environmentalism
Metromode Media, by Jon Zemke
September 20, 2007

Fraser, MI. "Fraser Public Schools expects its donated green roof will pay dividends in a variety of ways for its Macomb residents. School officials anticipate that the district's operations and maintenance building's new green roof will reduce heating and cooling expenses while helping teach its students about sustainability. If the project works out as expected, school officials say more green roofs will be headed..."

SPECIAL GREEN- Green ambition: Has C-Ville became G-Ville?
The Hook, by Dave McNair
September 20, 2007

Charlottesville, VA. "...Country Home cited the locality's effort to encourage the use of green roofs (our own County Office Building sports one)...the green roof atop the County Office building on McIntire Road celebrated its two-year anniversary... according to Catlin, temperature readings show that the green roof is 38 degrees cooler than nearby conventional roofs during hot summer days, and 25 degrees warmer during cold winter nights. The roof is also reducing runoff by retaining up to an inch of rain during storms...Catlin also admits the roof has provided good PR for the county's environmental initiatives, as it has had hundreds of visitors over the last..."

MTA drafts plan to lower environmental impact
Forest Hills Ledger, by Philip Newman
September 20, 2007

New York, NY. "With the introduction of electric buses and other improvements, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has become more environmentally friendly, but transit officials say the agency has begun looking into how it can do more to become green...Among the informal suggestions from those on the environmental task force at a recent session were bus depots surmounted by roof gardens, which could absorb vast amounts of water and help avoid massive flooding in subways like the Aug. 8 deluge that virtually shut down much of the subway system..."

Make Iowa cool: Young, 'green,' culturally diverse
DesMoinesRegister.com, by Tim Waddell and Thom Guzman
September 20, 2007

IA. "...Another component to improving communities is not just a youthful endeavor, but a responsibility of the community's citizenry in creating a greener, smarter environment. We must change our carbon footprint, whether the motivation is to prevent global warming or to relieve the pressure we have placed on our natural resources. New technologies such as rain gardens, green roofs and porous concrete are reducing storm-water overload and preventing basement flooding and watershed pollution..."

Grant Associates submit proposal for Piccadilly Gardens Living Roof
Builder and Engineer, by Staff
September 19, 2007

Manchester, England. "The landscape architects Grant Associates has submitted plans for an innovative ‘living roof’ for the pavilion building in Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester. The proposals are to cover the roof of the building which houses Caffé Nero and Rice, with wildlife-friendly plants and grasses, designed to attract insects, such as butterflies and birds to the heart of the city...The City Council is encouraging living roofs as part of its goal to become Britain's greenest city. The first living roof in the city centre, specifically designed as a habitat for the rare black redstart bird is currently under construction at Building Design..."

A Green Roof Takes Root in Chinatown
Express from The Washington Post, posted by Michael Grass
September 19, 2007

Washington, D.C. "In the past year, the District has gained two environmentally friendly buildings...the Swiss Ambassador's Residence in Woodley Park...the American Society of Landscape Architects showed off its new green roof atop its building in the 600 block of I Street NW during a..."

Green roofs in vogue
The Suburban, by Irene Chwalkowski
September 19, 2007

Montreal, Canada. "...Pierrefonds is incorporating a green roof into the building of their new East End Community Centre, scheduled to open January 2008. Dubois said that the project received no government funding, but will be paid for by a special tax charged to borough residents. The entire community centre will cost $3.5 million. “I hope that (the green roof) is an incentive for other boroughs..."

City of Green
Richmond.com, by Stephanie Brummell
September 19, 2007

Richmond, VA. "The Virginia Garden Festival brings together art, music and festival fun with advice for "living green."...Ed Snodgrass, the only nursery owner nationwide who specializes in green roof plants, will speak in effort to continue the spread of green roofing from the commercial to the residential areas..."

Thinking green is on the agenda at suburban conference
Chicago Tribune, by Victoria Pierce
September 19, 2007

Chicago, IL. "From solar power and recycling to roof-top gardens and environmentally certified building design, village and city officials throughout the Chicago area are starting to think green when new subdivisions and other projects are proposed...McDonough has been using green roofs, extensive solar power and water treatment for more than 25 years...a new bank in Wheeling will have a green roof..."

Ain't easy being green?
MidWeek, by Diane Strand
September 19, 2007

DeKalb, IL. "DeKalb Mayor Frank Van Buer attended the Sundance Summit Sept. 10-12 in Utah, along with about 50 other mayors from across the country...At the county level, board members Fauci and Pat Vary will ask the full board for some space on the county Web site to provide education on conservation, especially water conservation techniques such as “rain gardens” and green roofs..."

Green Rrrroof Doghouse
NovoMetro, by Madeleine Bair
September 18, 2007

East Oakland, CA. "Stephanie Rubin didn’t have pets in mind when she began her first green roof construction last spring...Ms. Rubin appears to have paid as much attention to the construction of her doghouse as she might have with to other larger-scale project. She didn’t settle for a doghouse with a garden on top. From the naturally rot-resistant red cedar planks to the non-toxic translucent paint and beeswax waterproofing, she’s made sure that all the materials used are safe for the pet and the planet. The result is a far cry from the prefab pitched-roof kennels that line pet store aisles..."

Council OKs "zero-energy" housing project
Seattle Times, by Sonia Krishnan
September 18, 2007

Issaquah Highlands, WA. "The Issaquah City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a much-anticipated "zero-energy" housing project, in which 10 homes will be designed to produce as much electricity as they consume...Produce no stormwater discharge, through use of green roofs and permeable pavement..."

Renewable Richmond
Richmond.com, by Andy Thompson
September 18, 2007

Richmond, VA. "...Thinking outside the box means including these technologies: Green roofs, cisterns, pervious pavement and rain gardens. Green roofs are just that -- living roofs planted with vegetation that capture rainwater. They're often connected to cisterns via a piping system...Chicago, which leads the nation in green-roof space, gives away green-roof kits to residents who are thinking about installing one..."

Council plans 'new' garden
Manchester Evening News, by David Ottewell
September 18, 2007

Manchester, England. "A special garden has been created in Piccadilly Gardens but only a few Manchester residents will be able to see it. The mini-park, part of a £720,000 revamp of public spaces, is on top of a wall and has been designed to attract wildlife into the heart of the city..."

CAMPUS: Post-grads prepared to paint the town green
McGill Tribune, by Vincci Tsui
September 18, 2007

Montreal, Canada. "...This campaign focuses on seven broad factors that are all controlled at the municipal level: sustainable transport, greener vehicles, green roofs..."

Green firm makes the grade
Manchester Evening News, by Staff
September 17, 2007

Manchester, England. "ST Helens firm Alumasc Exterior Building Products has been awarded an international accreditation mark for its environmental management system. The ISO 14001:2004 mark is for environmental awareness...The company makes 'green' roofs and thermally-efficient facades, which help reduce carbon emissions, save energy and bring ageing homes back into efficient service..."

Pa. nurturing green roofs to manage storm water
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, by Jennifer Learn-Andes
September 16, 2007

PA. "More green roofs may sprout up in Pennsylvania because the state is now encouraging them, said Josh Longmore, manager of the Luzerne Conservation District. The state Department of Environmental Protection recently included green roofs in its best practices manual covering storm-water management and conservation..."

A think tank for gardeners
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, by Sean Dobbin
September 15, 2007

Rochester, NY. "Instead of asphalt shingles or concrete, more roofs in the United States are being covered with wildflowers and grasses. They're called green roofs, and Robert Herman, a professor of horticulture at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Westbury, Conn., helped establish them in this country...Herman is one of two speakers at the Monroe County master gardeners' eighth annual Gathering of Gardeners symposium next Saturday. "Recipe for a Perfect Garden" is the theme..."

Sustainability Leaders to Be Recognized for Achievements
Multi-Housing News, by Kelly Sheehan
September 14, 2007

Victoria, Canada. "...Dockside Green, a mixed-use community in Victoria, British Columbia, has won the “Brilliant Development” award. The complex, located on 15 acres, includes condos, apartments, townhouses and live/work units. In addition, the complex will include retail, office space and restaurants...Also included will be a centralized waste wood gasification plant that will provide renewable heating for the development; green roofs; air quality..."

Waukegan tries to relive its days of verdant glory
Chicago Tribune, by Ralph Zahorik
September 14, 2007

Waukegan, IL. "...with Bradbury's blessing, an initiative called The Green Town Project is under way to restore some of the city's lost green glory during the next five years...Green roofs, wind farms, honey production, lakefront "bio-cleansing," a Green Town culture and music festival and the Ray Bradbury Center are possible future projects, Finn said..."

Secret gardens no more
Corvallis Gazette Times, by Staff
September 14, 2007

Corvallis, OR. "A variety of organic gardens and a sustainable business will be featured in the eighth annual “Passport to Healthy Gardens” organic garden and sustainable living tour scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at various Corvallis locations...This rain-or-shine tour features small courtyard gardens, experimental eco-roofs, native plant gardens, a canine-friendly garden, art and antiques, and artist and writer havens..."

Weekly DIY: Green Roofed Dog Veranda
Green Options blog, by Philip Proefrock
September 13, 2007

U.S. "...User "Tool Using Animal" created a ‘Green Roofed Dog Veranda’ that we were immediately drawn to as a project we wanted to feature on Green Options. While this wasn’t the overall contest winner, vegetated roofs (or green roofs) are a regular feature in some green buildings (and even more green building discussions)..."

The Untapped Green Within Graying Buildings
GreenerBuildings, by Tilde Herrera
September 13, 2007

Washington, D.C. "...the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a non-partisan Quaker lobbying group, embarked in 2003 on a $6 million, two-year renovation that cut its energy consumption in half. The group expects to recoup the renovation costs in five years...New features include a geothermal ground-coupled heating and cooling system was installed, as well as a vegetated roof to control rain runoff and absorb heat..."

Planting seeds for Green Town Project to 'regreen' Waukegan
Waukegan News Sun, by Jim Newton
September 13, 2007

Waukegan ,IL. "Can Waukegan be transformed from rustbelt brown to eco-friendly green, with its residents finding common ground and unity in the process? Waukegan native Newton Finn thinks so, and is willing to put his law career on hold for several years to spearhead The Green Town Project...Long-term goals include a community honey production facility, greenhouse farms, roof gardens, wind-power and thermal energy projects and construction of a botanical garden and a Ray Bradbury Green Technology Center..."

New Ferguson school to go green
York Daily Record, by Steve Schedin
September 12, 2007

York, PA. "The new Ferguson Elementary School is being designed as a "green school." Mark Barnhardt, senior vice president of EI Associates architectural firm, presented the school's design to the York City School Board at its Monday night work session. The design committee, made up of district staff, parents and firm representatives, visited area elementary schools for design ideas...The roof includes a "green roof to manage stormwater," limiting runoff, Barnhardt said..."

LEED Gold aim for India Tower
ArabianBusiness.com, by Staff
September 12, 2007

South Mumbai, India. "...The firm is seeking Gold status for the project under the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Designed to have minimal impact on the environment, a range of sustainable solutions will be integrated into the tower, including green roofs, solar shading, natural ventilation and rainwater harvesting..."

Coventry plans to go green
Green Building Press, by BBC News
September 12, 2007

Coventry, England. "...Grass roofs could be laid on buildings across Coventry in a bid to help tackle climate change. The idea is part of a wide-ranging plan to turn the city into one of Britain's greenest places to live. Grass roofs can provide insulation and encourage wildlife, as well as helping purify air by filtering out pollution...And there could be a feasibility study for a green roofs project..."

A wildlife haven in the National Forest
Easier, by Staff
September 12, 2007

Chester, England. "...Woodland shelters, installed as part of the National Forest’s Visitor Infrastructure Project, will become wildlife havens thanks to an imaginative design incorporating a ‘living roof’. The designs for the shelters, released today, will not only provide innovative information points for visitors but will also create important undisturbed habitats for plants, birds and insects..."

Coventry roofs could go green
Safestore.co.uk, by Staff
September 11, 2007

Coventry, UK. "...Councillors are considering the installation of grass roofs on buildings in the West Midlands city centre as part of the local authority's new climate change strategy, the Coventry Telegraph reports. A similar measure has proved popular at a local school in Coundon and council officials will now decide whether to extend the project to other buildings in the city. If successful, homeowners in Coventry could eventually have their own "living roofs"..."

Building green conference to draw hundreds
Wisconsin State Journal, by Barry Adams
September 11, 2007

Madison, WI. "...Greening the Heartland will run Wednesday through Friday at Monona Terrace and highlights sustainability innovations, programs and activities in the Midwest...Rick Fedrizzi, chief executive officer of the U.S. Green Building Council, is the scheduled keynote speaker. Seminar topics include creating sustainable communities, zero-energy buildings, indoor air management and green roofs..."

Branson's perfumed garden
Willesden and Brent Times, by Peter Kennedy
September 11, 2007

London, England. "...Back in 1936, businessman Trevor Bowen commissioned landscape architect Ralph Hancock to design and lay Kensington Roof Gardens. Over a two-year period Hancock planted more than 500 species of plants and shrubs in the one and a half acre site situated 100ft above street level and even imported rock from Pennsylvania to withstand London's polluted atmosphere..."

Youth centre plans straw bale classroom
Green Building Press, by Staff
September 11, 2007

Avon Tyrrell, England. "A charity which offers activities for young people is looking for volunteers to help with a straw bale building. The environmentally friendly straw bale classroom is scheduled to be built at UK Youth's National Activity and Residential Centre at Avon Tyrrell in the New Forest...The roof will be vegetated with a mixture of living plants around solar panels which will charge batteries to provide power..."

Developing a hotter LA
Los Angeles Times, by Ali Modarres
September 9, 2007

CA. "...Short of a lawsuit, there are many ways to lessen the potential warming effects of high-density development and its effect on energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency's Heat Island Reduction Initiative funds research into the problem, and the U.S. Green Building Council promotes construction and design practices that improve the energy efficiency of buildings. , These may include the green roofs and green walls that incorporate vegetation to improve the energy efficiency of buildings..."

Speak Out! We want your opinions
Baltimore Sun, by Staff
September 9, 2007

Annapolis, MD. "...Do "green roofs" and front-yard rain barrels have a place in historic Annapolis? Tell us what you think at arundel.speakout@baltsun.com by Thursday..."

Publisher's Note: Great question! See "A values debate: green vs. historic" of 9.05.07 below.

Green roofs: Rooftop gardens can help the planet - and save money
CBC News, by Showwei Chu
September 7, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Janna Levitt and her husband had no idea that more than 2,000 people would walk through their door when they listed their environmentally friendly house in this year's Doors Open Toronto, a popular free tour of landmark buildings and cultural spaces..."The green roof is essential," Levitt told a group of garden enthusiasts on a recent tour sponsored by the Toronto Botanical Garden and Gardens in the Sky..."

Earth Year 2007: Stop, think and sacrifice for the Earth's greater good
Corvallis Gazette Times, by Maureen Beezhold
September 7, 2007

Corvallis, OR. "...8th Annual Passport to Healthy Gardens Organic Garden Tour: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16. Self-guided tour of 10 organic gardens including ornamental, vegetable, eco-roofs...Oregon State University Green Roof Project tour: 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 22. Take a tour of OSU’s Green Roof Project and join in a discussion concerning the role of green roofs in the urban environment. Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture, 844 S.W. 35th St. Erin Shroll at..."

Convention talks turn green
Richmond Review, by Matthew Hoekstra
September 7, 2007

B.C., Canada. "...But in a new report, Richmond’s director of building approvals noted the current building code already allows for novel alternatives, such as green roofs, but the market has been slow to react. John Irving suggested the sensitivity to leaky condos and developers’ liability concerns are limiting the spread of the technology, and the simple removal of some code barriers likely won’t lead to major change. “Some level of well-designed prescriptive regulation will likely have the most beneficial effect,” Irving said..."

Green roofs are coming
Jamaica Plain Gazette, by Karen L. Weber
September 7, 2007

Jamaica Plain, MA. "...In Jamaica Plain, there are several green roofs being planned. The Jackson Square redevelopment project aspires to include eight green roofs. The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation is looking at the possibility of installing four or more green roofs on various buildings over the next few years...The Sept. 19 forum sponsored by JP Design Club, a group of six Realtors with Prudential Unlimited Realty, is free and open to the public..."

Green roofs sprouting new adherents
Globe and Mail, by Kerry Gold
September 7, 2007

B.C., Canada. "The residential application of a roof or wall that is alive with vegetation has long been too daunting a proposition for most British Columbia homeowners. But things may be changing...Germany-based Xero Flor Canada has five residential projects in B.C. currently on the line. The company sees the demand for green roofs particularly on the Gulf Islands, where they make a point of using local vegetation..."

StorageMart Launches 'Build it Green Design Challenge' for Self-Storage
Inside Self-Storage, by Staff
September 6, 2007

North America. "StorageMart Self Storage, which operates more than 60 storage facilities in North America, has launched a Build it Green Design Challenge, a competition to recognize the best green-building designs and ideas for self-storage units and properties...Carbon Negative: Using green roofs, walls and parking areas, carbon-absorbing ponds and designs to decrease greenhouse-gas emissions..."

Flats plan for eyesore site
Bexhill Observer, by Staff
September 6, 2007

Bexhill, England. "...The developer's intended plans include flat roofs covered in an extensive green roof sedum system, provide a varied habitat for insects and birdlife and help control storm water run off. The green roofs will complement a rainwater harvesting system, and harvested water will be used throughout the development for toilet flushing..."

A values debate: green vs. historic
Baltimore Sun, by Susan Gvozdas
September 5, 2007

Annapolis, MD. "Chuck Weikel wants to grow a garden of drought-resistant grass on his roof, figuring it would cool his house more than the black rubber covering. While environmentalists are embracing "green roofs" on buildings, Weikel's home isn't ordinary: He lives on one of Annapolis' most colorful, historic streets. Weikel plans to stand before the city's Historic Preservation Commission next week with the first applications for a green roof and a front yard rain barrel in the Historic District, forcing the panel to take up the question of whether allowing green construction can co-exist with its mission of protecting the city's Colonial heritage..."

Ann Arbor architecture firm puts East Huron Building through "green" renovation
Metromode Media, by Jon Zemke
September 5, 2007

Ann Arbor, MI. "...The renovation will accomplish a lot of green firsts in Ann Arbor, including the first green roof on a downtown building, the first downtown geothermal heating and cooling system, the first company to meet the city's 30 percent challenge and the first building to go for LEED gold status..."

County seeks green ideas to reduce storm water in drains
C&G Newspapers, by Terry Oparka
September 5, 2007

Macomb County, MI. "Calling all engineers, architects, private developers and contractors. Think you’ve got a better, environmentally friendly way to manage storm water runoff? Macomb County wants to hear from you...LIDs manage storm water using small-scale measures, such as green roofs, rain gardens, bio-retention sidewalk planters, green parking lots and bioswales..."

Trickle Down Effect
Plenty Magazine, by David Sokol
September 5, 2007

Chicago, IL. "Chicago is often hailed as the most eco city in America. From its green roofs to its pristine parks, many argue that Chicago is the country’s true “emerald city.” But one aspect isn’t so pretty—its alleys, which often flood when it rains...And like green roofs, which help reduce elevated temperatures in the city and insulate buildings, green alleys have multiple benefits..."

Business owners argue 'green'
Pratt Tribune, by Mark Anderson
September 4, 2007

Pratt, KS. "...Daniel Wallach of Greensburg Greentown then interjected the notion of "green roofs," or vegetation on the tops of downtown buildings. "It's the kind of thing we could get support for because it's very 'green,'" he said. "I know we could get funding for that..."

New Hillsborough campus has eco-friendly features
San Mateo County Times, by Neil Gonzales
September 3, 2007

Hillsborough, CA. "...The $16 million project also built the structures environmentally friendly. The classroom building has solar panels, while the roofs of the cafeteria and library have native plants sprouting on them...The "living" roofs are a particular highlight. They hold plants organized in different zones for specific wildlife. Students will study these zones in science classes. Besides providing habitat and giving students an organic learning environment, the roofs help "insulate the buildings and are good for drainage when it rains," said school spokeswoman Lori McGilpin. "I think we're being raised right with having environmentally friendly buildings," Michelle said, "and hopefully, global warming won't be a problem in the future..."

News Digest: Overview planned on green roofs
Baltimore Sun, by Staff
September 2, 2007

Baltimore, MD. "Edmund and Lucie Snodgrass, local green roof advocates and co-authors of Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide, will present an overview of green roofs and their benefits, challenges, design, construction and plant selection at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bel Air library branch, 100 E. Pennsylvania Ave. A book signing will follow the program..."

CLC goes green
Waukegan News Sun, by Ryan Pagelow
September 1, 2007

Vernon Hills, IL. "The College of Lake County's new Southlake Educational Center is touting Lake County's first energy-saving "green" roof...Unlike a traditional hard roof that repels rainwater, the two 1,000-square-foot green roof areas have plants that absorb rainwater, reducing the amount of stormwater runoff. The green roofs include sedum..."

Condo Living: Ah, There's the Shrub
Express from The Washington Post, by Amy Rogers Nazarov
August 31, 2007

Washington, D.C. "...condo dwellers don't necessarily have to live in a plant- and flower-free zone. Green roofs, container gardens and even window boxes can inject a little bit of nature into the most urban of settings...Some condo developers in the D.C. area have taken the urban oasis concept a few steps further by "greening" the roofs of their buildings...D.C. Greenworks, an environmental restoration service company and nonprofit that trains and employs at-risk young adults to install and maintain green roofs and rain barrels, has worked on several condo buildings in the area, from Alexandria's Cromley Lofts to D.C.'s City Overlook. Sedums and other succulent plants like iceplant and talinum are ideal for green roofs, says Sarah Murphy, green roof coordinator at D.C. Greenworks..."

High density that works on the Sunshine Coast
Globe and Mail, by Trevor Boddy
August 31, 2007

Wakefield Beach, Canada. "At Wakefield Beach, everyone gets a view of the waves, everyone gets a yard or a grassy green roof and deck, and everyone gets something missing in our linear coastal non-towns: a sense of community...green features would run throughout, with grass-planted roofs, geothermal heating and energy-conserving design features and appliance choices whenever possible...Another crucial decision in arranging these housing clusters was their use of flat roofs planted in variegated grasses as well as other roofs above them with gently curving forms..."

Every student a new student at St. Anne's
Windsor Star, by Monica Wolfson
August 30, 2007

Windsor, Canada. "...While the school is brimming with new equipment and facilities - like its three roof gardens on exterior doorway overhangs..."

