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2010:
Congress Passes Stormwater Funding Bill
American Rivers
Blog, by Katherine Baer
DC.
"Just
when you thought it was all over…Right before Christmas,
Congress passed legislation (S.3481) amending the Clean Water
Act and
clarifying that the federal government must pay stormwater
utility fees to local governments. This may sound kind of
mundane, but local stormwater utility fees are an increasingly
important way to fund local effort to reduce polluted stormwater
runoff..." [12.30.10]
The Living Wall in downtown Calgary
Calgary Herald,
by Trent Edwards
Calgary, Canada.
"...The vertical
plantings are called an interior living wall, or a
green wall. And this one -- all 1,950 square feet
of it -- just happens to be the largest in Canada. Officially
opened in April as part of the new office garden, the project
funded by Bentall-Kennedy LLP has already earned international
acclaim..." [12.30.10]
'Green' roof helps cap cooling costs, runoff
The Free
Lance-Star, by Donnie Johnston
Fredericksburg, VA.
"...A green roof
acts like a sponge, says Warmerdam. It absorbs some of the
rainwater and slows the rest. That way stormwater drains don't
become overwhelmed...Moerings
USA has installed green roofs all over the United States and
Canada. One of its largest jobs was the
Target Center, a basketball/hockey arena, in Minneapolis..."
[12.30.10]
EPA's bay blueprint
Washington Post, by Staff
DC. "In working with states to revise their plans, the
Environmental Protection Agency added more stringent goals. The
final plan includes these measures...Reducing storm-water
pollution by increasing green roofs, tree
plantings, pervious surfaces and street sweeping...Also read:
EPA unveils massive restoration plan for Chesapeake Bay..."
[12.30.10]
Climate looks right for a green-roof revolution
The Australian,
by Morris Kaplan
Australia.
"The world's cities offer enormous potential for creating
greener environments that manage water better. It just takes a
little creative insight to figure out a cost-effective means of
making it happen. Green roofs are one solution,
and an Australian company is becoming a big player..."
[12.30.10]
For Ford, a Green Roof That Springs Eternal
New York Times
Blog, by Phil Patton
Detroit, MI.
"...Growing in
symbolism is the factory’s green roof, now
celebrating its 10th anniversary...The
roof has also inspired other businesses and architects to
take green roofs seriously. One heavily publicized example is
the
California Academy of Sciences building in San Francisco, by
Renzo Piano, which is dotted with poppies and strawberries.
Another is the
Clinton Library, in Little Rock, Ark..." [12.29.10]
How does your green roof garden grow?
EurekAlert,
Press Release
University Park, PA.
"...Researchers from the Department of Horticulture at The
Pennsylvania State University published a
study in HortTechnology that evaluated the influence of
substrate type and depth on establishment of five common
green roof plants...The study by
Christine E.
Thuring, Robert D. Berghage, and David J. Beattie was
designed to evaluate the effects of substrate type and depth on
the establishment and early growth of five plants popular in
North American green roof designs..." [12.28.10]
Cincinnati at forefront of sustainable schools
Cincinnati.com,
by Jessica Brown
Cincinnati, OH.
"...CPS is among the
top school districts in the nation with LEED-registered
buildings. It has 22 such buildings, a number topped only by
Chicago (32) and Albuquerque, N.M., (26) according to numbers
from the U.S.
Green Building Council...At the nearly 500-student North
Avondale Montessori, the walk-out "green roof" is
topped by a layer of soil and plants..." [12.27.10]
A New Roof That Works for a Living
New York Times,
by Alison Gregor
New York, NY.
"The green roof
at One Irving Place sits atop a branch of Beth Israel Medical
Center and is bookended by the four condo towers of the
Zeckendorf complex...An analysis of green and black roofs
published this year by Columbia University found that an
unshaded green roof of 1,000 square meters (about
10,750 square feet) could save $330 to $350 a year in heating
costs and $225 a year in cooling costs..." [12.23.10]
Eighth Avenue Place tower in Calgary recognized for
environmental design
World Interior
Design Network, by Staff
Calgary, Canada.
"...The building
boasts Canada's largest green roof encompassing
30,000 square feet. It also features a two-storey retail podium;
an atrium winter garden; a 1,143-car, below-grade parking garage
and a 40-storey future west tower..." [12.22.10]
'Green' building raises bar
Charlotte
Observer, by Lukas Johnson
Concord, NC.
"This 'green'
roof, covered in drought-tolerant plants, is one of many
features that helped qualify Concord and Kannapolis' new Rider
Transit Center for a Gold level LEED-certification rating..."
[12.22.10]
What Do the 2010 Census Results Mean for the Southwest's Water
Supplies?
Natural
Resources Defense Council Blog, by Rebecca Hammer
US.
"...These communities should also begin to implement green
infrastructure and low impact development practices – in other
words, techniques like green roofs, rain gardens,
and permeable pavement that stop rain where it falls, storing it
and allowing it to filter into the ground so that it can
recharge local groundwater supplies..." [12.21.10]
The Brooklyn Grange, a commercial rooftop farm in New York City
Dowser, by
Sarah Kuck
Brooklyn, NY.
"One of the biggest
farms in New York City, the
Brooklyn Grange, sits six stories above the sidewalks of
Queens. It has over a million pounds of soil and spans an acre,
with a view of the Manhattan skyline in the distance...A lot of
planning, negotiating, and pricing research also went into the
early stages, such as figuring which were the best sources to
use for soil and the green roof system..."
[12.21.10]
Local Students Lead the Green Movement
Carroll Gardens
Patch, by Molly Culver
New York, NY.
"...The green
roof would provide students with hands-on learning
opportunities like growing and harvesting food that would wind
up on their plates in the school's cafeteria, and researching
and planting native flora. The project also aims to help combat
childhood obesity and serve as a storm water management tool..."
[12.21.10]
Grant will promote 'green' bus shelters
Pittsburgh Post
Gazette, by Diana Nelson Jones
Pittsburgh, PA.
"Most green roofs are
so high you need a skyscraper window view to see one. Loralyn
Fabian and Katherine Camp came up with a green-roof
project for the street. For their plan to equip a new bus
shelter in East Liberty with a green roof, they were awarded a
$20,000 grant from the Sprout Fund and Pittsburgh Foundation..."
[12.20.10]
HDB's first eco-precinct
Channel News
Asia, by Sharon See
Singapore.
"Treelodge@Punggol is the first public housing project to attain
the Building and Construction Authority's (BCA) Green Mark
Platinum Award given to energy- and water-efficient buildings.
The newly completed eco-precinct Treelodge@Punggol marks a
milestone for the Housing & Development Board (HDB)...The
'green' roof has plants that help to lower the
temperature in the flats..." [12.17.10]
Green Roofs Save Energy on Government Buildings
Sustainable City Network, by Aram Kalousdian
DC. "There
are currently just over 100 green roofs installed
in Washington, D.C. alone, with an additional 25 under
construction and many more in the concept/planning stage. Storm
water retention in urban areas with combined storm and sanitary
sewers is often the primary motivation behind the installation
of green roofs, according to the Washington, D.C.
District Department of the Environment (DDOE)...."
[12.16.10]
Construction Specifications Canada sustainability guide coming
soon
Daily
Commercial News, by Jean Sorensen
Canada.
"The long-awaited, two-volume Construction Specifications Canada
(CSC) Tek-Aid incorporating sustainability into construction
documents is expected to be issued by early 2011...discussed how
to maximize credits when using green roofs and walls
in the new Canada Green Building Council LEED system..."
[12.16.10]
What Urban Rooftop Gardening Could Do For The Middle East
Green Prophet,
by Arwa Aburawa
Egypt.
"With so many flat roofs across the Middle East, surely the
region is ripe for a bit of rooftop gardening?
Recent reports that people in the Gaza Strip are embracing
rooftop gardening has got us thinking about the urban gardening
phenomena and it’s relevance to the Middle East..." [12.15.10]
Commercial Construction Considerations: Green Roofs
Firehouse.com,
by Matthew Steine - 3 hours ago
US.
"Firefighters can expect higher heat and ventilation
challenges...While some of you may never encounter these types
of roofs, vertical ventilation is still a very valuable tool
when suppressing commercial fires. However, if not approached
correctly, vertical ventilation of green roofs may
become more difficult..." [12.14.10]
Sequential: The Greenest Gas Station in the U.S.
TakePart -
Inspiration to Action, by Ryan and Kassidy Brown
US.
"...I
think it’s safe to say it was destiny. As you will see in the
webisode, besides selling biodiesel, Sequential also has solar
panels, a living roof, and organic and local
produce for sale inside the station. Imagine if every city had a
gas station like this!...Watch video on
YouTube..." [12.14.10]
When it rains, pollutants pour into Chesapeake Bay
The
Virginian-Pilot, by Diane Tennant
Hampton Roads, VA.
"...It also has a
green roof, solar panels, native drought-resistant
plants and a rain garden...The great thing about this is it’s
filtering all the water that falls on it, Amundsen said, looking
over the green roof from her home office.
Depending on the intensity of a rainstorm, the roof decreases
runoff by 30 to 80 percent..." [12.12.10]
Brooklyn's fertile urban farm movement
Examiner.com,
by Jesse Ricke
Brooklyn, NY.
"...Urban farms are
feats of technology and social organizing. Case in point is the
Eagle Street Rooftop Farm which began this April. The roof
base system and growing medium was designed by
Goode Green, a greenroof design company with
projects across the city. Eagle Street holds a Sunday market and
collaborates with other growers in Brooklyn..." [12.10.10]
Rooftop gardens are a "Mercy" for staff and patients
Baltimore Sun
Blog, by Susan Reimer
Baltimore, MD.
"Baltimore's Mercy
Medical Center unveils its new, state-of-the-art, in-patient
tower this week, and the project is crowned with three
rooftop gardens that will provide patients and staff a
bit of tranquility in the midst of illness and city noise..."
[12.9.10]
Sprawl, climate change, carp control hinder Chicago sewer
overflow solution
TribLocal, by
Kari Lydersen
Chicago, IL.
"...So a primary way
to address CSOs is to reduce the amount of storm water that
flows into sewer pipes. This can be done by installing permeable
pavement in parking lots and alleys; letting people collect rain
in barrels for future use; installing green roofs
and simply persuading people to use water more efficiently..."
[12.8.10]
DEC Accepting Applications for Urban Forestry Grants
ReadMedia,
Press Release
New York, NY.
"The New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced
it is making grants available to support urban forestry projects
across the state...Eligible projects include tree inventories
and management plans, tree and shrub planting and maintenance,
and green infrastructure projects such as green roofs
and rain gardens..." [12.8.10]
Recycled compost for green roofs - new information from WRAP
Green Building
Press, by Staff
UK.
"The
rapid growth of green roofs across the UK has been
given a further boost with a publication from
WRAP
(Waste & Resources Action Programme) on the use of BSI PAS 100
quality compost in the development and maintenance of this
increasingly popular construction application. The booklet, 'Quality
Compost Use in Green Roof Construction' is the first
document of its kind to outline the benefits of incorporating
this material in green roof substrates..." [12.7.10]
Santa goes green
Providence
Journal, by Charlotte M. Frieze
US.
“...Landscape
architect Michael Van Valkenburgh, designer of the green
roof atop the
American Society of Landscape Architects headquarters, in
Washington, D.C., believes “Carole King got it right when she
wrote about the magic of being up on the roof — a place that is
a thousand miles away from what is just a few feet below you.
Santa no doubt has that figured out and probably even
appreciates that green roofs are one more step in
keeping our world a safe and healthy place for our children..."
[12.7.10]
Green Roofs Are Changing Architecture: BIG's New School In
Denmark
Treehugger, by
Lloyd Alter
Denmark.
"Green
roofs continue to change architecture, as architects
blend buildings into the landscape and use the roofs as
architectural elements, often to hide the building from view.
The Vilhelmsro school in Denmark 'focuses on nature and
sustainability' so Bjarke Ingels of BIG designed it out of
sloping landscaped bands that are integrated into the
hillside..." [12.6.10]
KHD project wins Skyrise Greenery Award
Selector.com,
Press Release
Melbourne, Australia.
"Bent Architecture’s
award winning Head for the Hill project at 131 Queen St,
Melbourne, has won another prize. The rooftop garden project
took out third prize for a built project at the Singapore
Institute of Architects’ and National Parks Board’s Skyrise
Greenery Awards. The project aims to showcase the environmental,
social and economic benefits of green roofs..."
[12.6.10]
City announces water-quality grants
Lexington Herald Leader, by Beverly Fortune
Lexington, KY.
"Grants totaling more than $1.2 million were announced Friday to
improve Lexington's storm-water quality. Recipients were local
schools, businesses and neighborhood groups. Projects include
installation of permeable pavement, stream restoration, and
building rain gardens, wetlands and a green roof..."
[12.4.10]
Upwardly Fertile: The Rise of the Vertical Garden
TIME, by Tim Newcomb
Santiago, Chile.
"...Pennsylvania's nonprofit Longwood Gardens captured the title
of North America's largest living wall with a
vertical garden measuring 3,590 sq. ft., which is 50% bigger
than that of the continent's previous record holder,
PNC Bank in Pittsburgh. Now Longwood is being dwarfed by the
InterContinental Hotel in Santiago, Chile, which planned to
formally unveil its 17,000-sq.-ft. wall — about the size of six
doubles tennis courts..." [12.4.10]
The Future of Design: Blue Is the New Green
FastCoDesign.com, by Staff
World.
"...Blue design creates places that are not just neutral in
their take, but actually add back to our world...a green
roof planted with pollution–eating superplants that
improved air and water quality in the local climate zone, and
partitioned a part of the front lawn for a vegetable garden that
contributed to the local food bank, we would have a single home
that gave back to the greater community in three substantive
ways..." [12.3.10]
Innovative Green Roof
American Rivers. by Sean Foltz
Milwaukee, WI.
"American Rivers has recently completed a 4,000 square foot
green roof in Milwaukee’s Kinnickinnic watershed, at
the Energy Exchange...LiveRoof,
Etera and
Xero Flor all provided extensive growing media for the roof
in the form of mat, tray and plug systems..." [12.2.10]
Green Roofs are Starting To Sprout in American Cities
Yale
Environment 360, by Bruce Stutz
US.
"Long a
proven technology in Europe, green roofs are
becoming increasingly common in U.S. cities, with major
initiatives in Chicago, Portland, and Washington, D.C. While
initially more expensive than standard coverings, green roofs
offer some major environmental — and economic — benefits..."
[12.2.10]
Help Support Green Roofs in New York, One Square Foot at a Time
GOOD
Environment, by Staff
New York, NY.
"...Seeding the City
involved placing a small square of green on the roofs of New
York buildings, creating a mini-green roof network to help
support the idea of a city full of green roofs and
get people used to having and caring for them. But now that
network of small green squares has spawned genuine interest..."
[11.29.10]
True Sustainability Means Going Beyond Campus Boundaries
Chronicle of
Higher Education, by James Proctor
DC.
"...energy efficiency and local food and green roofs
are sustainable practices because they promote intergenerational
equity: They minimize the squandering of resources now so those
resources will be available for future generations..."
[11.28.10]
Archial-designed BCA building in UK scoops 'Best Sustainable
Project Title'
World Interior
Design Network, by Staff
UK.
"...The
building is equipped with a large sedum roof for
rainwater attenuation from which excess rainfall is collected in
feature water ponds and used for landscape maintenance and
natural habitat enhancement. Rainfall from the zinc roof areas
is collected and used for WC flushing..." [11.25.10]
Polish Green Roofed Homes
GreenMuze, by
Staff
Poland.
"...The eco-houses maximize solar input, with a very low above
ground profile for the homes that are built partially
underground, and feature living roofs. The green roofs
help reduce visual impact while also providing insulation,
protection from weather extremes, and are used for storm water
infiltration..." [11.24.10]
Creating a Greener City, One Rooftop at a Time
Treehugger -
Jennifer Hattam
US.
"Putting a green roof on a landmark building --
the city hall in
Toronto or
Chicago, a convention center in
Vancouver, San Francisco's
California Academy of Sciences -- has long been a highly
visible way for cities to gain some green cachet...To make
green roofs a part of the everyday urban fabric, we
need a network of citizens not to only have green roofs,
but to have the knowledge and skills to spread them..."
[11.24.10]
Top 10 Green Roofs Across the Globe
Huffington
Post, by Eva Maddox
World.
"...Consider green or "living" roofs.
Forward-thinking Germany (where reportedly 10% of roofs are
green) led the pack in the 1960s, and the trend spread
throughout Europe. And why wouldn't it, when you think of the
advantages? Lower heating and cooling costs, the ability to pull
pollution from the air, and increased real estate values and the
creation of intimate spaces in the environment are just a
few...For more information about these projects you can search
our
International Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database..."
[11.23.10]
Morris Arboretum's New Horticulture Center Complex: A Regional
Model of Sustainability
UPENN Almanac,
by Staff
Philadelphia, PA.
"...The green
roofs on the equipment storage garages capture and
absorb rain, slowing the surge of stormwater to the site
drainage system...The two green roofs on the
garages are very visible examples of sustainability. The 4-bay
garage has a four inch deep planting area with various types of
sedum. The 6-bay garage green roof is eight inches
deep and was planted by hand with an experimental mix of plant
species including north American species and other plants that
are native to this region..." [11.23.10]
Green-thinking business finds growth in a rooftop
Honolulu
Star-Advertiser, by Nina Wu
Honolulu, HI.
"...Scanning the
Honolulu skyline, Joaquin says there is plenty of room for more
rooftop gardens in this city. There could
potentially be rooftop gardens on offices
stretching from downtown Honolulu to Waikiki, he said, and on
top of supermarkets like Whole Foods Market. An estimated
one-third of city rooftops could be set aside for gardens..."
[11.22.10]
It's not easy being green in the city
Sydney Morning
Herald - Kate Dennehy
Brisbane, Australia.
"...Brisbane City Council spent $28 million transforming the
once iconic meeting place into what has been generally regarded
as a scorching and unwelcoming thoroughfare to be avoided on hot
days...Mrs Carpenter, president of the not-for-profit group
Green
Roofs Australia, said any gardener could have told the
council the fiddle leaf figs set in shallow planter boxes would
never mature in the searing heat..." [11.21.10]
EPA's Clean Water Strategy: What it Means for US Industry
Water World, by
Sue Poremba
US.
"A
final draft of the EPA's Clean Water Strategy is set for
publication at the end of the year but what will this mean for
companies in North America? Some experts believe the step up
from the 1972 Clean Water Act is encouraging, others question
where the funding will come from to enforce and research the new
regulations...As
heavily populated communities plant trees and park space, as
well as institute sustainable building practices like
green roofs,
new runoff and wastewater issues will arise..."
[11.19.10]
Workers planting Palomar's green roof
North County
Times, by Paul Sisson
Escondido, CA.
"Workers are planting
a living roof on a 1.4-acre portion of the huge
Palomar West hospital under construction in Escondido, though
patients will not gaze on the green expanse until 2012...As
green roofs go, it's big, but far from the largest.
An online
database maintained by
greenroofs.com, which contains comprehensive information on
installed and in-progress living roofs worldwide, lists 81
projects that are larger...Green
roof at new hospital is more than a cover..." [11.19.10]
How green is a Greenbuild expo with 27000-plus people?
USA Today, by
Wendy Koch
Chicago, IL.
"...The annual
Greenbuild expo -- held this week in Chicago -- is a
colossal trade show that reveals the industry's growing clout
and market savvy...Wilson
encouraged attendees, as they build for the future, to conserve
water, detoxify materials, integrate food production into
buildings (e.g. green roofs), build smaller and
more resilient homes that can withstand the loss of power and to
think beyond our borders..." [11.18.10]
Teens in the Bronx get lesson in green studies
CNN
International, by Alex DiPalma
New York, NY.
"...Ritz, an
innovative high school teacher at
Discovery
High School in the South Bronx in New York, has transformed
his classroom into a green learning environment; textbooks are
stacked on desks while vegetation fills the shelves and covers
the walls. Ritz and his students recently cooked 450 organic
meals using vegetables that originated in the classroom..."
[11.18.10]
Fort Worth's Botanic Gardens Get a Living Roof
NBC Dallas-Fort
Worth, by Greg Janda
Fort Worth, TX.
"...The Botanical
Research Institute of Texas took the 70,000 square feet of empty
space on top of its new $48 million building and are filling it
with 6,000 trays to hold 30,000 prairie plants which together
make what scientists call a 'living roof'..."
[11.17.10]
Urban Intervention: The Syracuse Center of Excellence helps lay
the foundation for the revitalization of a struggling Rust Belt
city
Metropolis
Magazine, by Stephen Zacks - 12 hours ago
Syracuse, NY.
"The ramped
green roof of the Syracuse Center of Excellence responds
to the crisscross of nearby highways. With an anticipated LEED
Platinum rating, the building is a research center for indoor
environmental building systems...The building’s double-height
ground floor pivots from a five-story structure and swerves
around onto a ramped green roof like a verdant
freeway interchange..." [11.17.10]
ESRI Canada's Green Roof Named One of North America's Green
Roofs for Healthy Cities
Spatial News, Press Release
Toronto, Canada.
"...ESRI
Canada's project won in the extensive industrial/commercial
green roof category and was selected for its
integrated design that includes aesthetic, economic, functional
and ecological components...Winners of GRHC's Design Awards were
selected by a seven-member, multi-disciplinary judging team of
landscape architects, engineers and horticulturists. The awards
will be officially presented at
CitiesAlive 2010..." [11.17.10]
Green roof installed on technology building
Appalachian
State University, by Staff
Boone, NC.
"A green roof is now part of the viewscape at
Appalachian State University. The
Xero Flor product was installed on a 1,000-square-foot
section of roof on W. Kerr Scott Hall, home to Appalachian’s
Department of Technology. It’s part of $5.34 million in
energy-saving projects that have been implemented across
campus..." [11.16.10]
Casey Trees Moves To New Headquarters In Brookland
PR Web, Press
Release
Washington, DC.
"...The administrative
building, half new, half renovated, is approximately 10,000
square feet. It was included as one of more than 150 projects in
the Sustainable Sites Initiative™ (SITES™) Pilot Program and
features three green roofs covering just over 25%
of the roof area. The remaining roof is covered by a white
surface called a “cool roof,” which reflects sun off the
building and keeps its interior cool..." [11.16.10]
Green-Roofed Port of Portland Headquarters Aims for LEED Gold
Inhabitat, by
Bridgette Meinhold
Portland, OR.
"The Port of Portland
recently consolidated their headquarters into a shiny, green
office building designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects
(ZGF). Situated right next to the PDX airport, the new Port of
Porland Headquarters is a LEED gold office that unifies the
entity responsible for Portland's airport, shipping terminals
and more. The project was finished in May of 2010 and it
includes a green roof, a living machine to process
waste water, geothermal heating and cooling, plus a plethora of
other sustainable strategies..." [11.16.10]
Gardener: Green roofs and rooftop gardens
Evansville
Courier & Press, by Joe Lamp'l
Evansville, IL.
"Considering that
urban sprawl is wiping out much of the available green space in
our cities, we only have to look up for solutions. Rooftop
gardens offer numerous opportunities to replenish much
of what has been destroyed. Green roofs are
gaining popularity in both commercial and residential design as
a way to reduce our carbon footprint..." [11.16.10]
Huge green roof sprouts at Union Square
Crain's New
York Business, by Amanda Fung
New York, NY.
"A 14,000-square-foot
green roof will be unveiled at Zeckendorf Towers
in Union Square on Wednesday. Its designers and engineers are
billing it as the largest residential green roof
in the city. It sits atop the seven-story podium of the
building, which largely houses Beth Israel Medical Center,
located at One Irving Place...See also:
Union Square Rooftop A "Green" Feat...and...Zeckendorf
Towers Unveils City's Largest Green Roof..."
[11.15.10]
Princeton continues significant progress toward sustainability
goals
Princeton
University, by Ruth Stevens
Princeton, NJ.
"...academic study in
which faculty and students monitor real-time performance data
from Butler College, where more than half the buildings have
green roofs. Eileen Zerba, a senior lecturer in
ecology and evolutionary biology who is leading the High Meadows
Foundation grant-funded project, provided data for the report
that indicate the Butler College green roofs are
demonstrating a more than 60 percent reduction in peak
stormwater runoff, compared to conventional roofs..." [11.15.10]
'Green' roof looks to help keep life of building
The Towerlight,
by Jordan Russell
Towson, MD.
"There's only one
building on campus that can cool itself down with outside air,
sense how much light it needs to give and has flooring that
gives off heat...The first of the highlights of the CLA is its
partially vegetated growth on the roof. Plants cover a good
amount of the roof and capture heat to put less pressure on the
cooling system. It also is able to absorb water to help prevent
flooding..." [11.15.10]
Honey Bees Find New Home On Baltimore Green Roof
PRLog.Org,
Press Release
Baltimore, MD.
"...Lead by
Green Roof Service and ADI Architecture and Design Inc. the
former icehouse of
Resource Conservation Technology welcomed one of the regions
first Honey Bee oriented green roofs. Volunteers
and honey bee enthusiast poured onto roof to be apart of the new
habitat for honey bees. On lookers explored the garden as
volunteers eagerly planted in the unique growing media..."
[11.14.10]
Clean Technology for a Sustainable Future
The Epoch
Times, by James Ottar Grundvig
New York, NY.
"...Two new approaches
to improving the longevity of roofs, while reducing energy loads
and lowering maintenance costs for air conditioning systems, are
benefits too big to be ignored by cities such as Chicago,
Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. It was interesting to
see the once mundane topic of rooftops debated
with such zeal and expertise at
Cleantech
Corridor’s lively discussion on “Cool Roofs” by a group of
diverse panelists, each championing a piece of their roofing
turf..." [11.14.10]
What's up? Roofs that help save energy
NorthJersey.com, by Kathleen Lynn
Hackensack,
NJ.
"...While the number of energy-saving options is growing fast,
these roofs tend to be significantly more expensive than the
traditional asphalt shingle roof. As a result, homeowners have
been slow to adopt them...But green roofs tend to
last much longer, because the vegetation protects the roof
structure from drastic changes in temperature, according to
Jennifer Souder, a research manager at the Center for Green
Building at Rutgers University..." [11.14.10]
Impossible Architecture: A Review of the Los Angeles Museum of
the Holocaust
Huffington Post
blog, by Guy Horton
Los Angeles, CA.
"...In keeping with
this, the building's green roof, designed by
Karla Dakin and Lisa Benjamin, seems to flow from the park's
grounds. It's responsible, low-water mix of plants includes Blue
Grama and Esparto Grass, Pine Muhly, Red Carpet Stonecrop, and
Star of Bethlehem, a type of Hyacinth. When these reach their
projected height of thirty-six inches, the building will become
even more integrated with the landscape..." [11.13.10]
Interior landscaping - green on the inside
Horticulture
Week, by Gavin McEwan
UK.
"For
plants, it seems, indoors is the new outdoors. While the
benefits of accessible, well-maintained exterior green space are
now well established, interior landscaping can have at least as
great a role in health and productivity. And this means
significant opportunities for interior landscapers across the
world..." [11.12.10]
City raises green area coverage target to 34 percent
Jakarta Post,
by Indah Setiawati
Jakarta, Indonesia.
"Despite having made no major gains in achieving its initial
goal, the city administration has said it aims for 34.51 percent
of the city to be green space by 2030 — an adjustment from the
previous target of 13 percent. The new plan calls for
garden roofs, green walls and absorption
wells..." [11.12.10]
Planting a seed for a green roof
Daily Record,
by Robert J. Terry
Baltimore, MD.
"A Baltimore roofing
company wants to give away a “green” roof to a
nonprofit looking to reduce its carbon footprint.
Cole Roofing has dubbed the promotion the “Green Roof
Giveaway” and values it at $30,000, either in the form of
solar panels or a vegetated roof, which Cole says are growing in
popularity. Interested nonprofits can go to a website and upload
a video or submit an essay explaining why a green roof
would help them in their work. The deadline is Nov. 15..."
[11.12.10]
'The Austonian' mixed-use scheme in Texas wins 'green'
recognition
World Interior Design Network, by Staff
Austin, TX.