Future's orange for Croydon's tallest building
ic SouthLondon.co.uk, by Ian Austen
August 30, 2007

Croydon, England. "Croydon could soon become home to one of Britain's tallest buildings - complete with its own orangery. Plans to regenerate the northern end of the town centre were officially submitted to Croydon Council this week - and they include a massive 422.5-foot tall skyscraper...There would also be a play area for children, roof gardens..."

Vertical green spaces
HeraldNet, by Debra Smith
August 30, 2007

Aichi, Japan and Seattle, WA. "Large-scale versions of living walls are popping up in urban settings worldwide. The largest, at 500 feet long and 50 feet high, is the Bio-lung in Aichi, Japan, a vegetative wall with 200,000 plants...Plenty of companies are introducing smaller versions inside and out, and some of these patterned green walls qualify as art. These are more than green eye candy. Just like green roofs, living walls on homes and buildings provide sound and temperature insulation and combat the urban heat island effect by cooling surrounding spaces...The city of Seattle recommends them as one way commercial developers can meet new requirements meant to encourage more vegetation..."

Chennai Airport to be India’s Greenest
Architectural Record, by Neelam Mathews
August 28, 2007

Chennai, India. "...A parking garage with a green roof will create what the designers describe as a “green gate” to the terminal. “The folding geometry of the green roof captures and directs rain water during the rain season to the elliptical openings in the roof, creating shimmering ‘rain curtains’ as the water falls through the garage to cisterns below. This stored water is later used during the dry season to irrigate the green roof and maximize the site’s sustainable resources...”

Building bridges between two Newtons
Newton TAB, by Anatol Zukeman
August 28, 2007

Newton, MA. "...Most of the existing dilapidated industrial buildings in that area could be replaced by commercial, residential and cultural facilities with parks and roof gardens..."

New inn features green thumb
Guelph Mercury, by Thana Dharmarajah
August 28, 2007

Guelph, Canada. "From the balconies of the city's new inn and conference centre, guests will be able to feast their eyes on a living green roof...The local architect, who also designed the green roof on the Hillside Festival's main stage at Guelph Lake, said many businesses are antsy about jumping on board with installing green roofs because of the cost. For the hotel, it will cost around $12 to $15 for each square foot of the living roof, Grinham said..."

Project to build affordable, green homes
DailyProgress.com, by Brian McNeill
August 28, 2007

Charlottesville, VA. "Standing in what will soon be a low-income person’s living room, Beth Kahley points out the home’s environmentally friendly green roof, sustainable cork flooring and ultra-insulated walls packed with polystyrene. “We’re basically in a big beer cooler right now,” said Kahley, a graduate architecture student at the University of Virginia. “What that means is that this house is extraordinarily energy efficient...”

Above and beyond
Guelph Mercury, by Joanne Shuttlework
August 28, 2007

Guelph, Canada. "One day Lloyd Grinham won't have to climb a rickety ladder to see how his garden is doing...his garden is doing well, especially considering it hasn't had a drop of water save for what the sky has sprinkled on it this summer, or a speck of organic matter to feed the five varieties of sedum that cover about 600 square feet of..."

Rooftop gardens not just novelty
Idaho Business Review, by Lora Volkert
August 27, 2007

Idaho. "The Babylonians got it right, according to Shi Yun. Hanging gardens on rooftops could help solve one of the world’s most pressing problems – climate change...Shi, who emigrated 15 years ago from Baoding, China, near Beijing, is talking with the city of Boise about putting a vine roof on City Hall and with developer Gary Christensen about using one on the building he’s planning on the site of the Rescue Mission on Front Street...Vegetative cover can reduce air temperatures inside the building by 9 to 14 degrees, according to research by Shi’s father, Shi Ziming, who started a research institute in China on vine roofs. That could reduce the need for air conditioning by 48 percent..."

Sydney's skyline turning green
Sydney Morning Herald, by Hannah Edwards
August 26, 2007

Sydney, Australia. "Rice paddies and orchards on city rooftops could become reality with a plan to green Sydney's roofs. A group of architects and environmentalists will explore ways to green the CBD's rooftops following approval of a $48,000 grant from the City of Sydney council. A committee member, architect Tone Wheeler, hopes to demonstrate that 25 per cent of city rooftops and half of those in fringe suburbs, such as Pyrmont, could be transformed..."

Five Initiatives guiding Gresham's next 20 years
OregonLive.com, by Robin Franzen
August 26, 2007

Gresham, OR. "...The city is scouting a place for its first "shovel-ready" site, performing a cost analysis of required utility and road-related improvements, and hoping to streamline the development process to lure biotechnology, forestry-related, recreation technology and other "green" industries. Companies that locate in Springwater would be required to use an array of green-building techniques, picking from a menu of city-sanctioned options such as eco roofs..."

Candidates to show true colors at 'green' talk
Nashua Telegraph, by Albert McKeon
August 26, 2007

Nashua, NH. "...Manoian gave Nashua a ranking of “4” on a scale to “10” for its greenness. The city over the last 40 years has developed around an auto-oriented lifestyle through its zoning and building regulations, he said. There are no green roofs on city buildings (roofs covered with vegetation or those with geothermal devices such as solar panels)..."

Scientists deliver sobering news in 'The 11th Hour'
Examiner.com, by Greg Archer
August 25, 2007

San Francisco, CA. "...The local research associate for San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences is turning heads with a slew of other like-minded scientists in “The 11th Hour,” Leonardo DiCaprio’s much-ballyhooed eco doc, which opened Friday...“It’s truly amazing, responsible and thoughtful,” Nichols says of the revamp. “CAS is doing things that have never been done. Maybe we’ll see more solar, more living roofs and more energy conservation in San Francisco as a result...”

Oceanside City Council Mulls Improvements to Beach Amphitheatre
KPBS, by Alison St John
August 24, 2007

Oceanside, CA. "Oceanside city council considered a visionary plan for the waterfront this week. The main focus is on revamping the historic amphitheatre by the beach. The city’s consultants presented a plan that would add roof gardens, playgrounds and parking structures to the oceanfront...The visionary plan has been a year in the making but still has no price tags attached..."

ASLA 2007 Annual Conference: Designing with Nature: the Art of Balance
Canadian Architect, by Staff
August 23, 2007

San Francisco, CA. "The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) 2007 Annual Meeting and EXPO takes place from October 6-9, 2007 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. Featuring Former Vice President Al Gore, Honorary ASLA, as the closing general session speaker, visitors can explore hundreds of innovative products and technologies for gardens, playgrounds, green roofs..."

Commentary: Follow the leader?
Eden Prairie News, by Vicki Pellar Price
August 23, 2007

Eden Prairie, MN. "...The other three voting members of Eden Prairie’s City Council, Mayor Phil Young, Council members Brad Aho and Jon Duckstad, don’t agree. Brad Aho asked how long it would take for a green roof to pay for itself. The EPA says the upfront cost of an extensive green roof in the U.S. costs about $8 per square foot, while a traditional roof costs $1.25. Though upfront costs are higher, green roofs realize savings in heating and cooling costs. In energy cost-savings alone, green roofs pay for themselves in six or seven years. Green roofs last much longer than asphalt roofs; depending on the vegetation used, they require minimal maintenance. But green roofs do even more: they reduce airborne pollution; moderate temperatures for the building itself as well as those around it; reduce noise; increase roof durability and longevity, storm water management and energy..."

Benefits of green roofs are hard to measure
Chi-Town Daily News, by Adam Van Hart
August 23, 2007

Chicago, IL. "...assessing the environmental impact of green roofs is a difficult task. Advocates say the roofs reduce temperatures in urban areas, control storm run-off and cut energy bills. Five scientists interviewed by the Daily News, though, said there are no studies proving those benefits on a citywide level. "I don't think Green Roofs alone will have an immediate effect," said Stephen Bell, director of the Chicago Center for Green Technology. "But more green initiatives will help." The benefits of green roofs for individual buildings are clear. They can be up to 60 degrees cooler than traditional roofs during the summer, cutting air-conditioning bills and energy..."

New Green Wall Course: A North America First - Green Walls Promise to Revolutionize Building Envelops and Fight Climate Change
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Press Release
August 22, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) is pleased to announce the launch of Green Walls 101: Introduction to Systems and Design, a full day professional course covering the many benefits, design and implementation strategies for these technologies which allow plants to grow on the exterior or interior of buildings. “Green walls have enormous potential to improve the health and well being of people by filtering air pollution, reducing energy use, cutting greenhouse gases and providing higher quality outdoor environments..."

Bay Area gets on top of green roof trend
Tri-Valley Herald, by Janis Mara
August 22, 2007

Bay Area, CA. "A riot of red geraniums, leafy bushes and plants surrounds Oakland's Dan Antonioli as he hangs freshly washed clothes on the clothesline to dry on a sunny day. The homey scene is taking place not in his backyard, but on his roof. Green roofs like Antonioli's — not to mention those at Oakland's Laney College, Berkeley's upscale Epicurious Garden takeout center, San Francisco's Academy of Sciences and other Bay Area locations — are a growing trend in the Bay Area and nationally..."

Downtown dumpsters get living roofs
Grand Haven Tribune, by Mark Brooky
August 22, 2007

Grand Haven, MI. "Special "live roof" systems developed by a division of Hortech Inc. of Nunica were laid out Tuesday above the dumpsters in the two reconstructed municipal lots along Franklin Avenue between First and Third streets. The plantings were set in designs, according to an architect's chart, by workers from the Grand Haven Garden House. The special green roof coverings were also installed last year above the dumpster enclosure in..."

Publisher's Note:  See the Grand Haven Dumpster Covers project profile in The Greenroof Projects Database.

Toronto Hydro's Conservation Customer of the Week: Greening Toronto One Roof at a Time-Ryerson University 'Walks the Talk'
Market Wire, Press Release
August 22, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "...In 2004, through a generous donation from broadcaster Valerie Pringle, (Ryerson Radio and Television Arts '74), and her husband, Andrew, Ryerson installed the Andrew and Valerie Pringle Environmental Green Roof on the George Vari Centre for Computing and Engineering, covering approximately 10,000 square feet...Ryerson first installed a green roof in 1987, atop the Athletics Centre. The central point of the campus, the grass roof measures approximately 40,000 square feet and is used daily by students, staff and the community. Ryerson earned recognition for its investment in green roofs this year with the Green Toronto Award for Green Roofs..."

Raising the Green Roof
Points North, by Hilda J. Bruker
August, 2007

Atlanta, GA. "For those eating in the fifth floor cafeteria of Atlanta City Hall, the window views of the adjacent fourth story roof are not just limited to asphalt anymore. Since 2003...Diane Hause is among thus group of urban pioneers. In 1999 she bought a century-old brick warehouse in Castleberry Hill...not all residential green roofs have to be flat, according to Sheila Fowler, resources and marketing coordinator for the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center..."

Publisher's Note:  See the project profiles for Atlanta City Hall, 3TEN HauStudio, and the Gwinnett County Environmental & Heritage Center in The Greenroof Projects Database.

Council votes for green goals
Centre Daily Times, by Adam Smeltz
August 21, 2007

Centre County, PA. "...The Borough Council, with a unanimous vote, agreed Monday night to grant State College that designation and to establish a 21-point list of environmental goals. It includes goals for the borough government and for the community at large...Among the detailed goals in the nonbinding resolution:...The borough should create incentives, by 2012, for the installation of green roofs, rainwater cisterns and other practices to cut stormwater runoff..."

The Ville de Montréal announces partnership with Nature Valley to enhance green spaces
Canada NewsWire, Press Release
August 21, 2007

Montreal, Canada. "Following Implementation of Green Roofs, Montreal Pursues Other Innovative Strategies to Improve the Quality of the Environment...We want to introduce more green spaces on roofs and in places other than parks and natural environments and this partnership will allow us to explore new ways to improve our urban landscape," said Ms. Worth..."

Foliage-packed 'green roofs' to debut in Coconut Creek's MainStreet
Sun-Sentinel.com, by Karunya Krishnan
August 20, 2007

Coconut Creek, FL. "Lush green lawns, scattered flowers and colorful butterflies and birds fluttering around. Such images evoke a park or a garden, but those are a few of the sights Coconut Creek officials hope to see on the rooftops of residences, businesses, stores and even parking garages downtown. The MainStreet area, which will house the Promenade at Lyons, will implement the concept of "green roofs"...MainStreet project coordinator Jim Hetzel said 40 percent of the buildings in the area bordered by Wiles Road to the north, Lyons Road to the east, Sample Road to the south and State Road 7 to the west are expected to have green roofs. The Promenade at Lyons is expected to open in October..."

A city with art at its heart - or a poor man's Dallas?
Sydney Morning Herald, by David Borger
August 20, 2007

Parramatta, Australia. "...Buildings in 2030 could be taller and slimmer in design without the need for mechanical ventilation. They could be linked via atriums of vegetation providing the big footprint of A Grade real estate sought by commercial interests. There will be large areas of deep soil planting, roof gardens, sky gardens connected by bridges. Small spaces are exploited where..."

Green Roofs That Top a Dark Future
Washington Post, by Jessica Dawson
August 18, 2007

Washington, D.C. "...At Flashpoint, an unusual exhibition with a frothy title wraps a poetic meditation on life and death around a public service announcement for green roofs. Organized by 29-year-old University of Virginia landscape architecture student Karl Krause and abetted by a handful of friends who contribute video and verse, "Earth on Stone on Earth Is Naturally So" roots itself in 1960s-era social activism even as it questions hippie motives. As the show's guiding spirit, Krause channels architecture and poetry: His inner architect made small-scale models of green rooftops; his inner shaman emblazoned verse on their pedestals...Each holds a two-foot-square green roof, complete with the layers of insulation, drainage and plants found on an architect-designed covering...Do green roofs simply forestall the inevitable? Absolutely. Are they worth doing anyway? Sure. Krause and company reveal the advantage -- and the paradox -- of eco-friendly architecture."

Chicago Building's Green Roof Offers Benefits With Beauty
WISC, by Staff
August 18, 2007

Chicago, IL. "The idea of going green -- more than 150 feet in the air -- is getting some attention on a Chicago rooftop. VIDEO: Watch The Report - The green roof of "The Residences at 900 North Michigan" is full of native plants, ornamental grasses and flowers that will bloom year-round..."

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities works hard to build interest
Daily Commercial News, by Korky Koroluk
August 17, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "...Talking to Steven Peck the other day, I got thinking about perfect storms when he mentioned the explosive growth of the trade association he heads: Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. Briefly, the association began in 1999 with just six interested companies. Now, eight years later, there are more than 75 corporate members and more than 4,000 individual members. “We’re growing,” Peck said. “Fast...”

Every Picture Has a Story
Washington Post, by Mark Jenkins
August 17, 2007

Washington, D.C. "...The show essentially consists of three sections, all grouped closely together in the small gallery. There are 10 "planted roofs," models inspired in part by the green roofs of some recent buildings..."

Water Quality At Douglaston Beach Among The City's Worst
Queens Chronicle, by Annmarie Fertoli
August 16, 2007

Long Island City, NY. "...the report finds the most frequent sources of pollution come from runoff and stormwater, both of which can lead to system overflows and sewage spills. The organization’s beach water quality report found a 28 percent increase in beach closures and advisories nationwide between 2005 and 2006...Levine suggested green roofing, planting more trees, and the use of porous pavement to help absorb excess..."

Developer branching into environmental restoration
Baltimore Messenger, by Linda Strowbridge
August 16, 2007

Eldersburg, MD. "...Harvey, president of Black Oak, soon decided the company's future developments would include environmentally friendly systems and products. Its shopping centers and rehabbed buildings would sit more lightly on the Earth. Now the company, which has branched into environmental restoration, is building in Eldersburg the first green-certified shopping center in the mid-Atlantic states...Green roofs, porous pavement, the gray water system and a water garden in the middle of the parking lot will dramatically cut runoff, which is typically contaminated by motor oil, paving chemicals and other pollutants, into streams. The green roofs and light-colored paving materials will reduce the center's ability to become a "heat island..."

Greening the Neighborhoods
Pop City, by Jennifer McGuiggan
August 16, 2007

Pittsburgh, PA. "...The project, known as RiverParc, is set to be bounded by Fort Duquesne Boulevard overlooking the Allegheny River, Penn Avenue, and Seventh and Ninth Streets. As part of the LEED-ND pilot program, RiverParc’s plans call for environmentally sensitive buildings, a variety of parks and green spaces both inside and out, as well as vertical winter terraces and roof gardens..."

Norfolk Garden Striving To Be Green
WTKR Your NewsChannel 3, by Vanessa Murdock
August 15, 2007

Norfolk, VA. "The staff at the Norfolk Botanical Garden want to set an example of what it means to be green, and we're not talking about growing plants. They've launched the Green Initiative - a laundry list of projects to make the Garden more environmentally friendly...A big project included in the Green Initiative are Green Roofs. The Garden will be replacing two roofs with Green Roofs..."

New Green Roof Opens On Magnificent Mile Building
CBS2 Chicago, by Diann Burns
August 14, 2007

Chicago, IL. "Chicago's green movement has a brand new star. Mayor Richard M. Daley Tuesday morning cut the ribbon on a new green roof 150 feet above the Magnificent Mile. As CBS 2's Diann Burns reports, the green roof of the Residences at 900 North Michigan is full of native plants, ornamental grasses and flowers that will bloom year-round. But this urban meadow is more than just a pretty face...project manager Douglas Hoerr and his team put sturdy, but lightweight Styrofoam under the surface of the roof at 900 North Michigan..."

Owen Sound thinking green
Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre, by Jody Johnson
August 14, 2007

Owen Sound, Canada. "...Councillor Bill Twaddle says the city needs to ensure it is doing things in the most environmentally responsible way. He says there are a number of things the city can to do help the environment. Twaddle says this could include municipal building energy audits, installing LED traffic lights and the construction of green roofs which are gardens planted on the flat roofs of commercial and municipal..."

Mayor Daley Reshuffles His Cabinet
Chicago Public Radio, by Staff
August 14, 2007

Chicago, IL. "...JOHNSTON: I will work with each city department and sister agency to implement green strategies and to continue to lead by example in areas of green roofs..."

`A well-lit building goes beyond just the aesthetics of it.'
al.com, by Dawn Kent
August 12, 2007

Hillary Clinton picks up Newsom endorsement, scientists' admiration
San Francisco Chronicle, by Kevin Fagan
August 11, 2007

San Francisco, CA. "It was just another political dog-and-pony show to announce San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's endorsement, complete with a hokey photo opportunity to snap Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton smiling in front of an environmentally trendy pile of dirt...Did growing plants on a roof instead of nailing down shingles sound goofy to her? Nope - she understood the "urban heat island" effect, which means that the soil-and-plant roof will be 40 percent cooler than a typical top..."

Birmingham, AL. "...Over the years, the firm has been involved in work that was ahead of its time. For example, in the late 1970s, CRS worked on BellSouth's Alabama Operations Center off U.S. 280, which has sustainable features, including a vegetated roof and a layout that helps its blend into the surrounding area..."

The quake-proof house made of straw
CNN, by Linnie Rawlinson
August 10, 2007

Santa Cruz Mountains, CA. "...Dan Smith's firm has recently completed the LEED-Gold-certified Presentation Center Dining Hall, an interfaith retreat and conference center, also in the Santa Cruz mountains. "We were able to incorporate living roofs, straw bale construction and cellulose on the ceilings, recycled newspaper for the insulation..."

Will the builders catch up with eco-housing demand?
Assetz News, by Staff
August 9, 2007

UK. "...As well as Gordon Brown announcing more grant aid to get homes insulated while he was still chancellor, the Department of the Environment was recently reported by the Independent to be working with the housing minister Yvette Cooper on the possible inclusion of green roofs in her department's sustainable housing plans. Such roofs have been hailed as useful for insulation, water capture (and recycling) and a general greening of the environment, which - and this may be very relevant to buy-to-let investors dealing in properties in the heart of cities..."

GR scientist conducts first long-term study of effectiveness of green roof benefits
Rapid Growth, by Deborah Johnson Wood
August 9, 2007

Wyoming, MI. "Vegetated roofs are increasingly popular in the push to build green, sustainable buildings. But do they really reduce storm water runoff and thereby prevent pollution from fouling in our rivers and streams? Lab studies show green roofs work in principle; mockup systems prove it. But there are far fewer studies in the real world to prove their effectiveness. Clinton Boyd, senior scientist at Sustainable Research Group is about to change all that. Metro Health enlisted Boyd to conduct the first-ever three-year study of a green roof in a natural environment—on top of Metro Health's new Wyoming..."

"Earth on Stone on Earth Is Naturally So"
Washington City Paper, by Maudra Judkis
August 8, 2007

Washington, D.C. "Flashpoint’s latest installation contains one feature that August-weary, overheated Washingtonians are certain to enjoy. Enter the ecologically friendly “Earth on Stone on Earth Is Naturally So” and head straight for the back corner, where a reconstructed turf hill beckons you to lie down on cool blades of grass that haven’t been reduced to scrub by the blazing sun. Above the grassy hill, an image of clouds and ambient colors is projected to music, and the lights dim in a cycle to represent night and day. But the hill is best enjoyed after a stroll around Karl Krause’s model planted roofs, which simulate anything from future eco-cemeteries to urban oases..."

Randy goes green for car parking
Forres Gazette, by Tanya McLaren
August 8, 2007

Forres, Scotland. "The Moray Art Centre, constructed as a self-sustainable building, is going one step further than the eco-houses which surround it at the Park in Findhorn, by building an unusual green car park. Project director Randy Klinger is hoping to build an environmentally friendly car park with a covered canopy structure, which will have solar photovoltaic roof panels. It will also be decorated with plants, such as creeping vines and have a roof garden...He said the wildlife encouraged to visit the roof gardens would also provide inspiration for art on the centre's door step..."

City building is going for the green
Louisville Courier-Journal, by James Bruggers
August 8, 2007

Louisville, KY. "Louisville Metro government is taking steps to install its first "green roof," a demonstration project in which plants and soil will replace tar and gravel. The city today is releasing a request for proposals to retrofit the roof atop its 444 Building, 444 S. Fifth St., which houses the Metro Development Center. Businesses interested in working on the project have until the end of the month to respond...The Brown-Forman Corp. installed a 600-square-foot green roof at its Louisville headquarters a couple of years ago -- the first of its kind in the city, according to company spokesman Phil Lynch...As part of the effort to promote rooftop gardens, the city is sponsoring an invitation-only workshop Oct. 25, primarily for architects and landscape designers. The featured speaker will be Ed Snodgrass, whose Emory Knoll Farms in Maryland has helped develop rooftop gardens coast to coast, the mayor said..."

House builders urged to cater for wildlife
BBC News, by Anthony Reuben
August 7, 2007

London, England. "..."So on a roof in London you might find many species of rare invertebrates that once existed in the countryside but no longer do. It creates an interesting zoological conundrum of almost aerial zoos." (Mike Wells, Biodiversity by Design) And as an added bonus, green roofs provide food for Black Redstarts."

Interpane: New Trade Fair Centre Stuttgart
Glass on Web, by Staff
August 6, 2007

Stuttgart, Germany. "With a total of 100,000 square metres of exhibition area, Stuttgart's New Trade Fair Centre offers abundant floor space. At the eastern entrance there is a spacious piazza, partly spanned by a flying glass roof. Passing through this entrance, the visitors reach the glassy courtyard. From here, the "green wave" of the exhibition halls and exhibition park open out. The curved roofs, partly covered with greenery, fit in harmonically with the..."

Couple gets city's first green roof
Springfield State Journal Register, by Kellie Bramlet
August 6, 2007

Springfield, IL. "A Springfield couple is bringing their Williams Boulevard home to life — literally. Thanks to CJP Architects Inc. and McCann Construction Co., the couple are the owner of Springfield’s first green roof...homeowners said all the benefits made it worth the extra effort. They took matters into their own hands and began to research online, ordering the materials from the Baltimore-based Resource Conservation Technology Inc...."

Lehigh wants 'planted roof'
Allentown Morning Call, by Nicole Radzievich
August 6, 2007

Bethlehem, PA. "Lehigh University wants to take esoteric ideas on environmentalism down from the ivy towers and put them into practice with the construction of a $55 million environment and science building. With a roof covered by plants for insulation, the 130,000-square-foot building would cut into the sloped campus and rise to five stories at its highest point and use the eco-friendly innovations to reduce fuel and water use, according to plans filed last month with Bethlehem planners..."

Charlotte looks closer for more green options
Charlotte Observer, by Victoria Cherrie
August 5, 2007

Charlotte, NC. "...The city is still studying "green roofs" with an experiment atop Discovery Place uptown. Green roofs -- roofs with vegetation growing on them -- soak up harmful particles in stormwater; they also lower roof temperatures, and in large numbers could cool whole cities. City workers planted several species of plants in a variety of soils on the Discovery Place roof to see what plants would work best in Charlotte..."

Green roofs keep cities cooler
ABS CBN News, by Rudy A. Fernandez
August 5, 2007

Philippines. "...While it is somewhat ideal for all these urban areas to be landscaped or totally shaded with canopies of vegetation, preferably trees, green roofs can help provide solutions to these problems," the DENR-ERDS researchers asserted. Whole or portion of the roof area, terraces and verandahs can be converted into green roofs and or hanging gardens where one can grow special kinds of plants."

Plan of green gables for concrete jungle
Sydney Morning Herald, by Arjun Ramachandran
August 4, 2007

Sydney, Australia. "With its abundance of parks and gardens, many would describe Sydney as a green city. Now the City of Sydney is considering putting parks and gardens on top of city office towers and apartment buildings. On Monday the council will vote whether to grant $48,000 to a community group of environmental experts to develop a process for installing "green roofs" on buildings across the CBD and inner city..."

A dash of Copenhagen, a little Malmo in Seattle
Seattle Post Intelligencer, by D. Parvaz
August 3, 2007

Malmo, Sweden. "...Rewind to the beginning of June, and to my whirlwind six-day sustainability tour of Malmo, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark...They even turned their polluted harbor into a hot destination for the young and/or wealthy population by building energy-efficient housing (using rain water to create channels, urban marshes and sustain vegetation) and have a serious thing for green roofs..."

Happily cooped up
OregonLive.com, by Inara Verzemnieks
August 3, 2007

Portland, OR. "...I had always known that there is a passionate chicken-raising subculture in Portland, but I had not truly appreciated just how passionate -- or pervasive -- it really is until the day of the fourth annual "Portland Tour de Coops" put on by Growing Gardens and Northwest Service Academy AmeriCorps members...And the coops were amazing. With cupolas and eco-roofs..."

Green carpet hits the roof
York Press, by Richard Harris
August 1, 2007

York, England. "A 14th century building has been fitted with a 21st century roof. Blake Mews, a grade II listed property in Blake Street in the shadow of York Minster, has a green carpet crowning it, in the form of a sedum roof. The roof has been fitted by property investment and development company The Helmsley Group. Ian McAndrew..."

Comparing Green Vegetative Roofs To Conventional Ones
Chief Engineer, by Staff
August 2007

North America. "..."The LCC Calculator determines the lowest cost investment for satisfying a specific roofing requirement over a specific time frame,” said Ralph Velasquez, Sustainable Technologies Manager for Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance, which is one of the country’s largest providers of roofing and building envelope systems and a leader in sustainable roofing technology..."

Exciting Times Up On the Roof
STL ConstructNet, by Staff
July/August 2007

St. Louis, MO. "...even in St. Louis there is growing interest in cool, green, and solar roofs..."Plenty of our members are involved in green roofs," said RSCA President Kirberg. "We're doing one at University of Illinois and the Montclair Apartments are doing one," he said. The new St. Louis Community College building in Wildwood, where Bi-State Roofing is the roofing contractor, also has a green roof. St. Louis Community College is using trays from St. Louis-based Green Roof Blocks..."

Johnson Controls' expansion blueprints are green
JS Online, by Marie Rohde
July 31, 2007

Glendale, WI. " Johnson Controls Inc., a leader in manufacturing heating and cooling controls for buildings, is undertaking a $45 million expansion and upgrade of its international headquarters that it says will be a prototype for sustainable environmental design...Energy conservation measures such as green roofs, wind turbines, solar panels and even a geothermal field are planned, according to documents filed with Glendale..."

At last, the sun reigns
Belfast Telegraph, by Linda McKee
July 31, 2007

Northern Ireland. "...The Antrim councillor is calling on Environment Minister Arlene Foster to implement a green rainwater management strategy that would see homes and public areas modified to stop heavy run-off overwhelming sewerage systems..."By having more green open spaces and green roofs, having gravel and grass instead of tarmac in public areas, and also having more ponds in parks, we can save rainwater and channel it into underground reservoirs or mechanisms on roofs..."

Natural building gathering in Bath
Star-Gazette.COM, by Staff
July 31, 2007

Bath, NY. "The PeaceWeavers are hosting their fourth annual Natural Building Colloquium daily through Saturday (Aug. 4) at their retreat sanctuary on Course Road outside Bath...Workshops, demonstrations and presentations include such topics as earth-sheltered buildings, timber framing, living roofs..."

Paper round: Hips inspectors under the spotlight
Building.co.uk, by Lawrence Barretto
July 30, 2007

UK. "...Want to save the planet? Then grass over your roof. The Independent on Sunday reported that government ministers are calling for the new wave of sustainable buildings to have ‘living roofs’ covered with vegetation. The department of the Environment is working with housing minister Yvette Cooper to include houses with green roofs in their new sustainable housing plans..."

NRMCA seeks abstracts for symposium
Construction Digital, by Staff
July 30, 2007

U.S. "The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s (NRMCA) third annual symposium will bring researchers and practitioners together to discuss the latest advances, technical knowledge, continuing research, tools and solutions for concrete and sustainable development...Suggested topics include...Concrete’s Impact on Urban Heat Islands – including light colored pavements, walls and roofs, green roofs, cool communities..."

In New Jersey, the 'Backyard' Up on the Roof
New York Times, by Antoinette Martin
July 29, 2007

Hoboken, NJ. "Even in a thoroughly urban setting — maybe especially there — people want a patch of the outdoors to call their own, according to Dean Geibel, a New Jersey developer whose company, Metro Homes, is based in thoroughly urban Hoboken...A short list of rooftop projects now under construction includes the seventh-floor space with pool and “great lawn” at the 55-story Trump Plaza in Jersey City, a landscaped deck at One Hudson Park in Edgewater (where most units have balconies as well), elevated terraces at two different condo developments on the beach in Asbury Park — one a huge open garden and the other offering individual penthouse rooftop spaces — and five small condo structures in East Orange that will have overhead lawns and patios..."

Green roofs are an environmentally conscious option for build
Altoona Mirror, by Jennifer Pencek
July 29, 2007

University Park, PA. "In the game of environmentally friendly projects versus excessive costs, Penn State University is joining the team trying to be the winner. The game piece — green roofs. The University Park campus includes two large green roofs...Penn State may be considered its own mini-city, bringing with it city problems, like stormwater management. That’s why the university is incorporating green roofs into many of its construction projects, including the new health services building and the new Dickinson School of Law, as well as a portion of the law school in Carlisle. "At this point, all the new construction under way, as far as I know, will be green," Berghage said..."

A business below, a garden above
Buffalo News, by Christopher Michel
July 29, 2007

Buffalo, NY. "The roof above an ordinary auto shop on William Street in Buffalo seems an unlikely place to take an environmental stand, but that’s what Eric Fox plans to do. The owner of Mr. Fox Tire Co. is converting a portion of the expansive roof into a green oasis — a “green roof.” ...Connors also will be installing a green roof over Butler Library at Buffalo State College, covering an area of 40 feet by 80 feet. “We have been looking into installing a green roof for the past few months,” said Terry Harding, director of campus services for the college. “The environmental appeal is attractive and ties into the enlightened ways of the college...”

Earth on Stone on Earth is Naturally So at Flashpoint
By B.more.Art, by Staff
July 28, 2007

Washington, D.C. "Throughout August Earth on Stone on Earth is Naturally So journeys through 800 diurnal sequences, alternating between sounded days and film nights while evolving in the growth and decay of planted sculptures. The cycles construct an environment for planted roofs, introducing diagrammatic interpretations of green roofs and urban oases: sustainable burials, urban habitat, community agriculture and more. Constructed tree forms and a patchwork of sedum and Astroturf surround the gardens, eliciting the..."

California Academy of Sciences Green Roof
Inhabitat, Posted by Emily
July 28, 2007

San Francisco, CA. "One of San Francisco’s most exciting green projects is the construction of the new California Academy of Sciences building, designed by renown architect Renzo Piano, to be topped by an undulating, functional, not-to-mention HUGE living green roof. Construction is underway, and they’re making huge headway on the roof, engineered by Rana Creek in collaboration with Piano. Not only will this roof provide all the sustainable benefits that living roofs bring to a structure, but it will be visible from within the exhibition spaces, connecting inside and out, and engaging the context of San Francisco’s flora-filled backdrop..."

Hospital project stays on track
JS Online, by Guy Boulton
July 28, 2007

Milwaukee, WI. "The construction of Columbia St. Mary's new hospital - the state's largest hospital construction project - is on track and on budget...Staying within the budget required some changes in the original plans, said Leo Brideau, chief executive of Columbia St. Mary's. But that was expected. Plans for roof gardens on all of the new buildings, for instance, were scaled back to just the main hospital..."

Channeling the increase
Star-Telegram.com, by Staff
July 27, 2007

Arlington, TX. "City Council's partial retreat on a plan to dramatically increase storm-water runoff fees won't help address flooding problems in a rapid fashion, but it is politically and economically pragmatic...Mayor Pro Tem Ron Wright, who offered several related propositions for future study. These included... Additionally, some local experimentation with "living roofs" is welcomed..."

Get on down, way up high
This is London, by Olivia Walmsley
July 27, 2007

London, England. "High above the streets of Kensington, six floors up, there's a club unlike any other in the capital. Palm trees, flamingos and an acre and a half of manicured gardens, the Roof Gardens is something a bit different...The setting is incredible. The Roof Gardens cover one-and-a-half themed acres: The Spanish Garden, based on the one in Granada's Alhambra Palace, The Tudor Courtyard Garden and The English Woodland Garden, with fully mature trees, some of which have been growing since the Roof Gardens first opened in 1938. Up there, the sound of traffic is muffled by the foliage..."

Sawtooth Cottages will be 'green'
Cook County News Herald, by Jay Andersen
July 27, 2007

Grand Marais, MN. "...features of the green project is storm water run-off — all of which will be treated on-site rather than allowed to flow to Lake Superior. Zenk explained that all impervious surfaces will be dealt with to result in zero run-off to the lake. This will be accomplished through a combination of rain gardens, filtration, ponds, cisterns and rain barrels...even green roofs..."

Connecticut Group Considers Green Rooftops
Multi-Housing News, by Staff
July 27, 2007

Wilton, CT. "A local conservation group in Wilton, Conn., toured a neighboring area's green roofs last week as part of an ongoing effort to consider adding green building to the town, the Wilton Villager reported on Friday. The Wilton Garden Club Conservation Committee visited three of nearby South Bronx, N.Y.'s green roof installations, which involve plants and grasses that absorb rainwater and reduce energy costs by insulating the buildings. In addition, a representative from the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, who hosted the..."

City could be a lot greener, says Green Party leader
Hamilton Mountain News, by Kevin Werner
July 27, 2007

Hamilton, Canada. "...Hamilton is on the right path, but politicians can do more to make the city greener and cleaner...Ms. May said the city needs to build more bike lanes and community gardens; banning vehicles in certain areas of the city to encourage pedestrian walkways; increasing open spaces; and encouraging green roofs..."

In the Bronx, gardeners learn about green roofs
Wilton Villager, by Jared Newman
July 27, 2007

Wilton, CT. "Unlike Wilton, the South Bronx has its fair share of environmental problems...seven rooftops are "green," outfitted with plants and grasses to absorb stormwater runoff and insulate the buildings from extreme heat or cold, thus reducing energy costs. They are environmental beacons in what is often regarded as a wasteland, and this week the Wilton Garden Club Conservation Committee visited three of them to learn more...inspiring several Norwalk developers to install them on their buildings. Construction of green roofs will begin this fall at iPark on the Norwalk-Wilton border at a cost of $1.25 million, according to Lynne Ward, a principal for the project. Clayton Fowler, chairman and CEO of Spinnaker, Co. said green roofs atop its 12-acre SoNo urban renewal project is also "pretty definite..."

Istanbul gets greener with Ondugreen
Turkish Daily News, by Staff
July 26, 2007

Istanbul, Turkey. "...An effective solution for city dwellers yearning for nature yet stressed by climate change and sprawling concrete, the Ondugreen System is preferred more and more everyday in shopping malls, housing and hotel projects. A multi-purpose system can be applied to terraces and balconies, the Ondugreen creates a tiny oasis amid concrete blocs...The system has been used in many prestigious projects such as Ankara Mesa Hospital, M1 Meydan Shopping Center, Four Seasons Hotels in Ortaköy and Kanyon in..."

City is becoming one full of parking lots
Bowling Green Daily News, by Eleanor Bower
July 25, 2007

Bowling Green, KY. "...Do we really need yet another bank branch, insurance office or appraisal company on yet another pristine corner of our living space? Aren't there enough empty parking lots baking in the sun?...Will they add to the area with the newest in green roofing, porous paving, recycled building materials and truly green landscaping?..."

Planners: Answers needed for arena area
Kansas.com, by Brent D. Wistrom
July 25, 2007

Wichita City, KS. "Wichita-Sedgwick County Planning Director John Schlegel came to a Wichita City Council workshop Tuesday with several big questions that need to be answered before officials can continue plans to reshape neighborhoods around the future downtown arena. Council member Sharon Fearey again stressed that she wants the city to consider putting park amenities such as grass, trees and benches on the roofs of any future parking garages..."

In Chicago, a Haven for Green Enterprise
New York Times, by Keith Schneider
July 25, 2007

Chicago, IL. "...The novel commercial real estate project is part of the expansion of environmentally oriented investments and policies that are reshaping Chicago’s economy: office buildings with green roofs, a city-built incubator for green businesses, fleets of ultraclean buses and municipal electric vehicles..."

Grand Vision
Metropolis Magazine, by Karrie Jacobs
July 25, 2007

New York, NY. "...Another section explains why the city’s sewage-treatment facilities overflow when it rains and how installing something called “high-level storm sewers” into new developments will help keep nasty effluvia out of the waters surrounding the city, as will green roofs and more street trees planted in better-designed beds..."

Comcast Launches Penn State ON DEMAND
CNNMoney.com/ PRNewswire, Press Release
July 25, 2007

University Park, PA. "Comcast Cable and Penn State University today announced the launch of Penn State ON DEMAND, a unique, groundbreaking collaboration that delivers the deep and diverse resources of Penn State to 2.4 million Comcast customers throughout Pennsylvania...Home & Gardening: Learn about giant tomatoes, growing blueberries, native plants, composting, tree planting and the benefits of environmentally friendly "green roofs..."

Proposed drugstore does nature no favours: watchdog; Port Hope urged to use resources efficiently
Northumberland Today, by Joyce Cassin
July 25, 2007

Port Hope, Canada. "...According to Mr. Goering, greenery must be planted to offset the effect of new buildings on the environment and wondered why it doesn't appear Shoppers Drug Mart is doing that...He also suggested they take advantage of new LED traffic lights, full cut-off street lights, natural light lighting in buildings, natural ventilation, green roofing, and solar wall heating..."

City Limits Investigates
CityLimits.org, by Anna Lenzer and Jarrett Murphy
July 23, 2007

New York, NY. "...One exception in the mayor's plan is a tax abatement for new green roofs, which use rainwater to irrigate plants and keep it out of the sewer pipes...But like the "end of pipe" solutions that environmentalists deride, green solutions face limits. One is cost: A green roof is two to three times as expensive as a traditional roof. Physical barriers also exist. Green roofs might not work on the pitched roofs that populate much of Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. That's why the city is treading slowly on going green, says Rohit Aggarwala, director of the mayor's Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability, which developed PlaNYC..."

BedZED. redefining the way people should live
Jamaica Observer, by Petre Williams
July 22, 2007

Beddington, England. "Aptly named Beddington Zero (Fossil) Energy Development (BedZED), the £15-million housing scheme boasts a blend of features, including solar panels and wind cowls, which sit atop the roofs like peacocks while they filter air into and out of the homes. There are also roof gardens, which double as habitats for wild life, such as birds which nest there..."

Publisher's Note: See the BedZED profile in The Greenroof Projects Database.

Gimme shelter
Times Online, by Katrina Burroughs
July 22, 2007

UK. "...At the cutting edge of contemporary designs, green is the word. A summerhouse that is unkind to the environment is strictly gazebo non grata. Garden Affairs offers living roofs – sedum plants, on special mats, that are applied to sturdily built log cabin-style structures. The covering is less fragile than tile or thatch, although it is more expensive than shingle or tile..."

Modern ideas at the Federal Center
Washington Times, by Deborah K. Dietsch
July 21, 2007

Washington, D.C. "Wavy oak slats — too many to count — wrap the sprawling new home of the Census Bureau in the southeast corner of the Suitland Federal Center...The blond wood screens, which are weathering to a silvery gray in places, help mask and animate what would otherwise be bland architecture. They also symbolize the ecoconsciousness of the building, which incorporates such features as sedum-planted roofs, sunshine-filled work space and climbing ivy on the sides of the parking garages..."

New Fargo library to get 'green roof'
In-Forum, by Mike Nowatzki
July 19, 2007

Fargo, ND. "Fargo’s new downtown library will feature an environmentally friendly “green roof” on the canopies above its east and west entrances, the library’s building committee decided Wednesday. Members unanimously approved adding the $24,900 planted roof system as an alternate bid to the base construction bids...But plans were scaled back when construction bids arrived more than $3 million over budget in February. The smaller green roof will be on the first-floor canopies so library users on the second floor will be able to view the vegetation through the building’s storefront window system, architect Richard Moorhead said..."

Gasping the issues: a blow-by-blow
Now Toronto, by Adria Vasil
July 19, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "We cut through the smog to score city council’s hot air and bold moves...GREEN ROOFS : B- The city helped fund 16 green roofs last year (including NOW's), plus it's greened five of its own roofs. Nice, but at this rate (and with a budget of just $200,000 a year), getting plant life, solar panels and other eco roofing on 10 per cent of T.O. buildings by 2020 will be next to impossible..."

Why grass on your roof is a good thing
Michigan Business Review, by Kelly Gates
July 19, 2007

Grand Rapids, MI. "...URS Corp., also in Grand Rapids, specializes in rooftop landscapes -- "green roofs." Manufacturing businesses in particular are in the market for natural methods of improving their existing buildings, according to Craig Newhouse, landscape architect for the company. "Manufacturing plants take up so much space and typically have huge spans of roof. These companies also tend to get a bad rap because of their emissions, so most are looking for ways to become more environmentally sensitive," Newhouse said. "Green roofs are the perfect solution, for these reasons and more..."

Lady Bird Looked Beyond Beautification
Washington Post, by Gardening
July 19, 2007

Austin, TX. "As we reflect on the legacy of Lady Bird Johnson's life and works, we should know that her embrace of the American landscape was not only about planting pansies in city parks or removing billboards from our highways...The wildflower center is working with the American Society of Landscape Architects and the U.S. Botanic Garden in developing standards and guidelines for certifying sustainable green landscapes in the same way that buildings now are certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The program is aimed at large landscape projects such as public parks, highway plantings and office parks, said Susan Rieff, executive director of the wildflower center. "It's a very big effort. We are also in the beginning stages of using native plants on green roofs. Most of the research on green roofs has been done in other climates..."

Sustainable City - The Most Ambitious Environmental Plan in North America
blogTO, posted by Thomas
July 19, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "...First off, the city wants to set up a program called "Live Green Toronto" that will encourage individuals, residents' groups, and other neighbourhood organizations to take action in areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, local food production, water conservation, tree planting, green roofs, compact fluorescent, and the use of native plants..."

Moraine Plans To Make New Campus Green
Southwest News-Herald, by Katie Fanuko
July 18, 2007

Palos Hills, IL. "Moraine Valley Community College is planning to make their forthcoming 12.6 acre campus in Tinley Park energy efficient...The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) based design for the Southwest Educational Center will include building with recycled materials, using energy efficient heating systems and lighting techniques and installing a green roof...By creating a green roof, the building’s roof will be protected from the elements and will reduce the need for repairs, Moraine officials state..."

BP Solar holds formal expansion groundbreaking
Frederick News Post, by Nicole Dow
July 18, 2007

Frederick, MD. "BP Solar plant representatives will add an additional $27 million to its $70 million expansion project at its Frederick plant. The global energy company's North American headquarters in Frederick began construction on the project earlier this year, with expectations of completion by the end of 2009. Many environmentally friendly features will be included in the building of the site, including extensive on-site water recycling and a green roofing. The project will seek to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, said BP Solar CEO Lee Edwards..."