"The Austonian – the tallest residential building in Texas,
designed by Ziegler Cooper Architects - has scooped a Four Star
rating from Austin Energy Green Building...An exquisitely
landscaped outdoor urban garden with a green roof,
75-foot pool, herb gardens, sundeck, barbecue grill, dog park
are also featured on the tenth floor. Another green roof
is located on the 55th floor sky lounge and outdoor terrace..."
[11.12.10]
Hospitals Adding Roof Gardens to Improve Patient Care
Becker's
Hospital Review, by Robert Schucker
Chicago, IL.
"As hospitals around
the country increasingly adopt a patient-centered care model,
these institutions are finding new ways to incorporate care into
the built environment. One of the fastest growing trends is the
installation of green roofs, or roof gardens, to
create tranquil oases of otherwise barren rooftop space. On
Chicago’s West side, the
Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital decided on a green roof
to provide horticultural therapy benefits..." [11.11.10]
ASLA Green Roof Earns Top North American Design Honor
Business Wire,
Press Release
Washington, DC.
"The
American Society of Landscape Architects’ (ASLA) green
roof, located in downtown Washington, has earned
recognition as one of the best in North America. Green Roofs for
Healthy Cities will present ASLA with its 2010 Award of
Excellence in the Institutional Intensive category, which honors
innovative green roof design in the United States,
Canada and Mexico. The ceremony will take place at
CitiesAlive: 8th Annual Green Roof and Wall Conference and
Tradeshow in Vancouver..." [11.11.10]
Housing development scoops national award
Yellow
Advertiser, by Martyn Dolton
UK.
"A
Dagenham housing development has won a national award. The
Atrium Terrace, in Baden Powell Close, has scooped the Best
Small Development at the Affordable Home Ownership Awards 2010
thanks to its original architectural design...Every home also
has a Sedum roof system - green roofs absorbing
rainfall and providing good insulation..." [11.11.10]
LCQ14: Implementation of green roof projects for government
buildings
7thSpace
Interactive, by Staff
Hong Kong.
"...As at end October 2010, a total of 159 government buildings
maintained by the works departments had green roofs.
In addition, the works departments are currently undertaking
roof greening works at 62 government buildings (including new
buildings and buildings under refurbishment). Planning and
design of roof greening works for another 32 government
buildings are underway for implementation within the next three
years..." [11.10.10]
Green roof added to Liverpool office space development
Free Office
Search, by Daniel Silver
UK. "St
Paul's Square has claimed a first for Liverpool offices with its
new green sedum roof. The new St Paul's Square
office development in Liverpool has gone green with the
installation of a sedum roof. Designed to improve the insulation
of the buildings and create a habitat for wildlife, the roof is
the first of its kind in the city's business district, the
Liverpool Daily Post reports.." [11.10.10]
And the green get greener
The Eyeopener,
by Ian Vandaelle
Toronto, Canada.
"...The university has
been working to improve sustainability through initiatives like
the environmental sustainability certificate available through
the Chang School and the green roof of the George
Vari Engineering building, an award winning installation that
covers 10,000 square-feet of the roof..." [11.9.10]
Rooftop to Tabletop: Urban Farming Spreads Roots
OnEarth
Magazine, by Shanti Menon
Chicago, IL.
"Rooftop farming
is expanding into larger-scale operations. Eighteen feet above
Chicago’s honking city traffic, Mike Repkin stands in a plot of
buckwheat, delicate white flowers waving about his waist as an
elevated train clatters past at eye level. From this unusual
spot, Repkin is farming..." [11.9.10]
Building Green: The Office Space Concept of the Future
officebroker.com Blog, by Jo Disney
UK.
"How
will the commercial property industry adapt to sustainable
issues and climate change fears in years to come - and how will
this affect the office space market as we know it? Today we are
learning about ever increasing numbers of property developments
that are harnessing sustainable measures - ranging from the use
of recycled materials and local resources in the building
process, to green roofs and solar paneling in the
finished product...." [11.9.10]
According to the Department of Environmental Protection, low
impact development is all about taking a series of small steps
Torrington
Register Citizen, by Jason Siedzik
Winchester, CT.
"...Green roofs
are particularly suited for urban or contaminated areas, because
the plants are provided in self-contained trays. Plants selected
for their resilience to wind and other extreme conditions are
placed on rooftops. In addition to absorbing rainfall, the
plants help provide energy savings by reducing heating and
cooling costs...Winchester
one of 10 towns in Northwest Connecticut to be part of grant
program geared for low impact (environmental) development..."
[11.9.10]
Demand for green infrastructure projects higher than ever
American
Rivers, by Staff
US.
"A new
report issued by American Rivers analyzes how the $1.2 billion
of green water infrastructure funding under the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been spent. According to "Putting
Green to Work: Economic Recovery Investments for Clean and
Reliable Water," demand for green infrastructure projects
has never been higher. The report highlights case studies and
makes recommendations for how to best leverage future spending
for clean and reliable water..." [11.8.10]
Case Names Winners of Environmental Business Awards
MarketWatch,
Press Release
Racine, MI.
"Case Construction
Equipment today announced the three winners of the first
Environmental Business Awards, a national program that honors
landscape contractors whose work directly benefits the
environment or overcomes an environmental challenge...Roger
Grothe, Aloha Landscaping, Mendota Heights, Minn., who built the
first green roof on the island of Guam..."
[11.8.10]
Eco-Toupees and Plastic Alleys
Green Source, by Blair Kamin
Chicago, IL.
"Despite a major sustainability push, the city of Chicago still
has a long way to go in transforming its image from a Rust Belt
city to the greenest in the country...it’s important to remember
that the green roof and green alley programs
remain in their infancy. Stripped of the hype, they are
realistically viewed as impressive first steps that plant the
seeds for a new, ecology-minded urban infrastructure..."
[11.8.10]
Remarks at Pixel Building Clean Tech Event
US Department of State, by Staff
Melbourne, Australia. "...This building, thanks to Grocon's
commitment, brought together your country's most creative minds
to create a building with ingenious energy-saving features. It
puts energy back into the power grid from its wind turbines and
its solar panels. It has a living roof, that we
just saw, that cuts cooling costs. It uses mainly rain water and
filters its own waste water through beds of reeds to reduce the
run-off it sends into the sewers..." [11.7.10]
Green Thumb: Green roofs good for people, environment
Memphis
Commercial Appeal, by Christine Arpe
Memphis, TN.
"Green roofs
are on the cutting edge of environmentally sound construction
practices. Officials at Trezevant believe their 4500-square-foot
green roof is the largest in Memphis..." [11.5.10]
Snakes and ladders
Building.co.uk,
by Luke Wessely
UK.
"...Green
roofs aren’t the best solution in every case (although
they often are, as long as they’re intelligently planned).
They’re just one of a number of solutions architects and
builders ought to be considering when trying to make their
building as efficient and sustainable as possible..." [11.5.10]
Wave-Shaped Solar Cruise Ship Terminal Envisioned for Taiwan
Inhabitat, by Bridgette Meinhold
Taiwan.
"New York-based Sun and Associates recently unveiled a proposal
for a solar-powered green-roofed terminal for Taiwan's
burgeoning Kaohsiung port city. Spotted over on eVolo, the P.O.K.
Passenger Transportation District features a gorgeous sweeping
design coupled with a large roof-integrated solar system, an
expansive green roof and urban park, and the reuse
of shipping containers..." [11.4.10]
New Danube River Sewage Treatment Plant Will Have Green Roof
Inhabitat, by
Timon Singh
Budapest, Hungary.
"...Known as “The
Living Danube”, the plant is set to be the most advanced
wastewater treatment plant project in Budapest, Hungary, and it
will also boast a beautiful green roof...The
10,000 square meter green roof has been designed
as a flat, green surface that will absorb airborne dust and
similar impurities. The roof will also drown out noise whilst
retaining up to 90% of water – preventing rainwater from
draining into the sewer..." [11.3.10]
Global conference on greenery in buildings
Business Times
Singapore, by Staff
Singapore.
"More than 450 delegates from 25 countries are in Singapore for
the inaugural
International Skyrise Greenery Conference 2010 at the
National Library Building. The conference is the first of its
kind in the Asia-Pacific region to cover not only rooftop
gardens and green roofs but vertical
green walls. At the three-day event, which ends
tomorrow, more than 30 international industry leaders will share
insights into the latest trends on integrating greenery with
buildings. Keynote speakers include Emilio Ambasz from the US,
Patrick Blanc from France and Ken Yeang from the UK..."
[11.1.10]
Australia's Surry
Hills Library Sets New Standard for Green Design
Inhabitat, by Bridgette Meinhold
Australia. "The Surry Hills Library and Community Centre in
Sydney, Australia was recently awarded the 2010 National Award
for Sustainable Architecture by the Australian Institute of
Architects. Designed by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FJMT), the
library and community center sets a new standard of excellence
for sustainable design. With automatic sun-tracking louvers, a
rooftop photovoltaic system, a green roof, healthy
indoor air quality..." [11.1.10]
Norfolk Naval Station ribbon cutting for 'green' roof project
Daily Press, by
Staff
Norfolk, VA.
"...The project, which
cost $613,000, includes vegetation planted over the roof's
waterproofing membrane, insulating the building and reducing
energy costs. Additional benefits expected from the roof include
the reduction of runoff, filtration of pollutants from rainwater
and protection from UV rays according to reports in the
Virginian Pilot..." [11.1.10]
Azavea Creates the PhillyStormwater.org Web-Based System to
Support the Philadelphia Water Department’s New Green Stormwater
Management Program
PR Web, Press
Release
Philadelphia, PA.
"...The Philadelphia
Water Department has decided to implement a billing system that
aims to encourage property owners to use onsite green management
practices such as retention basins, trees, green roofs
and porous pavement in order to both reduce the amount of
impervious pavement and use soil and vegetation to filter the
water...Already a national leader in the design and construction
of green roofs and other urban sustainability
practices, the new program is part of Philadelphia’s Greenworks
Program, an ambitious plan to transform Philadelphia into the
greenest city in the U.S..." [10.29.10]
ASEM gives city leaders new ideas
Jakarta Post, by Indah Setiawati
Jakarta, Indonesia.
"...The director
general of Rotterdam’s climate bureau, Paula Verhoeven, said her
administration enhanced a lot of green roofs in
the city by implementing subsidies for citizens and companies to
place grass and plants on roof buildings. “That is a very good
way to contain water and to prevent storm water from running off
the building and flooding the streets,” she said. Verhoeven
added that her administration spent ¤200,000 (US$278,450) a year
in subsidies to for more than half of the city’s green
roofs..." [10.29.10]
Raising the (Green) Roof
Austin
Chronicle, by Nora Ankrum
Austin, TX.
"...the Green Roof
Advisory Group heads to
City Hall – home of Austin's most prominent green roof
project – to report on the state of Austin's "living roofs."
Also known as "sky gardens," green roofs blanket
the tops of buildings with vegetation – often native plants
well-adapted to the local climate – and are known to improve
both buildings and their surroundings. Created in August 2009,
the
advisory group was charged with exploring the feasibility of
using city policy to promote green roofs around
town...." [10.28.10]
Sustainable landscaping products to be showcased at
Garden+Landscaping Middle East 2010
Zawya, Press
Release
Dubai, UAE.
"Increasing awareness
on the need to protect the environment along with the recent
directive from the UAE Government on compliance with green
building standards is boosting demand for sustainable garden and
landscaping products. At
Garden+Landscaping Middle East taking place next week green
gardening and sustainable landscaping products will be
showcased..." [10.27.10]
Architects hit grass ceiling in quest to tame urban jungle
Sydney Morning
Herald, by Kelsey Muro
Sydney, Australia.
"Living roofs
help cool cities, capture stormwater run-off, insulate buildings
and reduce their carbon footprint. They also dampen noise and
provide green habitats for birds - and people - in the concrete
jungle. With more than half of the world's population living in
cities, advocates say the living roof's moment has
come..." [10.27.10]
Don't take water for granted
Vancouver Sun,
by Mary Teresa Bitti
Vancouver, Canada.
"...Canadians are
among the most water-hungry citizens on the planet, second only
to the United States in terms of per-capita use of
water...Increasingly, green infrastructure-- green roofs,
urban forests, parks, wetlands, green walls and
community gardens -- is seen as a viable alternative to concrete
and steel conventional pipes and infrastructure to manage and
clean storm water..." [10.26.10]
Can Green Walls In Highways Actually Reduce Anything?
Treehugger, by
Paula Alvarado
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
"The Buenos Aires government is doing a six month tryout of how
green walls perform in the city's highways as
noise, temperature and pollution mitigators. Installed inside
horizontal tubes filled with water and nutrients, the first
seedlings were planted in the exit of a route that connects the
southern part of the city with the suburbs..." [10.26.10]
Don't offset emissions, just go green
Ladysmith
Chronicle, by Katherine Backlund
Ladysmith, Canada.
"...The need for
greenery in large denuded city landscapes probably helps explain
the crazy idea that’s becoming popular, which is the building of
green roofs. This is not really a new idea as
green roofs have been around for centuries in the
form of sod roofs..." [10.25.10]
The John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical
Center Unveils $130-Million Patient-Centered Comprehensive Care
Facility
MarketWatch,
Press Release
Hackensack, NJ.
"...The
sun-drenched, four-story lobby atrium features one of the first
Living Walls installed in a United States
hospital. Accompanied by a 24-foot waterfall, the inspiring
Living Wall is made of more than 30 plant species,
all hydroponically growing without soil. Not only aesthetically
beautiful, the wall breaks down indoor air contaminates through
entirely natural processes, releasing purer, cleaner air..."
[10.25.10]
Green roof being constructed at Illinois Central College
Peoria Journal
Star, by David Zalaznik
East Peoria, IL.
"Installation is under
way on the environmental green roof over the new
CougarPlex at Illinois Central College. Chris Frye, principal
design director at the PSA Dewberry offices in Chicago, said the
14,000-square-foot roof at ICC is one of the largest in
downstate Illinois and is the fifth one the architectural firm
designed..." [10.22.10]
Abaza calls for expanding practice of building roof gardens to
limit pollution
Al-Masry
Al-Youm, by Metwali Salem
Egypt.
"Egyptian Agriculture Minister Amin Abaza said it has become
vital to begin building roof gardens throughout
Egyptian cities to fight pollution and the infamous black cloud
of smog. He said an initiative has already been started in some
new cities which have begun growing vegetables on the roofs to
fight price rises and meet some of the residents’ needs..."
[10.22.10]
The Role of the Structural Engineer on a Green Roof Project
Retrofit
Green Building
Pro, by Kirk I. Mettam & Steven W. Peck
North America.
"Whether determining basic loading capacity and other safety
concerns or undertaking more detailed measures to avoid costly
building code errors down the road, the structural engineer is a
critical team member of any green roof project..."
[10.22.10]
Feds Hope to Be Role Model for Private Sector on Sustainability
New York Times,
by Staff
New York, NY.
"...the General
Services Administration is trying to similarly motivate the
private sector to adopt sustainable practices and products. GSA
Senior Sustainability Officer Stephen Leeds recently compared
the effort to flying to the moon; GSA, he said, has the "bold
and audacious goal" to reach a zero environmental footprint and
lead the nation to sustainability...GSA is also testing
efficiency improvements at a slew of government buildings. The
agency's century-old headquarters in Washington, D.C., for
example, is being renovated to include green roofs..."
[10.22.10]
The "Rule" For Irrigating a Green Roof Garden
GREENandSAVE
Blog, by Richard Heller
US.
"Green
roofs, as implied by their name, are meant to be
sustainable, or at least that was the original intent in their
creation. Like any creation, green roofs have
taken on a life of their own and expanded into roof gardens that
have an aesthetic as well as utilitarian purpose -- and this
complicates matters somewhat...Richard Heller is founder and CEO
of
Greener by Design, a sustainable landscape design,
construction, and maintenance company based in New York City."
[10.22.10]
Roofs are Helping the Planet and Go Going Green!
Green Cars &
Green Fuel Center Blog, by India Cooper
World.
"We've all heard of slate roofs, tiled roofs even thatched
roofs. But green roofs? They are more than just a
trend. One of the first green roofs in Europe was
created in Switzerland in 1914 and they are now recognized as
being of great benefit to the environment...The world's largest
green roof is over 10 and a half acres. It covers
the entire roof of the
Ford truck factory in Dearborn, Michigan." [10.21.10]
LEED Platinum and Green Roofed SAP America Headquarters
Inhabitat, by
Bridgette Meinhold
Newton Square, PA.
"...Featuring an
expansive green roof and tons of sustainable
building strategies, the German software company's American
headquarters recently earned LEED...A large green roof
covers the entire building, providing insulation and reducing
heat gain, while rainwater collectors trap rainwater for storage
in a 50,000-gallon cistern..." [10.21.10]
Omega Institute's Greenest Living Building
Care2.com, by
Ronnie Citron-Fink
Rhinebeck, NY.
"...As a
high-performance designed building, the OCSL is powered by
passive solar heating, a geothermal system, a photovoltaic power
and includes a greenhouse and green roof,
constructed wetlands and a green classroom that integrate
seamlessly with the natural environment..." [10.21.10]
North America's Largest Outdoor Green Wall Unveiled In BC
Marketwire,
Press Release
Surrey, Canada.
"Green over Grey
Designers have completed planting the largest and most
biologically diverse outdoor green wall in North
America. It is located in Surrey, Canada, covering the Semiahmoo
Public Library and RCMP Facility. The unique design is nearly
3,000 square feet and consists of over 10,000 individual plants
representing more than 120 unique species..." [10.20.10]
Green Monster - Vancouver International Airport Living Wall
Metropolis
Magazine, by Tim Newcomb
Vancouver, Canada.
"...Flying is a fairly
miserable experience even in the best conditions, and the drab,
confusing, and downright ugly architecture of many airports
certainly doesn’t help. Which is why Randy Sharp, the landscape
master planner of Vancouver International Airport (YVR), in
British Columbia, felt compelled to do something about a massive
blank concrete wall confronting international travelers arriving
via the city’s new light-rail system..." [10.20.10]
One-stop building efficient, eco-friendly
Pensacola News
Journal, by Jamie Page
Pensacola, FL.
"Escambia County's new 'one-stop' center is not only more
efficient for the public's needs, it's now the county's most
environmentally friendly building. In fact, the new Escambia
County Central Office Complex in Pensacola has the largest
green roof in Florida and is built with cutting-edge
'green building' techniques..." [10.20.10]
Be Green 2: Living Walls
KHON2.com, by Kirk Matthews
Hawaii.
"The
University of Hawaii Outreach College is spreading the news
about an innovative project to create "living walls"
across the community. Let's start first with a green wall, a
living wall like this one at Whole Foods in Kahala. It's the
brainstorm of Greg Lee from Tropical Images...Greg Lee (1st Look
Exteriors) is
GLT Hawaii Distributor." [10.19.10]
Rockwell green roof reaches new heights
Milwaukee
Business Journal, by Rich Rovito
Milwaukee, WI.
"Rockwell Automation
Inc. on Tuesday unveiled its new 'green' roof atop
its corporate headquarters building in Milwaukee’s Walker’s
Point neighborhood. Company management and city officials claim
the environmental initiative has created the largest green
roof in Wisconsin, with nearly 50,000 square feet of the
71,000-square-foot roof having been covered with sedum..."
[10.19.10]
Green-Roofed Holocaust Museum Unveiled in Los Angeles
Inhabitat, by
Andrew Michler
Los Angeles, CA.
"...The striking building designed by Belzberg architects
features a generous green roof that acts as an
extension of the adjacent Pan Pacific Park. The project was also
designed to express one of the darkest moments in human history
- a buried organic form greets visitors as they descend into a
unique museum space that memorializes those who died and
survived the holocaust..." [10.19.10]
CITGO Chesapeake Terminal Installs Region's First Green Roof
PR Newswire,
Press Release
Houston, TX.
"The CITGO Chesapeake
Terminal has installed a 3000-square-foot Green Roof
system which is designed to reduce storm water runoff and help
improve the local environment. The innovative,
environmentally-friendly system integrates living plants into
the building structure and will eliminate almost 60,000 gallons
of storm water runoff into the nearby Elizabeth River..."
[10.19.10]
Bronx School Begins "Green Roof" Installation
NY1, by Staff
Bronx, NY.
"A public school in the Bronx is taking its efforts of "going
green" to a whole new level. The 1,400 square foot roof of
greenery at the Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Education
High School in Melrose is the first officially approved
Green Roof at a public school..." [10.16.10]
Natural high
Ha'aretz, by
Zafrir Rinat
Jerusalem, Israel.
"Jerusalem is joining
the world's cities in promoting 'green roofs':
rooftop gardens designed to lower energy costs, purify the air
and provide homes for plants and animals...The Jerusalem
municipality has put together a plan to create green roofs
in the city, starting with school buildings. Israel Electric
Corporation is planning green roofs for power facilities, and a
sewage treatment plant with a green roof in the
capital's Har Homa neighborhood is in the planning stage..."
[10.16.10]
Toronto's smartest building and broadcasting showcase opens on
waterfront
Daily
Commercial News, by Patricia Williams
Toronto, Canada.
"...Targeting LEED
Gold, the building scheme employs numerous sustainable
initiatives including green roofs, certified wood,
low-emitting materials, light pollution reduction and gray water
recycling. A four-storey-high bio-filter wall
filters internal air to enhance the environmental performance of
the building by lowering dependence on mechanical heating and
cooling systems..." [10.16.10]
Vancouver Convention Centre's green roof getting a trim
Vancouver Sun,
by Gerry Bellett
Vancouver, Canada.
"The grass growing on the six-acre meadow atop the
Vancouver Convention Centre West is being trimmed this
weekend, the only maintenance the roof receives. A team of
landscapers armed with power-trimmers will be cutting back the
array of wild grasses and plants sowed on the roof in 2008..."
[10.15.10]
Highrise, skyrise, skyscape
Philippine
Star, by Paulo Alcazaren
Philippines.
"...Singapore, in
fact, is on the cutting edge of this vertical greening movement.
Almost all new construction in the city-state involves high-rise
greenery, vertical green, and green roofs. Because
of the rapidity of this change in paradigms of design and
construction, Singapore is hosting the
International Skyrise
Greenery Conference 2010..." [10.15.10]
The Biosphere presents two Green Roofs and a model Conservation
Garden
Canada NewsWire,
Press Release
Montreal, Canada.
"As part of its 15th
anniversary celebrations, the Biosphère has installed two
green roofs and created an indoor garden that reproduces
three Canadian ecosystems. Visit the Biosphère to see these
additions and to learn more about the environment and
technologies for green housing. The green roofs
show how the installation of planted roofs can benefit urban
environments by helping to counter heat islands, dampen noise,
boost energy efficiency, and purify the air and water..."
[10.15.10]
Roots in the Sky
UAB News, by
Grant Martin
Birmingham, AL.
"Green Roof Projects Could Reduce Pollution, Power
Use. A new project at UAB is sending researchers through the
roof. In a pioneering test of a hot “green” technology, UAB’s
facilities management department has installed 15 miniature
gardens and other experimental coverings (including river rock
and marble chips) atop the Chemistry Building..." [10.14.10]
The greening of Olympia's City Hall
TheNewsTribune.com, by Steve Bloom
Olympia, WA.
"Part of the new City
Hall is getting a green roof – in more ways than
one. For starters, the roof is literally turning green. Workers
prepared beds of soil Wednesday on the roof of the building in
the 600 block of Fourth Avenue East so they could plant beds of
small green plants called sedums..." [10.14.10]
Park-side Eco Kindergarten Features a Glowing Façade
Inhabitat, by
Andrew Michler
Zaragoza, Spain.
"...Santiago
Carroquino Arquitectos focused on creating a preschool with
lasting character that expresses playfulness yet minimally
disrupts the surrounding natural environment. From the façade to
the green roof to the preservation of indigenous
trees, the kindergarten blends the boundaries between nature and
building while providing a safe, light-filled, and airy place
for children to play and learn..." [10.14.10]
Eco-Currents: talking trash and raising the roof
Austin
Chronicle, by Nora Ankrum and Richard Whittaker
Austin, TX.
"...Some people here
in Austin are combating the effects of coal and other carbon
dioxide-emitting fuels right in – or on – their own homes using
green roofs, which dedicate roof space to native
plants that can help keep energy use down and combat the urban
heat island effect, among other advantages..." [10.14.10]
Island offices 'go green' in a big way
Jamestown
Press, by Geoff Campbell
Jamestown, RI.
"...Four green
roofs help with rainwater drainage, as well as cooling
and heating, Bell said. The highest of the four green
roofs adds to the quality of life of EPI’s employees – a
broader definition of environmental impact – with both its
plantings and the open vistas to the Bay..." [10.14.10]
North Fork company installs environmentally friendly roofs,
walls
Riverhead
News-Review, by Samantha Brix
Riverhead, NY.
"...Plant
Connection on Sound Avenue grows and installs green
walls and roofs that are covered with grass, shrubs,
trees and vegetables. Not only are these planted architectural
elements aesthetically appealing, proponent say they're also an
environmentally friendly way to prevent pollution and help
buildings cut operating costs..." [10.13.10]
What is Mike Holmes most thankful for? Good contractors,
naturally
Canada.com, by
Mike Holmes
Canada.
"...For the people who think of innovative ways to recycle
post-industrial or post-consumer waste into products that reduce
waste and help us live and build greener. Who invent grey-water
and black-water recycling technology to help us conserve fresh
water, green roofs to help reduce urban heat
islands, and preserve habitat as well as conserve energy. Who
invest energy and money into research and development for
renewable, alternative energy sources, such as wind and
solar..." [10.13.10]
Conservancy Congratulates Rundell Ernstberger
The Nature
Conservancy, by Adam McLane
Indianapolis, IN.
"...The site design
for the Efroymson Conservation Center includes many features
that highlight Runsdell Ernstberger’s successful design
solution, from the parking lot with its permeable pavement to
the green spaces, gardens, and green roofs that
cover nearly half of the site, using unique native Indiana
species not normally seen in urban environments..." [10.13.10]
Room with a view
Trading
Markets, Press Release
Cedar Rapids, MI.
"An idea to protect
the views from the living rooms of Meth-Wick Community residents
while their building is expanded has turned into one of Iowa's
largest 'green roof' projects...The plantings are
expected to prolong the life of the new roof by as much as 40
years and reduce air conditioning costs for the area underneath
by 25 percent or more, according to
LiveRoof..." [10.13.10]
Ecology's Stormwater Strategy
The Daily
Score, by Lisa Stiffler
Seattle, WA.
"The
Washington Department of Ecology has released its
draft draft plan for beefing up its low-impact development
requirements for controlling polluted stormwater runoff -- which
is considered the top environmental threat to the Puget Sound
and many other Northwest lakes, rivers, and streams...green
roofs are in for commercial projects..." [10.12.10]
London is rising to the green roof challenge
Green Building
Press, by Staff
London, UK.
"Green roofs
are one way to help mitigate the effects of climate change
arising from the built environment, and are increasingly being
seen as an important part of making cities less damaging. London
is rising to the challenge, not just by hosting the recent
World Green Roof Congress 2010,
but also via Mayor Boris Johnson’s draft Climate Change
Adaptation Strategy..." [10.12.10]
Roofs come alive
Homes-Extra.ca,
by Jill Ellis-Worthington
London, Canada.
"...Kees Govers, of
LiveRoof in Mount Brydges, Ontario – the company that
installed this green roof – estimates that a 50 to
60% saving on heating and cooling costs could be realized in an
industrial building, with slightly less in a residential
application, as the insulation used in home construction is
already at an energy-saving R40 (the rating of its resistance to
thermal exchange)..." [10.12.10]
Green Roof at Freedom Field
WIFR, by Chip Brewster
Rockford, IL.
"Job growth in the Stateline could involve sustainable energy
and our local "green effort" is growing a new project. Winnebago
County's Freedom Field now has a one-thousand square foot "green
roof." It was built by Ogle County company Simply
Prairies and consists entirely of native prairie plants..."
[10.12.10]
International Living Building Institute Certifies World's
Greenest Buildings
Kansas City Star, by Staff
Kansas City, MO.