Searching for the simple life
Easier, by Staff
July 18, 2007

UK. "Ian Webb, Brand Director for David Wilson Homes, comments on why house hunters in 2007 need to look beyond the layers of marketing in order to find the right home for them...“The development has been designed so residents feel they are in a landscape setting to which the wood and park belong. ‘Earthy’ materials such as green roofs have been specially selected to extend this landscape and for their eco-properties which promote insulation and water..."

Green roof bids prove expensive
Muncie Star Press, by Seth Slabaugh
July 17, 2007

Muncie, IN. "Bids opened on Monday for a partial green roof on the Delaware County Justice Center were higher than expected. "To me this is high, which tells me they (contractors) don't want to do it," county engineer Michael Denton said of the two bids. Commissioners opened bids for the replacement of the existing rubber /gravel ballast roof with a thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membrane system. In addition, commissioners asked contractors to include an add-on bid to cover 10 percent to 25 percent of the roof with a GreenGrid system capable of growing grasses, sedum and wildflowers..."

Painting the town green
New York Daily News, by Bill Egbert
July 17, 2007

The Bronx, NY. "...The Bronx Environmental Revolving Loan Fund provides zero-interest loans to Bronx businesses and building owners that implement energy-efficiency measures or other green technologies that improve air quality in the borough. The Bronx Initiative for Energy and the Environment, which administers the Revolving Loan Fund, also runs the EZ (Empowerment Zone) Environmental Fund, which offers grants of up to $100,000 to EZ businesses to cover the incremental costs of installing either a green roof or solar panels. The Initiative has already subsidized 14 green roofs - the most of any borough - blanketing rooftops with sod and plants to increase energy efficiency..."

Landlords wake up and smell the green
Globe and Mail, by Richard Blackwell
July 17, 2007

Canada. "Canada's commercial real estate industry, like many other business sectors, is embracing change to make sure its environmental footprint is more eco-friendly. The industry is now in the thick of efforts to broaden its "green" efforts beyond merely decreasing energy consumption in the vast stock of office buildings across the country...Some building owners are installing green roofs, planting drought resistant plants for landscaping, or capturing rain water for irrigation..."

Low-Impact Scraper Job
Associated Construction Publications, by Carl Molesworth
July 16, 2007

WA. "As developers seek methods for reducing the impacts of their projects on the natural environment, the contractors who work for them are doing the same thing. In Mount Vernon, Wash., contractor Plats Plus Inc. chose to employ a low-impact tractor-scraper combination for the site preparation work on a 40-acre housing development...Examples of innovative, LID projects include, but are not limited to, permeable pavement; bioretention swales, slopes or cells; rain gardens; vegetated roofs..."

Smarter growth: Build for low impact
Daytona Beach News-Journal, by Michele Moen
July 14, 2007

Daytona, FL. "...Our retention ponds are dirty and ugly. How about making them a community asset, beautiful and supportive of birds and water life and of us? Low-impact development is also about green roofs, more expensive to construct but impressive energy savers, made stronger to better withstand storms and so purifying and beautiful to see. Imagine libraries and schools with native green roofs and rain gardens that not only save our energy dollars and refill our natural water storage but will teach our youth so eloquently about conservation..."

Green roof tops off new law building
StarPhoenix, by Graham Andrews
July 14, 2007

Saskatoon, Canada. "Roof-top plant life will help Mother Nature provide the ultimate barrier from her own elements at the University of Saskatchewan's new law building. And that's just the top of the $16.5-million, 3,300 square-metre structure which, upon its completion in fall, will be one of the province's two most environmentally friendly..."

Changing environment and demographics set to transform homes
Mortgage Introducer, by Staff
July 14, 2007

UK. "Environmentally-friendly, space-conscious homes set to become commonplace across the UK within next 20 years...Pitched roofs will flatten out to become either roof gardens, with vegetation to aid water gathering or provide food, or space for compost sites. Roofs may even become inverted to maximise rainwater harvesting as water could become a luxury people can ill afford to waste..."

West Virginia University Buildings Getting High Tech/Green Renovations
AZoBuild, by Staff
July 13, 2007

Morgantown, WV. "A new home for the Department of Geology and Geography in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences will be ready Monday (July 2) when Brooks Hall on West Virginia University’s Downtown Campus reopens following 20 months of extensive renovations...In addition, a “green roof” reduces heating and cooling loads on the facility and increases the roof’s life span. This technology also filters pollutants and reduces storm water runoff..."

AIGA National Design Center Greens its Roof
Design Taxi, Press Release
July 13, 2007

New York, NY. "AIGA has just installed a green roof–a vegetated roof cover–at the AIGA National Design Center in New York City. Weston Solutions, Inc. was contracted to create a 1,156 square foot GreenGrid roof system to top the four-story historic building. Eight varieties of sedum are planted in four-inch deep containers, lined by a walkway of recycled rubber pavers..."

Grant to support 'green' practices in KY sanitation district
AXcess News, by Hana Bieliauskas
July 13, 2007

Fort Wright, KY. "Northern Kentucky's Sanitation District No. 1 received approximately $45,000 in technical assistance Thursday from the Environmental Protection Agency. The sanitation district serves the fast-growing Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties, and it has felt great pressure to keep up with these counties' burgeoning populations...He also said he wants to encourage vegetated roofs, a combination of soil and grasses, which capture, hold and clean rainwater before depositing it into pipes. This keeps sewers from overflowing and improves water...">>more

Publisher's Note: See the Sanitation District No. 1 profile in The Greenroof Projects Database.

Eco-savvy garage
Sunset Magazine, by Jennifer Matlack
July 2007

Kirkland, WA. "A desire to have minimal impact on the environment inspired the design of this handsome garage in western Washington...Architect Rob Harrison positioned the 20- by 40-foot shed-roof structure outside the dripline of a mature Douglas fir tree. He planted the roof with drought-tolerant sedums and wildflowers..."                            >>more

Publisher's Note: See the Sproull-Radke Green Roof Garage/Workshop profile in The Greenroof Projects Database.

'Green' policies show progressiveness
MSU State News, by Staff
July 13, 2007

East Lansing, MI. "MSU is stepping up and becoming an environmentally friendly leader for universities everywhere - one step at a time...Other campus initiatives to "go green" around campus include using environmentally friendly cleaners, implementing "green roofs" that hold storm water and decrease energy costs, environmentally friendly building construction..."

Sustainable Roofing Strategies: Lowering Energy Costs, Advancing Environmental Goals
Architectural Record - Continuing Education, by Barbara A. Nadel, FAIA
July 2007

U.S. "From cool roofs that mitigate urban heat islands, to white, green, foam, and slate roofs, sustainable design options are available for every building type...This article will explore design criteria and materials for sloped and low-sloped roofs. Design factors for green roofs, cool roofs, white roofs, fluid-applied coating systems, foam roofing, and slate roofs will be discussed..."

Wildflower Center 'a wonderful model' for botanical gardens
Houston Chronicle, by Molly Glentzer
July 11, 2007

Austin, TX. "...The center's scientists explore alternatives to traditional lawn grasses, help reintroduce rare plants and consult on everything from green roofs to reforestation techniques. They co-founded (with the American Society of Landscape Architects) the Sustainable Sites Initiative funded by the U.S. Botanic Garden to develop standards for reducing the negative environmental impacts of large-scale landscapes..."

MSU takes 'Go Green' chant to new level
MSU State News, by Craig Trudell
July 11, 2007

East Lansing, MI. "...The flat roofs are covered with a membrane that decrease energy costs, protect the buildings from extreme weather and help hold storm water, said Brad Rowe, a horticulture associate professor. The larger, 3,500 square feet of roof atop the Plant and Soil Sciences building helps hold storm water. As much as 60 percent of the water never runs off the roof at all and evaporates, Rowe said. "I really don't see a downside to it," he said. "Cost might be one in the short term, but these might be even cheaper in the long term." Normal roofs last 30 years, whereas "green roofs" may last twice as long, Rowe said. Terry Link, the director of campus sustainability, considers MSU to be one of the more progressive universities in the Big Ten and in the nation..."

Architect Designs China Mixed-Use Communities with Eye on Green Design
Multi-Housing News, by Kelly Sheehan
July 11, 2007

Sanya, China. "...The Sanya complex will include 23 apartment and condo buildings along with a 350-room, five-star hotel. To enhance the natural contours of the land, Kennon strategically designed the community in the shape of a continuous ribbon that winds throughout the infrastructure of the site. The fluidity of the ribbon form leads into three smaller, private villa lots that serve as the focal point of the project. Fusing the edifices with the natural environment, Kennon also created green roofs."

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Launches GreenSave Calculator on Web Site
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Press Release
July 11, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, in partnership with the Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance and the Athena Institute, is pleased to announce the launch of the GreenSave Calculator. The GreenSave Calculator is the first web-enabled Life-Cycle Cost-Benefit tool that enables professionals such as architects, designers, engineers, developers and building owners to compare the short- and long-term costs and benefits of green roofs and conventional roofs..."

Parnitha fire to make city hotter, scientists warn
Athens News Agency, by Staff
July 11, 2007

Athens, Greece. "Dire predictions concerning the repercussions of the Parnitha fire on Attica's climate were made on Tuesday by Greek scientists and environmental organisations during a press conference in Athens, who recommended measures to prevent the resulting increase in temperatures... scientists called for restricting the use of private cars in the city, with priority given to public transport, noting that these could raise temperatures in the city by 1 degree Celsius; restriction of construction and the introduction of criteria requiring new buildings to have bioclimatic features; improving older buildings through the use of "green roofs" and light-coloured roofs that might lower temperatures by up to 3 degrees Celsius..."

Gwinnett gets energy gold
Duluth Weekly, by Staff
July 10, 2007

Lawrenceville, GA. "The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded a gold level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating to the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center (GEHC) in the new commercial construction category...The facility was designed by Lord, Aeck & Sargent and built by Juneau Construction Co. The project recently received an Excellence in Design award from Environmental Design + Construction magazine, an Award of Excellence from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia and an American Institute of Architects Honor Award...The building and grounds model sustainable design and construction techniques to minimize disturbance to the site and maximize energy efficiency. The two-story, 59,000-square-foot building uses 75 percent less potable water and 35 percent less energy than a conventional building of the same size. Highlights include a 40,000-square-foot green roof..."                              >>more

Publisher's Note: See the GEHC profile in The Greenroof Projects Database.

Succulents are a low-care way to go when planning a green roof
Prince George Citizen, by Dean Fosdick
July 9, 2007

U.S. "It may seem like a no-brainer but, just for the record, access is everything if you're planning to install a green roof...Of the $990,000 spent to build a demonstration green garden on the roof of the American Society of Landscape Architects' headquarters building in Washington, $720,000 went for a new interior stairway and landing to provide visitor access, officials said. “There's a great deal of difference between a highly viewed garden and a purely functional garden,” said Edmund Snodgrass, co-author of “Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide”..."

Publisher's Note: See the ASLA Headquarters profile in The Greenroof Projects Database.

Building owners, managers choose green roofing to reduce energy costs
San Diego Daily Transcript (subscription), by David Susi, RSI Roofing
July 10, 2007

San Diego, CA. "More and more these days, we see newspaper and magazine article about green building and going green..."

Gardening up on the roof, where it's peaceful and practical
Prince George Citizen, by Dean Fosdick
July 9, 2007

North America. "The sod house pioneers who fashioned farms from the tall-grass prairies of the Midwest probably would have scoffed had you called them visionaries. Yet many of the natural components they used for their dwellings, including wildflowers and grasses and thick blocks of turf-covered soil that insulated everything indoors, are the stuff of today's popular green-roof movement...“Green roofs won't bring back our elk and bison herds but they will attract larvae and butterflies and other pollinators, including honeybees,” Snodgrass said. “Killdeer and many different birds also nest on...”

Development planned to be green and clean
Boston Globe, by Andreae Downs
July 8, 2007

Boston, MA. "It's not only the largest community- planned development in Boston, but it is now at the vanguard of environmentally friendly, "smart growth" neighborhood development...The team has plans to install green roofs -- which are planted to reduce storm -water runoff, keep buildings cool, and improve air quality...The green roofs, Maslan said, will cover most of the buildings and attract lots of attention. "People will see the green roofs" from higher buildings or from Columbus Avenue, and be able to access some of them as a kind of elevated park, he said. "It will be a symbol in Jackson Square."

A green foundation
Business Standard, by Gargi Gupta
July 7, 2007

India. "...No wonder many Indian developers are looking at green buildings, and green building materials, to minimise the impact of the construction activity on the environment, to help sustain the environment (through rain harvesting, for example), to reduce power bills and, generally, to make buildings that are better places to live and work in...Green roof: Landscaped roofs help keep structures a whole lot cooler..."

City to spend up to $450000 on grass-covered rooftop
Columbia Daily Tribune, by T.J. Greaney
June 5, 2007

Columbia, MO. "When the doors open on the expansion of Columbia’s city hall building in 2009, roof repair crews can trade in their hammers and nails for lawn mowers. The 10,000-square-foot roof will be covered with 12 inches of sod, grass and native plants designed to reduce heat and water runoff and minimize structural wear and tear..."

ENVIRONMENT-US: Growing Oases in the Sky
Inter Press Service, by Enrique Gili
July 5, 2007

San Diego, CA. "An industrial park seems an unlikely location to find a native plant garden. "It's mind-blowing," says Jim Mumford, who ripped up his old roof and replaced it with something alive and verdant atop a small one-storey building that he's converted into a haven for wayward butterflies and pollinating plants...Inside his office, Mumford has already noticed a marked difference. The drone of single-engine planes taking off from a nearby airfield has been muffled. His expects to save 20 to 25 percent on his utility bills, which over time will help offset the added cost of construction. And rather than redoing his roof every 10 to 20 years, he believes his green roof can last up to 60 years if installed and maintained properly..."

Garden of Eden
Time Out New York, by Staff
July 5 - 11, 2007

Queens, NY. "...The new, supergreen Visitor and Administration Center, part of a $22 million, decadelong capital-improvement program, opens September 27, though you can poke around now. Here’s a more detailed look: The building’s meant to be “an extension of the landscape,” says Joel, “connecting it to the environment visually.” To make it happen, the Garden teamed up with BKSK Architects, landscape architects Conservation Design Forum and a water system designer, Atelier Dreiseitl...…the building’s vegetated roof actually slopes down to the ground. “It’s a public path, so you can walk from the ground level right onto the roof, and at the top, you’re still in a garden,” says Joel..."

Scottsdale embraces a natural look
East Valley Tribune, by Mike Branom, Lindsay Butler, Thomas Keating
July 1, 2007

Scottsdale, AZ. "...Cosanti includes a series of structures including the original “Earth House,” which is partially under-ground and includes air holes for climate control. There also are student dormitories, outdoor studios, performance space, a swimming pool, a gift shop and Soleri’s own residence. The buildings situated below ground level are surrounded by mounds of earth, which uses earth’s natural insulation to help moderate interior temperatures year round...or a condo project like Optima Camelview, building green was a question of numbers. How do you fit 23 acres of landscaping on a 13 acre plot? The answer: Rooftop gardens. The 700 upscale residences at Scottsdale and Highland roads in downtown Scottsdale represents the forward-thinking design of architect David Hovey and his company Optima. The complex features a dog park, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, and a putting green..."

Kids learn a green roof makes for a clean harbor
Boston Globe, by Patrick McGroarty
July 1, 2007

Boston, MA. "Michael Ring usually doesn't have a green thumb. In fact, the fifth-grader's first foray into gardening was just last week, and it occurred eight stories above City Hall Plaza. Michael and his science classmates from the Warren-Prescott School in Charlestown installed 25 planters as part of a growing green-roof project atop City Hall. The 1 1/2-hour outing was a small functional improvement for City Hall, and a hands-on education for the 25 fifth-graders..."

Leading by example
Techworld.com, by Chris Mellor
June 29, 2007

Europe. "French-owned power generator EDF Energy wants a refitted datacentre to be twice as power-efficient as before and act as an encouraging reference point for business...EDF Energy does not actually know how to do this and is looking for a partner to help with technology choice and deployment. The things it has on its provisional shopping list include green roofing (an earth roof with plants), localised cooling and server..."

It's alive! And it insulates your home and reduces water runoff
Wilton Villager, by Edward M. Eveld
June 29, 2007

Kansas City, MO. "On leafy Charlotte Street in Kansas City, Mo., on top of a gray-sided, 1920s Dutch Colonial typical of the neighborhood, a new swath of greenery has sprouted. Through the front door of Ellie and Dick Dawson's house, up the center stairs and onto a small balcony, there's a great view straight ahead of the rooftop on their new sunroom, a new "living" roof..."

Publisher's Note: See the Dawson Residence profile in The Greenroof Projects Database.

USA. Environmentally friendly yacht service opens on Chesapeake Bay
BYM News, Press Release
June 29, 2007

Baltimore, MD. "...All construction of the 8 acre site and future operations at the facility were geared to be “green”. Sustainable construction, living roofs, functional landscaping and a water collection system were incorporated into the design of the facility..."

Disruptors Video: Eco-condos of the Future (Greenbridge)
Business 2.0, Posted by Erick Schonfeld
June 28, 2007

Chapel Hill, NC. "This August, ground will break for what will be one of the most eco-friendly residential buildings in the country: Chapel Hill, North Carolina's Greenbridge Developments...Greenbridge is a 99-unit building that is LEED-certified. Solar thermal heaters will heat its water, roof gardens will provide insulation to keep the whole building cool, runoff rainwater will be captured for irrigation, hybrid Zipcars will be available for residents in the garage (to offset the one-parking-spot-per-family rule). Designed by architect William McDonough, whose Cradle to Cradle philosophy eschews using materials that might end up in a landfill, the building uses locally..."

Publisher's Note:  See the CNNMoney "Eco-condos of the future video" here.

Gardens - they're on the up
Independent, by Hugo Tugman
June 27, 2007

London, England. "...Ken Livingstone, together with the architect Lord Rogers, has co-written a GLA planning document called "Living Roofs" promoting green roofs, roof terraces and roof gardens across London. The document suggests that using our roofs more imaginatively "can deliver benefits throughout the city for individuals and for society as a whole, by creating new outdoor spaces, enhancing bio-diversity, reducing flood risk (by absorbing heavy rainfall), providing insulation and improving the appearance of our cityscape..."

Next Nashville mayor may have to go green
Tennessean.com, by Colby Sledge
June 25, 2007

Nashville, TN. "...Sandy Bivens of Metro Parks hopes environmentally sustainable buildings within developments will be considered in future projects. Bivens is overseeing the construction of three public nature centers in the county that will incorporate features such as waterless urinals and green roofs. "They're on the scale of a house, so we're trying to show things that people could do with their own houses," said Bivens, who expects the centers to open this fall..."

A parade of exotic blooms
Gulf Daily News, by Elizabeth Shaheen
June 24, 2007

Manama, Bahrain. "Why not put into action a novel idea and create your own green - or whatever colour you crave for - living-roof? A great deal of current appeal in green roofs has rested on their treatment at large, frequently public buildings in Europe. But you can create one on your porch-living-roof, garage-living-roof, tool-shed-living-roof and summerhouse-living-roof, even a-living-roof on your balcony. Even your house roof could be the envy of all who set eyes on it..."

Local BP station sets good example with 'green' roofs
Baltimore Sun, by Edward Gunts
June 24, 2007

Baltimore, MD. "...From the road, the gas station looks deceptively conventional - with six pumps, a convenience store and a car wash. What sets it apart is that the store and the car wash have "living roofs": soil and vegetation that keep rainwater from running into storm drains and ultimately into Baltimore's harbor, carrying the pollutants and toxins of..."

Going Green: Architect says, "Look at geothermal"
Gaylord Herald Times, by Michael Jones
June 23, 2007

Gaylord, MI. "...“Green building is sustainable building, it’s energy efficient, it reduces waste, it’s healthy for people and the environment, and it’s cost effective,” Latuszek will tell you as he comments on several green construction practices and designs which can save money by reducing energy costs: concrete insulation, green roofs, skylights, house and site orientation and geothermal..."

Green roof award
Cincinnati Enquirer, by Staff
June 23, 2007

Fort Wright, KY. "...Roof design teams were recognized at the fifth Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference and Tradeshow in Minneapolis, where the Fort Wright structure was honored in the "extensive institutional" category for its holistic design, benefits to the function of the building and relation to the site and surrounding community..."

Party leader calls for greener, cleaner Hamilton
Ancaster News, by Kevin Werner
June 22, 2007

Hamilton, Canada. "...Ms. May said the city needs to build more bike lanes and community gardens, ban vehicles in certain areas of the city to encourage pedestrian walkways, increase open spaces and encourage green roofs..."

Bar fears fail to stop £20m Old Town plan
Edinburgh Evening News, by Hazel Mollison
June 22, 2007

Edinburgh, Scotland. "A major regeneration of the Old Town is set to get the go-ahead despite concerns about the area being flooded with bars and restaurants. A series of rundown buildings between the Royal Mile and Market Street promise to be turned into a thriving new quarter by the £20 million project. A pub, three restaurants, a hotel and flats with roof gardens would to be created in the former council buildings..."

Expect green plan by December
The Chronicle West End Edition, by Daniel Bartlett
June 22, 2007

Montreal, Canada. "...Earlier in the evening, Marlowe Avenue resident Claude Casgrain told the borough council of her “wonderful experience” visiting the City of Montreal’s only green roof several days prior to Wednesday’s meeting. The roof was built on the CDN Maison de la culture and Library and has been open to the public since June 5. “It was extraordinary because we had a splendid view. We had the Oratory right in front of us (and) to the left the University of Montréal,” Casgrain said. “I know it’s a team effort but I really wanted to thank the mayor (Applebaum) because in the end he’s...”

Reusing Compost
Philadelphia Inquirer, by Henry J. Holcomb
June 21, 2007

Chester County, PA. "...The other, Skyland USA L.L.C., is blending special soils for green roofs, an environmentally friendly concept that is popular in Europe and starting to catch on here..."In Germany, 120 million square feet of green roofs are being built a year," DiNorscia said. "Last year, we did five million square feet." With high-rise living gaining favor in urban areas, Cote and DiNorscia believe their green-roof business will soon take off. Instead of looking down on ugly rooftops, Cote said, "imagine looking down on gardens. It will be a much more pleasing environment."

Apartment revisions on display
Business Gazette, by Maya T. Prabhu
June 21, 2007

Hyattsville, MD. "...The project also has incorporated stormwater management by providing some green roofing on its buildings, Eisenberg said. The developers had previously proposed underground parking, but have changed those plans. ‘‘Instead of digging a hole for parking, we’re going to build a structure and put the architecture around it,” said Tim Madden, an architect and landscape architect for the project..."

Grass roofs in as crumbling homes turfed out
Scotsman.com, by Adrian Mather
June 19, 2007

Edinburgh, Scotland. "Grass-roofed homes and new parkland will replace crumbling 1960s housing in the latest stage of a £50 million regeneration project in the Capital. The traditional tiled roofs will be replaced with turfed ones when hundreds of new homes are built in Hyvots and Moredun..."We're also keen to create a greener environment for people living in this area, with a new pond being created in the Hyvots scheme to deal with excessive rainfall. We will also be introducing 'green roofs' made with grass seed in the new homes to soak up rainfall, which will replace traditional...."

Real Estate Industry Quietly Embracing Green Development, Progressive Investor Reports
PR Newswire, Press Release
June 19, 2007

The World. "Although much less public than the major media announcements of the world's largest corporations, GE and Wal-Mart, the real estate industry is quietly transforming by embracing sustainable business practices and green technologies...Progressive firms are increasingly focused on urban infill buildings rather than suburban greenfields and incorporating advanced energy efficiency measures, as well as recycled building materials, gray water systems, rainwater capture and green roofs, the report says..."

Environmentalists weigh in on city's climate plan
Inside Toronto, by David Nickle
June 19, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Toronto's plan to combat climate change is a good start - but the city will have to push harder and faster if it expects to make a meaningful dent in emission reduction..."There's fantastic stuff here but I don't think anything is here that's bold," said Steven Peck of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. "I don't see anything that puts Toronto to the forefront."..."

The Greening of New York's Roofs
Resident Publications, by Staff
June 19, 2007

New York, NY. "The garden on the roof of St. Simon Stock Elementary School in the Bronx isn’t much to look at on a recent spring day. The dried remains of brown-eyed susans and orange columbines, flowers native to the area, and yellowed batches of Indian grass and switch grass, barely move in the breeze. But evidence of the garden’s vitality is everywhere...Greenproofing, the business arm of City College’s Environmental Engineering and Entrepreneurship Program, for instance, launched an initiative to install green roofs on New York City public schools and engage middle and high school students in the design, implementation and maintenance of green roofs. The group has met with dozens of schools and is slowly gaining traction. Financial incentives such as the property tax abatement Mayor Bloomberg proposes should help the industry grow, said Hoffman of Earth Pledge. If approved, the property tax abatement will allow building owners to offset 35 percent of the installation cost of extensive green roofs on new or existing buildings..."

Daley's city not so 'green'
Chicago Tribune, by Michael Hawthorne
June 18, 2007

Chicago, IL. "...The city pledged in 2001 to meet the target by planting green roofs, buying renewable power and rehabbing buildings to make them more energy-efficient, among other steps. Yet the city's emissions of global warming pollution have soared since then, according to records that the Tribune obtained under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act...Records show that officials fell well short of targets for curbing electricity usage by city buildings despite the construction of energy-efficient buildings and the installation of green roofs across the city..."

Memo to Toronto: You can do better
TheStar.com, by Peter Gorrie
June 16, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "...Toronto Star reporters recently visited three U.S. cities where dynamic leaders are making a difference. Chicago, San Francisco and New York are far from perfect. They lag Toronto in some green policies. None, as yet, has an environmental plan that’s as ambitious as Miller’s new version has the potential to be. But, as we describe on these pages, each is well ahead in a few areas: Chicago in green roofs, for example; San Francisco in..."

Center City Gets Its First Green Roof
Evening Bulletin, by Jenny DeHuff
June 15, 2007

Philadelphia, PA. "Move over potted plants and creeping ivy; "green" roofs are the latest trend in landscape fashion. The Friends Center was the first to install a green roof yesterday - a vegetated roof cover with layers of plants on top of conventional flat or sloping roofs...Mayor John F. Street snipped a ribbon unveiling the new roof and offered some words of satisfaction with the initiative. The Friends Center's 10,000-sq. ft. "green" roof is Center City's largest photovoltaic energy generator..."Green" roof installation is done by Roofscapes, Inc., one of the first U.S. companies to install a green roof using pre-grown vegetated mats."

Beautifying with Rooftop and Community Gardens
Cooperator, by Lisa Iannucci
June 15, 2007

New York, NY. "...Roof Gardening 101 Building any urban garden, but especially a rooftop garden, requires many different considerations, so it's important to work with a professional landscape architect at the planning stage who can guide the process...A roof garden is an exciting way to create beauty in an unused space, but there are several technicalities to consider with this option. Firstly, it's important to understand the permit process for rooftop gardens..."

Green Roof News Spring 2007
International Green Roof Association
Posted June 14, 2007

The World. "Green Roofs, Eco-Roofs, Skyrise Greenery or Living Roofs, there is a wide range of terms to describe the installation of a natural vegetation layer on roof surfaces. This newsletter will present some common features which make the classification of Green Roofs easier. In addition, we will shine the spotlight on the situation in Spain and Asia, where Green Roofs are well on the way..."

Friday's Berlow column: Is a green makeover in store for Gaines Street?
Tallahassee Democrat, by Bill Berlow
June 14, 2007

Tallahassee, FL. "Roxanne Manning, the first director of Tallahassee's first Community Redevelopment Agency, was describing how "green roofs" might be one of the sparks that ignite an extreme makeover of Gaines Street...But green roof designs in Florida are a little trickier, said engineer Mike Hardin, design and installation manager for STE Inc. in Orlando. Unlike in northern climes, he said, green roofs in Florida need to be irrigated for plants to survive..."

Raising The Green Roof
Coast Weekly, by Zachary Stahl
June 14, 2007

Salinas, CA. "Salinas’ first green roof will likely cover affordable apartments. First Community Housing Inc. plans to build a 100 percent affordable, mixed-use development at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and West Market Street. In order to reduce energy consumption, the developer will plant several different native species on the roof of the 52-unit building...On June 5, the Salinas Redevelopment Agency board approved an additional $380,000 loan to First Community. The City has committed $2.5 million to the $17.5 million project..."

Roof puts down roots
Hour.ca, by Craig Silverman
June 14, 2007

Montreal, Canada. "Last week the borough of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce unveiled the first city-built green roof in Montreal. Is this a sign of things to come? On June 5, Mayor Gérald Tremblay headed up to the top of the Côte-des-Neiges Maison de la Culture and library to officially open that building's green roof. As of now, it is the only city-owned building with a green roof in all of Montreal, but the plan is to try and create more of them...It cost the borough $680,000, with some money coming from the city and the Société de verdissement du Montréal, to prepare the roof and make it green. Landry says the city and boroughs are looking into the idea of creating more green roofs on publicly owned buildings..."

Green roof planned for Victoria Park subway station
Inside Toronto, by David Nickle
June 14, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "The roof of the new Victoria Park subway station will emphasize the "park," as the first green-roofed Toronto Transit Commission property. TTC commissioners voted Wednesday to approve a plan that would see the station, which is undergoing a major redesign/renovation, roofed not with asphalt or tar, but a literal meadow of low-growing grasses and shrubbery that would help keep the station cool and improve biodiversity in the area...The commission is also looking at possible green roofs on other new developments - particularly, the Kipling/Islington redevelopment, the station modernization at Pape and the McNicoll Bus Garage..."

Green Roofs 2007
Dexigner, by Staff
June 14, 2007

UK. "...UK interest in green roofs has sky rocketed in recent years and the resulting business opportunities are potentially unlimited. Green Roofs 2007 is the only UK conference that is specifically aimed at architects and focuses solely on living roof technology. Attending this conference will leave you confident and well prepared to take on all manner of green roof projects."

Publisher's Note:  Read all about the Green Roofs 2007 in London on June 19.

Beyond the Garden
Metropolis Magazine, by Eva Hagberg
June 13, 2007

New York, NY. "Based in Vancouver, Canada, the German-born, Harvard-educated Cornelia Hahn Oberlander developed her eco-conscious yet minimalist approach to landscape architecture—with a current focus on green roofs—way before Al Gore made it cool to care..."Ecology is more than just another part of design. It must be viewed holistically, the genus loci, or spirit of the place. If we can accept this we will be successful as teams of landscape architects transmitting to the users new, aesthetic dimensions based on ecological design. Today, all my work is directed to storm water management, limiting footprints of buildings, and green roofs...I wrote an introductory manual to green roofing with Elisabeth Whitelaw and Eva Matsuzaki. Why am I interested in green roofs? First of all it’s the island effect, slowing down water, and making it aesthetically pleasing to look at. Are you looking at a gravel roof..."

Publisher's Note:  See the “Introductory Manual for Greening Roofs” in Greenroofs 101>How To's here.

Up on the Roof with Urban Agriculture
New West, by Kisha Lewellyn Schlegel
June 12, 2007

The World. "...By far, the most significant issues are those of access and roof load capacity. In countries obsessed with the liability of such roofs (where people will walk and play and grow) these safety concerns, while they might be valid, can become excuses for not taking on such projects. However, many cities such as Atlanta, Chicago and Toronto have taken on the challenge to cool and green their roofline. Portland, Oregon, even has incentives for green roof building. (a list of projects: http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/plist.php) In time, these rooftop gardens might also be connected by rooftop bridges..."

NHBC launches standards on green roofs
Politics.co.uk, by Staff
June 12, 2007

London, England. "Continuing to meet the drivers of sustainability under the Code for Sustainable Homes and the Government’s zero carbon homes target NHBC has responded with a newly developed set of NHBC’s Technical Standards incorporating guidance on green roofs. NHBC’s Standards are the key reference text for builders and developers. Following success in Europe, particularly in Germany and Scandinavian countries, builders and developers in the UK are increasingly opting for green roofs...Peter Crane, NHBC’s Head of Standards, said: “NHBC is supporting the rapidly emerging environmental and sustainability agendas with this new guidance...”

Automotive Green Roofs: The Poor Man's Solar Panels
Gearlog, posted by Brian Heater
June 12, 2007

Beijing, China. "...Zhishai, a taxi driver in Beijing, decided to bring the solution closer to the source of the problem, by planting a mini green roof atop his cab. I don't see the green roof eclipsing the sunroof as a top aftermarket add-on, especially for those among us who are regular highway drivers, but Zhishai has no doubt become a legend amongst the local pigeon population."

Toronto's second annual Green Toronto Festival - twice as big, twice as green
Canada NewsWire, Press Release
June 11, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "...The day-long celebration will transform the Square into a sea of green as Torontonians from across the city mingle with more than 80 exhibitors of green products and services..."Residents will find information about all kinds of practical actions they can take in their everyday lives, from simple things like switching to energy efficient lighting, to more complex things like installing solar panels and green roofs..."

The height of fashion
icNewcastle.co.uk, by Evening Chronicle
June 9, 2007

UK. "It's a sign of the times that roof gardens made their debut at this year's Chelsea Flower Show, as increasingly people are searching for much needed green space in urban areas. If you live in the city and think you may have a sustainable roof space, there are three Ws to consider, says Andrew Duff, director of the garden design faculty at the Inchbald School of Design in London. "The first `W' is weight. Make sure you can walk on the roof. You may not be able to put heavy pots on it, so before you can consider a roof garden you should consult a structural engineer..."

For the Anacostia, a Legacy Of Environmental Proportions
washingtonpost.com, by Roger K. Lewis
June 9, 2007

Washington, D.C. "The D.C. Council voted this week to dissolve the Anacostia Waterfront Corp., but, fortunately, it decided to preserve one important legacy of that short-lived group -- its environ-mental design and development standards...ways to manage storm water: vegetated swales, bio-retention and filtration areas, permeable paving, dry wells, cisterns, green roofs. Most pollutants that otherwise would be dumped into the river can be removed with proper design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure, buildings and landscape..."

A cool solution
Houston Business Journal, by Thora Qaddumi
June 8, 2007

Houston, TX. "A garden roof terrace -- "green roof" -- is helping the Satterfield & Pontikes building at 11000 Equity Drive garner sustainability awards. (See related story on Page 8B.) It's one of several green roofs on Houston-area buildings, says architect Julie Hedricks of Kirksey, which designed and specified the roof..."

Shhh-It's time to take a peek at secret London
Reuters India, by Paul Majendie
June 8, 2007

London, England. "...Maybe it's time to talk to the flamingos in a roof garden or check where apothecaries grew their herbal plants. Then take to London's secret squares and gardens. Almost 160 of them are being opened for the weekend with an added bonus - green-fingered fans can also enjoy a glass of wine as Loire Valley winegrowers are sponsoring the event...And for a truly surreal setting nothing beats the ever trendy Kensington Roof Gardens where flamingos roam amid the greenery. For a list of the gardens on offer at an all-in cost of 7.50 pounds ($14.82) per ticket, check out their website www.opensquares-loirevalleywines.org."

Grass ceiling / Sustainability tour
The Missoulian, by Chandra Johnson
June 8, 2007

Missoula, MT. "...For Missoula architect Pat Supplee and her husband Keith Niederman, it meant pouring their own cement countertops, recycling wooden beams from an old mill and planting a lawnlike carpet on their roof...As one of 10 houses on Saturday's 2007 Sustainability Tour, Supplee's building process uses “green,” or sustainable, construction techniques designed to work in harmony with the environment...Now Supplee and Niederman are adding a green, “living” roof to their house - just in time for the tour - with the help of North Carolina-based Xero Flor America. In a process adapted from pioneer sod houses, green roofs are installed in five layers, the last of which is a pre-vegetated blanket called sedum. The sedum is completely self-reliant and benefits the environment by cleaning storm runoff, ridding the air of greenhouse gases, and cooling the house..."

California Academy of Sciences aspires to set green standard
SignOnSanDiego.com, by Terence Chea
June 8, 2007

San Francisco, CA. "...When completed, it's expected to be the first museum to earn the U.S. Green Building Council's “platinum” certification – the highest rating for environmentally sustainable construction...The museum will feature a variety of energy-saving technologies. Its roof will be bordered with solar panels that will provide a portion of its electricity needs...The museum's signature feature will be a 2.5-acre “living roof” carpeted with plants and wildflowers native to the California coast that visitors can view from a rooftop platform. The undulating roof, consisting of seven domes that mimic San Francisco's hilly landscape, will be blanketed with 1.7 million individual plants of nine different species..."

Pratt Goes Green: Accepts Mayor's Challenge
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, by Raanan Geberer
June 8, 2007

Brooklyn, NY. "Mayor Michael Bloomberg chose the beautiful 25-acre Brooklyn campus of Pratt Institute, with its many 19th century buildings, to announce the latest salvo in his PlaNYC sustainability, or environmental, initiative...Among the measures mentioned by the various college presidents yesterday were “green” roofs (or roofs with vegetation)..."

'Green' library a golden opportunity
Battle Creek Enquirer, by Darby Prater
June 8, 2007

Hastings, MI. "Donors gave enough green for the Hastings Public Library to go green in its new building at 227 E. State St. The facility opening Saturday features roof gardens, a rain garden and eco-friendly furniture made in Michigan..."

Eco-Effective Decisions: Raise the Green Roof, Lower your Urban Heat Island
Green Options blog, Posted by Elizabeth Edmond
June 8, 2007

U.S. "...Raise the Green Roof: Green roofs benefit our environment as the aforementioned plants do; and, since they are so high up they intercept the heat before it can even reach our sidewalks. Encourage green roof development in your city, or just go do some guerrilla plant parenting on the roof of your..."

Tech goes green with museum
CollegiateTimes.com, by Lisa McKittric
June 7, 2007

Blacksburg, VA. "Virginia Tech’s college of architecture and urban studies has decided to join forces with the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in an effort to build a “green museum.” This new building project would not only contain interactive exhibits exploring energy conservation, but the actual structure itself would be considered energy efficient, or “green...It is estimated in the plans that 75 percent of the needed energy for the museum will come from photovoltaic cells and wind-generated energy. The structure will also include green roofs and rain barrels to assist in the recycling of rain water..."

Incorporating Green Design Elements to Enhance Multifamily Communities
Multi-Housing News, by Matthew Marin
June 7, 2007

San Antonio, TX. "The American Institute of Architects' (AIA) National Convention and Design Expo in San Antonio observed the theme of "Growing Beyond Green" last month...Earth Pledge developed Viridian to bring the life-enhancing benefits of green roofs, such as irrigating storm water, reducing heat and providing added insulation, to tenants, owners and communities nationwide. The non-profit organization is attempting to expand the loan fund throughout the U.S. It is currently offered in 25 cities, including Cleveland, Seattle and Pittsburgh. “Green roofs are expected to last twice as long as traditional roofs,” Hoffman said at “The Viridian Loan Fund: Bringing Green Roofs to Affordable Housing” seminar...”

Going for the Gold in Green Construction
Norwalk Citizen, by Lauren Garrison
June 7, 2007

Norwalk, CT. "...i.park Norwalk has many elements that make it environmentally friendly and earn it LEED points, but according to Hughes, the idea for making the project green stemmed from one particular feature: an ugly roof...The three inner buildings now have a "lightweight, engineered roofing system that allows for the propagation of rooftop vegetation while protecting the integrity of the underlying roof," according to the i.park Norwalk brochure...Once the company realized it could earn LEED points for the roof, it decided to "go for it" and add other green features..."

A roof garden makes your home greener
Telegraph.co.uk, by Sarah Lonsdale
June 7, 2007

UK. "...Roof gardens are a very important part of an urban environment," says Guy Barter, chief gardens adviser at the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). "If everyone with a flat roof or terrace in London put out pots of plants, it would make a huge difference. Roof gardens reduce the amount of summer heat that gets down into buildings. They support urban wildlife, absorb rainwater in storms, thus reducing flooding, and micro-organisms in the soil absorb pollutants."... Another exhibitor in the roof garden category, Wayne Richards, used eight layers of 'green roof' technology, including light-weight clay-based soil, waterproof membranes, root barrier and moisture mat. "New technology in lightweight materials means someone with a flat or gently sloping roof can get quite a bit of garden..."

Grassroots take up the challenge
CSRwire.com, by Mary Teresa Bitti, Financial Post
June 7, 2007

Canada. "Save the environment. Save the planet. From coast to coast, local governments and citizen groups are taking up the challenge to build sustainable communities and in the process taking environmental stewardship into their own hands to lessen the burden on the planet...Green roofs are now a trend in Toronto. Thanks to Mayor Miller's aggressive green agenda, Toronto has a budget to encourage green roofs -- there are 59 already in place..."

Stain-proofing and Roofing the Green Way
Now Toronto, by Adria Vasil
June 7, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Q: How can I recycle my shingles, and what eco-alternatives are there for replacing them?...A: If you've got a relatively flat roof and a few extra grand, forget shingles, baby, and go for drought-resistant, low-maintenance sedum grasses or ready-grown grass tiles. Green roofs keep your house cooler than a black roof, lower your power bills and pump clean oxygen. But you'll definitely need a pro to figure out if your roof is structurally sound and prep it for planting. ELT Easy Green will..."

Green roof task force formed
Journal of Commerce, by Brian Martin
June 6, 2007

B.C., Canada. "...Several Lower Mainland municipalities have been toying with the idea of making them mandatory. If that happened it would create a classic “Catch 22” situation. The private insurance firms who provide coverage under the province’s mandatory new home warranty program are refusing to warranty condominiums with green roofs. The industry could face a situation where a municipal mandatory requirement slams head on into the provincial mandatory requirement for warranty coverage...Jim Watson technical manager for the Roofing Contractors Association of B.C. (RCABC). The association runs its own warranty program and has been building and providing warranties for green roofs for about 30 years, he said. “I’m somewhat surprised by the controversy”, Watson told the meeting. He went on to say that green roofs have had a lower claims rate than conventional roofs. RCABC does, however, have very specific technical standards it insists on..."

Green is going mainstream
Chicago Suburban News, by Samantha Nelson
June 6, 2007

Downers Grove, IL. "A garden is growing on the roof of Downers Grove resident Lois Vitt Sale’s garage. Flowers, blooming in red, yellow, white and violet, drink in rain and cool the roof. It is just one of many ways Vitt Sale has made her home environmentally friendly. Green roofs are still rare, but Vitt Sale said awareness and interest in green building is growing. Principal of the Downers Grove-based sustainable design firm Phoenix Architects, she said her business has been growing rapidly...Green architecture is taking root, not only for home construction, but for public buildings like the Lyman Woods Interpretive Center. The Downers Grove Park District building features a green roof and rain barrels to catch storm water..."

First steps in greening borough
The Suburban, by Anna Bratulic
June 6, 2007

Montreal, Canada. "Montreal unveiled its first new green roof on a municipal building in the start of what officials say is a trend to green the tops of other city buildings in the C.D.N./N.D.G borough. “When the time comes to redo roofs on the different buildings in the borough, green roofs will always be an alternative that we’ll have to consider, when it’s possible,” said C.D.N./N.D.G. borough director Gaétan Rainville at the opening of the garden roof located on the Cote des Neiges library building..."

MulvannyG2 Designs Striking New Landmark Building in Fuzhou, China
Business Wire, Press Release
June 6, 2007

Fuzhou, China. "...“With its roof gardens and green sky lounges, the project is a vertical oasis in an urban setting,” said Ming Zhang, Senior Partner and Design Director, MulvannyG2 Architecture. “The building expresses the high-tech, state-of-the-art characteristics of the company while providing a comfortable interior office environment emphasizing sustainable design for its employees.” The project features a spacious work environment with multi-level lounge areas provided for employees every two to three floors. The building’s south-north orientation, its multi-level sky garden spaces, and its cost-effective revolving natural ventilation system are some key sustainable design features..."

Pa. grant sought for local roof 'greening'
Lancaster Newspapers, by Anya Litvak
June 6, 2007

Lancaster County, PA. "Green roofs and density are two peas in a pod, says the Lancaster County Planning Commission. But while the latter term evokes the sound of grinding concrete, the other chirps with a colorful breeze for the city's smoldering black rooftops. By planting rows of sedums and perennials on their roofs, seven Lancaster County businesses hope to conserve energy, decrease storm-water runoff and splash a quilt of green covers across the cityscape. For this, the companies turned to the planning commission, which has been toying with the idea of roof greening for years. Today, the planners got the county commissioners' OK to apply for half a million dollars in state funds to help them green the rooftops..."

New homes with eco-friendly roofs
Wiltshire Times, by Staff
June 6, 2007

Chippenham, England. "At the Market Quarter development by Linden Homes, it's not just the other side of the fence where the grass is greener, but the roof too! Some of the homes in the 256-home scheme in Cocklebury Road will feature green' living roofs...Alison Staddon, sales and marketing director for Linden Homes Western said: "With 26 off-plan sales already and the mounting interest we are currently receiving on the homes, it is clear that we are hitting the right note with our customers..."