"...Eco-Sense is a celebrated site-specific example of how one
family created an affordable ecologically sensitive home and
lifestyle. Completed by owner/builders Ann and Gord Baird in
December 2008, it features passive solar design, photovoltaics
with grid tie and solar thermal installation, 90% energy and
water conservation, composting toilets, rain water harvesting
and grey water reuse, vegetated roof, earthen
floors, and natural finishes – all fully integrated into their
beautiful and modern version of earthen architecture."
[10.12.10]
Layoff Plants the Seed of a New Green Career
SecondAct, by
Jane Ganahl
San Francisco, CA.
"A San Francisco
marketing executive goes back to his roots and finds his true
passion up on the (eco-friendly) roof...The 42-year-old Smit,
like the green roof he helped create, is a living
example of reinvention. Like so many business executives who
found themselves laid off during the recent recession, Smit was
forced to drop back in order to move forward..." [10.11.10]
Living Walls Take on Size and Creativity
Metropolis
Magazine, by Kadie Yale
Kennett Square, PA.
"...At 2,380 sq. ft.,
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has recently been pushed
out of the title of Largest Living Wall in North America by
Longwood Garden’s 4,072 sq. ft. wall. This beautifully arranged
living billboard is irrigated in 9 zones only about 15 minutes a
week, and is made up of geographically compatible plants so that
the design remains constant year-round..." [10.11.10]
Rep. Maloney Celebrates a New Green Roof at Regis High School
PoliticalNews.me, Press Release
New York, NY.
"Congresswoman Carolyn
B. Maloney (D - Manhattan, Queens) joined Columbia University
Professor Stuart Gaffin, Regis High School Principal Philip
Judge and Members of the School’s Board of Trustees, alumni,
teachers and students to dedicate Regis High School’s much
anticipated new green roof..." [10.11.10]
Dusty Gedge, Duncan Kramer, Dan Monck and John Little's
innovation: green roofs
The Guardian, by Lucy Siegle
London, UK.
"...The Barclays building in Canary Wharf has a green roof
designed by former punk and urban ecologist Dusty Gedge of
Livingroofs.org, who thinks it's time there were more:
There's 24 times the size of Richmond Park in flat roofs in
London alone. You have all those buildings in out-of-town
shopping developments which are grey, dead sheds – they should
have green roofs..." [10.10.10]
Environment Secretary will seek tax incentives for green roof
installations in Mexico City
RadioFormula.com, by Staff
Mexico City, Mexico.
"Martha Delgado,
Environment Secretary, said while attending the
World Congress of Green Roofs
2010, that during the next budget discussion in the
Legislature, she will seek to adopt tax incentives for
green roofs and ensures that more than 17 million square
feet of rooftop in Mexico City are already green...." [10.8.10]
A green home in Subic
Inquirer.net, by Marcos de Guzman Jr.
Subic Bay, Philippines.
"...Their home features green roofs, living walls
and passive cooling elements—all the key concepts of green
architecture. They started off with a 250-square-meter concrete
duplex, originally built in the 1950s..." [10.8.10]
World Green Roof Congress in Mexico City
Demotix, by
Alberto Millares
Mexico City, Mexico.
"Today
The World Congress of Green
Roofs 2010 was opened in Mexico, by Marcelo Ebrard, head of
government in Mexico City, México. To have green roofs
in Mexico City helps to reduce temperature, increases humidity,
traps suspended particles. It implies a way of thinking, a
culture of this civilization's survival, sustainability and a
different relationship with the environment. In comparison
Germany has 22 million square meters of green roofs, whereas
Mexico City only has 12,500." [10.8.10]
Green-Roofed Long Cove House Melds Form and Function
Inhabitat, by Andrew Michler
Nova Scotia, Canada.
"The bitterly cold
Atlantic winds have met their match with in this well-insulated
green roofed home in Nova Scotia. The project’s
southern orientation give the house a big bump up in efficiency,
and the wonderful roof system and unique skin provide it with a
rich personality..." [10.8.10]
DOE Grants SJU $1 Million to Study Alternate Fuel Source and
Green Roofs
Newswise, Press
Release
Philadelphia PA.
"...The planned research initiatives focus on two different
projects, one involving switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), a
potential biofuel crop, and another involving a comparison of
green roof systems. Both initiatives will be
conducted on Saint Joseph’s campus, but field studies of
switchgrass will be carried out at the Konza Prairie, near
Manhattan, Kan., which is a National Science Foundation Long
Term Ecological Research site..." [10.7.10]
Gorgeous Eco-Lodge Built on Flathead Lake in Montana
Inhabitat, by Bridgette Meinhold
Flathead Lake, MT.
"...As eco-friendly as it is beautiful, green features abound
throughout the entire complex, including a stacked wood facade
built from fallen trees on site, a green roof and
an integrated, energy efficient design...The roof of the Lake
House features a beautiful sod green roof that provides
insulation and infiltration..." [10.7.10]
Center at Andrews Air Force Base saves money with green roof
FederalNewsRadio.com, by Galen Jamison
Andrews Air Force Base, MD.
"The Air National Guard's new Readiness Center at Andrews Air
Force Base is a great example of how technology can lower energy
costs while also lowering the impact on the environment. The
building has been given a Silver LEED Certification, in part
because of the roof that is literally green..." [10.6.10]
As a federal pioneer of LEED, NOAA grasps savings
FederalNewsRadio.com, by Max Cacas
Suitland, MD.
"...NOAA's building
earned a highly-sought after rating, called the Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)...another factor in the
NOAA building's LEED Gold rating is the building features one of
the first green roofs on a newly-constructed
federal building..." [10.6.10]
The Evolution of Green Roofs at Swarthmore
The Daily Gazette, by Henrietta Hakes
Swarthmore, PA.
"Swarthmore’s first green roof, built in the fall
of 2002, was one of the first in the Philadelphia area. It and
the other green roofs, on Alice Paul and David Kemp, are still
recognized as distinctive: in 2011 the Green Roof and Wall
Conference will be in Philadelphia, and Swarthmore’s roofs,
known locally as the “best maintained”, will be featured on the
program’s tour..." [10.6.10]
Largest solar array in Upper Midwest 16 percent completed,
already largest in city
KARE11.com, by
Staff
Minneapolis, MN.
"...Minneapolis is
recognized as one of the most environmentally friendly cities in
the country. This solar array in the works is just one of many
examples of how City government has led by example and taken
advantage of the benefits of being green. City Hall and
Target Center have green roofs to manage
rainwater where it falls and keep our river, lakes and creeks
cleaner..." [10.5.10]
PNC Place Opens As Greater Washington Regional Headquarters
Daily Markets,
Press Release
DC.
"Green
construction leader surpasses 100 LEED®-certified projects -
Twelve-story building with three-story Climate Wall earns
platinum LEED certification...PNC Place offers 350000 square
feet of office space and retail, topped by a 15000 square foot
Eco-Skygarden covering half its roof...Largest
green wall in the United States displayed on
One PNC Plaza..." [10.5.10]
New Yale Health Center opens its doors in New Haven
New Haven
Register, by Mary E. O'Leary
New Haven, CT.
"...The center, which
has its own adjacent garage, has views from the upper floors of
the Grove Street Cemetery, which from that height looks like a
giant park with a cityscape skyline behind it. There are six
green roofs throughout the building and a healing
garden on the top floor..." [10.5.10]
The secret garden
theVarsity.ca, by Kim Tran
Toronto, Canada.
"...Two years ago, U of T’s Campus Agriculture Project — a group
formed to promote farming as a more efficient and sustainable
means of growing food both on campus and in the city —
implemented several pilot garden projects across campus. One of
these projects was the Sky Garden, created by
three civil engineering graduate students, Heather Wray, Kyla
Smith, and Sarah Wilson..." [10.4.10]
York's new hospital rooftop goes green
Seacoastonline.com, by Deborah Mcdermott
York, ME.
"...Last week, as one of the final installations in what is
already a very "green" addition in an already sustainable
enterprise, York Hospital installed a green roof
on its new surgery center. Now when people recovering from
surgery or in the intensive care unit look out their window,
instead of looking at an expanse of flat, black roof, they'll
see what looks for all the world like a rooftop garden..."
[10.4.10]
Sky's the limit for garden design
Courier Mail,
by Michael Matusik
Australia.
"They used to be known as rooftop gardens,
green roofs, and now a more picturesque 'sky
gardens'. The concept of green roofs has
been well established in Europe and North America for some time
and is starting to be incorporated into many building designs in
Australia..." [10.3.10]
Landscape architecture assistant professor applies his musical
background to his field at UTA
UTA The
Shorthorn, by Sarah Lutz
Arlington, TX.
"David Hopman believes
in a hands-on approach, whether it’s in his first career as a
classical guitarist or his second as a landscape
architect...Hopman led the way in getting the first green
roof in North Texas above the university’s
Life Science Building, designing the 1,000-square-foot space
as an experiment two years ago..." [10.3.10]
Green roofs becoming trendy in Madison
Wisconsin State
Journal, by Lynn Welch
Madison, WI.
"Green roofs
are sprouting up on local mixed-use condominium and apartment
buildings as well as some public buildings, an effort to promote
storm water retention, prevent urban heat buildup, and create
appealing green spaces for city dwellers to enjoy..." [10.2.10]
Springfield Township officials tout advantages of building
'green'
Montgomery
Newspapers, by Nicole Jenet
Philadelphia, PA.
"Solar panels,
green roofs and a geothermal system will be “LEEDing the
way” to a greener future for the Morris Arboretum and
Springfield Township. At a Green Building Symposium held by the
Springfield Township Environmental Advisory Commission, Morris
Arboretum and Sustainable Springfield Sept. 29 at the new
Horticulture Center of the Morris Arboretum, interested
Springfield residents received a tour of the new center..."
[10.1.10]
Cherokee Lofts is 40% more efficient than Calif. Title 24
Contractor Mag,
by Candace Roulo
Hollywood, CA.
"The mixed-use
building, which pays homage to the Hollywood history of Cherokee
Recording Studios, MGM Studios and the many musicians who
recorded music at this location, consists of 12 market-rate
lofts, 2,800-sq.ft. of retail space, one underground level of
parking, and a rooftop deck and green roof. It is
the first U.S. Green Building Council LEED Platinum pending
mixed-use building in Hollywood..." [10.1.10]
Rooftop park floated for library
Metro Canada,
by Vancouver
Vancouver, Canada.
"Renowned landscape
architect Cornelia Hahn Oberlander hopes the green roof
atop the
Vancouver Public Library will be converted into a
spectacular rooftop park for everyone in the city to enjoy...It
will be a sitting area and a beautiful place to view the city
for everybody, said Oberlander, who won the library’s original
design competition in the early 1990s with architect Moshe
Safdie..." [10.1.10]
ASLA Highlights Green Infrastructure Benefits at Congressional
Hearing
Business Wire,
Press Release
DC.
"Green
infrastructure techniques like green roofs,
permeable pavers, rain gardens and other design approaches can
provide significant economic and ecological benefits for
communities facing overburdened and crumbling infrastructure,
according to David Yocca, FASLA, who testified before Congress
today on behalf of the
American Society
of Landscape Architects (ASLA)..." [9.30.10]
From the Garden - Roof garden is escape for families at
hospital
StarNewsOnline.com, by Susan Hart
Wilmington, NC.
"Did you know there
was a “garden in the sky” on the New Hanover Regional Medical
Center campus? If you stand in the parking lot outside the Betty
H. Cameron Women’s & Children’s Hospital, you can see it – three
stories up... Parents and visitors use the Green Roof
when in need of a breath of fresh air or a chance to relax in a
non-medical setting..." [9.29.10]
$1.5 Billion Plan Would Cut Sewage Flow Into City Waters
New York Times,
by Mireya Navarro
New York, NY.
"The Bloomberg
administration wants to invest up to $1.5 billion over the next
20 years on new environmental techniques to reduce the flow of
sewage into the city’s waterways. The plan, announced on Tuesday
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, calls for building an
infrastructure to capture and retain storm water before it
reaches the sewer system and overloads it. The city would foster
investments in projects like green roofs with
plantings, porous pavement for parking lots, rain barrels,
wetlands and depressions for collecting water in parks, for
example..." [9.28.10]
WWF Completes Third Largest Green Roof in Washington D.C.
Inhabitat Blog,
by Lea Bogdan
D.C.
"The
recently finished green roof atop the World
Wildlife Fund (WWF) headquarters in Washington, D.C. is the
third largest in the nation’s capitol. The project involved
replacing the original 24 year-old roof with a 27,750 sq ft,
state of the art living system of locally grown plant life. WWF
has already impressed us with green architectural innovation at
their headquarters in the Netherlands, and we’re glad to see
them giving Washington D.C. an excellent example of the benefits
of a green roof..." [9.28.10]
Raising the (Green) Roof
Soapbox
Cincinnati, by Matt Cunningham
Cincinnati, OH.
"...Cincinnati Public Schools is incorporating green roof
technology into its Facilities Master Plan, with the help of the
Metropolitan Sewer District (since green roofs
help control rain runoff, it's not uncommon for sewer and water
management agencies to get involved with their installation).
According to CPS project manager Robin Brandon, contractor
Weston/Green Grid installed green roofs at
Taft High School and North Avondale Montessori in less than a
week each..." [9.28.10]
Buenos Aires Promotes “Roof Gardens” to Save Energy
Latin American
Herald Tribune, by Joan Faus
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
"Authorities in the
Argentine capital are using tax breaks to encourage people to
establish gardens on the terraces and roofs of buildings with
the goal of improving the urban environment and saving energy,
as is already being done in Tokyo and Berlin, among other
cities..." [9.28.10]
Toronto's Arcadia Co-op celebrates new green roof garden
Digital
Journal, by KJ Mullins
Toronto, Canada.
"The residents of
Arcadia Housing Co-op on Queen's Quay celebrated a new green
space this Sunday. The artist community's back yard has been
transformed from a cement slab into a garden area for neighbours
to gather and enjoy nature. While the garden area looks like a
backyard it is in reality a green roof. It sits on
top of the parking garage that the Co-op shares with
neighbouring Harbourside Co-op..." [9.26.10]
Homeowners use rooftop gardens to raise energy efficiency
Cape Cod Times,
by Caroline Hughes
Cape Cod, MA.
"...Although the trend
is more widespread in cities, putting a vegetative roof
on a house is becoming more popular on residences as well. A
database on the website
greenroofs.com lists close to 1,100 such roofs, including 36
buildings in Massachusetts with green roofs or
green walls. The database does not cover every green
building; a site spokesman estimates that it includes about
one-quarter of all green roofs in the country.
Just a handful of the roofs on the list belong to private
residents..." [9.26.10]
Wrapped in life-giving green
Malaysia
Star, by Chin Mui Yoon
Malaysia.
"...Blanc created his first true living wall in
the 1980s in Parc de la Villette in Paris. Today, his works of
green art adorn over 140 walls around the world: the interiors
of hotels, private homes and department stores in Bangkok,
Berlin and Kuwait; luxury condominiums in Sydney; museums in
Japan; and Parisian clubs. They are also a vital part of high
profile architectural works such as Jean Nouvel’s
Musee du Quai Branly in Paris and the Caixa Forum in Madrid
by Herzog and de Meuron..." [9.26.10]
Celebrating the upgrade
Laconia
Citizen, by John Koziol
Laconia, NH.
"The N.H. Department
of Environmental Services and the member communities of its
Winnipesaukee River Basin Program celebrated a $2 million
upgrade to the facility on Friday which will see the wastewater
treatment plant in Franklin cut its overall electrical use by 20
percent. Half of the cost to install new aeration blowers and to
pay for energy efficiency improvements, including a
'green' roof, will be paid through a low-interest loan
from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund..." [9.25.10]
Living the Green Life: Part 3 of 3
examiner.com, by Rachel Northrop
New York, NY.
"...One feature of LEED certified buildings is that they remove
themselves from the heat island equation by installing
greenroofs. Greenroofs come in endless varieties,
and their main objective is to eliminate both heat absorption
and heat radiation. This is primarily done through the planting
of succulent plants, such as sedum, which cover the surface of
the room..." [9.23.10]
Boosting Green Roofs in Seattle
KPLU Local
News, by Liam Moriarty
Seattle, WA.
"Traditionally in the
Northwest, having a 'green roof' means you've got
excess moss build-up. But a new
survey from the
City of Seattle shows that roofs designed to grow grasses,
flowers and even trees are taking on a life of their own...The
roof - with walkways between the areas planted in sedums and
ornamental grasses - is one of more than
60 green roofs that officials found during their city-wide
survey..." [9.23.10]
[You may search for green roof projects in Seattle in the
Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database]
The Organic Growth of Portland's Green Roofs
The Daily
Score, by Lisa Stiffler
Portland, OR.
"Portland is a leader
in ecoroofs -- how'd they do it? Portland's
ecoroof program is enough to turn other sustainability-striving
cities green with envy. The City of Roses boasts 351 green
roofs and rooftop gardens covering more than 26 acres.
By comparison, Seattle has 62 vegetated roofs totaling about 9
acres..." [9.23.10]
Roof goes green
Timmins Daily
Press, by Ron Grech
Timmins, Canada.
"Northern College is
experimenting with a roofing system that covers the surface with
soil and vegetation. 'We're putting extensive green roof,
six inches of growing medium and very hardy plants, very drought
tolerant,' explained Kees Govers, sales and marketing manager
for
LiveRoof Ontario. The purpose is to capture storm water, to
reduce energy use and also to make the roofing membrane live
longer..." [9.23.10]
Green roofs set to go greener, reckons RHS
Horticulture
Week, by Jez Abbott
UK.
"Experts looking into green roofs may have hit on
a sustainable alternative growing media by combining eco compost
with green substrates...Just as potting compost has improved
over the years, substrates for green roofs need
investigation to optimise them for different plant types and
climates. The
research, funded by the Waste & Resources Action Programme
(WRAP), looks at amounts of compost that can be used in green
roof substrates..." [9.22.10]
Green Roofs in Rotterdam: Studies, Plans, Outreach, and Reducing
Flood Risks
WorldChanging,
by Alison Killing
Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
"Rotterdam's
initiative to promote the creation of green roofs
within the city has seen just under 10% of the roofs suitable
for this converted into green roofs. The project
is part of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative, run by the
Rotterdam city council, Port Authority and the Environmental
Protection Agency with the aim of reducing the city's CO2
emissions by 50% and helping the city adapt to climate
change..." [9.22.10]
EPA stormwater regulations = Green roof marketing
Washington
Business Journal Blog, by Timothy R. Hughes
US.
"EPA’s
proposed changes to stormwater regulations may have quite
significant financial impacts on the construction, real estate
and development industry. The regulations may also create
opportunities for some businesses using green roof
design and construction and new products and techniques, such as
pervious concrete..." [9.22.10]
Vertical garden grows downtown
Seacoastonline.com, by Rachel Forrest
Portsmouth, ME.
"Softly flowing
tussock grass and curly, burgundy-hued coral bells are two
plants that you'd come across on a walk through a New England
forest, but it is a surprise when those plants grow on a brick
wall on the side of an urban restaurant building...Green
wall systems like this have only been around for about
three or four years, Daniels said. Green
walls
come in two categories — the green facade (like ivy) and this
one, which is a living wall, which means there's
soil..." [9.22.10]
[You may search the
Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database for more information]
Lexington Gets its Fourth "Art in Motion" Bus Shelter
Business
Lexington, by Tom Martin
Lexington, KY.
"...Designed and built
by Prajna Design and Construction, Gardenstop takes the art
shelter concept in a new direction by incorporating living
plants, emphasizing the artfulness of our native flora while
increasing the positive environmental impact of the structure
itself. It features native vines growing on a metal screen
backdrop, a green roof to divert storm water
runoff and a host of other sustainable features..." [9.21.10]
Living it up -- on the roof
Arizona Daily
Sun, Betsey Bruner
Flagstaff, AZ.
"Museum of Northern
Arizona Director Robert Breunig stands on the roof of the Easton
Collections Center. The roof is a 'living roof'
with irrigation, grasses and flowers...Living roofs
are covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a
waterproofing membrane, and complete with drainage and
irrigation systems..." [9.20.10]
Modules boast green roof and distinct build
Temple News, by
Angelo Fichera
Philadelphia, PA.
"...The Modules at
TempleTown boast a green roof and porous paving.
TempleTown representatives hope it will be the largest modular
building in the United States to receive certification from
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design..." [9.20.10]
More than just a pretty roof: Ecoroofs save cash
Sustainable
Business Oregon, by Lee van der Voo
Portland, OR.
"Shawn Sullivan's only
complaint with ecoroofs is that the pitch to get
businesses to install them is sometimes all wrong...His point?
Rooftop plants can save money, especially for businesses with
large commercial buildings, because they can double the life of
a roof and reduce energy and maintenance costs..." [9.20.10]
Lamb's ear may be better green roof plant
Greenhouse
Management & Production, by David Kuack
London, UK.
"Research presented at
the recent World Green Roof
Congress in London, England, indicates Stachys byzantina
(lamb’s ear) may be instrumental in lowering the rising
temperatures in cities and counteracting urban heat island
effects. Royal Horticultural Society scientist Tijana Blanusa
studied three broad-leafed perennial plants and a sedum mix. In
the first year of her research S. byzantina was found to
significantly reduce the surrounding air temperature near the
surface of the leaf by 1.5 degrees compared to bare, dry
soil..." [9.19.10]
Parking for cars ... and plants
ShanghaiDaily.com, by Zha Minjie
Shanghai, China.
"The city is going to
be greener in future with plans to incorporate greenery in the
construction of new multi-level parking lots. The new parking
lots will be covered by plants, like the gardens now seen on
many buildings' rooftops. It's an ideal way to increase the
green coverage in the city where land is limited and to solve
the shortage of parking spaces at the same time, city greenery
authorities said yesterday..." [9.18.10]
NC State's Centennial Campus Unveils Latest Academic Building
for Building for Engineering Students
24-7PressRelease.com, Press Release
Raleigh, NC.
"The latest building
to open on NC State's Centennial Campus is an engineering
student's dream. With state-of-the-art laboratories and
equipment, the 248,000-square-foot building features two wind
tunnels and Centennial's first green roof..."
[9.18.10]
Storm water collection touted to reduce drain on businesses from
MMSD fees
WisBusiness.com, by Kay Nolan
Wauwatosa, WI.
"Changing the longtime engineering mind-set of deliberately
channeling rainwater off of property in the Milwaukee area could
save tens of thousands of dollars, attendees of a clean water
conference were told Wednesday in Wauwatosa...35 percent to 50
percent lower heating bills due to the green roof..."
[9.17.10]
Ridgewood puts new 'eco-friendly' gym to good use
Norridge Harwood Heights News, by Deborah Bayliss
Norridge, IL.
"Ridgewood's new gym uses vegetated green roof to
help insulate the facility. Additionally, the new facility has a
cardiovascular workout area with a view as well as a vegetated
green roof and classroom. Designed to insulate the building, the
green roof also serves as an outdoor,
eco-classroom..." [9.17.10]
Illinois EPA seeks ideas for stormwater management
Belleville News Democrat, by Staff
Chicago, IL. "The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
is seeking ideas for projects that reduce stormwater runoff and
other discharges into state waterways...Those methods include
permeable pavements, bioswales that collect polluted water and
treat it, green roofs and other ideas..."
[9.17.10]
Why Singapore is called the green city
Inquirer.net, by Amado de Jesus
Singapore. "...Singapore government now also requires that
concrete roof decks be converted into green roofs
to address global warming. And as if that was not enough,
studies are now being made to promote green walls
to minimize exposing bare walls to solar heat...Today, Singapore
is turning out to be a leading practitioner and advocate of the
largest growing industry in the world, the green building
industry. This week marks the second time that Singapore is
hosting World
Green Building Conference..." [9.17.10]
MHS grad leaves green legacy
Mansfield News,
by Paula Vogler
Mansfield, MA.
"A modular classroom
at Mansfield High School has a green roof section
in place thanks to Kjirsten Seiler, a 2009 graduate, but that is
not all she left behind. According to principal Joseph
Maruszczak, the roof with the plants on top has become a
discussion starter as students look out the windows of a
stairwell in the main building and wonder what they are looking
at..." [9.17.10]
Living roof for living river project
Environmental Data Interactive - 3 days ago
Hungary.
"Living Danube - the €500million project to revolutionise
Hungary's environmental management of the river - took a further
step towards completion recently when a high-performance
green roof was installed on a waste water treatment
plant in the country..." [9.16.10]
Victoria Invests $4.3 Million For Living Green Roof
Gov Monitor, by Staff
Victoria, Australia. "Victoria's new desalination plant will
feature a living 'green roof' larger than the MCG
and the biggest in the southern hemisphere...The living
green roof will be planted entirely with local native
species, providing a sustainable centrepiece for a project that
will secure the future water needs of our stat..." [9.16.10]
Rainwater can help with dry seasons
Telegraph.co.uk, by Noel Kingsbury
UK. "How to use the varying British rainfall patterns around
the year to the best effect in your garden and allotment...The
green roof here is a mix of plants that can
survive drought, but freshen up and grow when it rains,
including species of thyme, sedum and sempervivum. Whatever
rainfall does exceed the carrying capacity of the green
roof will end up in a rainwater butt..." [9.15.10]
Green machine: Why our walls really should have ears
New Scientist,
by Helen Knight
London, UK.
"...Tijana Blanusa, a
Royal Horticultural Society researcher based at the University
of Reading in the UK, wanted to know if Sedum really is the best
plant for the job...She will present her findings at the
World Green
Roof Congress in London tomorrow..." [9.14.10]
Beautiful Reclaimed Fir House Boasts a Lush Living Roof
Inhabitat Blog,
by Yuka Yoneda
Jackson, WY.
"This gorgeous home in
Jackson, Wyoming packs sustainability and killer good looks into
one green package. Designed by Ward Blake Architects, the
Landes-Oatey residence is clad in reclaimed fir and boasts a
beautiful grass-covered green roof. Aside from the
large windows that stream daylight into the rooms, the house
also utilizes thermal massing technology..." [9.14.10]
New push for more 'green rooftops' here
Bayside
Bulletin, by Jenna Daroczy
Redlands, Australia.
"Innovative new ways
to create open, green spaces high above ground level will be
considered when the Redlands hosts a 'Green Roofs'
forum. Cr Debra Henry (Div 3) called then for the council to
develop guidelines for green rooftops to be part
of more apartment developments in the Redlands, and the council
is now working towards hosting a local forum to discuss the
concepts, designs, regulations and other facets of 'green
roofs'..." [9.13.10]
California Affordable Housing Community Sets New Standard for
Sustainability, Urban Design
Nation's Cities
Weekly, by Cherie Duvall Jones
Buena Park, CA.
"The City of Buena
Park, Calif., has approved an innovative multi-family,
affordable housing community that utilizes a distinctive
"green" roof and will be developed on a vacant infill
site...The concept features a unique green roof
with grass and other landscaping that’s housed over the interior
parking area, which creates useable open space for residents and
has significant sustainable advantages..." [9.13.10]
Growing by leaps and bounds
London Free
Press, by Pat Currie
London, Canada.
"...From a
start only two years ago, when the Hillens secured the licensed
rights for Ontario to the
LiveRoof green-roof system, developed in
Michigan,
LiveRoof Ontario Ltd. has accelerated into high gear. Sales
hit $800,000 in 2009, mostly due to a single $700,000 contract
to provide green-roof plant modules for a
spectacular, high-visibility project at Toronto city hall as
part of a $4.3-million refurbishment of
Nathan Phillips Square..." [9.13.10]
Green homes are not so new
Denver Post, by
Tom Noel
Denver, CO.
"The now popular
"green" idea of having your lawn or other greenery on your roof
would not surprise Colorado's sod house pioneers. Nor are solar
buildings that new. A remarkable, largely forgotten architect
began building solar homes in Colorado 50 years ago..."
[9.12.10]
Applicants sought for green infrastructure grants in Indy
Lawn &
Landscape, by Staff
Indianapolis, IN.
"Indianapolis' office
of sustainability and United Water have partnered for the Green
Infrastructure Grant Program. This year, $100,000 in funding
will be granted to organizations who utilize green
infrastructure projects designed to improve water quality and
reduce stormwater runoff...The primary goals of green
infrastructure are to capture and store stormwater as close to
where it falls so that it can be cleaned, infiltrated into the
soil and slowly released into rivers and streams. There are many
types of green infrastructure; some popular examples include
green roofs, porous pavement and rain gardens.