Roof gardens
Telegraph.co.uk, by Elspeth Thomson
June 5, 2007

London, UK. "I fantasise about floating in a hot air balloon above the rooftops of cities such as London, Paris and New York, simply to snoop at the roof gardens. Whenever I walk around a city, I'm always on the lookout for secret, hidden gardens; shady courtyards, glimpsed through open gateways, or leafy residential squares spied through high railings or gaps in the planting. But it is the roof gardens and terraces that are most intriguing and elusive. Hinted at by a fringe of green above a parapet, or a solitary birch tree silhouetted against the sky, these urban retreats can never be seen in their entirety from the ground, and few are accessible to the public..."

Campus Green Teams
Imprint, by Basma Anabtawi, Ashley Csanady, Monica Harvey, Brendan Pinto, David Yip
June 1, 2007

Waterloo, Canada. "...Green Roofs Over Waterloo (GROW) is a group at the University of Waterloo with a focus on promoting sustainable building design and increasing local and campus environmental awareness. It functions under the help and direction of the University of Waterloo Sustainability Project (UWSP)...GROW aspires to influence the incorporation of green roofs into newly built infrastructure on campus. GROW is driven by the great benefits of cleaner air and a more naturally diverse university campus. “We are now looking to inspire change at an administrative level on the sustainable (or more specifically, not-so-sustainable) state of the school buildings and actions of the operations staff,” said Jenna Van Draanen, a health studies student and member of GROW..."

Growing Green Roofs, One City at a Time
Environmental Health Perspectives, by David A. Taylor
June 2007

U.S. "Green roofs—rooftops that are partially or completely covered with vegetation growing in soil medium over a waterproof membrane—have gained momentum over the past six years as building owners recognize their advantages over conventional roofing in terms of better energy efficiency and reduced rain runoff. Now local governments are exploring incentives for moving the practice into the mainstream. A look at cities that are leading the country in green roof coverage reveals a growing range of policy tools..."

CTHAR brings back industry analysis to Hawaii farmers
Molokai Island Times, by Tyler Montgomery
June 3, 2007

Kaunakaka'i, HI. "The University of Hawaii is currently bringing back a system initiated in the mid 1980's called Industry Analysis (IA) that is used to identify holdups in the growing industry and help farmers move forward. On Friday, June 1, the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) hosted a meeting for organic farmers on Molokai. Cox discussed the idea of "Green Roofs," which is the process of growing resources on roofs in order to prevent soil run off and reduce pollution radically. Green Roofs have already been established in major mainland cities such as Chicago and Seattle, where water pollution..."

Hospital plants its roof
The Grand Rapids Press, by Ron Cammel
June 3, 2007

Grand Rapids, MI. "Even before all 108,000 plants were planted, a 1-acre roof at Metro Health Hospital's new site looked more like a park than a roof. Three dozen workers Saturday morning dotted the 48,500 square feet of light, gravelly soil with sedums and allium, finishing the second largest green roof in the state and the only one on a Michigan hospital. "The roof is one of my favorite jobs," said John Ebers...the five species chosen for the roof will survive drought, heat and cold, as well, said Dave McKenzie of Hortech Nursery in Spring Lake, which provided the plants..."

Biting the Big Green Apple
DCist.com, by Ryan Avent
June 3, 2007

Washington, D.C. "...The ease with which Washington is able to continue building a larger share of the region’s housing will determine the extent to which more people means more sprawl and more traffic. If we, with our dense street grid and nearly half of existing Metro stations, take in a mere 5 percent of new growth, then we practically guarantee that population will flow primarily to areas beyond the reach of mass transit. The more we limit new growth and density in the city, the more responsible we are for increasing area emissions. It isn’t enough for us to build green roofs..."

10 municipal initiatives honoured at the 2007 FCM-CH2M HILL sustainable community awards ceremony - "Canada's greenest municipal projects"
Canada NewsWire, Press Release
June 2, 2007

Calgary, Canada. "...Wastewater-5. City of Toronto, Ontario-Making Green Roofs Happen...In late 2006, a green roofs pilot project - the first of its kind in Canada - funded construction of 16 green roofs on a mix of public and private buildings in the city of Toronto. The project was the culmination of more than 18 months of research and consultation by the City of Toronto on green roofs. The initiative began in early 2005 when the City of Toronto, Ryerson University, and a provincial Centre of Excellence produced their Report on the Environmental Benefits and Costs of Green Roof Technology for the City of Toronto..."

Green a Block finally clears its roadblock, funds to flow
The Villager, by Alyssa Giachino
May 30 - June 5, 2007

New York, NY. "A program to bring a little more green to the Lower East Side, in both the environmental and monetary sense, may be close to fruition, according to members of Community Board 3 and Good Old Lower East Side, a local tenant advocacy group...As part of wider efforts to green the neighborhood, C.B. 3 and Greening a Block are also looking to partner with Columbia University to measure how the neighborhood’s dense urban layout magnifies summer heat. The effort would also look at the impact of mitigation efforts, such as tree planting and green roofs. Bartlett is excited about the resources available for..."

Editor's Picks: Go Green or Go Solar?
The Green Guide, by David Wortman
May/June 2007

The World. "Green roofs are all the rage..."From the perspective of increasing biodiversity, green roofs are a success," says Amy Lesen, assistant professor of biology at New York's Pratt Institute. But if it's measurable energy savings you're after, you might consider solar panels...But if you do have the resources, consider combining PV panels with a green roof. According to the Scandinavian Green Roof Institute, shade provided by the panels can even encourage more biodiversity. You and the environment just may find yourselves in a win-win situation..."

The City of Toronto and Green Roofs for Healthy Cities successfully bid for the 2009 World Green Roof Congress
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Press Release
May 31, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "“Green Roofs for Healthy Cities,” the North American green roof industry association and the City of Toronto are pleased to announce that they will be hosting the 2009 World Green Roof Congress. The Congress will bring more than 1,000 delegates to Toronto from around the world to discuss the latest research, policy and technical advances in the rapidly growing green roof industry. The World Green Roof Congress is organized through the World Green Roof Infrastructure Network, an international organization made up of the leaders of national green roof industry associations from around the world..."

County looks to sky for green solutions
Lancaster Newspapers, by Tom Knapp
May 31, 2007

Lancaster County, PA. "The greening of Lancaster County may soon extend to its rooftops. The county is partnering with several public and private property owners to secure state funds for a "green roof" program that aims to cover conventional roofs with plants...Kedren Crosby, president of LIVE (Lancaster Investment in a Vibrant Economy), is a major architect of the program...Gattis said the county is working with Richard Clark, chairman of the earth sciences department at Millersville University, to track the impact of green roofs once they're installed...DEP has about $5 million to divide among various state greening projects, Gattis said. Lancaster County likely will apply for about $500,000, which will not cover the full cost of the program but will offer financial incentives for..."

'Green' School a Reflection of Friends' Mission
Norwalk Citizen, by Lauren Garrison
May 31, 2007

Norwalk, CT. "...The schoolhouse has been designed to wrap around a hill on the property, with a two-story section of the building along the front of the hill and two one-story wings on the sides, said Dansereau. The middle school grades would be housed in the upper story of the middle section, and the students would be able to exit their classrooms and walk directly onto the hilltop, he said. The one-story wings are to have vegetative roofs with children's gardens on them. These green roofs are unlike many others in that they would be on grade and accessible to the building's occupants from the second story, Dansereau said..."

City picks 'green' design firm for two new fire stations
Columbia Missourian, by Mary Ellen Poff
May 31, 2007

Columbia, MO. “The city’s quest for more environmentally sustainable buildings will include two new fire stations that are slated for construction later this year..."‘Green’ roofs are more expensive, several times more... but you have to look at more than the initial cost,” St. Romaine said. “You have to look at the life-cycle cost and compare it with a ‘green’ roofing system. I think we will certainly see that it is less expensive...”

Centre to sport a green label
Daily Commercial News, by Mary Baxter
May 30, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "A project manager with the City of Kitchener is hoping a new sports complex will earn a national gold standing for its green building features...The building will also feature a 3,500-square-foot vegetated roof, one of the first green roofs in Kitchener, said Petricevic, noting plans are to include similar roofs on future municipal buildings..."

Geisinger nurtures energy savings
The Daily Item, by Jaime North
May 29, 2007

Danville, PA. "As the gardening season begins to bloom, a small section of the Geisinger Medical Center campus is about the join the landscaping culture. The latest innovation of the Center for Health Research was recently unveiled -- a 4,400 square-foot green roof covering the south end of the building..."

Foster+Partners' Spanish Winery
Inhabitat, by Jorge Chapa
May 29, 2007

Ribera del Duero, Spain. "...with the impact on the landscape reduced as much as possible, the next stage in the design process was to diminish the impact on the environment. This is achieved by the partial burial of the building thermal combined with a green roof on top to control the temperature, and photovoltaics on the roof seal the deal."

Rooftop Gardens Are A Great Way TO Help The Environment
KSDK, by Staff
May 29, 2007

Philadelphia, PA. "...Take some aluminum trays, a little dirt and some plants and you've got the makings of a roof garden. Eighth grade students at Friends Central School in suburban Philadelphia are joining a growing number of people who are going green on rooftops to improve the environment..."This is a very effective way to prevent run off. We have all these flooding problems and erosion problems," said teacher Doug Ross..."

Green roof gets no takers
Asheville Citizen-Times, by Joel Burgess
May 29, 2007

Asheville, N.C. "A dearth of proposals could put in jeopardy an environmentally friendly design for the new Civic Center roof that was to feature plants to absorb water and lessen heat. Asheville sent out about 300 requests for proposals to “everyone in North Carolina that has a licensed architecture firm,” City Engineer Cathy Ball said. Proposals for the up-to $1.5 million job could include an alternate green roof that would feature vegetation meant to reduce heat, both in and outside the building, as well as cut storm water runoff..."

Local Rooftops Sprouting Greener Look
Boston Channel.com, by Staff
May 29, 2007

Boston, MA. "...NewsCenter 5's David Brown reported Tuesday that from the skyline of Boston and across the Charles River to Cambridge, some rooftops are sprouting a greener look..."If you have enough green roofs across the city to lower the temperature by just 1 degree centigrade, you actually can reduce the energy of the whole city by 10 percent," said Karen Webber, of Earth Our Only Home..."

More US schools consider benefits of going green
Boston Globe, by Dorie Turner
May 29, 2007

U.S. "Clackamas High School in Oregon was one of the first "green schools" in the country when it opened six years ago. Schools are making use of solar panels, living roofs, and wetlands...The roof of the gym at Tarkington Elementary School in Chicago is a flower bed that helps insulate the building during the city's winters...A study by school officials in Washington state found green schools have better student performance and fewer absences. In 2005, Washington state lawmakers used the study to require new schools getting state money to be..."

Green Roofs Conference to be hosted by Homeowner Protection Office
Canada NewsWire, Press Release
May 28, 2007

Vancouver, Canada. "Green Roofs and Homeowner Protection in British Columbia" is the focus of a one-day conference to be held on Tuesday, May 29, 2007. This forum is being hosted by the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) and will bring interested parties together to explore issues, options and solutions surrounding the application of green roofs in residential development in B.C. and the system of consumer protection for new home buyers...International keynote speaker Bernd Krupka, an engineer and landscape architect, will share his experience with green roofs in..."

The latest perk: the office veggie patch
Globe and Mail, by Patrick White
May 28, 2007

Vancouver, Canada. "...Business Objects, a tech company that designs computer programs for the likes of Ben and Jerry's and Mark's Work Wearhouse, is bringing agriculture to the workplace. The company is in the middle of transforming an old rooftop parking lot into an employee-cultivated fruit and vegetable garden it hopes will both perk up and feed weary workers. "This is really taking the rooftop garden to the next level," said Alison Van Buuren, a manager at the company..."

Building a learning environment
Daily Commercial News, by Mary Baxter
May 28, 2007

Ontario, Canada. "The University of Windsor is shooting for gold in one of two major building projects it has under way. The university plans to seek the LEED status for an engineering building that is currently in the approval process. Gary McMann, the university’s senior manager of projects and construction said the $57-million building is expected to be completed in 2009...Among the environmentally sustainable components will be a green roof (the vegetative roof improves heating and cooling, provides insulation and protects roofing..."

Architect hits the roof over plan to turf grass
The Sydney Morning Herald, by Kerry-Anne Walsh
May 27, 2007

Australia. "Federal Parliament's iconic grassed roof is in danger of being turfed out because of the drought. And the 86-year-old architect of the symbol of Australian democracy is furious. The decade-long drought has forced parliamentary authorities to radically assess the building's landscape features to save water. That includes reviewing the need to keep its unique grassed sloped roof..."

A brighter idea for museum design
Chicago Tribune, by Blair Kamin
May 27, 2007

Kansas City, MO. "...Holl breaks the paradigm of the "look at me" building with a partly underground structure, 840 feet long, that tumbles down a slope alongside the Nelson-Atkins' original neo-Classical temple...Five irregularly shaped glass pavilions (Holl calls them "lenses") pop out of the earth...As you move around them, you grasp how they are both jewel-like objects and definers of the grassy new sculpture courts between them. The courts not only extend the sculpture park right over the Bloch Building's roofs. They serve as energy-saving green roofs that insulate the galleries below and control storm water in the bargain..."

Rooftop study gets green light
Auckland stuff.co.nz, by Lisa Sloan
May 26, 2007

Auckland, New Zealand. "Emily Voyde is taking her quest for environmental knowledge to the top - the top of her university building that is. The Auckland University engineering student is starting a three-year PhD study of green roofs... Auckland's only green roof is on the university's engineering building, and 23-year-old Emily is excited about studying it...her efforts will benefit from a government-funded top achiever doctoral scholarship. The grant is worth $25,000 for each of her three years of..."

Green roofs not entirely understood
Vancouver Sun, by Kim Davis
May 26, 2007

Vancouver, Canada. "They have graced the rooftops of Gulf Island homes and provided aesthetically pleasing coverage to many of our region's parking structures for nearly four decades. But in the last several months, green roofs -- and in particular extensive varieties -- have gone from verdant to red for at least three of the province's four homeowner warranty insurance providers...While the Roofing Contractors Association of B.C. has been warranting green roofs for nearly 30 years, Jim Watson, technical manager for the organization, appreciates why insurers are suddenly expressing concern about green roof development..."

Eco-friendly designs featured at Doors Open event
CTV.ca, by Roger Petersen
May 26, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "...Among the 38 new venues this year, 21 are designated officially green, such as the SAS Software Building on King Street East, Bloorview Kids Rehab, Toronto Botanical Gardens, the University of Guelph-Humber (which features a four-storey living plant wall), and Levitt Goodman House, the first house in the city to have a purpose-built planted roof..."

Building a recognition of environmental costs
Globe and Mail, by Staff
May 25, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Kermit the Frog, step aside: It's easy being green. So says architect Janna Levitt of Levitt Goodman Architects, and to prove her point, she's inviting the entire city - naysayers and green-curious Torontonians alike - to have a peek at her home during the eighth annual Doors Open festival tomorrow and Sunday. She and husband Dean Goodman designed the 1,550-square-foot house at 328 Euclid Ave...Green roofs, breathing walls, recycled or local building materials, and native or draught-resistant plants for landscaping were just some of the things considered..."

Publisher's Note: See the 328 Euclid Ave  profile in The Greenroof Projects Database.

BBC Springwatch: Concrete gardens
BBC News, by Nick Higham
May 24, 2007

UK. "...In the space of just a few minutes, green roofs campaigner Dusty Gedge found spiders (which "balloon" to the top of high buildings by throwing out a thread and letting the wind catch it), greenfly and a snail, and spotted a blackbird. Green roofs keep buildings insulated too, so Dusty claims everyone wins... provided someone can be persuaded to pay for the installation and the upkeep..."

Downtown Public Square wins national award for "green roof"
Charlotte Business Journal, by Staff
May 24, 2007

Nashville, TN. "Nashville has taken top honors in an international "green roof" competition for downtown Public Square, which also serves as the roof to a five-level subterranean parking garage underneath the Metro Courthouse. Sharing the award with Metro are two Nashville-based firms -- Hawkins Partners, Inc., a landscape architecture firm and Tuck Hinton Architects..."

Adapting to 'inevitability of 40C city'
24dash.com, by Ian Morgan
May 23, 2007

UK. “...Responding to this requires innovative use of space within and around buildings. Ill thought through promotion of high density development in order to save land can do much to exacerbate the problems. Space needs to be left or created for large canopy trees combined with green space and green roofs which can help to keep summer temperatures in cities cooler and minimise the risk of urban flooding...”

A dear green place divided by the benefits of regeneration
Scotsman, by Stephen McGinty
May 23, 2007

Glasgow, Scotland. "...They also called for sectarianism and ethnic integration to be tackled, a reduction in crime, and a cleaner and greener city. Among the suggestions made was that the city council develop the roof-top space. It said: "Roofs are one of the great unused and uncared-for land masses in cities" and should be reclaimed for "environmental uses with running tracks, green roofs, solar energy, art installations and gardens..."

Green roof workshop
Sarnia Observer, by Staff
May 23, 2007

Petrolia, Canada. "The Petrolia Communities in Bloom (CIB) committee is having a free workshop on Saturday so area residents can learn about green roof systems. Guest speaker Joy Schmidt, president of XeroFlor Canada Ltd., a pioneer in green roof technology, will share information about types of green roof systems, principal components and plant materials, and engineered green roof systems..."

Nashville wins award for Public Square green roof
Ashland City Times, by Michael Cass
May 23, 2007

Nashville, TN. "The city of Nashville has won an international award recognizing the Public Square in front of the Metro Courthouse as one of the top "green roof" projects in North America. Metro government and the design and engineering firms that worked on the project were honored by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. Mayor Bill Purcell and Hawkins Partners..."

Green School
Lancaster Newspapers, by Brian Wallace
May 23, 2007

Lancaster, PA."...The district considered a variety of technologies, including windmills and green roofs, for the project, Singer said. To be considered, a system had to be able to pay for itself in reduced energy costs in 10 years or less, he said..."

Does Minnesota Know How to Bring it? You Betcha!
It's Getting Hot In Here, by Richard Graves
May 22, 2007

Minnesota, MN. "...In fact, Carleton and Macalester competed and collaborated on installing green roofs as part of an initiative to green the rooftops of the entire campuses/cities..."

Climbing the walls: plants as structure
Daily Commercial News, by Saul Chernos
May 22, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "...the indoor living wall features a mix of native and exotic indoor species snuggled into a covering of thick, artificial planting material that allows water to filter through the plant roots on a vertical plane. “We look at the natural environment as a very important part of the indoor landscape of our buildings,” says Beth Anne Currie of the Urban Space Property Group, which owns and operates the building...Stephen Peck, executive director of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, says green wall systems come in many shapes and sizes, each with a unique design and assortment of vegetation, and can be located both on the exterior or interior...Brad Bass, an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto who works with the adaptation and impacts research division of Environment Canada, says green walls pose unique challenges for designers and builders..."

City of Waco getting the first “Green Roof” in Central Texas
KCEN-TV, by Staff
May 21, 2007

Waco, TX. "...In Waco, the new Chamber of Commerce building that's under construction will have the first ‘Green Roof’ in Central Texas. "Well you might expect a building like it in Austin. You might expect a building like it in Kansas City, but in Waco, TX? Well we want people to say ‘Yes, in Waco, TX.’ The community that believes in its bright future and we want to invest in buildings like it," Jim Vaughn with the Waco Chamber of Commerce said.

Green roofs could help environment
Ninemsn, by AAP
May 21, 2007

Sydney, Australia. "Roofs covered in grass or other plants could be the answer to many of Australia's environmental problems, federal MPs have heard. Liberal MP Gary Hardgrave told parliament that so-called green roofs significantly reduced the amount of fossil fuels burned for cooling and heating...Mr Hardgrave said he wanted to start a national debate on green roofs, getting builders to think of alternatives when embarking on new projects...The motion "Green Roofs for Healthy Australian Cities" will be debated at a future date."

Blooming practice popular in Chicago may take root here
Aurora Beacon News, by K. Zambo
May 21, 2007

Aurora, IL. "...Standing on the sidewalk outside of Mike Feldmann's vacant building down the street from Hollywood Casino, passersby can crane their necks to catch a glimpse of slender apple tree branches shining in the sun. Walk carefully through the gutted building, hike up a ladder and crawl out from a hole in the roof, and you'll find yourself amid the city's first downtown rooftop garden...Oswego resident Dick Young touts the values of green roofs -- especially because his is covered in soil, sod and trees, and has been for 52 years. The former Marine didn't know he would one day be in vogue. He said he hopes the seed is planted amongst other building owners..."

Ira Township fire hall roof goes 'green'
Port Huron Times Herald, by Craig Davison
May 21, 2007

Ira Township, MI. "The township fire hall may be green by the end of the week. Work began Tuesday to install a "green" roof. Work crews will tear off the old roof, build a new, structurally stronger one over the original part of the hall, put down a liner, soil and finally pre-seeded mats...Jurs said showing people the roof will help them understand the idea better and may lead to more green roofs in the area. Currently, there is one green roof in the area and that's a 4-by-5-foot patch of sedums on the roof of the entrance to Jurs' basement. She installed the roof in May 2005 as an example..."

When space is tight, the sky's the limit
Telegraph.co.uk, by Diana McAdam
May 21, 2007

London, England. "With the growing enthusiasm for fresh air and green living, we're hungry for ideas to transform our outdoor space - however limited - into something special. With this in mind, the RHS has introduced a new category of Small garden for 2007 - Roof gardens. "Helping our cities to be greener is an important environmental message and this offers a great opportunity for urbanites to enjoy the benefits of gardening..."

Prevent collapse of crop - or roof: Consult an expert
Montreal Gazette, by Staff
May 19, 2007

Canada. "Carrots sprouting from the rooftops, sunflowers stretching to the sky. It sounds like an urban oasis. But before you start hauling flower flats and pitch forks up to the roof, here's some dirt on rooftop gardening..."

Blooming roofs for Manchester development
Northern Housing, by Staff
May 18, 2007

Manchester, England. "Green flowering roofs will be part of the latest development at New Islington, Manchester's Millennium Community. The Guest Street development is the first social housing development in the city to feature green roofs that will flower all summer..."They were only slightly more expensive to build than an average Great Places home. We expect these houses to provide inspiration for other social housing providers, for years to come." The development has already won the Housing Design Award for best metropolitan housing scheme..."