Applications are available at
www.sustainindy.org and
www.unitedwater.com." [9.9.10]
DuPont™ Typar® Geosynthetics Protect Budapest's 'Living Danube'
Wastewater Treatment Plant
VAdvert Press
Center, Press Release
Budapest, Hungary.
"The 'Living Danube'
is the advanced wastewater treatment plant project in Budapest,
Hungary, that is being built to achieve a general recovery and
environmentally sustainable management of the Danube River.
Another stage of the project was recently completed resulting in
the plant now being protected by a high performance green
roof that exploits the properties of DuPont™ Typar®
Geosynthetics to deliver long-term reliable functionality..."
[9.9.10]
Gridded Modular Eco Home in the Hills Outside Sao Paulo
Inhabitat Blog,
by Bridgette Meinhold
Sao Paulo, Brazil.
"...Gardens, walkways,
green roofs, and pavilions weave in between the
family rooms, creating a direct connection with the surrounding
landscape. Designed by the Brazilian firm forte, gimenes &
marcondes ferraz ARQUITETOS, Casa Grelha, or Grid House, stands
up on stilts in a beautiful valley surrounded by a large swath
of native forest that is permanently protected..." [9.8.10]
Chicago takes the LEED in eco building
Grist Magazine,
by Kari Richardson
Chicago, IL.
"...So you might think
that Chicago -- birthplace of the skyscraper and home to nine of
the world's 100 tallest buildings -- is like a City of the
Eco-Damned. Not so. Chicago has the highest number of
LEED-certified buildings in the United States, the highest
square footage of green rooftops, and a
longstanding commitment to green building...Chicago's City Hall
is one of the city’s most prominent green roofs..."
[9.8.10]
Landhouse: A Sloping Prefab Home Complete with Meadow Roof
Inhabitat Blog,
by Yuka Yoneda
Fidalgo Island, WA.
"...Born from the wish
of land artist Mark Merer to make sustainably built homes look
just as green on the outside as they are on the inside,
Landhouse is a series of prefabricated houses that feature
sweeping green roofs that residents can treat as
their own personal meadows..." [9.8.10]
American University Green Roof Built With McLean Gardens
Neighbors
W*USA News9NOW,
by Dan Guzman
DC.
"A new
environmentally-friendly "green" roof will get the
finishing touches Wednesday on the campus of
American University, enhancing the school's already strong
eco-friendly reputation...Washington itself has the second
highest number of green roofs in the country,
trailing only Chicago..." [9.8.10]
Green ideas go through the roof at Atlantic County Utilities
Authority
Press of
Atlantic City, by Michael Miller
Atlantic City, NJ.
"First, it was
windmills. Then solar panels. Now the Atlantic County Utilities
Authority is exploring the benefits of green roofs...Plant
Connection, Inc., based in Dix Hills, N.Y., donated the
greenery to the ACUA as a demonstration project in hopes the
idea catches on in southern New Jersey as it has in other parts
of the country...The concept of green roofs has
been gathering momentum as part of the larger
energy-conservation movement. Atlantic Cape Community College
plans to incorporate a green-roof design in its
new $10 million Hospitalities Studies Center it is building on
the Worthington Campus in Atlantic City..." [9.8.10]
Green Building: A Real Estate Revolution?
NPR, by
Franklyn Cater
US.
"While
much of the U.S. real estate market has been floundering, one
area has not seen a dip. Green building now
accounts for nearly one-third of new construction in the U.S.
That's up from 2 percent in 2005, according to McGraw-Hill
Construction, which tracks the industry...That sector was
practically non-existent in 1993 — when the
U.S. Green
Building Council got its start. The USGBC created the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED
program..." [9.7.10]
Big marsh offers great views of birds, stars
Metro Canada -
Toronto, by Steve Lambert
Winnipeg, Canada.
"...Oak
Hammock Marsh, established by Ducks Unlimited and the
Manitoba government, is made up of 36 square kilometers of land
that was once drained for farmland. Now restored to its wet
former self, the area is home to more than 300 species of birds
— everything from finches to eagles to elegant white pelicans —
as well as 30-odd types of mammals such as beavers and ground
squirrels. A quick, 20-minute drive from city limits, the marsh
has a three-storey interpretive centre with a grass roof..."
[9.6.10]
American Society of Landscape Architects Sustainability Programs
Featured on Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership
(CEIL)
PR.com, Press
Release
Alexandria, VA.
"...In 2006, ASLA
introduced its first green roof at their
Washington, DC
headquarters. The roof acts as a demonstration for public
tours and has helped decrease the building’s heating and cooling
costs. 'The most promising aspect of green roofs
is what they can do for environmental issues, particularly in
the DC area,' says Somerville. In addition to ASLA, many federal
agencies have installed green roofs in downtown
DC, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.
National Park Service and
U.S. Department of Transportation...." [9.5.10]
For columnist, village at Shanghai Expo is the best 'Better
City'
Vancouver Sun,
by Kim Davis
Shanghai, China.
"'Better City, Better
Life' is the theme of the Shanghai World Expo, with
environmentally friendly design or sustainability messaging at
this pavilion...Among the technologies that promise to help
ameliorate the consequences to our environment making a strong
and clear visual appearance are living walls and
green roofs..." [9.4.10]
Lawn & Garden: Up on the roof top live plants grow
Peoria Journal
Star, by Clare Howard
Peoria, IL.
"...Any business
interested in improving our environment will look at green
roofs in the future. Modern green roof
technology evolved from work in Germany in the 1960s. By
covering a roof with vegetation, rainwater is absorbed,
alleviating storm water runoff. A green roof
provides additional insulation for the building, creates habitat
for wildlife, lowers urban temperatures and filters pollutants
and carbon dioxide from the air, helping to reduce respiratory
illnesses such as asthma...Learn more about green roofs,
including benefits and costs, in the U.S. EPA's Reducing Urban
Heat Islands:
Compendium of Strategies..." [9.4.10]
Attorney General Cuomo announces additional $5 million
investment to fight Bronx river pollution
PressZoom,
Press Release
Bronx, NY.
"...Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation will receive
$263,375 to install a 10,000 square foot green roof
at 1055 Bronx River Avenue in the Bronx. The roof will eliminate
roughly 150,000 gallons of storm water discharges to the river
each year...New York City Department of Parks and Recreation’s
GreenApple Corps, a public service program that provides
participants with technical skills, practical knowledge and
personal development opportunities will receive $350,000, plus
$238,712 in matching funds, to replace a 7,200 square foot
portion of the Department’s Bronx Borough Headquarters with a
green roof. In addition to other environmental and
cost-saving benefits, the roof will eliminate 100,000 gallons of
storm water discharges to the river annually..." [9.3.10]
Area's solar industry bright
Trading
Markets, Press Release
Pittsburgh, PA.
"...New and expanded
utility-scale solar power plants nationwide could add 13
gigawatts of production capacity to the electric grid over the
next three or four years...Scalo also plans to develop the roof
of its headquarters, the former Crafton Golf Club, into a $1
million test site for how three solar energy technologies work
in conjunction with a "green" roof with plant
coverings that can control temperatures. State money will pay
for about half of the project...." [9.3.10]
Blackdown Green Roof Chosen For England's First
"Passivhaus/BREEAM Excellent" Building
Build.co.uk, by
Staff
UK.
"An
extensive green roof system from specialists
Blackdown Horticultural Consultants of Somerset, has been
installed at the new Centre for Disability Studies in Essex,
helping the pioneering eco-building to become England’s first
ever construction to achieve both Passivhaus and BREEAM
'Excellent' ratings..." [9.2.10]
'Green skins' grow in the Emerald City
Seattle Daily
Journal of Commerce, by Danielle L. Pierce
Seattle, WA.
"Vegetated roofs,
walls and land together make a “green skin,” a system that
integrates the built with the natural environment...In Seattle,
vegetated or green roofs of all types are being
installed for a variety of purposes, such as stormwater
management and urban farm space. From plaza-covered parking
garages to rooftop terraces, the creative design of green
roofs has lent itself to making some wonderful places to
visit..." [9.2.10]
CU Faculty Develop New 'Living Wall' Concept to Slash Energy Use
CU Boulder News
& Events, by John Zhai and Carol Rowe
Boulder, CO.
"A multidisciplinary
team of University of Colorado faculty has been awarded $1.97
million by the National Science Foundation to develop a "living
wall" system based on biomimicry, or the imitation of
nature, to slash energy use in buildings. The novel living
wall concept takes its inspiration from the thermal
regulation systems in the human body, which can efficiently
adapt to changes in the surrounding environment through
sophisticated heat transfer processes and metabolic
adjustments..." [9.1.10]
Green roofs redefine cooling plant
environmentalresearchweb, by Andy Extance
New York, NY.
"Researchers at
Columbia University, US, have demonstrated that a layer of
plants and earth can cut the rate of heat absorption through the
roof of a building in summer by 84%...Perhaps the greatest
overall benefit of green roofs comes in tackling
the "urban heat island" effect, which Gaffin suggests is
responsible for two-thirds of New York's localized warming over
the last century..." [9.1.10]
Undulating Green-Roofed Hotel Opens in Norway
Inhabitat Blog,
by Bridgette Meinhold
Stavanger, Norway.
"JDS Architects
recently announced the grand opening of their latest project -
the Two Seasons Hotel situated in the center of Stavanger,
Norway. Appearing almost like an M.C. Escher drawing from above,
the square building is crowned with an undulating green
roof that dips towards the historic section of town and
rises dramatically on the far side to address a nine-story
apartment tower..." [9.1.10]
Halifax farmers' market project a testament to local skills
Daily
Commercial News, by Patricia Williams
Halifax, Nova Scotia.
"For RCS Construction
and Lydon Lynch Architects Ltd., the recent opening of the $12
million
Halifax Seaport farmers’ market marked the successful
completion of what is being called one of North America’s most
environmentally sustainable buildings...The facility has a large
biowall as well as a 25,000-square-foot green roof,
the second largest in Canada. An onsite vermiculture room will
turn organic waste into compost for use in various planters..."
[9.1.10]
Green Roofs in Philadelphia: Moving Green To The Top
examiner.com,
by Felicia Middleton
Philadelphia, PA.
"Philadelphia is
becoming a 'Greene Country Towne' from top to bottom.
Green roofs are topping buildings all over town, adding
additional green space and helping to clean the air. A
green roof can be defined as a roof that contains
vegetation - either partially or completely covered...The
Friends Center of Philadelphia...The
PECO Energy's headquarters..." [8.31.10]
Live Green at Heart: Transit Center's green roof
WBIR-TV, by
Staff
Knoxville, TN.
"The Knoxville Transit
Center is the newest addition to the city skyline. A driving
force behind the design of the building was protecting the
environment. KAT marketing director, Belinda Woodiel-Brill, said
that included adding geo-thermal heating and cooling, solar
panels and a roof covered with plants. Those plants do all kinds
of wonderful things that a regular roof doesn't do...."
[8.31.10]
Luxury LEED Vineyard Resort in Oregon
Jetson Green
Blog, by Preston Koerner
Newberg, OR.
"...The resort was
designed by GGLO to save 48% on utility costs, as well as reduce
potable water use by 78% and overall water use by 37%, compared
to a comparable non-green project...In addition to a 10,000
square green roof, which helps control stormwater
runoff and minimize the need for energy, The Allison is powered
in part by a 55 kW photovoltaic array..." [8.31.10]
Guerrilla gardeners take root in San Diego
San Diego Union
Tribune, by Mike Lee
San Diego, CA.
"Unusual candy
machines — filled with native plant seeds instead of gumballs —
are popping up from San Diego to New York as a new strategy in
an old effort to make abandoned or forgotten areas greener with
unofficial plantings...San Diego's first seed bomb vending
machine is managed by Jim Mumford, founder of
GreenScaped Buildings and a specialist in planted
roofs and vertical gardens...Watch video
by clicking here: http://bit.ly/dtC2XB..." [8.30.10]
Williams Selyem Announces Opening of New Winery
PR Newswire, Press Release
Healdsburg, CA.
"Iconic producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel builds
new facility to gain additional control of winemaking and
provide unparalleled visitors' experience...highlights of the
new winery include the preservation of a number of 200 year-old
California oak trees, utilization of sustainable design elements
such as a "green roof" of native grasses...the
installation of solar panels on the roof of the parking
structure..." [8.30.10]
Some lessons for a greener Peoria
Peoria Journal
Star, by Clare Howard
East Peoria, IL.
"Anthony Corso worked
for a leading Chicago architectural firm with offices
overlooking the internationally famous green roof
on
Chicago's City Hall. The roof has been described as "a
garland of nature" crowning the classic revival-style
building...one reason Chicago is a global leader in green
roof development and permeable paving is because
designers, planners and staff know what is possible and know
that Mayor Richard Daley 'pushes the envelope'..." [8.28.10]
A tall story: Frenchman Patrick Blanc is the undisputed master
of the vertically-planted garden
The
Independent, by Anna Pavord
London, UK.
"...Patrick Blanc
started making his living walls inside buildings
such as Les Passages shopping centre at Boulogne-Billancourt and
Club Med's offices in Paris. In these controlled environments,
he used mostly tropical plants, drawing on his travels in Taiwan
and India, Guadeloupe and Malaysia to put together magnificent
combinations of ferns and aroids. Schefflera, medinilla,
billbergia, anthurium and asplenium all flourished..." [8.28.10]
SCC horticulture team on trend with rooftop garden
Spartanburg
Herald Journal, by Linda Cobb
Spartanburg, SC.
"The dynamic trio at
Spartanburg Community College better known as Jason Bagwell,
Kevin Parris and Jay Moore are busy taking their arboretum
campus to the next level...The latest garden effort to catch
their eye is a “green roof” garden, or rooftop
garden. SCC instructor Moore (also of Carolina Gardens) brought
up this idea to Bagwell and Parris..." [8.27.10]
Planet Forward: Emergency on Planet Earth
Borderzine, by
Theresa Valenzuela
El Paso, TX.
"The University of
Texas at El Paso is 'walking the walk and not just talking the
talk'...Over 9,156- square feet of UTEP’s Biology Building
rooftop has been covered with plants, making it El Paso’s very
first green roof with hopefully more to come. The
motivation behind this green idea was to fight both carbon
emissions and the heat island effect. This green roof
will reduce immediate surrounding temperatures causing a
decrease in high summertime energy demands; land will lower
UTEP’s carbon emissions...Watch
Video..." [8.26.10]
School District of Lancaster 'green' roofs are first for county
public schools
Lancaster
Newspapers, by Brian Wallace
Lancaster, PA.
"Three School District
of Lancaster schools — Lafayette, Wharton and Ross — installed
"green" roofs this summer on new additions. The
vegetated roofs, which are designed to reduce
rainwater runoff and conserve energy, are the first ever
installed at a public school in Lancaster County, said Mary
Gattis-Schell of the county planning commission...The roofs were
funded with a portion of a $479,000 "energy harvesting" grant
the planning commission received from the state Department of
Environmental Protection..." [8.26.10]
International Skyrise
Greenery Conference to feature over 30 industry experts
Channel News
Asia, by Staff
Singapore.
"Over 30 internationally renowned industry leaders from 10
countries will be sharing their insights at the inaugural
International Skyrise Greenery Conference (ISGC) in
Singapore. The conference is the first of its kind in the
Asia-Pacific region that will cover not only rooftop gardens and
green roofs, but also vertical green walls
– a growing trend around the globe. It will focus on the latest
developments of skyrise greenery - the latest trends,
innovations, technical studies of benefits, best practices,
policies, and differentiating factors in design and
implementation of skyrise greenery in an urbanized
environment..." [8.26.10]
Hillside Elementary has green roof in time for start of school
MainlineMediaNews, by Staff
Berwyn, PA.
"With only a handful of green roofs adorning local
buildings, the completion of Hillside Elementary School’s
project this week is exciting...The project was funded by a
Growing Greener grant with the Department of Environmental
Protection, which was approved in 2008, and included the design
and construction of 9,200 square feet of green roof
and the first two years of maintenance..." [8.26.10]
New green roof research shows two-thirds of plants tested were
successful
The Shorthorn, by Allie Cochran
Arlington, TX.
"After two years of research, a university associate professor
has discovered the success and fail rate of certain plants in
extensive green roof conditions, while providing a
platform for research on its environmental implications. David
Hopman, who designed and constructed the 1,000 square foot
extensive green roof atop the
Life Science Building, has monitored and compiled the
results of plants’ longevity in green roof
conditions..." [8.25.10]
Green Infrastructure and Wild Places—Through Artists Eyes
Natural
Resources Defense Council Blog, by Andrew Wetzler
Chicago, IL.
"One of the great
things about living in Chicago is how green it is. Literally.
Every spring I’m always amazed by the proliferation of gardens,
pocket parks, and major green spaces in the city...My wife, an
arts writer, recently introduced me to the photographs of Brad
Temkin, whose most recent work, Green Roofs and Rooftop
Gardens, is now showing at Chicago’s
City Gallery--Historic Water Tower through September 6th..."
[8.25.10]
Green-Roofed Landsbanki Office Connects the City of Reykjavik
Inhabitat Blog,
by Bridgette Meinhold
Reykjavik, Iceland.
"New York-based WORK
Architecture Company has unveiled a design for Landsbanki Bank
Headquarters that consists of a series of green-roofed
steps rising up from a ground-level city park...The shared
gardens are protected from the cold northern winds by the
exterior of the building, and the green roof acts
as an extension of the courtyards..." [8.24.10]
From Anthrax to Allium: Views from a New York Postal Facility's
Green Roof
Scientific
American, by Robin Lloyd
New York, NY.
"A New York City
postal processing facility that was contaminated during the 2001
anthrax attacks is now the site of the largest "green roof"
in Manhattan. The 65,000-square-foot roof area at the
Morgan Processing and Distribution Center on Ninth Avenue
between West 29th and West 30th streets cost $5 million to
install in 2008. It affords views of such landmarks as the
Empire State Building and is one of several pilot green
roofs in the metropolitan area..." [8.23.10]
10 Green Weekend Trips Near You
Earth911.com,
by Lori Brown
US.
"...From green roofs to green technology museums,
the average visitor can turn a quick getaway into a Green
Chicago experience with a little effort. Chicago has long been a
national leader in the use of green roofs. Though
the majority of green roofs are located atop
private buildings and are off limits to the general public,
there are a few open for exploring. The
Chicago Center for Green Technology,
Pepsico Rooftop Garden and
Millenium Park are all buildings that allow guests to visit
the rooftop gardens, and admission is free..." [8.23.10]
Clean living BedZed in Beddington wins a worldwide reputation
Sutton Borough
Guardian, by Staff
UK.
"The
largest eco-village in the UK has been voted one of the most
important green buildings in the world.
Beddington Zero Energy Development, or BedZed, is the
largest example of a sustainable community in the UK...The
building boasts a green roof with more than 1.7m
plants and is equipped with a solar canopy that will satisfy up
to 10 per cent of the facility's annual energy needs..."
[8.22.10]
A suburban strip mall searches for sustainability on Whitemarsh
Island
Savannah
Morning News, by Mary Landers
Savannah, GA.
"...At a networking
event, she chatted with a SCAD design student who told her about
a nonprofit project called
Emergent Structures that's reclaiming building materials
like beautiful heart pine from the old Strathmore Estates in
East Savannah...Preliminary talks with officials at the
Metropolitan Planning Commission indicate there may be ways to
partner with that agency to apply for a grant for the
green roof..." [8.21.10]
Healdsburg welcomes eco-friendly hotel
abc7news.com,
by Staff
Healdsburg, CA.
" It seems like
everybody is trying to go green these days and hotels are no
exception. Increasingly, hotels around the world are trying to
green themselves up to attract a growing number of eco-conscious
visitors...Rather than jumping into a car, you can check out a
bike to get around town and of course, a green roof
helps top this project off..." [8.20.10]
BIG Wins Best Green Roof in Scandinavia Award with 8 House
Bustler, by
Staff
Sweden.
"Completing its trilogy of housing projects in Oerestad with the
same client, BIG + green roof contractor Veg Tech
receives the award for 8 House’s 1,700 sq m sloping green
roof. The Scandinavian Green Roof Association based in
Malmo, Sweden awarded the Best Green Roof in Scandinavia at an
award ceremony at the 8 House in Oerestad, Copenhagen..."
[8.20.10]
Earthly delights: Homes underground are quiet, have more light
than you think and are ecologically sound
Daily Mail, by
Mark Hughes-Morgan
UK.
"Many of us dream of
building our own home, but it's not often we consider doing it
underground. We may need to think again - because
ecology-conscious architects are busy moving earth-sheltered
houses from the fringe into the mainstream as low-energy,
low-impact alternatives to traditional houses...Over the top is
a green roof that both absorbs Co2 through the
plants, and provides superb insulation..." [8.20.10]
Co-gen plant puts tribe on green path
TheDay.com
Blog, by Brian Hallenbeck
Mashantucket, CT.
"Mashantuckets produce
more than half of energy used by Foxwoods with new cogeneration
plant.. its clean-environment initiatives, which include the
recycling of wood pallets, cooking oil, newspaper, cardboard,
plastic and glass; the incineration of non-recyclable waste, and
the award-winning "green roof" design of its
Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center..." [8.19.10]
Thermal mapping: Hot in the city
GulfNews, by
Jay B. Hilotin
Dubai.
"New
study pinpoints hotspots across Dubai prompting authorities to
look at green ideas to cool things down...The results have
prompted authorities to draw up a raft of measures including ‘green
roofs', urban vegetation and covered parking to cool things
down..." [8.18.10]
Secure Self Storage in Rehoboth Now Runs on Solar Power
PR.com, Press
Release
Rehoboth, DE.
"Because of its
success with renewable energy alternatives, Secure Self Storage
is considering becoming more green. Secure Self Storage is
analyzing the impact of using green roofs, solar
panels and wind generators for the following properties: Coney
Island (which services southern Brooklyn) and Rehoboth Beach
(servicing southern Delaware)..." [8.18.10]
The era of the 'soddies' returns
Lincoln Journal
Star, by Staff
Lincoln, NE.
""It was the first
time we had ever seen a man’s front yard on top of his house." —
Mark Twain, “Roughing It”. In the decades after Congress
passed the Homestead Act in 1862, there were many buildings in
Nebraska with grass and other greenery on their roofs. It was
the era of the “soddies,” homes with 2-foot-thick walls and
roofs constructed of strips of prairie sod — strong, tangled
roots of buffalo grass and other native grasses. As the saying
goes, everything old shall be new again. The era of the soddies
is returning with the growing popularity of green roofs..."
[8.17.10]
Green roofs take root
Garden Center
Magazine, by Wendy Komancheck
Spring Valley, N.Y.
"...Matterhorn Nursery
of Spring Valley, N.Y., is a leader in garden center
sustainability. Green roofs are key components of Matterhorn’s
focus on energy efficiency and (an) ecologically sound business
practice...Horn didn’t just climb on his building’s roof and
start planting. Instead, the process took planning and working
with other experts before anything too root. Horn said he used
two vendors for projects: The first,
LifeRoof, offers a pre-vegetated, modular system. The second
vendor is Moerings, which offers Sempergreen products..."
[8.16.10]
American Chemical Society Launches "Green" Roof Project For
Headquarters Building
Water Online,
Press Release
DC.
"The
American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific
society, recently took another major step in transforming its
headquarters into one of the most energy-efficient and
sustainable structures possible with existing technology by
starting construction of a meadow on the roof - a "green
roof" for its headquarters building..." [8.15.10]
County Office Building Tops Off With Greenery
WTAE
Pittsburgh, by Staff
Pittsburgh, PA.
"...half of the roof,
an area of 8,400 square feet, was covered in waterproof fabric
and other materials and then topped off with soil and plants
native to Southwestern Pennsylvania. County officials said
green roofs can help cut costs through insulation
properties and help cut runoff from rain storms...Officials said
that so far, the roof seems to be reducing energy costs by close
to $7,000 a month..." [8.13.10]
The Dry Garden: A skeptic's view of vertical gardens
Los Angeles
Times Blog, by Emily Green
Los Angeles, CA.
"...Harvard University design critic Michael Blier designed his
own system for a vertical garden that his Boston firm, Landworks
Studio, is doing in Taiwan, where he says green walls
work well, particularly in high-density urban settings. However,
adaptations would have to be made for an arid setting, he said.
“There’s lots of evaporation,” he said. It’s a trade-off. You
have to be smart about species selection..." [8.13.10]
Green roof takes size record
Horticulture
Week, by Gemma Mackenzie
Edinburgh, UK.
"Work on Scotland's
largest green roof - at the Glencorse water
treatment works near Edinburgh - is almost finished...Work began
on laying turf on the 7,000sq m roof last month and it has been
transformed into a meadow. The turf established itself very
quickly and has grown away rapidly, so we are delighted with the
results so far..." [8.13.10]
San Francisco Breaks Ground on Green Transbay Transit Center!
Inhabitat Blog,
by Moe Beitiks
San Francisco, CA.
"...The new Transbay
Terminal will feature rainwater and greywater catchment systems,
wind turbines, geothermal power supply, and a massive
rooftop park. The current CalTrain tracks will extend
into the heart of downtown to meet it...It was designed by
Connecticut-based
Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, and you can see a gorgeous
slideshow of renderings on their site." [8.12.10]
Dale Chihuly 'Floats' join Addison's new roof, foretell museum's
reopening
Andover
Townsman, by Neil Fater
Andover, MA.
"When the Addison
Gallery of American Art reopens Sept. 7 for the first time in 18
months, residents will find one of its greatest new acquisitions
not in a gallery, but on its roof...a work by Dale Chihuly,
considered by many the world's most creative glass sculptor, was
installed on the Addison's new green roof. It is
his first major installation in Massachusetts and arrives in
advance of a planned 2011 show at the Museum of Fine Arts
Boston..." [8.12.10]
An ever-growing campus
The Salem News,
by Amanda McGregor
Salem, MA.
"A crane lowered trays of vegetation that workers hefted onto
the rooftops of a new residence hall at Salem State College
earlier this week. The installation of the "green roofs"
is a final piece of the $57.5 million construction of Marsh
Hall, which will open to students in less than three weeks..."
[8.12.10]
Green roofs a good fit for Berkshire County
Advocate
Weekly, by Bill Schmick
North Adams, MA.
"...A typical
gravel-ballasted flat roof that you see all over downtown
Pittsfield, Lenox, Great Barrington or Adams has an average life
of 15 to 20 years before needing replacement. Around here, roof
membranes deteriorate because they are exposed to hot and cold
temperatures as well as UV radiation from sunlight. But an added
benefit of the components of a green rooftop is
that it also protects a roof membrane from these aging factors
for 35 to 50 years. That means the building’s owner can avoid
one or two roof replacements over a 50-year life span..."
[8.11.10]
Scholar Hopes to Cool City By Covering Roofs With Greenery
Voice of
America, by Bethany Matta
Hong Kong.
"As Hong Kong struggles to build an environmentally friendly
city, one professor is studying ways to help cut carbon
emissions and lower electricity usage by covering the city's
rooftops with plants. Jim Chi Yung, a geography professor at the
University of Hong Kong, set up his first green roof
in 2006 on top of one of the buildings at the university. He
wanted to research how plants and grass covering a roof affect
heating and cooling..." [8.11.10]
Tips for Selecting the Right Green Roof Design
Environmental
Leader, by Staff
US.
"When
designing a green roof for your business, several
issues need to be addressed, including type (extensive or
intensive), weight, maintenance, irrigation, plant choices and
cost. Several key factors need to be considered when designing a
green roof, says Barbara Denson, director of
origination, Global Markets, for Weston Solutions...She cites
studies that show that in a typical storm, Weston’s 4-inch-deep
GreenGrid Modular Green Roof System reduces storm water
runoff by approximately 75 percent of the first 1 inch of
rainfall..." [8.10.10]
Casa V House Has a Green Roof Room With a View
Inhabitat Blog,
by Andrew Michler
Bogota, Colombia.
"...When dealing with
steep terrain, the typical answer is just to suspend a box in
the air, but architects Felipe Mesa (PlanB) and Giancarlo
Mazzanti (Mazzanti Architects) decided to think differently.
They tied the home elegantly to the slope, allowing for a
shallow floor plate with plenty of light and a killer view of
the pristine valley it overlooks near Bogotá, Colombia. Of
course the real eye opener is the fantastic outdoor living space
with a green roof and walk out deck to spend a
pleasant afternoon on..." [8.10.10]
Manhattan College Awarded DEP Grant
Westchester.com, by Staff
Riverdale, NY.
"The New York City
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently awarded
Manhattan College with $661,000 of the $2.6 million Flushing and
Gowanus Green Infrastructure Grant Initiative to support the
installation of a modular green roof for the New
York Hospital Queens in Flushing, N.Y. ...engineering and
consulting firm with locations throughout North America, to
design and install 20,000 square feet of modular green
roof..." [8.8.10]
Green roof will sprout on Arbor Day Foundation building
Lincoln Journal
Star, by Algis J. Laukaitis
Lincoln, NE.
"The Arbor Day
Foundation won't be the only building in Lincoln with a
green roof. Plans are in the works to install a
green roof on the new Assurity Life Insurance Co.
headquarters at 20th and Q streets. The green roof
will cover about 8,000 square feet, according to Eric Casper, a
landscape architect with The Clark Enersen Partners..." [8.8.10]
New primary school opens in Kingswood in September
Kingswood
People, by Becky Feather
UK.
"When
pupils start the new term at Courtney Primary School in
Kingswood in September it will be in the brand new building they
have watched being built in the school grounds....On the hill
below it is the new school 210-pupil building which has a
green roof to reduce rainwater runoff, enhance site
ecology and provide insulation, a ground source heat pump and
low water use fittings and sustainable urban drainage
systems..." [8.6.10]
Awesome Hidden Lair Tucked Under Mounds of Green Grass
Inhabitat Blog,
by Yuka Yoneda
Switzerland.
"...imagine how we
felt when we stumbled upon this delightful hidden gem by Vetsch
Architektur. Made of concrete and earth, the
Swiss estate is actually a cluster of grass-blanketed houses
encircling a pretty little lake. Aside from using natural and
recycled materials and having a green roof, the
structure was built using typical earth house construction,
resulting in an insulating blanket that protects it from rain,
low temperatures, wind and natural abrasion..." [8.6.10]
Green roof takes on vibrant hues
Superior
Telegram, by Staff
Superior, WI.
"A year after it was
installed, the “green roof” on the University of
Wisconsin-Superior’s Yellowjacket Union is healthy and its sedum
plants are giving it a distinctive red and green hue...The
Yellowjacket Union has one of the northernmost green roofs
of its kind, and university officials said it is doing well
since it was installed in August 2009..." [8.6.10]
North American market for Commercial Roofing Material to be
worth $5.9 billion in 2014
PRLog.Org,
Press release
US.
"The
North American market for commercial roofing materials was worth
an estimated $3.2 billion in 2009, for a 5-year compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7%...The green roof
segment, though relatively small, is expected to increase at the
highest CAGR, 24.5%, from 2009 to 2014, growing from $28 million
to more than $83 million..." [8.6.10]
Greening the city, one roof at a time
Chicago
Tribune, by Lori Waxman
Chicago, IL.
"Last week, as the
temperatures in Chicago rose into the 90s and Senate Democrats
abandoned their effort to pass a tough energy-climate bill, I
happened on an oasis of cool, right in the middle of the
Magnificent Mile. No, it wasn't a blast of icy cold,
conspicuous-consumption air conditioning pouring out of some
fancy retail shop. In fact it was just the opposite: photographs
of the climate-cooling green roofs planted atop
some of Chicago's most important buildings, including
City Hall and the Cultural Center..." [8.6.10]
Sprout from the rooftop: Plantings provide unique, sustainable
spaces
Memphis
Commercial Appeal, by Lindsay Jones
Memphis, TN.
"Plantings provide
unique, sustainable spaces to exhibit, entertain or simply
linger atop buildings amid the presence of nature's
greenery...As every experienced gardener knows, even the
simplest flower bed takes planning. From the soil to the types
of plants to the irrigation and maintenance, a basic garden can
easily turn into a complex one before a single begonia is
planted. So imagine the complexities involved in a rooftop
garden like the one at Trezevant Manor in East
Memphis..." [8.6.10]
The land of the Dachdeckermeister
Building.co.uk,
by Luke Wessely
UK.
"Germany’s technical and political approach to sustainable
construction is much more advanced than the UK’s. So why don’t
we steal a few ideas from them...Most major German cities have
planning policies that require buildings over a certain size to
include a green roof element (a trend that has
been picked up in other European countries and now seems to be
finding its way across the Channel)..." [8.6.10]
Leading Costa Rica Green Architectural Engineering Firm
Announces First Sustainable Luxury Development in Manuel Antonio
with Habitat Protection
Earthtimes, by
Carlton Solle
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.
"Arqueco Ltda., one of
Costa Rica's most respected and prolific ecologically-aware
architectural firms, today announced approved plans for the
Palazzo Park Hotel & Residences, the first luxury beachfront
hotel and condominium resort in Costa Rica to be built with the
latest green building techniques and the Country's largest
green roof..." [8.5.10]
Green roofs offer beauty, challenges in arid climates
Today @
Colorado State University, by Jim Klett
Fort Collins, CO.
"Imagine a future
where a natural, lush "living roof" is a standard
feature on all new construction. In an effort to advance the
possibility, scientists from the Department of Horticulture and
Landscape Architecture, have been working to identify the
best-suited plants and the bona fide environmental benefits to
placing plants on top of conventional roofs..." [8.4.10]
Case Study: North Carolina Remodel Soars Beyond LEED Platinum
EcoHome
Magazine, by Katy Tomasulo
Wilmington, NC.
"Solar panels,
geothermal, water collection, and a green roof top
a lengthy list of sustainable features in this team-designed
LEED-Platinum renovation....he opted to transform the shed-roof
house into a living laboratory for green building, and in doing
so recorded 113.5 points in the LEED for Homes program, one of
the highest ever achieved by a remodel..." [8.4.10]
Fantastic New Solar Powered Carousel With Green Roof in NYC
Inhabitat Blog,
by Andrew Michler
New York, NY.
"Hudson River Park’s
Chelsea Cove on Pier 62 recently opened a beautiful carousel and
covered it with an expansive green-roofed canopy
that is topped with solar panels to keep the carousel spinning.
CRStudios Architects designed the canopy to protect the park
goers and to keep the carousel’s vivid lights energized and
shining bright..." [8.4.10]
Hillside Elementary has green roof in time for start of school
Main Line, by
Blair Meadowcroft
Hillside, IL.
"With only a handful
of green roofs adorning local buildings, the
completion of Hillside Elementary School’s project this week is
exciting...The project was funded by a Growing Greener grant
with the Department of Environmental Protection, which was
approved in 2008, and included the design and construction of
9,200 square feet of green roof and the first two
years of maintenance..." [8.4.10]
How the Environment is Shaping Hotel Design
AOL Travel
News, by Douglas Wright
World.
"Imagine a hotel that breathes, that generates power and cools
itself using the wind, that absorbs the sunlight for energy like
a plant, that collects and recycles rainwater from underground
pools, and is covered with a landscaped roof
sloping out from the hillside. Welcome to the new world of eco
hotel design, where sustainability and green innovation are the
current buzzwords..." [8.4.10]
Northumberland cafe has goats on the roof
Journal Live,
by Richard Fletcher
Northumberland, UK.
"Builders thought
entrepreneurs Darren and Nina Remnant were being silly billies
when they came up with a novel idea on how to give their rural
eatery a unique selling point...With a living roof
made of moss-like sedum, the cafe provides the ideal grazing
ground for the herd of hungry goats. Darren and Nina got the
idea from relatives who had visited Canada and saw a similar
project there..." [8.4.10]
Scientists unravel human-ecosystem interactions
EurekAlert, Press Release
Pittsburgh, PA.
"Whether it is a single rock being overturned or an entire
mountaintop being removed, humans play a continuous role in
environmental processes, and vice versa. Ecological scientists
will discuss findings on human-ecosystem interactions—from the
effects of nanomaterials on plant growth to the diversity of
insect species on green roofs, and even
communities of airborne microbes in hospital buildings—at the
Ecological Society of America's 95th Annual Meeting in
Pittsburgh from August 1-6, 2010..." [8.3.10]
'Green roof' will serve as learning lab, demo for future
buildings at Bucknell
Bucknell University, by Julia Ferrante
Lewisburg, PA.
"...Initiated by environmental studies major Becca Shopiro, a
rising junior, the green roof project is part of
the Campus Greening Initiative's Sustainable Energy and
Ecological Design (SEED) Project Program and will serve as a
testing ground as well as a living, learning laboratory for
students interested in green building, said Dina El-Mogazi,
director of the Campus Greening Initiative. Shopiro supervised
the project this summer as part of a McKenna internship, which
supports environmentally oriented student projects..." [8.3.10]
Kalamazoo's City Hall to get green roof: Stimulus grant to add
vegetation to center of city
MLive.com, by
Fritz Klug
Kalamazoo, MI.
"...City planners and
engineers are set to install a green roof this
fall on a portion City Hall. The low-growing vegetation — around
5,500-square-feet — is expected to be a source of some financial
savings and environmental stewardship once completed next
spring. Marc Hatton, the city’s redevelopment project manager
who helped write the project grant, said a green roof
will also allow the city to test the technology..." [8.3.10]
Spain's Vertical Garden
GreenMuze, by
Staff
Spain.
"A
vertical garden stretching six stories high covers the exterior
of a children’s library in San Vicente de Raspeig, in eastern
Spain. Architect Jose Maria Chofre designed the vertical
living wall garden which incorporates a variety of
drought tolerant plants, including floral and herbaceous species
as well as ivy and ferns...Via
Urbanbolisimo &
Treehugger..." [8.1.10]
Juneau getting its first green roof
Juneau Empire,
by Jonathan Grass
Juneau, AK.
"Construction of the
new Downtown Transportation Center at the corner of Egan Drive
and Main Street has included a new feature, something to provide
some green in more than one sense. The project's new transit
center will be home to a "green roof," which the
minds behind it say will be the first of its kind in Southeast
Alaska. In their simplest form, green roofs are
those that contain living plants as part of the roofing
structure..." [8.1.10]
Tomorrow's Skyline Blends Glass, Concrete With A Liberal Helping
Of Green
Gizmodo
Australia, by Christina Bonnington
Australia.
"From green roofs to tree filled corridors to
entire high rise floors left to plants and wildlife,
forward-looking architects are combining technology and
imagination to bring nature into modern homes and buildings.
Greening your home or building can have a host of benefits...An
expansive green roof like that of Studio Shift's
Stadt Krone concept provides a vast area to utilise for
agriculture..." [8.1.10]
Eco-friendly education
Wisconsin
Builder Blog, by Caley Clinton
Milwaukee, WI.
"...Whether the
investments in sustainability pay off in long-term job creation
remains to be seen, but schools across the country aren’t
waiting to find out....Sustainability on campus: A
33,000-square-foot green roof atop Sandburg
Commons is the largest green roof in the state.
There are two other green roofs on campus as well.
Cambridge Commons, a student housing building expected to open
this fall, is aiming for LEED gold certification. The project
includes a green roof, gray-water system and other
renewable energy efforts..." [8.1.10]
New Engineering Building on Centennial Campus Has Green Roof
24-7PressRelease.com, Press Release
Raleigh, NC.
"The first building on
NC State University's Centennial Campus to include a green
roof has been completed. The 248,000-square foot
Engineering Building III will begin accepting students in August
as part of the beginning of the new academic calendar year. The
roof of the building, which tops the high bay annex, consists of
10 different drought resistant plans and will save the
university an estimated 25-50 percent on heating and cooling
costs. The roof also creates a physically pleasing environment
that retains more rainfall, eliminates the need for weed control
and negates the need to use harsh chemicals. In addition, the
green roof is expected to reduce noise pollution by
10 decibels..." [8.1.10]
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is the 1st Amusement Park & Zoo to be
awarded LEED Gold
PR-USA.net,
Press Release
San Jose, CA.
"It's official, after years of planning, design and
construction, San Jose's Park and Zoo has gone gold. The $72
million renovation project of Happy Hollow Park & Zoo has been
awarded LEED® gold by the U.S. Green Building Council and is the
first Amusement Park & Zoo in the country to be certified LEED
gold...Seven green (growing) roofs with native
plant species to provide habitat for wildlife - 14,000 sq. feet
of open space was added to Happy Hollow on the green roofs.
56,000 plants, on seven green roofs, were planted
- averages to 8000 plants per roof..." [7.31.10]
Chicago benefits from seven million square feet of green roof
space
People's Daily
Online, by Staff
Chicago, IL.
"Being recognized as a
leader in building green roofs, the U.S. city of
Chicago benefits from its 600 roofs with about seven million
square feet of green space...One of the most famous green roofs
in Chicago is located at the top of the
Chicago City Hall. Mayor Richard Daley decided to establish
the Green Roof after visiting Hamburg, Germany and
seeing many green roofs there..." [7.31.10]
Developing green roofs for colder climates
Greenhouse
Management & Production, by David Kuack
Minneapolis, MN.
"A 2-year green
roof study conducted at the Univ. of Minn. looked at
developing guidelines for low maintenance plants that could
survive the cold and often dry Minnesota weather and still
reduce building energy costs. Horticulture graduate student
Jonathan Hensley and professor John Erwin sought to create a low
maintenance roof that could reflect light and absorb heat during
the summer and insulate buildings during the winter..."
[7.30.10]
Museum of London finishes first green roof project
Horticulture
Week, by Staff
London, UK.
"The first in a series
of green roof projects has been completed at the
Museum of London as part of the £20m Galleries of Modern London
redevelopment project. A roof garden and an inner
courtyard have been opened to the public and plans are underway
to green the remaining 3,000sq m of roof space..." [7.30.10]
Going Above and Beyond: Green Rooftops Sprouting in the City
Express from
The Washington Post Blog, by Josie Cellone
Washington, DC.
"...That's why the
green roof movement has caught on in Washington,
evidenced by individual homeowners who've installed green
roofs atop their garages and the Dirksen Senate Office
Building, where an existing tennis court will be transformed
into a green roof. The city ranks second in the
nation for installation of green roof
infrastructure, with nearly 200,000 square feet of rooftop plots
created in 2009 and more than 500,000 installed in 2008..."
[7.30.10]
Green gables – Raising the roof on climate change
Camden New
Journal, by Richard Osley
London, UK.
"...The top of 93-flat
Dudley Court, which runs alongside the leisure centre in Endell
Street, has been covered in vegetation. As tempting as the patch
of green and the panoramic views may look, it cannot be used as
a communal garden. But the idea is to use green roofs
across Camden to combat climate change by reducing heat loss at
roof level and upping biodiversity..." [7.29.10]
Wood-Clad Environmental HQ in Spain is A Green Gathering Place
Inhabitat Blog,
by Andrew Michler
Zaragoza, Spain.
"A new public building
in Zaragoza, Spain is much more than a set of offices for the
city’s environmental services department — it is also a
beautiful extension of the public park next to the Ebro River.
Magén Arquitectos added a plethora of sustainable features like
solar panels, rain catchment, and a green roof,
but they also turned the building into a public gathering place
— with an outdoor amphitheater, meeting rooms, and a path that
transverses the roof..." [7.28.10]
Remains Lighting Receives Building Brooklyn Award In The
Industrial Category For Environmental Leadership
I-Newswire.com,
Press Release
Brooklyn, NY.
"...The renovation of
the Remains Lighting 25,000 square foot, four-story factory,
incorporated many sustainable design features such as water
conservation and rainwater harvesting, energy efficiency and
solar power production, material use and waste-stream reduction,
and the planting of a green roof and fruit and
vegetable gardens...A green roof provides
additional insulation, storm water control, and air quality
improvement, and a large vegetable garden was created in the
parking lot..." [7.27.10]
The challenge of rooftop gardens
Shanghai Daily,
by Zhang Qian
Shanghai, China.
"...Green walls, green
spaces around buildings, green elevated road edges, as well as
green roofs have improved the city, making it more
attractive and healthy...Green rooftops help
during frequent storms in Shanghai's summer. Studies show they
can retain up to 75 percent of the rainwater in given storm,
gradually releasing it back into the atmosphere through
condensation and transpiration, while retaining air pollutants
in the soil..." [7.26.10]
P.S.71 to get a green roof
YourNabe.com,
by Daniel Roberts
New York, NY.
"Borough President
Ruben Diaz Jr. has released a whopping $37.6 million in funding
for new projects as part of his new 2011 budget, and Pelham Bay
students and parents should be especially excited. Two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars of the money — one of the largest
allocations for any of the projects — will be devoted to a new
green roof for P.S. 71, the Rose E. Scala
School...Green roofs have become a major trend in
the borough, with a whole score of low-income housing
developments, senior centers, and public buildings adding them
to their architecture in the past year..." [7.26.10]
Green hits the roof
BusinessWorld
Online, by Victoria T. Vizcarra
Manila, Philippines.
"...In the
Philippines, city governments are starting to lend a hand in
greening smog-ridden locales: Last September, then Quezon City
Mayor Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr. signed Ordinance 1940--a
provision requiring real estate planners of private and
publicly-owned structures to reserve 30% of their roof space for
plants. The Green Roof Ordinance also includes
property tax perks as an incentive for green-roofed homes..."
[7.26.10]
Student ideas for green roof make school a teaching lab
Boston Globe,
by June Q. Wu
Boston, MA.
"Take Boston Latin
School, and pack on top of its building a weather station, a
greenhouse, two outdoor classrooms, a cafeteria, and a garden.
Then add solar panels, wind turbines, and the outdoor elevator.
It’s a 70,000-square-foot, $6.2 million green roof
dreamed up by Boston Latin students, and it’s becoming a
reality...The green roof, once constructed, will allow
teachers to incorporate hands-on experiments into the
sustainability curriculum, serving as an example for school
districts across Massachusetts..." [7.26.10]
Atop city building, garden makes green statement
South Coast
Today, by Steve Urbon
New Bedford, MA.
"...the roof is the
first of its kind in the city, a high technology version of an
ancient concept that is being adopted worldwide as a big boost
in sustainability. This being 2010, it involves much more than
dropping a load of dirt on the roof and planting grass and
plants. For one thing, the roof has to support the weight, so
the building design had to take that into account. For another,
the roof is intended to be low-maintenance and high efficiency,
so it involves a great deal of engineering innovation and modern
materials...." [7.26.10]
New Bessemer Cutoff courthouse opens with sleek look
al.com, by Thomas Spencer
Birmingham, AL.
"...The one-story
entrance plaza is topped by a garden roof planted
with native wildflowers -- day lilies, coneflowers, black-eyed
susans and drought-resistant succulent plants called sedum. The
garden is prominently visible as you look down from the
staircases leading to the second and third floors. Aside from
its aesthetic appeal, the garden roof is intended
to absorb and filter storm water. The building also has a system
for capturing rain and storing it in a 20,000-gallon underground
cistern for reuse in irrigation..." [7.26.10]
Government of Canada Invests in an Innovative Future for British
Columbia's Horticulture Sector
PR-CANADA.net,
Press Release
Canada.
"The Government of Canada is investing in the long-term
viability and profitability of British Columbia's ornamental
nursery industry...$108172 will help evaluate "green roof"
methods and technologies that support vegetation growth on
rooftops and improve air and water quality, and reduce energy
costs..." [7.25.10]
Frontier Project an energy use model
Press-Enterprise, by Leslie Berkman
Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
"...Although eastern
cities like Chicago, New York and the District of Columbia long
have used "green roofs" to manage storm water, she
said, rooftop planting is new to California as a method for
helping to insulate roofs in the summer and absorb and purify
rainwater in the winter. "It is trickier in Southern California
because we don't get rain year round," she said, and because
inland roofs are exposed to beating sun and wind. "We are still
trying to find out if green roofs are worth the
resources we have to put into them..." [7.24.10]
Debating the merits of green, white roofs
Journal of
Commerce, by Korky Koroluk
Vancouver, Canada.
"The popularity of
both white and green roofs is undeniable.
Kalinger, cited a couple of reasons why he thinks they’ve caught
on. “One, is that if you install a reflective or a
vegetative (green) roof you can earn LEED points,” he
said “The other is that there has been a lot of advocacy for
vegetative roofs. That’s led to some regulations coming into
effect, particularly in Toronto, where they have a bylaw that
stipulates that buildings over a certain size in all sectors
shall have green roofs or white roofs..."
[7.24.10]
Retrofit your roof from 'gray to green'
Inquirer.net,
by Tessa Salazar
Philippines.
"...So, what do green
architects mean when they say “more green on the roofs”? It
means turning roofs into gardens—a crown of life—giving plants
on the city’s gray, imposing buildings. The immediate benefit of
doing such would be an estimated three- to five-degree reduction
in temperature on the floors beneath the green roof..."
[7.23.10]
ECObitat: A Lush Modular Prefab With Living Green Walls
Inhabitat Blog,
by Bridgette Meinhold
World.
"Felipe Campolina’s ECObitat is a modular housing system
designed specifically to provide emergency or disaster relief
housing. Easily transported and made of off-the-shelf materials,
the one-bedroom home can be constructed easily and delivered to
wherever it is needed. We especially dig ECObitat’s modular
living wall and green roof system that gives
the prefab a lush, organic exterior..." [7.23.10]
It's never too late to learn to live green
ABC7Chicago.com, by Hosea Sanders
Chicago, IL.
"...At the Montgomery Place retirement home in Hyde Park, two
rooftop gardens have been installed. But they don't
just provide great scenery for residents. They are designed to
accommodate physical challenges. "On the dementia floor...it has
a rooftop garden that has a circular, elevated planter. So you
can sit in a chair or wheel up with a wheelchair, and you can
plant which they do. They plant vegetables and flowers up
there..." [7.23.10]
Ecoroof redux at Ecotrust
Sustainable
Business Oregon, by Christina Williams
Portland, OR.
"In 2001 the Ecotrust
building made headlines for its green features and LEED Gold
status in part because of its ecoroof. By 2010,
however, the green roof was in need of an overhaul
and Enviroscapes Northwest stepped in. This month, the Portland
firm completed a 10-day, $68,244 total replacement of the
Jean Vollum Natural Capital Building's 6,000-square-foot
ecoroof..." [7.22.10]
Jamboree Housing Corporation wins approval of City of Buena Park
for new affordable community on vacant urban infill site
RealEstateRama,
Press release
Buena Park, CA.
"...The four-story
apartment community features contemporary urban design and the
sustainable green roof over a 142-space surface
parking area that will provide residents with open space for
recreation and other outdoor activities. Planted with grass and
other landscaping, the distinctive green roof will
extend over most of the parking area and will help reduce the
“heat island” effect that would otherwise be created by the
surface parking facility..." [7.22.10]
Postal Service Surpasses Green Facilities Goals
FOXBusiness, by
Staff
New York, NY.
"One year after
officially opening its first green roof in midtown
Manhattan, the Postal Service announced it continues to exceed
its energy savings targets, placing the agency more than two
thirds of the way to achieving its goal to reduce energy use by
30 percent by 2015. The green roof, atop the
Morgan mail processing facility, covers 109,000 square feet,
or nearly 2.5 acres. During construction, approximately 90
percent of the original roof was recycled and reused on the new
roof..." [7.22.10]
Environmentally friendly sports hall opened
Harrow Times,
by Tristan Kirk
Harrow, UK.
"A Harrow college has
opened its new hi-tech sports centre complete with living
roof and walls. The Siena Building at St Dominic's Sixth
Form College is decked out with thousands of living plants and
has a roof made of sedum – a material which gathers water and
feeds it to the plants..." [7.22.10]
How grows your garden up on the roof?
Dallas Morning
News Blog, by Karen Pierce
Dallas, TX.
"With so many
initiatives to "green up" urban surfaces and rooftops, it's
refreshing to see the progress at the Fairmont Hotel's
rooftop garden - covering 3,000 rambling square feet on
the pool level. It was started several years ago, and new
executive chef Andre Natera is carrying on the tradition. "We
have no gardener," he says. Instead, the beds are maintained by
the kitchen staff with only a little help with watering..."
[7.21.10]
London museum opens first green roof
Environmental
Data Interactive, by Luke Walsh
London, UK.
"Environmentalist and
TV presenter Dusty Gedge gave edie.net a personal tour of the
Museum of London's new green roof as a prelude to
the upcoming
World Green Roof Congress 2010...The museum, a short walk
from St Paul's Cathedral, could be one of the City of London's
largest green roof retrofitting schemes and,
according to Mr. Gedge, has the potential to become an
exemplar..." [7.21.10]
ACROS: A Giant Japanese Pyramid Blanketed in Green Grass
Inhabitat Blog,
by Yuka Yoneda
Fukuoka, Japan.
"ACROS
is a surprising building in more ways than one. If you were
approaching the building from one side, all you would see is a
typical, glass-walled office building. When Emilio Ambasz &
Associates designed the building, there were tasked with
maintaining the adjacent park, which happened to be the only
remaining green space left in the whole city. We think they did
a brilliant job of integrating the stepped green roof
into the park – it almost appears as if the grass from the roof
is spilling right into the grassy knoll with no interruption of
flow..." [7.21.10]
8 Tallet: Green-Roofed Eco Village Opens in Denmark
Inhabitat Blog,
by Andrew Michler
Copenhagen, Denmark.
"Ørestad is an
emerging neighborhood in Copenhagen that is redefining 21st
century living. At the heart of the development is 8 Tallet (or
8 House), a progressive apartment complex that is a small
neighborhood in itself...Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG),
the complex features a gorgeous green roof, is
oriented to make the most of available daylight, and is still
just a 12 min train ride to downtown..." [7.21.10]
Green roofs may bring long-term energy savings
Minnesota
Daily, by Mark Vancleave
Minneapolis, MN.
"Research suggests a
promising future for rooftop landscaping, despite the high
cost...Erwin pointed to the
Target Center as evidence that green roofs can
become a reality in Minneapolis. The two-and-a-half-acre
green roof atop the Target Center was finished in
September at a price of $5.3 million. The roof will capture one
million gallons of storm water each year..." [7.21.10]
Parks Dept. Expands Green Roof on Randall's Island
The Epoch
Times, by Helena Zhu
New York, NY.
"The city’s Department
of Parks and Recreation has recently added two new planting
systems to Randall’s Island’s Five Borough Administrative
Building. With the additional 10,000 square feet, the
green roof now covers 26,000 square feet, allowing space
for 21 uniquely designed landscapes. The new garden contains
many kinds of vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, zucchini,
yellow squash, string beans, broccoli, corn, lettuce, cucumbers,
eggplant, and mixed herbs..." [7.21.10]
Researchers to present technologies to save bay
Centre Daily Times, The Associated Press
Annapolis, MD.
"Floating wetlands,
porous asphalt and living walls are some of the
ideas that universities, federal laboratories and private
companies are developing to restore the Chesapeake Bay. Those
ideas and others will be presented Wednesday in Annapolis at a
"Technologies That Can Save the Bay" event sponsored by the
Maryland Technology Development Corporation and the Chesapeake
Bay Foundation..." [7.21.10]
Oakland's Renovated Museum is a Green-Roofed Urban Gem
Inhabitat.com,
by Andrew Michler
Oakland, CA.
"Forty years ago the
Oakland Museum of California introduced a radical, modern, and
green concept for a public museum -- and that vision is now
being updated and preserved in a major renovation. The brutalist
design by Kevin Roche was hailed as a landmark for its massive
garden roof, extensive courtyards and low-slung
concrete buildings that, for a casual observer, could appear
like a long-abandoned industrial complex from afar..." [7.20.10]
New Target Store Opens in Chicago Wilson Yard
MarketWatch,
Press Release
Chicago, IL.
"Target brings
one-stop shopping convenience and 300 jobs to the Wilson Yard
community when it opens its doors at 4466 N Broadway St. in
Chicago...The Chicago Wilson Yard Target is 200,000 square feet
and features a green roof and the nation's largest
spangleboard -- a 16 foot by 250 foot billboard display with
200,000 tiny bullseye medallions that shimmer in the breeze from
the passing El trains..." [7.20.10]
Experts suggest green measures to combat floods
Channel News Asia, by Alvina Soh and Lim Zhi Ying
Singapore.