Eco Estates Eco Design
Thailand Property Report Online, by Staff
May 18, 2007

Bangkok, Thailand. "...Pioneering the way in building eco-friendly homes by incorporating the latest in energy-saving technologies are Architects Gary Fell from GF AB in Bali (Na Pah Samui and Mangosteen Suites & Villas Phuket) with roof gardens and “cool” designs, Adrian McCarroll of Original Vision in HK designing Rajadhani in Bali, a mountain retreat under the gaze of Mount Gurung Agung with cliff hanging villas and modern treehouses. Paul Raff from Montreal also is greening his estates with hanging gardens and “green walls” at The Natai..."

Green roofs a growing trend
St. Petersburg Times, by Mary Collister
May 18, 2007

Tampa, FL. "In researching a recent column about Earth Day, I came upon a good bit of discussion about green roofs...Green roofs are an intriguing concept. Wouldn't it be great to look around and see vegetation on everyone's roof instead of the hard surfaces we now see? Of course it is not practical for every roof to be green...My wanderings on the Internet took me to www.greenroofplants.com/index.htm, a Maryland nursery that appears to trade only in roof plants. It is interesting to see how they reuse, recycle and grow organically as much as they can. The Web site also clearly defined the difference between extensive and intensive green roofs..."

Green Roof Awards of Excellence Features 2006's Best
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Press Release
May 17, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "May 1, 2007 – Green roof design teams from six premier organizations received Green Roof Awards of Excellence for their exceptional projects from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities at its annual international conference. The designers were recognized at the 5th Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference and Tradeshow in Minneapolis, MN, where over 900 delegates attended a sold-out conference for a week of professional development, tours and exhibits..."

Daley touts going green
SJ-R.COM, by Chris Wetterich
May 17, 2007

Springfield, IL. "Chicago Mayor Richard Daley preached to the converted Wednesday as he talked about ways the city of Chicago has made itself more environmentally and aesthetically appealing. Daley spoke to Springfield Green...Daley, speaking at the Sangamo Club, said cities must set an example when it comes to the environment. He noted that after Chicago put its green roof on city hall, some private businesses followed suit. Today there are three million square feet of green roofs in Chicago..."

Spaced out in Clerkenwell
Telegraph.co.uk, by Sheila Prophet
May 17, 2007

London, England. "...this quadrangle that gives the development its name, as it covers the roof of the commercial sections of the building which houses parts of City University and a designer carpet showroom in the basement and on the ground floors...Brett says it is the design elements of the building, such as the grass roof and the glass lift which make it special. " The lift is in the centre of the quadrangle and when you enter it is surrounded by concrete," he says. "As you go up to the second and third floors it pops up through the grass and suddenly you are surrounded by glass with the green beneath..."

The 5-Minute Interview: Paula Ryan, Garden designer
Independent, by Lisa Williams
May 16, 2007

London, England. "Paula Ryan, 41, is a garden designer specialising in sustainable roof gardens. She has been chosen to design Amnesty International's Garden for Human Rights which will be on display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. After the show, it will become the roof garden at Amnesty's headquarters in Farringdon..."

Parks are Cool
Plenty Magazine, posted by Susan Cosier
May 17, 2007

U.S. "...Urban areas with parks and other green spaces (like green roofs) could potentially offset temperature rises caused by global warming, experts say. A New Scientist article reports that Roland Ennos, a researcher at Manchester University, determined that if the green space in the northwest England city remains the same, the temperature will increase 4 degrees Celsius by 2080..."

Environmentally-friendly landscaping lecture offered
Jamestown Press, by Staff
May 16, 2007

Jamestown, RI. "...The Sustainable Landscape: A Responsible Approach for the 21st Century," lecture will take place at Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum on Wednesday, May 23, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and will explore the roles of art and technology, the wise use of water resources, the importance of genetic diversity, and the ways in which environmentally engineered systems harken back to the Renaissance ideal. Learn about fascinating ecological landscape practices that are fast becoming mainstream: grey water recycling/irrigating, eco roofs, permeable paving, dry gardening, constructed wetlands, and more..."

New Downtown Indianapolis Condo Project to Have Green Roof
Inside INdiana Business, Press Release
May 16, 2007

Indianapolis, IN. "...The new 3Mass condominium project known as “an island of calm in an ocean of cool” will have a green, environmentally friendly roof that will be one of the first of its kind in downtown Indianapolis...“Normally in a dense urban development project, we’d have to build a storage system that would hold rainwater from the roof and then release the water slowly into storm sewers. That is a costly solution on a number of fronts,” said Todd Maurer, principal at Halakar Properties. “We found a better way to deal with storm water that will be environmentally friendly and less expensive as well as provide a social gathering space for residents...”

Company defends plans for green belt development
News Shopper, by Linda Piper
May 15, 2007

London, England. "...ProLogis, one of the world's largest logistics companies, wants to put 2million sq ft of warehouse floor space with rail links onto the north Kent railway line at Slade Green...the Greater London Authority was broadly agreed the proposals by the company, which include green roofs, and transferring land to a trust to be managed for biodiversity conservation, would mitigate any adverse impact of the development on the area's ecology..."

City Under Siege
Resident Publications, by Cotton Delo
May 15, 2007

New York, NY. "...community-based groups like the West Harlem Environmental Alliance are spearheading initiatives to promote public health...The group is in the midst of a capital campaign to bring a headquarters at W. 140th Street to LEED gold standards and has launched a program to install green roofs on schools in collaboration with Columbia’s Earth Institute...“The vision is that we would create a corridor of green roofs down 125th Street, where we could use schools and churches as the first catalyzers,” said Director of Programs Cecil Corbin-Mark..."

City parks could cool urban areas by 4°C
New Scientist, by Catherine Brahic
May 15, 2007

Manchester, England. "...by altering the amounts of green cover in the city, the researchers found that the temperature rise could effectively be cancelled out. "Adding 10% of green cover could reduce surface temperatures by 4°C by 2080," Ennos told New Scientist. Vegetation cools local temperatures when the water it has absorbed is evaporated from its leaves - much like the cooling effect of perspiration. The researchers say that the increased greenery would not have to involve building new parks. For instance, green roofing - roll-out strips of soil planted with succulents, commonly used in Germany - would have a similar effect. "Even if a fraction of city's buildings had green roofs, this could have a big impact," says Ennos...".."

More green spaces 'could help protect Manchester'
Manchester.com, by Staff
May 15, 2007

Manchester, England. "...Dr Roland Ennos from the university's School of Environment and Development said that a modest increase in green space would help overcome temperature rises caused by global warming over the next 75 years. "Opportunities need to be taken to increase green space cover wherever structural changes are occurring within urban areas, as well as planting street trees or developing green roofs," he added..."

Green roofs not covered by BC insurers
Journal of Commerce, by Brian Martin
May 14, 2007

Vancouver, Canada. "The B.C. Homeowner Protection Office has stepped in to avoid a possible nasty collision between all the parties involved in residential green roofs. It has arranged a one-day conference for a cross section of the “green roof community” for May 29th at the Bayshore Inn. Among those taking part will be representatives from the insurance industry, development community, condominium owners association, green roof advocacy groups and the Roofing Contractors’ Association of British Columbia..."

Urban green spaces could offset global warming until 2080s
HULIQ, by harminka
May 14, 2007

Manchester, England. "...Dr Ennos, who worked on the project with Professor John Handley and Dr Susannah Gill in the School of Environment and Development. "We discovered that a modest increase of 10% green space reduced surface temperatures in the urban environment by 4°C, which would overcome temperature rises caused by global warming over the next 75 years, effectively ‘climate proofing’ our cities. "Such a reduction has important implications for human comfort and health within urban areas and opportunities need to be taken to increase green space cover wherever structural changes are occurring within urban areas, as well as planting street trees or developing green roofs..."

Green roof possible for Delaware County Justice Center
Muncie Star Press, by Seth Slabaugh
May 14, 2007

Muncie, IL. "Delaware County commissioners are considering replacing the gravel ballast roof on the county justice center with a green roof covered with vegetation. Ball State University architecture students recently proposed a green roof on top of the county building, but John Brooke, president of the commissioners, said the timing was excellent to look first at the justice center roof, which leaks..."

Residents push for 'green' strategies
Fall River Herald News, by Jeffrey D. Wagner
May 14, 2007

Freetown, MA. "...the unique Assonet estuary and the rare species within are among the reasons why they would like to meet with project developer KGI Properties and the land's owner K.R. Rezendes to urge them to consider environmentally sound strategies to mitigate the impact the 80-acre development would have on the surrounding waters...Brodeur said strategies such as rain gardens and green roofs can absorb rainwater and help to irrigate plant life on site..."

Assembly Member Saldaña names innovative green company “Small Business of the Year”
California Chronicle, by Staff
May 13, 2007

Sacramento, CA. "Assembly Member Lori Saldaña named Good Earth Plant Company the “Small Business of the Year” for the 76th Assembly District. A crowd of 500 elected officials, business leaders, corporate partners and small businesses applauded as Good Earth’s founder, Jim Mumford, was recognized at a ceremony in the Assembly chamber earlier this month...On a recent tour of the Good Earth facilities, Saldaña, a long-time environmental activist and member of the Legislature’s Environmental Caucus, was especially impressed by the roof garden installed at their Kearny Mesa Property. Saldaña agrees with Mumford that roof gardens could, if widely adopted, mitigate some of the environmental problems faced by cities..."

Hainesport teen to compete in international science fair
phillyBurbs.com, by Lauri Sheibley
May 13, 2007

Hainesport, PA. "...When he got home to Hainesport, the 15-year-old researched urban flooding and learned about one possible solution: green roofs. Nick turned that idea into a science fair project, which has won awards at local and regional science fairs. Now Nick has been chosen to compete at an international science fair this week in Albuquerque, N.M. The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is the largest pre-college science competition in the world..."

PlaNYC on Water Quality
WorldChanging, posted by Joshua Wiese
May 12, 2007

New York, NY. "New York City's biggest water quality problem can be described with a three letter acronym: CSO...Aside from roads, perhaps two of the biggest contributors to New York City’s impermeable surface area are roofs and parking lots. PlaNYC addresses both of these directly by modifying zoning resolutions to require tree cover and perimeter landscaping around parking lots, and creating a property tax abatement to offset 35 percent of the installation costs of green roofs..."

A Garden in the Sky/ SF museum's roof puts green building techniques to the test
San Francisco Chronicle, by Carl T. Hall
May 12, 2007

San Francisco, CA. "Work crews are about to start planting the roof of the new California Academy of Sciences museum in Golden Gate Park -- an architectural capstone that also qualifies as one of the world's most ambitious biodiversity experiments...The building's green crown is intended to push the idea of urban sustainability in the era of global warming. In that sense, the roof is a symbol of "the need for a general consciousness shift by our culture," said Paul Kephart, executive director at Rana Creek, who is serving as a project design consultant..."

Seeing the green light
Thailand Property Report Online, by Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop
May 11, 2007

Bangkok, Thailand. "The government is now looking at mandating requirements on environmental sustainability for all new buildings and existing properties undergoing major retrofitting works to meet the equivalent of the Green Mark Certification level. New public buildings have been required to meet this standard since April...According to Tan Tian Chong, Director of Technology Development at BCA, Platinum Green Mark buildings can reduce energy bills by at least 30% while improving the air quality around and within them with the use of say roof gardens, for example..."

Build It Green home tour comes to Marin
Marin Independent-Journal, by PJ Bremier
May 11, 2007

Marin, CA. "What do a San Rafael convent, a prefabricated home in San Geronimo and a remodeled Mill Valley cottage have in common? All three are eco-friendly and, along with 12 other homes in Marin and Sonoma, will open their doors to visitors May 20 for the second Build It Green home tour...A large number have a photovoltaic system, solar hot water heating, low- or zero-volatile organic compound interior paints and dual-flush toilets; two of the homes are built using rammed-earth construction and another with straw bale; and two sport living roofs..."

Work Begins On Rooftop Garden In Rockland
WCSH-TV, by Rhonda Erskine
May 10, 2007

Rockland, ME. "A business in Rockland is trying something that may be a first in the whole state. It's creating a park.. on the roof. The Harbor Square gallery on Main Street is turning its rooftop into a sculpture garden, complete with trees, flowers, and sculptures. Gallery owner Tom O'Donovan says he's been planning the rooftop garden ever since he bought the building 11 years ago. He says it will feature a broad view of Rockland harbor, as well as fine art, much of it by Maine-based sculptors..."

Eighth annual Doors Open Toronto - The great architectural adventure goes green
Canada NewsWire, Press Release
May 10, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Green is more than just a colour. Green and sustainable features define many of the buildings opening their doors for the eighth annual Doors Open Toronto, May 26 and 27. Throughout the city, visitors will have a rare opportunity to explore more than 140 buildings of architectural, historic, cultural and social significance. Many venues are not often open to the public outside of this event. Admission is free to courtrooms, to places of worship, private clubs to 'green' roof gardens..."

Green roofs top drive to create a more eco-friendly city
West Roxbury & Roslindale Transcript, by Karen L. Weber
May 9, 2007

Boston, MA. "...Sen. John Kerry. He and his staff are studying ways to create federal incentives to jumpstart green roof installation. On April 19, Mayor Thomas Menino announced Boston’s Climate Action Plan in which all existing municipal properties will be evaluated for green roof installations. On April 30, Rep. Frank Smizik, co-chairman of the State’s Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, showed particular support for green roofs at a State House hearing. On May 3-5, the theme of the American Institute of Architects National Convention held in San Antonio was “Growing Beyond Green.” Green roofs were discussed at several workshops, including a general session about roofing. On May 5, former Vice President Al Gore addressed an auditorium, filled to capacity with more than 4,000 architects. He made an inspiring speech in which he applauded the architects for their skill in creating our cities and praised them for their leadership. Gore recommended that as leaders, they can help solve our problems by continuing to seek building standards and methods that conserve energy and water. He also mentioned initiatives such as solar energy and green roofs. This is the first time green roofs have been elevated to such a level of public discourse and we must ensure that it not be the last..."

Greenprint tracks city’s progress on green goals, and Goodman receives award
Minneapolis Skyway, by Kari VanDerVeen & Tyler Rushmeyer
May 9, 2007

Minneapolis, MN. "...The city did well in some areas and is on track to meet or exceed goals such as adding bicycle lanes and trails, increasing alternative transportation and managing rainwater by increasing permeable surfaces such as the number of green roofs...Green Roofs for Healthy Cities awarded Council Member Lisa Goodman (7th Ward) with the “Civic Award of Excellence” at its fifth annual conference and trade show held in Minneapolis April 29-May 1..."

Study to explore best green roof design
Scoop.co.nz, Press Release
May 9, 2007

Auckland City, New Zealand. "University of Auckland engineering student Emily Voyde is embarking on a three year study to find the most suitable materials to use in ‘green roofs’ in Auckland City. Emily, 23, has received a Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship to fund her study. She is the first female Maori PhD student in the University’s Faculty of Engineering, and the only PhD student assigned to conduct research on Auckland City’s only green roof, which was built on top of the Engineering building in September last year with funding from the Auckland Regional Council (ARC)..."

Natural rooftop helps reduce heating, air conditioning costs
Inside Toronto, by Maria Tzavaras
May 9, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "The Toronto Botanical Garden in North York is a self-sustaining building with an extensive green program in place, including a green roof and a native wildflower roof. While both have benefits for the environment, they are distinctly different in function, said Cathie Cox, Toronto Botanical Garden's director of horticulture. Their green roof was established in October 2005, is 1,800 sq. ft. and on a slope with a pitch of 22 degrees..."

Rooftop gardens create greener cities
Plenty Magazine, by Gillian Murdoch, Reuters
May 9, 2007

Singapore. "Koi carp, goldfish, and a collection of giant tropical ferns: The only thing missing from this model modern Asian garden is... the garden. Complete with white reflexology pebbles underfoot, the breezy oasis is situated high on the twelfth floor balcony of one of Singapore's ubiquitous government-built high-rises...Beijing has pledged to add 100,000 square meters of roof gardens every year from 2007-2010. And last month Singapore, the "garden city," unveiled its first "green" housing estate, with walls of cooling greenery hardwired into its architecture..."

The Roof Gardens gets nipped and tucked
Response Source, Press Release
May 9, 2007

London, England. "This May, The Roof Gardens is proudly stepping out of surgery following an impressive face-lift. Injecting a new lease of life into the club, the facelift is set to wow London’s clubbers. From its fashionable pedestal, six floors above the hustle of High St. Ken, The Roof Gardens is easily one of west London’s most admired attractions...The chilled out Spanish hideaway is also available for VIPs as a garden retreat and is nestled in the stunning Spanish Gardens. The club shares the roof top with three gardens - The Spanish Garden, The Tudor Garden and The English Woodland Garden providing the opportunity to..."

So, you want a roof terrace
Telegraph.co.uk, by Graham Norwood
May 8, 2007

London, England. "...Don't tell Tony and Cherie Blair about interior designer Elizabeth Hiney. Britain's First Couple last week secured planning permission to build a roof terrace on their house in London's Connaught Square. But it wasn't without complications...a Greater London Assembly planning document with the renowned architect and adviser Lord Rogers, waxing lyrical about how roof terraces can improve our homes and health. "Roof terraces and roof gardens can deliver benefits for individuals and for society as a whole by creating new outdoor spaces, enhancing bio-diversity, reducing flood risk by absorbing heavy rainfall, providing insulation and improving the appearance of our cityscape" enthuse Livingstone and Rogers in the Living Roofs document..."

Mayor’s Green Building Code Still Lags Behind Other Cities
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, by Sarah Ryley
May 8, 2007

Brooklyn, NY. "Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “landmark modernization” of the city’s entire 1960s-era building code released last week addresses the very present-day concern of environmental sustainability through numerous new requirements and incentives for “green buildings,” or buildings constructed with energy efficiency and recycling in mind. ..Chicago, the city with the most aggressive sustainable building standards in the country, requires that all new buildings meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, while the mayor’s proposal only makes that requirement for public projects and other buildings of a certain size. Any project receiving public funding in Chicago must have its roof covered in vegetation..."

Danny Seo Teams with Bank of America on Green Roof Event
Ecorazzi, posted by Rebecca
May 7, 2007

Chicago, IL. "Last week Bank of America celebrated the grand opening of the first “green roof” Banking Center in Chicago by hosting an environmental awareness and neighborhood beautification day for the Logan Square and Avondale community. And who else to help them kick off the effort than green lifestyle guru Danny Seo. In March, Bank of America announced a commitment of $20 billion over the next 10 years to encourage environmentally sustainable business..."

The Green Factor: A Landscaped Envelope for Urban Buildings
WorldChanging, posted by Sarah Rich
May 6, 2007

Seattle, WA. "The city of Seattle recently approved a proposed modification in building codes which would set a new bar for U.S. standards in urban development. Based on similar models in Sweden and Germany, the Green Factor is part of Seattle's plan to bring more greenery to the streets of commercial districts, and to compensate for the limitations urban density imposes on green space. The plan encourages a site-appropriate package of greening possibilities, including green roofs..."

Closing the Circle News Issue 42
Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, by Staff
Winter-Spring 2007 Newsletter

U.S. "Special Edition: Sustainable Buildings: Where we are… Reflecting on OFEE’s 2003 Recommendations...Owning approximately 445,000 buildings and leasing an additional 57,000 buildings—the largest real estate portfolio in the world—the Federal government recognizes that its facilities have tremendous impact on the natural environment, the economy, surrounding communities, and the thousands of people that work in, live in, and visit these buildings every day..."

Here today, global tomorrow
Knoxville News Sentinel, by Lola Alapo
May 5, 2007

Knoxville, TN. "...The students will present their project to the public Monday at the City County Building downtown. It's one of five models that will be on display. The goal is to educate the community about Earth-friendly alternatives to conventional urban development. Cody and his cohorts are among 120 South-Doyle seventh-graders building one of five low-impact development models. They include mini green roofs (vegetated rooftops that are pretty and also reduce storm-water runoff) and..."

Green homebuilders still seeking a market
Seattle Post Intelligencer, by Aubrey Cohen
May 4, 2007

Seattle, WA. "...Condo projects such as Bellevue Towers, Belltown's Mosler Lofts and downtown Seattle's 5th and Madison tower boast many of the same green features, including healthier paint and carpeting, recycling of construction waste, lots of natural light, high-efficiency appliances and systems, water-conserving fixtures, use of more renewable materials and "green roofs" that help moderate temperature while reducing and filtering water runoff..."

City eyes new building code
Newsday, by Karla Schuster
May 4, 2007

New York, NY. "...The proposed revamping of the codes, submitted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to the City Council yesterday...All new buildings would be required to have more white, light-reflecting roofs, and developers whose buildings have green, or grassy, roofs would get fee rebates. The city is also asking the state Legislature to approve property tax abatements for green roofs..."

Green-roofing can help grow bottom line
Business Edge, by James Bow
May 4, 2007

Canada. "...BCIT set up the Centre for the Advancement of Green Roof Technology in 2004 to conduct research and development to improve green-roof technology and to address the challenges of importing this European technique to the harsher North American climate. CEO Joy Schmidt of Brantford, Ont.-based Xero Flor Canada, says growing research and education about green roofs are raising interest with the public, conventional roofing companies and with municipalities...ELT was incorporated in 2001 as a company that would install green-roof systems for clients, says owner Greg Garner, who came onboard in 2004 and transformed ELT from a sub-contractor to a green-roof supplier..."We have installed over 200 green roofs in Canada, including institutional, residential and commercial buildings since 1996," says Marie-Anne Boivin, co-ordinator of Sopranature development. Soprema also has a second plant in Chilliwack, B.C...."

Cities Offer Their Own Response to Climate Change
GreenBiz, Source: Alana Herro, Worldwatch
May 4, 2007

U.S. "...When the United States refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, which commits countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to specific levels by 2012, Seattle mayor Greg Nickels determined that cities could still do their part. He developed the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, through which participating cities strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities. 494 mayors representing some 64 million Americans -- more than the population of France -- have committed to the agreement. Authorities in Miami, Florida, are working to make the city more pedestrian-friendly, and Chicago has some 300 green roofs, or roofs planted with grass and other vegetation, established or under development..."

Davenport's $20M station takes lead in 'green' building
Quad-Cities Online, by Ruth Longoria
May 3, 2007

Davenport, IA. "The new $20.3 million Davenport Police station is expected to take green to a whole new level when it opens in August. Built with several environmentally-friendly amenities, including a "green roof," the station will earn a wealth of points as a Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED) certified building, Davenport Police Lt. Mike Venema, said..."