"Experts say the recent flooding has again shown why it is
important to manage the environment and embrace green buildings.
One solution lies in the rooftop gardens that some
buildings have. They can function as catchment areas to store
water and reduce the risk of flooding. Experts say such features
should be incorporated into the building designs..." [7.20.10]
A shade cooler: Tree cover and green spaces can help cities
beat the heat
Boston Globe,
by Aaron Bernstein
Boston, MA.
"...The study also
found that just one shade tree could trim 7 percent from the
annual cost of cooling a well-insulated home...Another worthy
cooling intervention, particularly for cities, are roofs covered
with vegetation. These green roofs provide
benefits year-round; they are cooler in summer and hold in heat
better in the winter. They also absorb water, thus reducing
storm run off and help to reduce the chances for bacterial
contamination of beaches..." [7.20.10]
Air National Guard Invests in Green Energy
Environmental
Leader, by Staff
US.
"The
U.S. Air National Guard is increasingly investing in green
energy as it seeks to reach its goal of generating 25 percent of
its energy from renewable sources by 2025, according to a report
on the National Guard’s website...Several are also pursuing
plans to construct or retrofit green roofs to
insulate their facilities and reduce rainwater runoff..."
[7.19.10]
Landscaping an integral part of going green
Business
Mirror, by Anjo C. Alimario
Philippines.
"...BluPrint, together
with the Philippine Association of Landscape Artists (Pala),
Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) and United
Architects of the Philippines (UAP), launched the AViD
competition last week. With the theme “Up on the Roof,”
participants are challenged to design a “green roof”
that requires the interplay of the three main design
disciplines—architecture, interior design and, in particular,
landscape architecture..." [7.17.10]
Eco-Friendly Option To Cooling Your Home
CBS 3, by Ben
Simmoneau
Philadelphia, PA.
"At street level, Al
Butler's house looks like your typical South Philadelphia row
home. But on the roof, it's another whole jungle. That's because
Butler's roof is green. We're not talking about the color.
Instead, his roof is covered in dirt and vegetation: it's
environmentally green...And there can be significant energy cost
savings. Butler says his monthly energy bill is about $30 per
month less..." [7.16.10]
New York Looks to Philadelphia for Ideas on Sewer Overflow
Issues
WNYC, by Brian
Zumhagen
New York, NY.
"...Philadelphia is
relying more and more on green infrastructure: street trees,
green roofs and restored wetlands around the city,
and depending less and less on so-called “grey” infrastructure
like expensive underground storage tanks. The water department
has also changed the way it bills customers; non-residential
building owners now have to pay for the amount of storm runoff
they generate based on how much concrete or other impermeable
surfaces they have on their properties..." [7.15.10]
University's Gathering Place now complete
Williams Lake
Tribune, by Erin Hitchcock
Williams Lake, Canada.
"The Thompson Rivers
University Gathering Place in Williams Lake is finished. The
final construction detail, the “living roof” of
natural grass sod, was added on Tuesday. "The living roof
we’re putting on it is an actual live, planted roof,”
says David Graham, TRU project manager for capital projects and
construction..." [7.15.10]
A pixel makes a big statement in Victoria
Architecture
and Design, by Staff
Melbourne, Australia.
"Grocon's new Pixel
building, the first carbon neutral office building in Australia,
has achieved the highest Green Star ever awarded...We also have
the world's leading wind turbines, invented in Bendigo, the
Melbourne University designed 'living roof', which
re-introduces Victorian grassland species to the Melbourne area,
and tracking photovoltaic roof panels..." [7.15.10]
McCarthy Breaks Ground for Miramar College Parking Structure and
LEED-Designed Police Substation
PRLog.org,
Press Release
San Diego, CA.
"... Key to its
sustainable design is a green roof grid system,
which will cover the majority of the roof deck. The grid system
uses modular panels for ease of installation, roof access and
maintenance. A green screen will cover the west elevation of the
parking structure and achieve the look of a vertical
garden. The vegetation to be used will contribute to a
microclimate that is central to the facility's passive thermal
and natural ventilation design..." [7.14.10]
Melbourne's concrete jungle begins to turn green
The Age, by
Adam Carey
Melbourne, Australia.
''Melbourne's steel
and concrete skyline will turn over a new leaf today with the
unveiling of the first roof garden on an existing
commercial building. The new green roof has been
fitted on to a 10-storey office block at 131 Queen Street, at a
cost of about $250,000. It is set to reduce the building's
energy needs for summer cooling by more than 50 per cent,
researchers at the University of Melbourne and the CSIRO say..."
[7.14.10]
Lawrence Tech Wins Grant to Promote Water Quality
Water World, by
Staff
Southfield, MI.
"...The
vegetated roof monitoring program will begin this summer
and continue through 2011 to determine the effectiveness of
vegetated roofs as a stormwater management practice.
Lawrence Tech will help the Woodhaven-Brownstown school district
integrate the roof data into the middle school science
curriculum..." [7.14.10]
Longwood Gardens to Open New East Conservatory Plaza in October
Art Daily, by
Staff
Kennet Square, PA.
"Longwood Gardens’ new
East Conservatory Plaza, featuring the first terraced lawn in
the United States designed by landscape architect Kim Wilkie and
the largest indoor green wall in North America,
will open to the public on October 9, 2010. The dynamic new
gathering space and venue for educational talks, horticultural
demonstrations and special events continues Longwood founder
Pierre S. du Pont’s legacy of creating unique spaces that
integrate into the natural landscape. ..." [7.14.10]
Debating the merits of green, white roofs
Daily
Commercial News, by Korky Koroluk
Ottawa, Canada.
"...Quite apart from
energy considerations, green roofs have an
attribute missing from white roofs: They help control
storm-water runoff...A study published late last year used the
data collected from the five stations to show that green
roofs really do mitigate urban heat-island effect; they
really do absorb stormwater; they really do help keep the
building below them cool in the summer and warm in the
winter..." [7.13.10]
Parkade nears completion
RedDeerAdvocate.com, by Brenda Kossowan
Alberta, Canada.
"...Sedum, a hardy
succulent that lives on thin soils and needs very little
maintenance, has now been planted on the green roofs
that were incorporated in the design to reduce the parkade’s
impact on the environment. The larger of the two roofs, neither
of which is accessible to the public, is shaped like a half
cylinder over the top of the parkade and there is another on the
ramp...The sedum will grow into a carpet of small plants that
will capture rain water and solar energy, dramatically reducing
the runoff and solar heating that are common with large
structures..." [7.12.10]
Where Does the Water Go?
Wall Street
Journal, by Willa Plank
US.
"Cities
are coming up with new ways to deal with an old problem:
storm-water runoff...The parks department also is constructing "green
roofs" on 10 recreation centers, and testing
green-roof systems on its administration building on
Randall's Island. Green roofs are covered with
soil and low vegetation that slow the rate of runoff..."
[7.11.10]
Green Roof in a Purple City
SLAM Online, by
Kyle Stack
Minneapolis, MN.
"NBA free agents might
avoid Minneapolis due to its harsh winters, but many others move
there partly because of the city’s determination to remain
“green.”
Target Center, home of the Timberwolves, is an example of
why that’s the case. The arena, which opened in downtown
Minneapolis in 1990 and which sits across the street from the
Twins’ new palace, Target Field, unveiled its green roof
in September 2009 to rave reviews. Target Center became the
first sports arena in North America to have a green roof..."
[7.11.10]
U.S Navy Greens Up Using Eco Friendly Products – Turf Covered
Roof
The Yellow Ads, by Esther Alarcon
US. "...The
Army has a green roof and the Air Force has a
natural roof, so it was simply just a short time before the Navy
got its green roof too. Development with a brand
new energy efficient eco-friendly roof at Naval Station Norfolk
got under way earlier this month...When it comes to environment
and public health rewards, green roofs improve
community wellness by reducing the summertime “heat island”
effect brought on by uncovered roofs, plus they lessen smog by
trapping pollutants including carbon dioxide..." [7.11.10]
Take gardening to new heights: Rooftop sanctuaries
Kansas City Star, by Marty Ross
Kansas City, MO.
"Rooftop gardens take the enjoyment of plants to a
new level. But creating a garden so far off the ground poses
plenty of challenges...Bruce calls the green roof
a “recreational deck” with environmental benefits. The greenery
keeps the area much cooler in summer than it otherwise would be,
he says, and it intercepts about 75 percent of rainfall,
significantly reducing stormwater runoff. It also helps absorb
the sounds of the city, and it provides a natural habitat for
birds and butterflies..." [7.10.10]
Starting at the Top
Morris Daily
Herald, by Staff
Joliet, IL.
"Will County continued
its commitment to “going green” this week, as workers installed
a green roof on the County Office Building at 302
N. Chicago St., Joliet. The green roof, which
seeks to reduce energy costs and offer other environmental
benefits, is the first of its kind in downtown Joliet..."
[7.10.10]
DEP awards $2.6 million for green infrastructure projects
NYC
Environmental Protection, Press Release
New York, NY.
"Environmental
Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway today announced the winners
of the Flushing and Gowanus Green Infrastructure Grant
Initiative...Manhattan College: $660,440 for the installation of
a modular green roof project on New York Hospital.
It will be designed to control runoff from a 1 to 1.5-inch
rainfall on a half acre roof..." [7.9.10]
Eco-roofs could keep solar panels cooler
Daily Journal
of Commerce, by Nathalie Weinstein
Portland, OR.
"...Portland State University researchers are investigating
whether combining solar panels with eco-roofs
could increase the efficiency of the panels. "Photovoltaic
panels may benefit from an eco-roof in that an
eco-roof creates a cooler environment,” said David Sailor, a PSU
professor and director of the Green Building Research Lab..."
[7.9.10]
Rare Birds Raise Secret Brood in Birmingham
Treehugger, by
Jennifer Hattam
UK.
"...Once a popular home for the birds, Sheffield is now the
center of an effort to bring the nationally rare species back by
creating a network of green roofs on new and
redeveloped buildings, imitating the sparse, wild vegetation the
birds favor. According to The Guardian, the black redstarts have
become a high-profile indicator of green roof
success in London, where the bird's bombsite toehold has
expanded thanks to the new, high-rise form of urban greenery..."
[7.9.10]
Sowing seeds of the future
TheChronicleHerald.ca, by Bruce Erskine
Halifax, Canada.
"The green roof
under construction at Halifax’s Seaport Farmers’ Market is a
reflection of the agrarian businesses that will soon occupy the
waterfront space...Along with the green roof,
which acts as a natural air conditioner, the $12-million complex
includes four windmills that will generate electricity, a water
collection system that will be used to feed the garden, flush
toilets and clean floors..." [7.9.10]
A car-less Googletopia in the works?
Mountain View
Voice, by Daniel DeBolt
Mountain View, CA.
" Imagine a futuristic
bay-front enclave for Google and Microsoft employees where no
cars are allowed, buildings have green roofs and
no carbon footprint, people travel in automated pods and live in
apartments among the office buildings...Bryant's comments about
green roofs alluded to an idea advocated by
McDonough that involves growing vegetation on roofs to insulate
buildings and make use of storm water, as is done on Google's
YouTube buildings in San Bruno..." [7.8.10]
Taking The Sizzle Out Of Summer In The City
NPR, by Scott
Neuman
US.
"As the
mercury soared into the triple digits this week along the East
Coast, you can bet it was even more stifling in the asphalt and
concrete jungles of cities like New York and Washington than in
nearby rural areas....From their perspective, Craytor says,
putting on a green roof that can cost $2,000 to
$4,000 can be a hard sell. "We're trying to show them how that
benefits them in the long term. Businesses and individuals
really do want to do the right thing..." [7.8.10]
Serious about Saving Energy? Replace Roofs
Youngstown
Business Journal, by Dennis LaRue
Boardman, OH.
"...Extending tax
credits to owners who retrofit their buildings to support the
increased weight of green roofs could create
40,000 jobs across the United States and reduce the heat these
structures lose by 90%, said Larson, chairman of the House
Democratic Caucus..." [7.8.10]
Cover the roof in a carpet of grass to save energy
Irish Times, by
Frank McDonald
Ireland.
“...Ireland has its own tradition of green roofs,
going back to the pre-historic burial mounds of Newgrange,
Knowth and Dowth in the Boyne Valley. But apart from a few
examples of individual houses and roof terraces of apartment
buildings, acres of roofspace on office blocks and shopping
centres have yet to be greened..." [7.8.10]
EBIII gets University's second green roof
N.C. State
University Technician Online, by Nathan Hardin
Raleigh, NC.
"The University will
take another step toward innovation and sustainability this
month with the opening of the campus’ second green roofed
building. The 3,780-square-foot roof is located on part of the
new Engineering Building III on Centennial Campus. The
green roof is made up of 10 different drought resistant
plants and, according to a University press release, will save
the University an estimated 25 to 50 percent on heating and
cooling costs..." [7.8.10]
Arboretum offers free green roof tours
The Philadelphia Tribune, by Melissa S. Treacy
Swarthmore, PA. "...Rebecca Wehry Robert, member and visitor
programs coordinator at The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore
College, said that the facility operates three green roofs.
On July 19 the arboretum will host two public tours of the
living and growing spaces at 6 p.m. and then another at 7:30
p.m. [Guests can] learn about the inner workings, benefits and
beauty of green roofs, while exploring the three
we have at the Arboretum...." [7.8.10]
New Senate Bill Gives Cities Green Technologies to Clean Water,
Lower Costs
Business Wire
Press Release
Washington, DC.
"The American Society
of Landscape Architects (ASLA) today announced support for new
Senate legislation designed to encourage green infrastructure –
a novel, sustainable approach that uses natural systems of
trees, plants and soils to manage rainwater instead of the
overburdened and outdated infrastructure that currently exists
in cities...Introduced by U.S. Senator Tom Udall, the Green
Infrastructure for Clean Water Act (S 3561) offers grants and
technical assistance for communities to use green roofs,
rain gardens and other sustainable approaches that naturally
capture and clean the rainwater – often preventing the water
from ever entering the sewer system..." [7.7.10]
Rooftop Farm Opens In Queens
NY1, by Roger
Clark
Brooklyn, NY.
"A ribbon-cutting
ceremony today marked the opening of New York's biggest rooftop
farm. The farm is run by the commercial farming business
Brooklyn Grange and is located atop a building on Northern
Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens. "We lifted up the soil
with a crane and we covered the entire roof with a green
roof system," explained head farmer Ben Flanner. "And
there is over a million pounds of soil that we can grow
vegetables in..." [7.7.10]
Biodiversity meets luxury in Mayfair
Greenbuild
News, by Staff
London, UK.
"A luxury development
in London's Mayfair has been finished with two roof gardens that
maximize the biodiversity of the project. With almost 320m 2 of
green roofing, the site, at 50 New Bond St and 14
St George St, has created a diverse environment for a range of
birds and insects..." [7.7.10]
They can dig it
Boston Globe,
by Devra First
Boston, MA.
"...restaurants are
increasingly raising rooftop gardens — in Atlanta, Baltimore,
Beverly Hills, Brooklyn, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia,
Portland, Ore., Providence, Seattle, and more. Many cities offer
tax breaks or other financial incentives to convert rooftops
into green space. So-called “green roofs’’ reduce
storm water runoff and help combat urban heat, among other
benefits. In Boston, Sam Yoon, the former city councilor and
mayoral candidate who is relocating to Washington, D.C., has
been perhaps the biggest advocate of such incentives..."
[7.7.10]
Bold Public-Private Venture Aims to Make Ore. City an 'Icon of
Sustainability'
New York Times, by Michael Burnham
Portland, OR. "...GE plans to use Portland as a model for
sustainable development deals with other U.S. cities...The
feasibility study (pdf) envisions a 10- to 15-story building
with 60,300 square feet of photovoltaic panels spread across its
exterior. The rooftop will capture rainwater for use in sinks
and showers, and the resultant gray water will be treated
naturally on-site and reused in toilets, mechanical systems and
planted ecoroofs..." [7.7.10]
Five Keys to Sustainable Lab Design
Laboratory
Equipment, by Tim Studt
US.
"Architects, lab managers and lab planners take a particularly
detailed look at the inter-related sustainability and LEED
criteria when planning a new or renovated lab facility...Green
roofs are also more often being installed as a way to
conserve water (used for irrigation or gray applications), while
at the same time decreasing the amount of heating or cooling
required because of the green roof’s insulative
values..." [7.6.10]
How to lead the nation in sustainable built environment
innovation
Sustainable
Business Oregon, by Johanna Brickman
Portland, OR.
"...Our
systems-thinking approach has led us beyond leadership in the
installation of solar panels and green roofs as
individual components: Oregon university researchers are first
in the nation to explore what benefits accrue when green
roofs and solar panels are installed in close proximity
— the panels shading the plants and the plants cooling the
panels, in synergy..." [7.6.10]
Architecture: The Fish House by Guz Architects
Bloginity Blog,
by Staff
Singapore.
"This modern tropical bungalow encapsulates the essence of
living in the hot and humid climate of Singapore by creating
open spaces which encourage natural ventilation and offer
residents views to the ocean...photovoltaic panels supplying
enough energy to the house, while the remaining area is used as
a green roof giving residents some outdoor leisure
spaces..." [7.6.10]
Healdsburg's latest hospitality gem
North Bay
Business Journal, by Dan Verel
Healdsburg, CA.
"The opening of an
ambitious and environmentally conscious hotel is poised to vault
Healdsburg even higher among tourist destinations in Sonoma
County...Among the green amenities of the former gas station lot
are a growing roof that will be planted with
native succulents, which will capture and filter rainwater and
help contain energy for the building while providing a habitat
for birds and insects..." [7.5.10]
New building in Malaysia boosts latest green technologies
Channel News
Asia, by Melissa Goh
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
"A new building called
G Tower is challenging the way buildings are built in
Malaysia...While the extensive landscaping with sky
gardens and green walls help to cool the
building and improve air quality. The building uses double
glazed glass panel with a layer of Vacuum trapped in between
that cuts down on heat transmission. Another green initiative -
a system to harvest rainwater which is then used to irrigate
plants and vertical greens found throughout the entire
building..." [7.2.10]
Green Roofs That Melt the Mind, Not the House
Discovery News,
by Alyssa Danigelis
Boston, MA.
"Turns out that
there's a lot going on upstairs. Green roof tech
is heating up -- or rather, getting cooler, and the masterminds
behind two promising sustainable rooftop inventions are actually
still in high school...Want plants on your house but have a
funky-shaped roof? No problem. The team from Hillside New Tech
High School in Durham, North Carolina, came up with a structure
that makes it possible to grow plants on sloped rooftops..."
[7.2.10]
Vibrant, new-age design
Deccan Herald,
by
Aruna Chandaraju
Bangalore, India.
"Aruna Chandaraju
talks to architect Wong Chiu Man of Singapore-based architecture
firm Warner Wong Design WOW Architects which designed the
Vivanta, by Taj - Whitefield...Sustainability also takes on a
poetic ideal emanating from its sculptured form. The landscaped
ground ‘plane’ becomes the green roof thus
reducing heat (by adding mass and thermal resistance value) and
cooling loads to the podium spaces underneath. Rainwater is also
harvested from its ‘planes’ and channeled for reuse in landscape
irrigation..." [7.2.10]
Clean Air And Water Are Top Concerns For Cities Around The World
GovMonitor, by
Staff
Singapore.
"Water supply and air pollution are among the most pressing
issues for cities say participants at Singapore’s
World
Cities Summit 2010...That is the response from a sampling of
city leaders and urban planners who attended Singapore’s World
Cities Summit 2010, held June 28-July 1. The group surveyed
represents cities on four continents and in both developed and
developing nations, including Australia, France, India,
Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, the United States, and
Vietnam..." [7.1.10]
Target Center green roof recognized
Finance and
Commerce, by Brian Johnson
Minneapolis, MN.
"Stock Roofing
announced this week it has received another award for its work
on the
Target Center green roof project.
Sika Sarnafil, a global manufacturer of membranes used in
roofing systems, presented its “2009 Project of the Year” award
to Stock Roofing for the 115,000-square-foot green roof, the
fifth-largest installation in the U.S...Sika Sarnafil also
recognized St. Paul-based Berwald Roofing & Sheet Metal for its
work on the University of Minnesota’s Science and Technology
Building..." [7.1.10]
Southface Provides Online Tour of its Atlanta-based Eco Office;
Offers the Building's Extensive Performance Data to Researchers
Earthtimes Press Release
Atlanta, GA. "The new Online Tour of the
Southface Eco Office, a LEED® Platinum building located in
Downtown Atlanta, provides virtual building access to
researchers who wish to study the building’s energy- and
water-use metrics. It also includes detailed photos and
narrative about the building's design and performance features.
The Eco Office Online Tour and performance data are available
from anywhere in the world...The Eco Office is a three-story
structure with a rooftop green roof..." [7.1.10]
Gorgeous Maximum Garden House Creates Green Urban Space
Inhabitat
Blog, by Bridgette Meinhold
Singapore. "...The resulting house includes a vertical
living wall and green roof that is not
only beautiful and functional, but also serves to improve the
building’s performance...A green roof then covers
the carport and is planted in an artistic pattern which can be
easily seen from the upper floors..." [7.1.10]
Green-Roofed Soccer Training Facility Has a Field Right On Its
Roof!
Inhabitat Blog,
by Bridgette Meinhold
France.
"This verdant soccer training facility in France shows its love
for all things turf by expanding its pitch right onto its roof!
The Centre de Formation de Football in Amiens consists of a
facility and office space to support the athletes right
alongside a field where the team practices. Designed by Chartier
– Corbasson and finished in 2009, the facility is sure to
inspire its athletes and maybe even provide for some interesting
drills while playing on the roof..." [6.30.10]
Garden gets new green roof
The Daily
Evergreen - 9 hours ago
Pullman, WA.
"The Horticulture and
Landscape Architecture Display Garden now features an extensive
green roof. The green roof is part
of the multi-phased display garden, where students from the
landscape architecture program are given the opportunity to put
theory...The green roof itself, which sits atop a
shade and storage pavilion, was built almost entirely from
100-year-old recycled wood. It supports small drought tolerant
plants and ornamental grasses..." [6.30.10]
Intel's "Greenest" Building Unveiled
Justmeans.com,
by Staff
Kiryat Gat, Israel.
"With natural light
coming from the warm Mediterranean sun, shade courtesy of a
rooftop garden, and a data center running energy
efficient Intel “Nehalem” processors, the new Intel Development
Center can rightly be called the “greenest” Intel building in
the world...Water that condenses on air chillers—some 5,300
gallons a day—is siphoned off and supplies enough water to
irrigate all the landscaping around the building as well as the
rooftop garden..." [6.29.10]
200-Foot-High Living Wall Proposed for Portland Federal Building
Architectural
Record, by Tim Newcomb
Portland, OR.
"Home to an expanding
light-rail system, a thriving bike culture, a citywide recycling
program, and a large number of LEED-certified buildings,
Portland, Oregon, has long been known for its green sensibility.
So it seems fitting that a government building there may soon be
sheathed in a 200-foot-high living wall that would
be visible from miles away...Don Eggleston, AIA, president of
SERA, says the living wall has aesthetic value,
yet also aids greatly in mitigating solar gain..." [6.29.10]
City hall 'green roof' a model for rest of Canada
Campbell River
Mirror, by Grant Warkentin
Campbell River, Canada.
"...The FCM
recognition acknowledges Campbell River City Hall’s green
roof as the first civic building in B.C. to receive a
complete green roof retrofit to an existing civic
building, said Cornfield. With this green roof,
the City of Campbell River is demonstrating our commitment to
both our Green City strategy and to the B.C. Climate Action
Charter, and we’re showing municipal governments across Canada
that a green roof retrofit can be a great fit from
a triple-bottom line approach when considering upgrading a
conventional roof..." [6.29.10]
Milwaukee's living roofs
Milwaukee News
Buzz, by Staff
Milwaukee, WI.
"Milwaukee has carved
out a reputation as an international leader in constructing
green roofs. According to a recent ranking, only nine
cities in the U.S. and Canada added more in 2009. The latest
major addition – the sweeping new green roof atop
the Downtown Central Library – opens to the public for the first
time this week. Milwaukee added about 50,000 square feet of
green roofs in 2009, according to the ranking. Only
three cities added more than 100,000 square feet: Minneapolis
(125,000), Washington, D.C. (180,000) and Chicago (550,000)..."
[6.29.10]
Green Spaces On City Rooftops
G-Online, by
Fran Molloy
Sydney, Australia.
“...Interest in
green roofs is growing substantially around the world,”
says Australian landscape architect Jock Gammon...City of
Melbourne Councillor Cathy Oke chairs the Eco-City Committee and
says she’s excited about the potential of green roofs
to transform the city. Cities have huge heat islands; they are
hot and getting hotter and green roofs and
vertical gardens are definitely a way to mitigate this..."
[6.29.10]
Federal Building To Get 'Green' Overhaul
WRTV
Indianapolis, by Staff
Indianapolis, IN.
"Green Roof,
Rainwater Collection Among Renovation Plans. Federal stimulus
money will pay for the renovation of a downtown landmark,
including the integration of several green features...The
upgrades include adding a green roof to help keep
the building cool, harvesting rain runoff to cut water use by 30
percent and using digital controls to trim energy costs by 10
percent..." [6.28.10]
Costa Cruises' new zero impact headquarters: the "Palazzo
Costa"
e-Travel
Blackboard, Press Release
Genoa, Italy. "Costa Cruises has officially inaugurated
their new headquarters in Genoa; the "Palazzo Costa". A perfect
blend of creativity, innovation and respect for the environment,
Palazzo Costa features cutting edge Italian architecture and
design...'Green roofs' and gardens on the terraces
improve heat and sound insulation, filter the fresh outdoor air
before it enters the building, and reduce the build-up of dust
and rainwater run-off." [6.28.10]
Grow your own roof? Port Orange approves green initiatives
Daytona Beach
News-Journal, by Kelly Cuculiansky
Port Orange, FL.
"The grass could be
greener upstairs, too. In addition to taking care of the lawn,
Port Orange residents may have the opportunity to install
green rooftops -- a growing trend of vegetating roofs
with grasses, plants and even trees. City leaders have agreed to
code changes that will permit green roofs and
community gardens in an effort to pave the way for green
initiatives. On Tuesday, the City Council gave preliminary
approval for the new practices and development incentives..."
[6.27.10]
Healdsburg's green hotel
Santa Rosa
Press Democrat, by Meg McConahey
Santa Rosa, CA.
"...The uber-green
boutique hotel has eco-friendly features such as a living
roof and ultra-low water use, as well as a radical
design...The water and ecology themes thread through the design
as well. The living roof with its watery wave was
designed by
American Hydrotech (which designed the roof of the new
California Academy of Sciences) and installed by Bertotti
Landscaping in Petaluma. It captures rainwater to reduce runoff
into the creek and stores it in a tank to feed the Kahn water
sculpture, a centerpiece of the hotel’s hip Spoonbar
Restaurant..." [6.26.10]
City Council funds green roof study
The
Horn, by Tiffany Tso
Austin, TX. "The City of Austin remains fixed on raising the
bar for environmental improvements. Austin City Council passed
item 75 Thursday, which promised to sponsor green roof
development research to be led by the Lady Bird Johnson
Wildflower Center and the University of Texas. The approved
sponsorship will grant the researchers up to $10,000 for the
project..." [6.25.10]
5 cool facts about the St. Paul fire station's new green roof
LiveGreenTwinCities Blog, by Staff
St. Paul, MN.
"For the St. Paul Fire
Department’s newest station, at W. 7th St and Randolph, the
folks at city hall decided to get serious about eco-friendly
design. And the bossest feature of the place is its multilevel
showpiece 2-level 8,000 square foot green roof...1.
It’s Watershed-Friendly, 2. It Keeps the Heat Off the City, 3.
It’s an Air-Filtering Aerie, 4. Farming Firefighters!, and 5.
It’s Experimental..." [6.25.10]
Discovery Zone roof grows green
Herald
Palladium, Shawn McGrath
St. Joseph, MI.
"Riverside couple's
$80,000 donation completes project after funding ran out...The
green roof is being installed on the Discovery
Zone building and is expected to be complete in one or two
weeks, depending on weather, Adams said. The green roof
consists of sedum plants in reds, pinks and greens and will be
visible from Lake Bluff Park..." [6.25.10]
Building Toronto city hall green roof posed host of challenges
Daily
Commercial News, by Saul Chernos
Toronto, Canada.
"...City Hall
is both a modern building and a heritage site, aesthetic and
historic needs raised technical challenges. Shortly into the
project, crews discovered the existing roof was built without a
slope, contrary to information designers had been provided. This
led to complications, including drainage....Gardens in the Sky,
a unit of Flynn Canada that builds living roofs,
did much of the installation work. Manager Terry
McGlade says the roof’s large size and the fact that
adjacent areas remained operative made it tough to co-ordinate
the various activities..." [6.25.10]
Green Beer: MillerCoors brewery creates sustainable business
model
BizTimes.com,
by Eric Decker
Milwaukee, WI.
"...The Milwaukee
brewery is not only focusing on “green” programs on the
operations side. Last September, the brewery completed the
installation of a green roof on top of one of its
administrative buildings. “Because this is an old manufacturing
facility, we were intrigued that we could do the new and cool
thing,” Moschea said. “This is the first green roof
in the MillerCoors facilities. It’s an innovation thing.”
Instead of the traditional bed of gravel that covers most
commercial buildings, most of the surface of the administrative
building is now covered with four types of sedum, a low-growing
plant that holds large quantities of water. Although the brewery
has not been able to track the energy savings for the building,
Guiliani said the green roof will generate savings
in several areas..." [6.25.10]
Sprawling Swedish Green Roof Planned for Malmo Exhibition Center
Inhabitat Blog,
by Bridgette Meinhold
Malmo, Sweden.
"The design for
Malmo’s New Fair and Exhibition Center was recently decided upon
in a juried competition, and the winner is Erik Giudice
Architects for their proposal featuring the sprawling
green roof pictured above. Malmo’s exhibition center
will become part of a mixed-use development area in Hyllie, and
will also include additional housing, office, park and
commercial space. One of Sweden’s largest green roofs
will come out of the new project, plus the building will meet up
with the city of Malmo’s global environmental strategy..."
[6.24.10]
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company Introduces New Green Insurance
Endorsements to Broaden Coverage for Policyholders
Business Wire,
by Staff
Novato, CA.
"Fireman’s Fund
Insurance Company, the first property and casualty insurance
company to offer green insurance to the U.S. commercial
marketplace, introduces the next generation of green insurance
endorsements that broadens coverage and allows policyholders to
tailor solutions to better meet their needs... In the case of a
loss, Fireman’s Fund protects the customer’s green investment
with broad coverage including, for example, green power
generating equipment, alternative water systems, and
vegetated roofs...Vegetated roof coverage
extended to vegetated swales and other vegetation that reduces
heat island effect, including vegetated walls..." [6.23.10]
Green Roofs - Ingenuity sprouting from the rooftops
Science Nation, by Miles O'Brien
New York, NY.
"...With help from the
National Science Foundation (NSF), Gaffin and his two partners,
Columbia Univ. civil engineer Patricia Culligan and Lamot-Doherty
Earth Observatory geochemist Wade McGillis, are researching what
benefits green roofs might have on harsh urban
environments. Their initial data suggests the answer is--quite a
bit...This research is funded under the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). We have a real incentive to
focus on generating new products to support a green economy for
the U.S..." [6.23.10]
Can cities save our bees?
The Guardian,
by Marion Tanguy
UK.
"The
alarming decline in the number of bees is well known, but their
salvation could come from an unlikely area...Actions range from
the creation of gardens and the arrangement of rooftops for
bees, to the reduction of pesticides. Bees can only benefit from
this kind of initiative. In the UK, Natural England, an agency
that advises the government on environmental issues, has
launched a plastic beehive to install at home. In the US,
Chicago was the first city to act on behalf of bees: the city
hall hosts a hive on its planted roof, thanks to
the program Green Roofs..." [6.23.10]
Self-Sufficient Napevomo Solar Decathlon House
Inhabitat Blog,
by Andrew Michler
Madrid, Spain.
"As the European Solar
Decathlon heats up in Madrid, the Napevomo House is turning
heads for its very unique tack on design. The team, composed
mainly of students from Arts et Métiers Paris Tech, has combined
two powerful technologies into a single system that heats the
house and provides electricity at the same time. That would
explain the unusual parabolic mirror sprouting from the top of
the building, as if it were the Jetsons’ vacation home. The
green roof and wall system brings the design back
down to earth, and the overall effort results in a very
comfortable home that produces all of its own power and requires
zero outside energy..." [6.23.10]
Urban Garden & Terraces Grace Rooftop Deck For Chicago Senior
Living Project
Senior Housing
News, Blog
Chicago, IL.
"...The project’s
green roof hold rainwater to prevent overcharging
city sewer systems and helps absorb sunlight and provides
insulation and cooling . Of equal importance, the green
roof areas offer a beautiful stepback to the dwelling
and common area windows. Worn Jerabek PC architects, the firm
that designed Mayor Daley’s green roof at City
Hall, is proud of this green initiative, created in partnership
with The Renaissance Companies..." [6.22.10]
The Cyan-Sustainable Design as High Design
Green Building
Pro, by Caitilin Pope-Daum and Walker Macy
Portland, OR.
"...The Cyan is in the
process of becoming LEED Gold certified. Landscape design is a
defining element of the project, as over half of the building
footprint is either vegetated ecoroof or
pedestrian-oriented open space...A 7,200 sf ecoroof
is planted on the 4-story podium level of the building. It is
visible from units in the tower and surrounding buildings, and
is laid out in a pattern that complements the plaza below. It is
planted with a broad variety of sedums, perennials, and low
grasses..." [6.22.10]
Living vegetation grows atop Elmwood Park Zoo's new pavilion
Norristown
Times Herald, by Melissa Brooks
Norristown, PA.
“...One way of paying
back what you take away is a green roof...the
county saw its first green roof (in 2003) at the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection building in
Norristown. The zoo has taken the lead in doing something like
this, Plechner added. We’ll see a lot more of these (green
roofs) in coming years — especially in Philadelphia..."
[6.20.10]
Green Living presents green roof options for Toronto
DigitalJournal.com, by Kj Mullins
Toronton, Canada.
"...On Saturday Green
Living Toronto hosted several area groups and manufacturers who
deal in green roofs at Trinity Church on Bloor
Street in Toronto. The event allowed visitors to see what
options are available for greening their office building and
residential rooftops. Green roofs provide more
than just a nice place to relax on a summer day. They help the
building itself become cooler and more environmentally friendly.
The use of vegetation adds oxygen to the air and helps filter
the air within the building..." [6.20.10]
Waste-water plant sets new standard
Calgary Herald,
by David Parker
Calgary, Canada.
"A waste-water
treatment plant may not sound like the most exciting job but GEC
Architecture has designed the new-generation Pine Creek facility
for the City of Calgary in a campus setting with the site
incorporating LEED criteria...Careful placement of earth berms
plus the largest installation of green roof in the
province provide naturalized visual screening to reduce the
apparent size of the plant from the river and the escarpment
above..." [6.18.10]
More companies create tools for rooftop gardening
The Associated
Press, David Runk
Trenton, MI.
"...Rooftop
gardens provide environmental benefits similar to
traditional green roofs, in which plants are used
to reduce storm water runoff, filter pollutants, and cut heating
and cooling costs...GreenGrid,
which is owned by Vernon Hills, Ill.-based Weston Solutions
Inc., makes rooftop gardening systems that can be used on
smaller private homes as well as businesses. It began using
plants planted in recycled plastic bins for green roofs
and later began offering deeper containers for growing
vegetables..." [6.18.10]
Ball Memorial Hospital gets grant for energy efficiency
The Star Press,
by Staff
Muncie, IN.
"Ball Memorial
Hospital has won a grant for energy efficiency improvements...In
October 2009, the hospital installed the state's largest
green roof, atop the South Tower. In a green roof,
vegetation is planted to conserve energy, reduce stormwater
runoff and extend the life of the room. The hospital's
green roof is 23,000 square feet in size." [6.18.10]
Glendale Country Club completes $2 million renovation featuring
expansive green roof, other eco-friendly improvements
Bellevue
Reporter, by Staff
Bellevue, WA. "...Now, instead of gazing upon deteriorating
wood shakes, they're welcomed with a new grand entry and
colorful 4000-square-foot green roof as the
centerpiece...The green roof, believed to be one
of the larger ones in the Greater Seattle area, consists of
seven layers, including waterproof membranes, a filter mat,
specially engineered growing materials and a variety of
carefully selected plants..." [6.18.10]
Mayors announce green initiative at Milwaukee conference
The Business
Journal, by Stacy Vogel Davis
Milwaukee, WI.
"The mayors of more
than 70 cities along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River
pledged Thursday to adopt and expand green municipal practices
with the launch of the Green CiTTS program...Mayor Tom Barrett
pointed to Milwaukee’s storm sewer improvements and green
roof installations as examples for other cities to
follow. The city won an “effective use of technology” award
Thursday morning from Milwaukee-based Public Policy Forum for
installing a green roof on Central Library..."
[6.17.10]
Governor Quinn Announces More Than $1 Million to Support
Renewable Energy Development, Green Jobs
IGNN,
Press Release
Chicago, IL. "Governor Pat Quinn today announced more than
$1 million in federal stimulus funds for S&C Electric Company to
manufacture products that improve the distribution and
transmission of electricity, and to install a new green
roof. The green roof will reduce the
amount of energy consumed at the facility. The two projects are
expected to create more than 300 jobs and retain 121 jobs. The
investment is made possible through the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA)..." [6.17.10]
Look, Listen, Learn! New Report Shows How Swiss and UK Cities
Can Help Each Other
PR Web, Press
Release
London, UK.
"Cities in the United
Kingdom and Switzerland have a lot to learn from each other to
achieve urban sustainability, according to experts in a new
report 'Urban Sustainability: a Contradiction in Terms'
published today by the Embassy of Switzerland in the
UK...Similar dialogue in the past resulted in the UK+CH green
roof partnership, which has been a major influence in bringing
green roofs into the mainstream in the UK..."
[6.17.10]
Foundations aid Pittsburgh YWCA's green roof
Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review, by Bill Zlatos
Pittsburgh, PA.
"The YWCA is getting a green roof, part of a
campaign by charitable foundations to make Downtown more
environmentally friendly...When its roof is completed, the YWCA
will join the Highmark Building, Fifth Avenue Place and the
Heinz 57 Center among Downtown buildings with green
roofs..." [6.17.10]
Austin could spend $10,000 on vegetated rooftop study
News 8 Austin,
by Jenna Hiller
Austin, TX.
"...Globally, there is
so little research done in warm weather systems. We've attracted
a lot of attention from around the world just because we're
looking at green roofs in hot climates, Simmons
said. Even though a few city buildings around town, including
City Hall, already adorn rooftop gardens, this is
the first time green roofs are being studied in a
climate like that of Central Texas..." [6.17.10]
The Green Apple: How Can Cities Adapt to Climate Change?
Scientific
American, by David Biello
New York, NY.
"New York City--and other major metropolises around the
globe--face an epic challenge in coping with the impacts of
global warming...Chicago has attempted to reduce energy use in
buildings by encouraging green roofs—planted
gardens on rooftops. Green roofs, which diminish
the heat island effect, could also help forestall an expected
increase in deadly heat waves such as the one that killed 700
people there in 1995..." [6.16.10]
Council OK's green roof at Wirth Aquatic Center
Brookfield Elm
Grove Now, by K. L. Klein
Brookfield, WI.
"A green roof
on the Wirth Aquatic Center that would naturally reduce
stormwater runoff could be a showpiece for the city, but is it
really worth a $350,000 investment?...they approved an agreement
with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District in which the
agency will provide up to $200,000 for the roof. The city will
pay the remainder of the $350,000 cost..." [6.16.10]
Stunning Green Roofed Hospital Heals Through Sustainable Design
Inhabitat Blog,
by Andrew Michler
Florence, Italy.
"The Meyers Pediatric
Hospital in Florence, Italy is an exceptional sustainable design
that harnesses architecture to help the healing process. The
complex is located in a park-like setting and consists of an
early 20th century building updated with a new sustainable wing.
With an extensive green roof, robust daylighting,
and copious art and open space the hospital provides an ideal
environment for healing..." [6.15.10]
Dublin Rec Center gets EPA grant for green roof
Columbus
Business First, by Staff
Columbus, OH.
"An environmentally
friendly project at the Dublin Community Recreation Center is
getting a $50650 boost from the Ohio EPA. The agency has awarded
a Surface Water Improvement Fund grant to the city for an effort
to “green” 2,300 feet on the roof of the recreation center by
planting vegetation. The city also plans to install a walkway,
small patio and two rain barrels..." [6.15.10]
Tacoma's Center for Urban Waters Adapts to Environmental
Conditions
Inhabitat Blog,
by Bridgette Meinhold
Tacoma, WA.
"The recently opened
research center and environmental laboratory actually has the
capacity to react to its environmental conditions and alter
itself in order to minimize its energy use...Some of the other
sustainable features included are a green roof to
infiltrate storm water, solar passive design, daylighting,
natural ventilation, geothermal heating and cooling, rainwater
collection, grey water recycling for irrigation, a photovoltaic
system, electric car charging stations and more..." [6.14.10]
Putting rain to work
Chattanooga
Times Free Press, by Pam Sohn
Chattanooga, TN.
"...Sustainability is
predicated on doing no harm. It's way too late for that. We have
to come to know the new terms of regenerative landscapes and
high performance landscapes...That shift includes green
roofs to absorb rainwater and slow runoff, pervious
pavement to allow precipitation to soak into rain gardens and
landscape irrigation systems, and gutter sculptures to catch
gushes..." [6.13.10]
Cities focusing not just on water, but on its quality
istockAnalyst.com, Press Release
US.
"A
garden of purple, white and blue flowers adorns the rooftop of
Atlanta City Hall, overlooked by glass and concrete
skyscrapers. A resident of Philadelphia walks along a pathway
filled with trees, shrubs and flowers. A group of children help
build a wetland in Charlotte, N.C., just outside their school.
Cities across America are confronting the issue of stormwater,
also called water quality. Each city's efforts have a somewhat
different look and feel, whether it be through wetlands that
naturally clean the water, green roofs that keep
and store the water while also cleaning it or parks that provide
buffers to rivers and streams..." [6.12.10]
Striving to be world's first carbon neutral capital, Copenhagen
enacts mandatory green roof policy
SmartPlanet.com
Blog, by Andrew Nusca
Copenhagen.
"In an attempt to be
the world’s first carbon-neutral capital, Copenhagen, Denmark
will reportedly enact a new policy mandating green roofs.
The new policy requires building plans to incorporate vegetation
and soil and applies to all buildings with roofs that are at
less than a 30-degree pitch..." [6.11.10]
NS Norfolk starts green roof project
WAVY-TV, by
Staff
Norfolk, VA.
"Naval Station Norfolk
kicked-off one of the Navy's first "green" roof
projects with a ceremony Thursday morning. The base location
receiving the roof is Bldg A 50 on Maryland Avenue...Officials
say "green" roofs benefit the environment by
filtering and retaining pollutants held in rainwater runoff,
thereby improving the water quality that ..." [6.10.10]
Eco-roofs sprout beauty, art in urban centres
Calgary Herald,
by Paula Trotter
Calgary, Canada.
"One of the newest eco
trends really isn't that new at all. According to Kerry Ross,
the co-founder and project manager and designer for the Alberta
Ecoroof Initiative, the green roof concept dates
back to Babylonian times...Ross is currently working as a
project manager for the IBI Group on a large green roof
for an Edmonton hospital. The Ted and Lois Hole Green Roof
Healing Garden is schedule to open by August and will be the
largest eco-roof in the city..." [6.10.10]
Barcelona has 3.5 hectares of green roofs
Ajuntament de Barcelona, by Staff
Barcelona, Spain. "Barcelona has 3.5 hectares of green
roofs in 54 of the city's terraces and buildings using
this constructive system which integrates vegetation into
buildings. Green roofs could be expanded to cover
a surface area of close to 96 hectares, if all the city's
available spaces were to be used...2009 saw green roofs
installed in several municipal buildings such as the Biblioteca
Zona Nord (1,200 square metres) and the Fàbrica del Sol (150
square metres)..." [6.10.10]
Cleveland Botanical Garden to help set sustainability standards
for landscape projects
Cleveland.com, by Michael Scott
Cleveland, OH.
"The Cleveland
Botanical Garden is on the forefront of setting new nationwide
sustainability standards for landscape projects -- not only by
pushing the green envelope on its own, but by developing new
guidelines for everyone else...The initiative is a partnership
of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird
Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin
and the United States Botanic Garden..." [6.10.10]
Green roofs need sensible design
Daily
Commercial News, by Staff
Toronto, Canada.
“In the rush to
embrace green roofs, it’s essential that design professionals
maintain their focus on the durability and proper performance of
the roof, says one industry expert. If we’re going to talk about
sustainability, we‘ve got to address the issues of durability,
because it’s durability that brings sensibility to wanting to
even be sustainable. What good is it for a green roof to have a
premature roof failing..." [6.9.10]
Bercy Chen Buries a High-Tech Update of a Traditional Pit-House
Treehugger, by Lloyd Alter
Austin, TX.
"Bercy-Chen Studio is
doing a fascinating 1400 square foot residence in Austin, Texas
that hits all the right TreeHugger buttons. It is on a modern
version of the pit-house used by ancient Pueblo and Cherokee
Indians...However it adds a few modern touches like hydronic
heating & cooling, geothermal heat exchange, phase-change
thermal heat storage, rainwater collection and a green roof..."
[6.9.10]
Global Green Building Materials Market to Reach $406 Billion by
2015, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
PR Web, Press
release
World.
"This is primarily driven by increased awareness of
environmental concerns the world over, high-energy costs,
increasing awareness that green buildings enhance well-being and
productivity, and decreasing costs of green building
materials...Green floorings represent the largest and fastest
growing green building materials in the US, followed by green
concrete and green roofs..." [6.9.10]
New County Court Building Gets Green Roof
NBC4i.com, by
Marshall Mcpeek
Columbus, OH.
"You won't see it as
you drive by on High Street. And you won't notice it when you
walk through the grand entrance. But you won't be able to miss
it when you look down from the surrounding office buildings.
It's green. Like a lawn. And it's on the roof. The new Franklin
County Courts Building is designed to be uber-environmentally
friendly. It has energy-saving heating and cooling systems,
special windows and now... sedum..." [6.9.10]
Meet & Eat: Lisa Goode, of Goode Green Designs
Serious NY Eats, by Leah Douglas
New York, NY.
"As the nation becomes
increasingly aware of our need for environmental sustainability
and agricultural self-reliance, we begin to look for new ways to
incorporate greenery into our lives. Lisa and Chris Goode run
Goode Green, a green-roof design firm to suit
this precise need. They started out with greening roofs with
plants and other small vegetation, but have been looking towards
a more agricultural approach as demand increases..." [6.8.10]
Wells Fargo Office Tower Saves 5 Million kWh Annually
Environmental
Leader, by Staff
Charlotte, NC.
"Wells Fargo’s Duke
Energy Center, in Charlotte, N.C., has earned the U.S. Green
Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Platinum certification...The office tower also features a
green roof planted with native and adaptive plants, which
reduces the “heat island” effect, cuts heating and cooling loads
on the building, and mitigates storm water runoff, while
providing an outdoor space for tenants..." [6.8.10]
Why vertical gardens are the height of fashion
Telegraph.co.uk, by Kate Weinberg
UK. "Living
walls are a chic way to fill gaps in the small garden with
flowers and shrubs that can cover bare walls beautifully...While
some gardeners use the phrase "vertical gardening" in this
rather pointless way (rather than just talking about the
honeysuckle growing on their shed), Patrick Blanc-inspired
"living walls" are a different breed..." [6.8.10]
Pitched vs. flat: Despite the cold, climate still allows a wide
choice for roofing
Alberta
Construction Magazine, by Godfrey Budd
Alberta, Canada.
"Roofs are sometimes
referred to as the fifth side of a building, suggesting their
role as part of an integrated, complete envelope system that
includes waterproofing, exterior walls, and cladding...Green
roofs can reduce cooling loads on a building
significantly-up to 30 per cent. People tend to go to a
reflective roof, but in Alberta its probably an energy
negative..." [6.7.10]
Going for the 'green'
Helena
Independent Record, by John Harrington
Helena, MT.
"...The 110,000
square-foot building, designed by Mosaic Architecture and built
by Dick Anderson Construction, both of Helena, has innovative
and energy-saving features from top to bottom — from the
literally 'green' roof planted with sedum grown
near Whitehall and designed to absorb energy and reduce the
building’s carbon footprint to the two 2,500-gallon cisterns in
the basement that capture rainwater from the uncultivated
portions of the roof and then use the water to nourish the
ground-level landscaping..." [6.6.10]
Pepsi votes sought for conservatory roof project
Rockford
Register Star, By Mike Wiser
Rockford, IL.
"The Rockford Park
District needs your help to win $50000 to help pay for a
green roof over the Nicholas Conservatory...The Park
District has joined other local individuals and organizations
seeking money in the nationwide competition that allows people
to vote online once a day...Aqua Aerobics has pledged $200,000
for naming rights for the green roof. The outcome
of the Pepsi grant, however, may affect the design of the roof
and how much the district spends on it..." [6.4.10]
Hotel takes rooftop gardens a step further with beekeeping
Los Angeles
Times Blog, by P. J. Huffstutter
Chicago, IL.
"Few chefs rave about
having bugs in their business. But Myk Banas, the executive chef
and director of food and beverage operations at the Chicago
Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, dotes on the hotel’s rooftop
hives of honey bees...Mayor Richard M. Daley, who has been a
proponent for “greening” Chicago, seems to have a fondness for
such projects: Hives of Italian honeybees have been housed in a
corner of City Hall’s rooftop garden for years..."
[6.4.10]
Dallas office buildings offer rooftop garden oases
Dallas Morning
News, by Steve Brown
Dallas, TX.
"...Nestled high above
street level at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the urban
oasis has an appropriate landscaping feature – a giant dollar
sign made out of walkways and low walls...A handful of Dallas
office projects are now offering rooftop gardens
that aren't as shielded as the park at the Fed. These new green
spaces provide business tenants a convenient break from the big
city far above the buzz and grind of the streets..." [6.4.10]
Happy birthday, Biosphère
Montreal
Gazette, by Monique Beaudin
Montreal, Canada.
"...Since opening its
doors in 1995, the Biosphère environment museum has evolved from
one focused on water to an education centre that teaches young
people across North America about ecology and sustainable
development...the Biosphère has two working windmills, solar
panels, green roofs and walls, and a geothermal
system, all deliberately chosen to show visitors..." [6.4.10]
St. Paul fire station getting green roof
Minneapolis
Star Tribune, by Chao Xiong
Minneapolis, MN.
"A green roof
is being installed on the garage serving St. Paul's newest fire
station at W. 7th Street and Randolph Avenue...The
8,000-square-foot green roof is being installed on
a parking garage that serves a new building that houses fire
department headquarters..." [6.3.10]
Downtown's Pacific Plaza earns LEED Platinum
Tacoma Daily
News, by Staff
Tacoma, WA.
"BLRB Architects
announced today the Pacific Plaza building in downtown Tacoma
has received LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green
Building Council (USGBC) -- the highest rating possible -- for
energy efficiency and environmental sustainability...the 60,000
square foot Pacific Plaza was designed by BLRB Architects and
features two floors of Class A office space; 30,000 square feet
of storefront office space; a 30,000 square foot green
roof..." [6.3.10]
Female mallard nests on the edge of bank roof
Annapolis
Capital, by Pamela Wood
Annapolis, MD.
"The 'green roof'
at the Severn Savings Bank building in Annapolis certainly is
attractive: a nice patio surrounded by lush green plants, with
an expansive view. But for a duck? A female mallard duck has
taken up residence on the edge of the bank building's roof.
Workers in the building on Westgate Circle fear she's sitting on
eggs..." [6.3.10]
Can We Use Biomimicry To Design Cities? Janine Benyus Says Yes
Treehugger, by
Leonora Oppenheim
London, UK.
"Janine Benyus explains why formulating ambitious nature
inspired briefs for city master planning is important. "If
you're working in an area with dangerous levels of soil erosion,
you should ask how can we have a policy of zero rainfall hitting
bare ground? Then you can start designing a city with multiple
green roofs, awnings and coverings. If on the
other hand you are building in an area of severe water scarcity
and the goal is to get 40% of water back in the ground, you
should ask, how can we design permeable pavements?..." [6.3.10]
Hugh Garner Housing Co-operative will boast largest green roof
in Canada
Daily
Commercial News, by Peter Kenter
Toronto, Canada.
"The eight-storey Hugh
Garner Housing Co-operative, located in the heart of Toronto’s
Cabbagetown, has officially opened the second phase of what will
be the largest residential green roof project in
Canada...Terry
McGlade, Manager of Gardens in the Sky, a division of Flynn
Canada Ltd., masterminded the garden portion of the green
roof..." [6.3.10]
Passion for Plants - Botanical Window to the Blue Mountains
ABC Local, by Dr Tim Entwisle
New South Wales, Australia.
"The World Heritage Exhibition Centre is about to open and is
expected to draw in thousands of new visitors to Mount Tomah
Botanic Garden each year...A bonus in having this Centre in a
botanic garden is that we can create a landscape outside to add
to the experience - the building has a 'green roof',
and is surrounded by plantings evoking the feel of vegetation in
the Blue Mountains..." [6.2.10]
Columbia St. Mary's hospital to add second green roof
The Business
Journal, by Staff
Milwaukee, WI.
"Columbia St. Mary's
Inc. said Wednesday that it has received a grant of $325,000
from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to install a
second green roof at the new Columbia St. Mary's
Hospital Milwaukee on the east side...MMSD backs the project
through its 2010 Regional Green Roof Initiative Program because
the green roofs at the hospital will capture
rainwater and keep it out of the regional sewer system..."
[6.2.10]
New Appraisal Institute book teaches how to appraise "green"
homes
National
Mortgage Professional Magazine, by Staff
US.
"A new
book published by the Appraisal Institute helps shed some light
for appraisers on how to estimate values for popular “green”
home features, such as energy-efficient appliances, toxin-free
flooring and insulation and vegetated roofs. In An
Introduction to Green Homes, author Alan Simmons, SRPA, LEED AP,
provides an overview of the programs, organizations and products
fueling the current surge in environmentally responsible
building and remodeling..." [6.2.10]
Council pushes for clean development
Pittsburgh Post
Gazette, by Joe Smydo
Pittsburgh, PA.
"Legislation sponsored
by four Pittsburgh City Council members would require
contractors involved in city-subsidized developments to operate
air-friendly vehicles and reduce water runoff through the use of
green roofs, man-made wetlands and rain
gardens...It would encourage developers to go beyond
conventional stormwater management practices and control runoff
with green building practices such as green roofs..."
[6.2.10]
BMW dealership goes green in Richmond, British Columbia
Journal of
Commerce, by Jean Sorensen
Richmond, Canada.
"A vast amount of
indoor space is required for car dealerships today and dealers
are looking for ways to cut heating costs...These areas need to
be heated, so one dealer turned to geothermal energy as a green
solution, when designing his building. It didn’t stop there. He
added a green roof and now a recycling centre,
complete with a 60-foot vertical wind turbine..." [6.2.10]
Builder planting seed of 'green roof' design in Jacksonville
Florida
Times-Union, by Steve Patterson
Jacksonville, FL.
"...The roof of her
construction company — 1,200 square feet of it, anyway — will be
covered this summer by low-maintenance plants installed to hold
and filter rainwater and reduce heat buildup around the
building. It’s apparently the first green roof on
a Jacksonville business, and one of only a few on any type of
building in Northeast Florida..." [6.1.10]
Shanghai Expo 2010 offers glimpses of a greener future
Vancouver Sun,
by Michael Geller
Shanghai, China.