'Green roof' research takes root
Centre Daily Times, by Adam Smeltz
May 3, 2007

University Park, PA. This environmental movement starts at the top. Putting in-house research to practical use, Penn State has begun installing a handful of vegetation-rich "green roofs" at University Park. The first big one, at the new Forest Resources Building along Bigler Road, spans more than 4,000 square feet atop a first-floor roof..."We are supposed to be an agricultural school; we are supposed to be leading the charge in making the environment more sustainable and more livable," said Rob Berghage, an associate professor of horticulture here..."

Goucher going green Athenaeum touted as Goucher flagship
Towson Times, by Lauren Taylor
May 2, 2007

Goucher, MD. "What do a library, exercise equipment, an art gallery and plants on the roof have in common? They're all part of the Athenaeum, a 100,000-square- foot building that Goucher College officials consider the future flagship of its Towson campus. The college broke ground April 27 for the structure, which will be Goucher's first green building, with high-efficiency mechanical systems, two green roofs and the restoration of natural..."

UMB Bank Builds a Green Branch
Colorado Green Business, by Linda Hardesty
May 1, 2007

Denver, CO. "Friday, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper helped dedicate a new green building at Stapleton redevelopment by planting Colorado’s state tree - a Colorado Blue Spruce...The 4,200-square-foot building is being built with sustainable features, most prominently a garden green roof..."

Green Roof Awards of Excellence Features 2006's Best
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Press  Release
May 1, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Green roof design teams from six premier organizations received Green Roof Awards of Excellence for their exceptional projects from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities at its annual international conference. The designers were recognized at the 5th Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference and Tradeshow in Minneapolis, MN...Green Roof Awards of Excellence celebrate projects that are holistically designed and provide benefits in terms of the function of the building, its relation to the site and surrounding community. The 2007 award winners, by category and project title, are..."

If You Build It, They Will Green
Whole Life Times, by Damien Somerset
May, 2007

Santa Monica, CA. "...the 4th annual AltBuild Expo in Santa Monica. This year’s event promises over 100 exhibitors, highlighting green options from building materials and energy conservation to interior design and household products. AltBuild will also host seminars on subjects like solar energy & eco-friendly paint as well as workshops for irrigation systems & green roofs..."

ASLA Names 13 New Honorary Members
PR Newswire, Press Release
May 1, 2007

Washington, D.C. "...Steven Peck, Founder and President, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. Mr. Peck has played a major role in the proliferation of green roofs across North America. He co-authored the seminal research on the benefits of green roofs and barriers to their development. A strong and enthusiastic supporter of ASLA and the value that landscape architects bring to green roof projects..."

Bio: Ken Hendricks
Rockford Register Star, by Staff
May 1, 2007

Beloit, WI. "Professional: A high-school dropout, Hendricks started ABC Supply in 1982. In 2005, the Beloit-based company had $2.6 billion in sales. His company is now pushing a line of eco-friendly “green roofs” made of plants to absorb rainwater runoff and heat..."

City hosts Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities conference
Minneapolis Skyway, by Dan Haugen
April 30, 2007

Minneapolis, MN. "...The Northstar Crowne Plaza’s SkyGarden, eight stories above the 600 block of 2nd Avenue South, is among the oldest green roofs in Minneapolis, built with the hotel in the early 1960s...The Minnesota Green Roofs Council counted 80 green rooftops in the Twin Cities this year. More than half are in Minneapolis. They include the tops of the Central Library and a handful of underground parking garages, as well as the lawn-bowling green at Brit’s Pub...Minneapolis made incentives for green roofs when it restructured its stormwater utility fees in March 2005. Properties are now billed based on the amount of hard surface, and green roofs earn credits to offset that total..."

Publisher's Note: See the Minneapolis Central Library and Brit's Pub in The Greenroof Projects Database.

Green-roof advocates see a big target in Minneapolis
Minneapolis Star Tribune, by Jay Weiner
April 30, 2007

Minneapolis, MN. "...The task? Redoing one of the largest roofs in Minnesota -- 3.3 acres worth -- atop the 17-year-old Target Center. Local architects and sustainable-design advocates say if the city wants to make a bold statement while, over time, saving energy and money, the arena's 144,000-square-foot roof should go green. "It seems to me we need to lead by example with our own buildings," said City Council Member Lisa Goodman about the prospect of a $2.2 million "green roof" on the city-owned arena. "It would send a huge signal from a public-policy perspective..."

Pittsburgh ranked 10th cleanest city
CMU The Tartan Online, by Claire Morgenstern
April 30, 2007

Pittsburgh, PA. "...Garrett pointed to a number of efforts of Carnegie Mellon Green Practices that have had a regional impact, including the Hamerschlag Hall green roof project and the Southwestern PA Household Hazardous Waste (SWPA HHW) Task Force. The Hamerschlag project involved applying a layer of soil and planting grasses, flowering plants, and other vegetation on the roof of the building and installing equipment to monitor rain runoff, solar energy, temperature, and several other factors. The project, completed in 2005, was one of the first green roofs established for research within Pittsburgh. The project was completed in conjunction with the 3 Rivers Wet Weather Stormwater Advisory Panel on which civil and environmental engineering professor David Dzombak serves..."

Publisher's Note: See the Carnegie Mellon Hamerschlag Hall profile in The Greenroof Projects Database.

Green, grass of home
TorontoSun.com, by Tom Godfrey
April 30, 2007

Toronto, Canada. "Mayor David Miller and several councillors hosted an open house to seek input into a 27-point green action plan to present to council in July..."Torontonians are ahead of the government on this one," Miller told about 250 people. "Something has changed in the last couple years and I am very encouraged." The mayor's action plan touches on everything from building codes and green roofs..."

City and town go green alone
recordonline.com, by Staff
April 29, 2007

New York. "Mayor Michael Bloomberg envisions New York as "the first environmentally sustainable 21st-century city," reducing greenhouse gas emissions even as it grows by 1 million people. He has proposed a downpayment in the hundreds of millions of dollars in the $57 billion budget for the next fiscal year...Many of the mayor's ideas would work anywhere on different scales. He wants to plant more than 1 million trees in the next 10 years along with creating larger and deeper sidewalk tree pits; this, along with green roofs — that means a real roof garden — would help control storm water runoff..."

Green roofs strike a chord with designers, builders
Garden-topped buildings are suddenly in vogue, but experts disagree as to whether they are worth the expense
globeandmail.com, by Deborah Jones
April 28, 2007

Vancouver, Canada. "As fear of climate change turns most public policy decisions shades of green, the roof colour of buildings is taking on a murky hue... "What's different now is there's a movement to put rooftop gardens on wood -frame condos," Mr. Watson said. "They're moving into the mainstream, and unfortunately, the people building them value the [professional engineers and architects] out of it. They're going to build as least expensively as they can, and the oversight is a question mark."..Seeds of public controversy were sown after several B.C. municipalities encouraged or required green roofs on certain new buildings. The bloom came off that idea early this year when three insurance companies refused to insure green roofs in the province..."

Candidates' Environmental Views
Philadelphia Inquirer, by Sandy Bauers
April 28, 2007

Philadelphia, PA. "...U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah-He would lead annual citywide cleanups, fund grants for green roofs, and give money to the GreenPlan for open space...Michael Nutter-...possible surcharges on water and sewer fees and fund-raising. Would require all new roofs to be reflective or vegetative..."

Mayor Hickenlooper Celebrates Denver's Second Green Roof Building
CSRwire, by Staff
April 27, 2007

Denver, CO. "UMB Bank Colorado, n.a., a chartered bank of UMB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: UMBF), and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper today are dedicating Denver's second building overall and the first retail/consumer facility to incorporate a grass roof into the structural design..."

A rendering of the proposed green roof for PS 41
The Villager, by Jill Stern
April 25 - May 1, 2007

New York, NY. "P.S. 41, the Greenwich Village School, has an ambitious new plan to get onboard the green bandwagon. And they aim to start right at the top, with the roof — a green roof, that is. Not only will the proposal — a planted oasis covering the 22,000-square-foot roof — provide a laboratory for the elementary school students to study plants and nature, but it will help keep the school cool in summer and warm in the winter. It would be the first full green roof on a New York City public school...“There might be 100 to 150 green roofs in the city now,” said Leslie Hoffman, head of Earth Pledge, a local nonprofit organization that promotes green roofs. “That’s up from about 50 green roofs two years ago...”

Downtown residents create greenery among urban grit
Nashville City Paper, by Amy Griffith
April 27, 2007

Nashville, TN. "Residents of downtown’s The Westview have their own version of a beautiful backyard. They’re able to relax among trees and flowers after work, and when the spirit moves them, they can do some digging to get their hands dirty. But unlike a typical backyard, a crane was needed to get the trees and dirt in place...significant outdoor space can add as much as $15-$20 per square foot to the value of downtown residential units...Growild also did work for the garden on top of the Neuhoff Center in Germantown, an “extensive” garden with six inches of soil..."

Publisher's Note: See The Westview and The Neuhoff Center in The Greenroof Projects Database.

Milwaukee is going green
Milwaukee Small Business Times, by Rocky Marcoux
April 27, 2007

Milwaukee, WI. "Green is grabbing our attention like never before. Concerns about global warming and the environment are converging with priorities to regrow our economy and to lower energy costs for businesses and families...Milwaukee ranks No. 16 on a list of "greenest cities" according to SustainLane, an organization that it tracking the greening efforts of cities. Our city is among the top 10 in its use of green roofs, as noted by the industry....The Housing Authority's Cherry Court celebrates its grand opening this month. This building not only features a green roof...This spring, a green roof will be added to the building that houses the Department of City Development and the Development (Permits) Center..."

Cities far out front with solutions to global warming
Daytona Beach News, by Michele Wyman
April 27, 2007

U.S. "First, the scientists told us that global warming is real and the manmade nature of the problem undeniable. Then they warned us about the perilous impacts that we are experiencing now, and will, into the future. Now they are urging us to do something about it... examples of how local governments are solving global warming while also saving money and making our communities safer and healthier places to live...In Chicago, where City Hall first donned a green roof in 2001, there are more than 1 million square feet of green roofing in various stages of installation..."

northland growth can be green
Kansas.com, by Bill Graham
April 25, 2007

MO. "...Last weekend, I was driving down Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park and my head was turned by a restaurant with a green roof. Which means, there were green shrubs and flowers growing in soil placed on the roof. It’s probably cheaper to cool and heat that building, and no structure on the block was more attention getting...I know Mayor-elect Mark Funkhouser wants to slam the door on tax breaks for developers. But if there’s one area where I would plea for leniency, it would be for new buildings with impressive environmental credentials. That would help set a trend for such structures..."

Survey of facility managers probes green roof knowledge
Landscape Management, by Staff
April 23, 2007

Chicago, IL. "A recent online survey of facility managers turned up fascinating informational nuggets regarding their understanding of the growing phenomena of green roofs.. Basically, the survey showed that facility managers are aware of green roofs but often aren’t knowledgeable about their benefits. For instance, when asked what impact the vegetation on a green roof has on air quality, nearly 70% indicated that “it helps filter dust and dust particulates from the air,” which studies show is correct. Conversely, 7% answered that they thought green roofs actually harm indoor air quality, which of course isn’t correct..."

Publisher's Note: See the GreenGrid Advertiser Press Release of 4.25.07

Entrepreneurs Seek to "Greenproof" Harlem
Inc.com, by Tamara Schweitzer
April 23, 2007

New York, NY. "A group of New York college students are working to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions...As part of an interdisciplinary program in Environmental Engineering and Entrepreneurship at the City College of New York, a group of students has started a business consulting venture called Greenproofing, with the goal of helping Harlem residents and property owners install green roofs on their buildings..."

Developers vow to press on with garden roofs
Risks include condo owner disputes, reluctant insurers, higher upkeep
Victoria Times Colonist, by Carolyn Heiman
April 23, 2007

B.C., Canada. "Word that B.C.'s insurance industry is unwilling to insure green roofs on condominiums hasn't cooled enthusiasm for using the innovative technology in several Victoria projects. Travis Lee, developer of the $40-million Gateway Green office building, said he's not concerned about the news. "Green roofs are the right thing to do," Lee said..."A concrete building is ideal for a green roof .... I don't understand why [insurance companies] decided not to insure them. But I guess they like to collect money only, not hand it..."

'Green rooftops' build following
Cincinnati Enquirer, by Joy Kraft
April 22, 2007

Cincinnati, OH. "We live in a multitasking world. Why should our roofs be any different? A roof's function is pretty basic - protect the folks inside from wind, rain, sun and the vagaries of nature. But tomorrow's roofs will be different. They'll be much better insulators, keeping inhabitants toastier in winter, cooler in summer. They'll help us trim energy bills, protect our water and help clean our air. And they'll be pretty, to boot - carpeted with ground cover, flowers, grasses, native plants, even trees. You can see an example of these "green" roofs at the exhibit titled A Greener Future, at the Cincinnati Flower Show, today through April 29 at Coney Island...Local Green Roofs..."

Pelosi, Boxer work to make Capitol greener
San Francisco Chronicle, by Edward Epstein
April 20, 2007

U.S. "Saying she wants to set an environmental example for the rest of the country, Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed Thursday to make the House's five buildings and 6 million square feet of space carbon-neutral by the end of 2008...Beard is working on a second report for Pelosi, who took office in early January, that is due by the end of June. He is considering more ambitious steps that include planting roof gardens, collecting and recycling rainwater from buildings...President Bush, through executive order, has already ordered the government to cut energy use and employ new technologies in buildings..."

Opportunities for Architects in the UK Green Roofs Industry
AZoBuild, by Staff
April 20, 2007

UK. "Green Roofs 2007 promises to be bigger and better than ever before. No longer thought of as a mere eco-fad, green roofs are fast becoming a mainstream planning and design requirement. It is vital to get to grips with this key issue if you want to retain the ability to compete on a national and global level...Some of the outstanding speakers include: Dusty Gedge – a leading light on living roofs, will be providing an overview of the state of the green roof industry in the UK today. Dr Alun Rhys-Tarr – will be delivering a breakdown of the installation process of a green roof. Liam Foster..."

Green roofs in Seattle show 65% reductions in run-off
Canadian Consulting Engineer, by Staff
April 20, 2007

Seattle, WA. "Engineers in Seattle have completed an 18-month evaluation of green roofs to see how well they actually perform. The final report by Magnusson Kelmencic Associates is the result of over 1.5 million measurements of data gathered from five green roof test plots around Seattle's downtown area. The results showed that the green roofs reduced the rainfall runoff by between 65% to 94% -- much more than had been modeled...The Magnusson Klemencic report is dated March 2007, and posted on the company website at http://www.mka.com/home/greenroof_news_winter_07_email.pdf."

EPA touts new 'green' storm water control project
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, by Don Hopey
April 20, 2007

PA. "Grassy roofs, urban wetlands and rain barrels are now officially part of the federal toolbox for handling storm water runoff and minimizing unhealthy sewage overflows into the nation's streams, rivers and lakes...Mr. Johnson cited the Nine Mile Run Conservancy's rain barrel program in several East End communities and the "green" roofs of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Oakland as Pittsburgh examples working to reduce storm runoff..."

'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' comes to Arizona
ABC15.com, by Jenn Burgess
April 19, 2007

Piñon, AZ. "The cast of the hit ABC show is transforming the life of a family in the Navajo Nation this week. ABC15's Jenn Burgess is blogging from the scene in northern Arizona. Follow the progress..."

Publisher's Note: See the referenced profile in The Greenroof Projects Database.

Insurance concerns threaten green roofs
Georgia Straight, by Matthew Burrows
April 19, 2007

B.C. and Toronto, Canada. "The president of a Toronto-based green-industry association says that the B.C. insurance industry is lacking in "technical information" or that "politics is involved" over its dismissive treatment of his business. Steven Peck, who's also the founder of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, suggested that this could explain an April 17 planning-department report to Vancouver city council that highlighted a letter to municipalities from the provincial Homeowner Protection Office..."

Publisher's Note: See Linda's comments under Forums, News & Events and add yours, too.

Green roof innovation awards
Green Building Press, by Staff
April 19, 2007

UK. "The Green Roof Innovation Awards are offering architects and planners the opportunity to design innovative green roofs that challenge the way we think about the environment and architecture. The Awards are being run by The Green Roof Centre: - established by the University of Sheffield and Groundwork Sheffield, with part-finance from the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund..."

Publisher's Note: Read the Project Manager, The Green Roof Centre, Jeff Sorrill's Guest Feature of April/May, 2007.

City Garden at the very heart of the resort
Pattaya Today, by Staff
April 19, 2007

Pattaya, Thailand. "You can almost hear Pattaya’s heartbeat If you are looking for excellently appointed condo units in a tranquil setting, yet based only two minutes from the shopping and recreational facilities of central Pattaya, City Garden offers the very best...a big central garden area with a spectacular fountain. a large 25 metre swimming pool, children’s pool play area, spa, gymnasium and roof gardens which provide a delightful finishing touch..."                       >>more

The Green House Effect: Exhibition Shows How Going 'Green’ Starts at Home
RisMedia.com, by Staff
April 19, 2007

Washington, D.C. "This Earth Day visit the National Building Museum's exhibition The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design and join the tens of thousands of people who have already discovered how even small decisions...In keeping with its role as an advocate of environmentally friendly design, the Museum developed a comprehensive educational programming schedule... highlights from the entire schedule include:- A green family program, Was Kermit Wrong: Is it Easy to be ‘Green'?, in which children designed their very own green roofs..."

Sweetwater Creek
ArchitectureWeek, by Staff
April 18, 2007

Lithia Springs, GA. "Like many other buildings that receive the coveted Platinum-level LEED certification, the Sweetwater Creek State Park Visitors Center, near Lithia Springs, Georgia, features numerous energy conservation measures and has a roof full of photovoltaic cells to generate electricity...Vegetated roofs, in addition to reducing stormwater runoff, further lower the building's energy needs by keeping the interior at a more constant temperature. Overall, energy consumption is estimated at 51 percent less than a comparable building, avoiding 27 tons (24 metric tons) of carbon emissions annually..."

EPA, NRDC sign pledge to green cities, prevent pollution
WaterWorld, by Staff
April 18, 2007

Pittsburgh, PA. "The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a statement of intent today to pursue "green infrastructure" approaches to reduce sewer overflows and stormwater pollution. "We are pleased to join the EPA and our other partners in recognizing that simple solutions like planting green roofs or giving urban trees more room to spread their roots can control some of our worst water pollution," said NRDC Clean Water Project Director Nancy Stoner..."

WIU speaker works to make Bronx green
PJStar.com, by Jodi Pospeschil
April 18, 2007

IL & NY. "Green is the new black," the founder of an environmental organization in New York City said Tuesday at Western Illinois University...Majora Carter, director of Sustainable South Bronx, was the keynote speaker of WIU's fourth annual Environmental Summit...Carter's company has undertaken three major projects in the South Bronx. The first is Green Roofs, a plan to bring roof gardens to the area. Carter said she hopes to have three of the gardens completed by the end of the summer with a goal to make 20 percent of New York City rooftops green..."

Plant my roof, stretch my green
CNNMoney.com, by Steve Hargreaves
April 17, 2007

U.S. "With American's newfound concern over global warming, and the age old desire to stretch the dollar as far as it can go, more and more buildings are going green, literally...A big reason landlords decide to green up a rooftop is structural: protective plants and the material they grow in can more than double a roof's lifetime, Werthmann said at a recent green roofs conference at the New York Botanical Garden...Ed Snodgrass, owner and president of Emory Knoll Farms and Green Roof Plants, said a recent study by the University of Illinois showed a big drop in domestic violence and juvenal delinquency in places that had re-greened, not just with rooftops but the neighborhood at large..."

Thumbs up/down: Simmons mattress factory, ABC Supply's "Green Roofs," "robocalls"
Janesville Gazette, by Staff
April 16, 2007

Beloit, WI. (Thumbs up) To ABC Supply's "green roofs." The Beloit company is the nation's largest roofing supplier. It teamed with Roy F. Weston of Chicago, an environmental and redevelopment company, to patent a system known as GreenGrid. ABC, owned by Afton's Ken and Diane Hendricks, installed its first living roof about five years ago. Today, these living systems cover about 115 flat or low-pitched roofs across the country. A GreenGrid includes waterproof membranes, drainage layers, root barriers and lightweight soil to hold various plants, grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and even cacti..."

Publisher's Note: See the above referenced ABC Supply Headquarters profile in the Greenroof Projects Database.

Developing a Green Garden that's Above the Rest
Realty Times, by Phoebe Chongchua
April 16, 2007

San Diego, CA. "...In many areas, Mumford says irrigation is not that vital because the amount of rain is sufficient, but in San Diego, it's a big concern for the survival of green roofs. "In Southern California because it's so dry so much of the year, we're guessing that [green roofs] have to be irrigated somewhat year round which is why I choose to use native plant....For Mumford, his own green roof is a learning process that enables him to teach and work with others to get their own started. You can see his progress at greenroofsandiego.com..."

Innovators cover condos with live plants
MLive.com, by Dave Alexander
April 15, 2007

Muskegon, MI. "A Spring Lake horticulturist and a Grand Haven builder are teaming up to provide the first "green-constructed" housing units for downtown Muskegon. The first four units of the VidaNova condominium development at Edison Landing along Muskegon Lake are being readied for sale. The condos, developed by Doug Harjer of Grand Haven, will feature "green" roofs made of plants developed by Hortech Inc. of Spring Lake..."

Raise a Glass to Going Green -- and Learning More About It
Washington Post, by Kris Coronado
April 15, 2007

Washington, D.C. "Need a good pickup line? Tina Schneider has a suggestion: "Are you green?" The query might get you a laugh -- if not a phone number -- if you're at a Green Drinks happy hour, an informal gathering where environmentally minded folks meet, grab a cocktail and discuss earthy issues...The crowd has ranged from college graduates looking to find out more about recycling to professionals brainstorming about green roofing..."

BC insurers refuse to cover green roofs
Warning leaves Olympic village project and dozens of other development plans in limbo
Canada.com, by Frances Bula
April 14, 2007

Vancouver, B.C., Canada. "B.C.'s insurance industry and homeowner protection office, gun-shy after the province's leaky-condo debacle, has temporarily put the brakes on the burgeoning green-roof industry. The plans of dozens of developers poised to put green roofs on their condo buildings -- the Olympic village being the most prominent among them -- are now in limbo after the province's Homeowner Protection Office sent out a letter to all municipalities warning that local insurance companies are mostly unwilling to insure green roofs on multi-unit residential buildings that will be sold as condos. That has prompted t