'Why can't buildings wear coats to keep the heat in and the cold
out? This is one of the questions asked at the UK Pavilion at
Shanghai EXPO 2010. The answer? They can wear coats. In fact, a
layer of vegetation incorporated into a green roof
can help control the temperature of a building while improving
energy efficiency..." [6.1.10]
Compact and Green: Wave House
Jetson Green
Blog, by Preston Koerner
Reims, France.
"This affordable,
1,400 square-foot home is under construction near Reims, France,
according to Dezeen. With a curvy green roof --
somewhat similar to the one seen at Birchway Eco-Community --
Wave House has a double-skin polycarbonate glass facade and a
vegetated surface to shield against summer heat and winter
cold..." [6.1.10]
Allegheny County Office Building roof going green
Pittsburgh Post
Gazette, by Len Barcousky
Pittsburgh, PA.
"...Ms. Cravotta, who
is special projects coordinator for Allegheny County Executive
Dan Onorato, was one of the tour leaders Tuesday on a visit to
the first "green roof" being installed on a
government building in southwestern Pennsylvania...That makes
the county's first green roof an ideal tool for
demonstrating the different kinds of plants, drainage systems
and growing materials that can be used in such project..."
[6.1.10]
KC's six-story-high Green Roof park opens
Kansas City
Star, by Kevin Collison
Kansas City, MO.
"The Green Roof,
Kansas City's newest park, is atop a garage at 13th and Main
streets in the Power & Light District...“We’re happy to have the
Green Roof open for the public’s enjoyment,” said Rick Usher,
assistant to the city manager. “We’ve completed all the
improvements necessary to the public and ready for the spring
and summer season..." [5.31.10]
Container Crossbox with a Green Roof
Jetson Green
Blog,
by Preston Koerner
Brittany, France. "When using shipping containers for a
structure, you'll want to do your homework, but often the
results can be stunning, as is the case here. Located in
Brittany, France, Crossbox was built with four containers and
topped with greenery. Two modules cantilever over the other two,
but you can hardly tell what's going on as drywall and cladding
camouflage the industrial skeleton." [5.30.10]
Toronto to host Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM)
first-ever Municipal Awards of Excellence
DigitalJournal.com, Press Release
Toronto, Canada. "...FCM presented its
Sustainable Community Awards and the newly created Watershed
Awards. The winners of the 2010 FCM Sustainable Community Awards
are: Brownfields: the City of Toronto, Ont., Buildings - City of
Campbell River, B.C., Green Roof Retrofit for City Hall...The
green roof retrofit has provided Campbell River with
an opportunity to demonstrate leadership in environmental
initiatives, and has generated community interest in green
building principles and the Green City Strategy..." [5.29.10]
The Many Ways to Make Roofs Green
Technorati
Blog,
by
Nicole Wong
Vancouver, Canada. "In the effort to reduce cooling and
heating cost of buildings, storm water runoff, and to make
cities prettier and healthier, some buildings have adopted
roof top gardens...The Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver's
rooftop garden yields all kinds of herbs, edible
flowers, vegetables, squashes, and berries for the hotel
restaurant..." [5.29.10]
Green roofs offer mix of beauty and practicality
Quad Cities Online, by Lindsay Hocker
Rock Island, IL.
"The green roofs
that have sprouted on Quad-Cities buildings are natural patches
in a concrete world...The green roof was completed
in 2009 so this is its second growing season. A $316,000 grant
River Action received from the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency paid for the roof..." [5.29.10]
The green roof at Toronto City Hall
Toronto
Blog Blog, by Gadjo Sevilla
Toronto, Canada. "The green roof at Toronto
City Hall is considered the city's largest publicly
accessible green roof. Sadly, it's not situated at the top of
the twin towers, but instead many flights below on the podium
roof - the part of City Hall that surrounds the building that
looks sort of like a spaceship...Designed to be a new urban
oasis, the green roof covers 35,000 square feet.
Aside from adding another green space to the city, the podium is
said to improve thermal and sound insulation, air quality and
will create a habitat for birds and small animals..." [5.28.10]
BofA grabs bigger piece of tower
Charlotte Business Journal, by Will Boye
Charlotte, NC. "Bank of America Corp. has taken its new,
32-story uptown office tower off the market and plans to fill
all but 5% of the space with its own employees...Bank of America
plans to seek LEED Gold certification for its new uptown tower,
which includes a range of sustainable design features. including
green roofs and water-conservation strategies..."
[5.28.10]
Roofs for wildlife and recreation
Building.co.uk, by Staff
UK. "A
ZinCo green roof from
Alumasc has been used for the roof garden of the Ormeau
Bakery apartments in Belfast. RPP Architects specified ZinCo
intensive green roofing elements and
Hydrotech MM6125 waterproofing for the car park podium...The
Hydrotech MM6125 was chosen for the waterproofing element,
offering a solution for inverted green roofs and
hard landscaped podium structures in new build applications..."
[5.27.10]
Hugh Garner celebrates completion of Phase 2 of Canada's largest
residential green roof
ECO/Huff
Strategy, Press Release
Toronto, Canada. "...The green roof,
currently two-thirds completed, has roofing membrane material
and electro-mechanical technology for preserving rain water. The
customized green roof design also features
pergolas and a gazebo for shade, seating and decking, planted
beds, accessible raised planters and barrier-free
paths...$150,000 from the City's Live Green Toronto Grant
Program enabled the Co-op to proceed with Phase 2 of the project
and access the latest green roof technology..."
[5.26.10]
Green Roofs as Greenwash Come to China
Treehugger, by Lloyd Alter
World. "Architects use all kinds of tricks to make their
buildings look better in renderings; mirrored glass used to be a
favorite, with renderings of buildings showing reflections of
sky and clouds as the building just blended into the landscape.
As we have noted before, green roofs are the new
mirrored glass, as architects bring roofs down to ground level
and blur the line between landscape and building. But just
imagine what this project would look like if green roofs had not
been invented..." [5.26.10]
Diary of an Urban Farmer: Braving the Storm
The
Atlantic, by Annie Novak
New York, NY. "Two weeks ago, three stories up in the
air, I knelt on the rocky, shallow soil of the Eagle Street
Rooftop Farm to plant row after row of eggplants, peppers, and
tomatoes...High winds had sent my tender pea plants into a
trembling, serpentine dance. As they'd blown back and forth, the
shale and rocks in the green roof soil medium had
cut many of their stems to the quick, killing them abruptly in
their first month of growth..." [5.25.10]
The Best Industries for Starting a Business In 2010
Inc.com,
by Christine Lagorio, Tamara Schweitzer and Josh Spiro
US. "Congratulations: You have survived the recession.
Now what? If you have ever had the urge to start your own
business, now may be a good time to make a move...Helping homes
and businesses go green is a $17.75 billion-and-growing
industry. Environmental consulting is expected to grow 9 percent
a year over the next five years, according to IBISWorld, a
publisher of U.S. industry research. This industry is well
suited to independent contractors with the skills to install
environmentally friendly gear such as wind turbines, solar
panels, and green roofs..." [5.24.10]
New green-roof housing development soaks up the sun
YourNabe.com, Daniel Roberts
Bronx, NY. "...The $110,000.000 building is at the corner
of East 158th Street and Melrose Avenue, and was designed with
the goal of achieving a LEED-Gold rating, which is a high honor
in the world of environmentally friendly architecture. Its green
efforts have indeed earned the building that mark, along with
hard-to-get certifications from NYSERDA Energy Star and
Enterprise Green Communities. The structure has 84 residential
units, 16 of which are dedicated to the homeless. There are
three green roofs, one solar panel roof on the
12th floor, and a complicated eco-friendly ventilation system
that will provide fresh air and save energy..." [5.24.10]
Wall gardens growing in popularity
San
Diego Union Tribune, by Mike Lee
San Diego, CA. "...Jim Mumford, president of
GreenScaped Buildings and a self-described “eco-warrior,” is
behind many of the region’s wall gardens,
including the one at the Urban Corps office. He attracted
attention in 2007 for installing a green roof on
his Kearny Mesa warehouse as a demonstration project..."
[5.24.10]
Underground Mountainside Hotel is Efficient and Beautiful
Inhabitat Blog, by Philip Proefrock
Italy. "Architect Matteo Thun has designed this striking
eco-friendly hotel to be located on a mountainside in the
National Park of Stelvio in the Italian Alps. Composed of a
series of underground buildings linked by undulating green
roofs, the complex takes advantage of passive design
principles and ground-source heat pumps to conserve energy..."
[5.24.10]
Europe in bloom: a living façade at the European Environment
Agency
European Environment Agency, by Staff
Copenhagen, Denmark. "The Living Façade is one of EEA's
main contributions to the United Nations International Year of
Biodiversity. The front of our building on Kongens Nytorv 6 will
be covered with about 5,000 annual plants showing a map of
Europe and plant biodiversity. The façade will be in place from
22 May to October 2010. Follow the project step by step, and
learn more about the science behind it..." [5.22.10]
The Big Smoke opens up
London
Free Press, by Jim Fox
Toronto, Canada. "See Toronto as few tourists have by
exploring places and gems off the beaten track -- or just take a
walk on the beach. It's all possible next weekend -- and free --
as Doors
Open Toronto offers an enticing list of 146 buildings of
architectural, historic, cultural and social significance to
visit...These include heritage landmarks, modern structures,
green roofs, places of worship, halls of learning, boardrooms,
bedrooms, breweries, lighthouses, mansions, museums, theatres,
national historic sites, centres of rail travel, cemeteries,
factories, banking halls, architects' offices and more...The
City Hall Podium Green Roof will reopen as the city's
largest publicly accessible green roof on the open house
weekend..."
You can search for more Toronto Project Profiles in the Greenroof & Greenwall
Projects Database
[5.22.10]
OMRF 'tops out' research tower construction
Edmond Sun, by Staff
Oklahoma City, OK. "...The building will be the second in
Oklahoma to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Gold certification. It boasts newly developed energy management
systems to cut electricity usage and a living roof
and rain garden to prevent runoff pollution and insulate the
building. Water consumption will be reduced by recycling
condensation from the air conditioning system and by using
native plants in landscaping..." [5.21.10]
6-acre 'greenroof' atop Vancouver Convention Centre in B.C.
KING5.com, by Katie Zemtseff
Vancouver, Canada. "Vancouver, B.C., is home to one of
the largest green roofs in North America: a 6-acre
behemoth bigger than four football fields on the edge of a busy
metropolis. But when you're up on the roof, it's like you are in
a quiet meadow surrounded by urban land...Few people get up onto
the
Vancouver Convention Centre West roof. Bruce Hemstock, a
partner at the landscape architecture firm PWL Partnership, said
it is closed to protect the new habitat and creatures that live
there. The roof is home to four beehives, other insects, birds
and rodents..." [5.20.10]
Seoul to Build 122 Rooftop Gardens By Year-End
Arirang
News, by D. Aeun
Seoul, South Korea. "More than 100 buildings in Seoul will be
equipped with rooftop gardens by the end of this
year. The Seoul city government announced on Thursday that it
will earmark 11 billion won or about 8.3 million US dollars to
build 52-thousand square meters of rooftop gardens.
Public properties will receive financial aid covering between 70
percent to 100 percent of construction costs while selected
private buildings will receive about half of the necessary
costs. Government officials say the green roofs
will contribute to reducing energy consumption needed for
air-conditioning." [5.20.10]
Green Roof ROI Not for House-Flippers
Triple Pundit, by BC Upham
US. "Expert interviews and analysis of the latest studies
indicate that plant-covered green roofs can save
both individuals and society money over the long run, but seeing
a net return on investment is a long-term proposition.
Green roofs can lower energy bills significantly,
especially in the summer...Translation: a green roof
can break even over the long term — 50 years or so. For shorter
time spans, the ROI may not be quite there..." [5.20.10]
Brownstown Middle School plans green projects
Metromode Media, by Andrew Clark
Romulus, MI. "Brownstown Middle School is going for the
green building trifecta by installing a wind turbine, solar
panels, and a green roof. The Woodhaven-Brownstown
School District received $670,000 in federal grants to install
the three sustainability projects this summer that will help
generate clean energy for the school and teach its students
about science, biology, and environmental issues. The
green roof promises to be the biggest teaching tool..."
[5.20.10]
Chicago Skyscapes: Chicago Botanic Garden
ABC7Chicago.com, by Staff
Chicago, IL. "The new Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant
Conservation Science Center features a green roof
that underscores the Garden's commitment to plant
conservation...Green roofs are an important
component of sustainable urban development. According to the
International Green Roof Association (IGRA), public benefits of
green roofs include stormwater retention, a
decrease in the urban heat island effect, a reduction of dust
and smog, natural beauty, and the provision of a new habitat for
plants..." [5.20.10]
Brooklyn Grange Farm receives green light to continue building
city's largest rooftop garden
New York
Daily News, by Leigh Remizowski
Brooklyn, NY. "After being ordered by the city to stop
spreading 600 tons of soil atop a Long Island City roof, a group
of urban farmers can now get back to work...The
40,000-square-foot project began last Wednesday at the Standard
Motor Products building on Northern Blvd. with much media
attention, but, it turned out, without city approval...The
agency's main concern was whether the building could hold the
weight of a rooftop farm..." [5.19.10]
Uber-Efficient Eco Auditorium Features a Sloping Green Roof
Inhabitat Blog, by Bridgette Meinhold
Carrus, Spain. "...The green roof acts as a
sloping, open-air auditorium and helps keep the entire building
cooler while improving the quality of public space in this area
of Elche...Urbanarbolismo’s eco auditorium is a triangular
building that features a leafy living facade facing the street
and a sloping green roof up top..." [5.19.10]
Kansas City agrees to spend $2.5B on sewer system, pay $600K
penalty
Kansas
City Business Journal, by Staff
Kansas City, MO. "Kansas City has agreed to spend more
than $2.5 billion on extensive improvements to its sewer system,
the U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency
said Tuesday...In addition to improving public health and the
environment, the project — which puts Kansas City on track to
compliance with the federal Clean Water Act — is to be a model
for using green infrastructure and technology in overflow
solutions. The plan promotes natural or engineered green
features, such as green roofs, rain gardens and
permeable pavements, to cut storm-water flow into the sewer
system..." [5.18.10]
Lab of the Year embodies client's ecological mission
R & D
Magazine, by David Mann
Chicago, IL. "...The client wanted a green roof
to serve sustainability, research and educational functions, and
required that the building achieve LEED Gold or higher...This
project addressed all aspects of outstanding lab design:
beautiful architecture, out standing site integration,
functional and flexible labs, sustainability, an extra measure
of energy conservation, and integration of public access and
science on display." [5.18.10]
Outdoors: Green Roof Design by Goode Green in New York
International Business Times, by Francesca
New York, NY. "Manhattan-based designers Chris and Lisa
Goode of
Goode Green are pioneers in the green roof
movement in New York. In 2006, they restored a dilapidated
building in Little Italy, working with architect Andrew Berman
to build a penthouse apartment with a 6,000-square-foot green
roof garden...After realizing there was a need for green
roof design in the city, the couple founded Goode Green
with Amy Trachtman in 2008; among their projects are the meadow
roof for the Crosby Street Hotel and the Eagle Street Rooftop
Farm in Greenpoint, Brooklyn..." [5.18.10]
New York City's Bryant Park Wins 2010 Landmark Award
Environmental Expert, Press Release
New York, NY. "...the American Society of Landscape
Architects (ASLA) and the National Trust for Historic
Preservation announced New York City’s Bryant Park as the winner
of the 2010 Landmark Award. The award recognizes a project’s
design excellence, longevity and contribution to the public
realm...In addition to a large green roof, the
park now offers year-round activities enjoyed by thousands of
visitors each year..." [5.18.10]
Innovative Lifewall Living Facade Tiles
Jetson Green Blog, by Preston Koerner
Spain. "Earlier this year, Ceracasa unveiled Lifewall, a
modular living wall tile for exterior applications
made in one square meter panels. Lifewall was designed by and
currently marketed globally by Emilio Llobat of Maqla
Architects, Azahar Energy, and Ceracasa. The new system uses
drip-water irrigation for water efficiency and can support a
variety of plantings..." [5.18.10]
Easy being green for county's new facility
Waukegan News Sun, by Jim Newton
Libertyville, IL. "Lake County government's first
green roof took root Monday as workers planted
perennials on top of the county's new Central Permit Facility in
Libertyville. The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission
secured a $150,000 grant from the Environmental Protection
Agency for the rooftop project, which will absorb water to
prevent runoff and serve as an insulating feature to help keep
the building cool in the summer and warm in the winter..."
[5.18.10]
Wolf Street Block Wins 'Cool Roof'; Philadelphia Aims to Be
Greenest City
EP Magazine, by Staff
Philadelphia, PA. "Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter
announced that the 1200 Block of Wolf Street has won the
RetroFIT PHILLY "Coolest Block" contest. Nutter's announcement
followed the signing of legislation aimed at helping
Philadelphia become "the Greenest City in America." The new law
requires installation of energy-efficient reflective roofs or
green roofs on all new no- and low-slope roofs
throughout the city..." [5.18.10]
PSU recognized as top “green” college
PSU Daily Vanguard, by Michael Pascual
Portland, OR. "Portland State was recently named as one
of the top “green” colleges in the U.S. by The Princeton Review,
and is featured in the organization’s new book, Guide to 286
Green Colleges...Currently, Sailor is working on research
dealing with energy and the environment with a focus on the
urban climate system. Last year, Sailor, along with members from
the chemistry and biology faculty at PSU, was awarded a $300,000
grant from the National Science Foundation for a project
researching the benefits of combining green roofs
with solar arrays..." [5.18.10]
Escondido nursery grows roof for new Fallbrook Library
North County Times, by Gary Warth
Fallbrook, NC. "Roofing material doesn't usually attract
much attention, but there's something special about the one
planned for the new Fallbrook Library. "We've had people calling
from all over about this," said Jerri Patchett, chairwoman of
the Friends of the Fallbrook Library building task force. "They
want to know about the art and the green roof."..."
[5.17.10]
Buildings that control their climate, naturally
Times of
India, by Paul John
Ahmedabad, India. "The city may feel like insides of a
furnace these days, baking denizens ruthlessly as the mercury
continues on its relentless climb, but then there are some cool
spaces too. Mostly unnoticed, these 'cool by nature' buildings
may help you change your perception about...'Most of our new
office projects have gardens on roofs as a cooling
feature.' The electric bills of my office which used to be
driven up by AC have dipped by 45%. Cooler office environs means
less AC consumption..." [5.17.10]
Fordham Bedford Housing receives Home Depot greening grant
YourNabe.com, by Daniel Roberts
New York, NY. "Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation, on
Grand Concourse, has just been handed $75,000 and will at last
be able to move forward in outfitting an affordable living
facility for the elderly with a green roof and
expansive ground-level garden...The $75K comes from the Home
Depot Foundation, which selected FBH from a number of
competitive applicants. This year’s round of Home Depot grants
will support the building of over 1600 healthy, affordable
homes, 31 playgrounds, and the landscaping of 48 acres in
total..." [5.16.10]
Government needs strict rules before homeowners can safely go
green
Toronto
Star, by Diana Zlomislic
Toronto, Canada. "...A Star investigation has discovered
that governments have created what some describe as a “Wild
West”-like situation by urging homeowners to go green when they
renovate or build from scratch. Green government grants and
other incentives have boosted the building sector but few
guidelines or quality-control standards exist, and those that do
are not policed..." [5.16.10]
Putting an Ecoroof Over Your Head
The
Daily Score Blog, by Lisa Stiffler
Portland, OR. "...While installation of the green
roof costs more upfront, that skips all of the savings
associated with the roof – primarily their extended lifespan.
There are also heating and cooling costs savings that come from
the ecoroof’s added insulation. And there are the
less-economically tangible benefits (at least to a homeowner) of
creating wildlife habitat, reducing "heat island" effects, and
reducing air pollution..." [5.14.10]
Nowhere to go but up
TheChronicleHerald.ca, by Bill Power
Halifax, Canada. "Halifax landscape architect Sue Sirrs
thinks vertical gardening will revolutionize the industry with
an endless list of new applications. 'Look at this amazing
garden. It’s hard to think it might have been nothing but a
concrete wall,' the talent behind Outside! Planning and Design
Studio said Wednesday as a living wall — a
spectacular vertical garden — was unveiled in Dartmouth..."
[5.13.10]
G20's greensignature a living wall
The
Globe and Mail, by Anna Mehler Paperny
Toronto, Canada. "...Ottawa put out a tender Wednesday
asking for proposals on a “living wall” to be
built in the Direct Energy Centre. Anyone with plans for a
made-in-Canada wall of “pre-cultivated” plants has until May 25
to submit their idea. Not only will the vertical garden cool the
building and improve air quality during the summit, the notice
states, it will also 'benefit the City of Toronto long after the
Summit has passed'..." [5.13.10]
Adam Fry the Science Guy
Tarry Town
Patch Blog,
by Sarah Studley
Sleepy Hollow, NY. "...The senior's
project, Green Roofs: A Viable Stormwater Management
Technology, was one of 16 first-place winners in the Senior
Environment category...Fry, who has always been interested in
engineering, stumbled upon green roof technology
while conducting research for his three-year-long science
research program at SHHS..." [5.13.10]
High Above Queens, the Dirt Is Deep, and Good
New York
Times Blog, by Diane Cardwell
New York, NY. “Brooklyn Grange, one of the biggest farms
to start in the city since the days when Brooklyn and Queens
were the nation’s leading vegetable producers, began to take
shape Thursday as a crane hoisted bag after enormous bag of dirt
–- each weighing more than a ton -– onto the roof of an
industrial building in Long Island City...I guess it was really
one step beyond what we were trying to accomplish with a
green roof — to make the life of the roof last longer
and the energy efficiency..." [5.13.10]
Creating fine habitats ... naturally
The Bay
of Plenty Times, by Graham Skellern
Auckland, New Zealand. "One company, Auckland-based
Natural Habitats, has expanded into Tauranga and wants to bring
an extra dimension to landscaping. The award-winning company
plans to introduce environmentally friendly greenroofs,
greenwalls and rain gardens...Studies show the
greenroofs and greenwalls improve the air quality and
thermal insulation, and dampen noise, producing healthier
buildings and occupants, said Mr Muir..." [5.13.10]
NSCC designs, builds, plants innovative "living wall"
Nova Scotia Community College,
by Stacey Baillie
Dartmouth, NS. "A living, breathing example of innovation is
growing at Nova Scotia Community College’s (NSCC) Centre for the
Built Environment at the Waterfront Campus in Dartmouth...Living
walls combine the natural and built environments. They
filter the air, create habitats and add vitality to a building’s
design. In 2007, Centre for the Built Environment architects,
Barrie & Langille, hired Sue Sirrs, owner of Outside! Planning
and Design Studio, to study the feasibility of an exterior
living wall that would thrive in a cold climate..."
[5.12.10]
UCA Tests Green Roof for Energy Savings
UCA
Today, by Staff
Conway, AR. “University of Central Arkansas officials are
taking green efforts to a higher level -- the roof top. About
2,000 square-foot of sedum, a drought tolerant plant material,
has been planted on the roof of Laney Hall. The test area will
help officials determine green roof benefits and
how it functions. Laney Hall was selected because its roof was
structurally able to support the weight associated with the
installation of a green roof..." [5.12.10]
'Green roofs' take off in New York
Dispatch Online, by Staff
New York, NY. "Urban farming is a growth industry in New
York city’s concrete jungle, and with little open land free,
agriculturalists and beekeepers have taken to the rooftops to
pursue their passion...The movement is helped along by Mayor
Michael Bloomberg, who seeks to turn the city into a sustainable
development champion. Through PlaNYC 2030 , a programme he
launched on Earth Day 2007, people who install 'green
roofs' can get a tax break..." [5.12.10]
Green roof in Northpointe Industrial Park may save energy bucks
Tarentum
Valley News Dispatch, by Mitch Fryer
Buffalo, NY. "A green roof may be sprouting
on top of a county building in the Northpointe Industrial Park
and a local man is involved in the roof's design and
implementation. John Welch of Manor, vice president of
technologies for Stimulus Engineering, an engineering services
and products firm south of Bloomington, Ind., recently received
accreditation as a 'Green
Roof professional.'..." [5.12.10]
Kenmore's shiny, new City Hall
PNW Local News, by Tom Corrigan
Kenmore, WA. "...Kenmore Public Information Officer
Leslie Harris noted the new City Hall is on track to be
Leadership in Energy for Environmental Design (LEED) Gold
Certified. According to both Harris and Brown, green attributes
include a vegetated roof, solar panels, natural
lighting, permeable pavement to reduce water run off and
countertops made from recycled materials. In a second-floor
office area, Brown pointed out counter tops made from sunflower
seeds..." [5.11.10]
Rooftop garden, cooler indoors
Honolulu
Advertiser, by Mike Gordon
Hawaii. "As cool ideas go, this one tops them all.
Businesses can reduce their air conditioning cost — and in turn,
their carbon footprint — by planting a garden on the roof...The
newest green roof is growing right now on a
second-floor deck used by the Honolulu architecture firm of
Philip K. White & Associates. Employees at the firm recently
planted 150 square feet of ferns, naupaka papa, rhoeo and
plectranthus using a modular system called
GreenGrid, which grows plants in removable trays..."
[5.10.10]
Green Roofs: Beneficial or Boondoggle?
The
Daily Score, by Lisa Stiffler
Portland, OR. "...But it turns out that living
roofs offer more than green window dressing. According
to Northwest-specific research, ecoroofs significantly reduce
stormwater runoff and their insulating properties cut energy
use. Additionally, though more difficult to quantify, the roofs
provide plants and soil that are hospitable to bugs and birds.
The vegetation helps clean the air and can reduce the “heat
island” effect in which cities and their pavement and black
rooftops are hotter than undeveloped landscapes..." [5.10.10]
Living walls may be the ultimate raised-bed garden
North
County Times, by Lindsey Besecker
San Diego, CA. "Things are looking up for gardeners who
are short on space but long on imagination. It's increasingly
easy to build vertical gardens, structures that
enable plants to grow upward if there is no room for growing
them laterally....'Holding water on a flat roof isn't difficult,
but turning it 90 degrees on a wall is tremendously tricky,'
said
Edmund Snodgrass of Street, Md., an author and operator of a
nursery dedicated to producing green roof
plants..." [5.9.10]
Milwaukee Public Library installs green roof
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
by Don Behm
Milwaukee, WI. "The roof of Milwaukee's Central Library
sprang to life, and went to work, in Friday's steady rain.
Thousands of sedum, a ground-covering plant, and clumps of chive
and ornamental grasses - all perennials - were planted Friday in
a six-inch layer of small gravel and soil spread across 30,000
square feet - nearly seven-tenths of an acre - to create a
green roof atop the historic building, said Taj
Schoening, business operations manager for the Milwaukee Public
Library..." [5.8.10]
Living walls and green roofs - turning clients green
Horticulture Week, by Gavin McEwan
UK. "Considered no more than a novelty even two years
ago, living roofs and walls are fast becoming
established in the building mainstream. This has led to an
outpouring of new off-the-peg formats...Living surfaces offer so
many positives as to make the choice of specifics seem almost
irrelevant. But just as a good garden designer will want to know
what purpose a client has in mind for a garden, establishing the
primary purpose of the surface early on will make defining the
specifics easier..." [5.7.10]
DC set to tunnel its way out of sewage overflows
The
Chesapeake Bay Journal, by Lara Lutz
DC. "District's green roofs, rain gardens
and stormwater upgrades make it a leader in controlling
runoff...The District has been working for years to encourage
and help fund green roofs, rain gardens and other
surface treatments that hold and absorb rainwater..." [5.7.10]
Eco-sheds being donated to community housing corp
Windsor
Star, by Dave Hall
Windsor, Canada. "Renewable energy housing projects and
green-roof eco-friendly sheds are all part of a
collaboration between students at St. Clair College and a pair
of housing organizations on the city's west side. Students in
the college's architectural, civil and construction program
designed and built a small shed which has been donated to the
Windsor Essex Community Housing...” [5.6.10]
Gardens That Grow on Walls
New York
Times, by Kristina Shevory
Manhattan, NY. "Given the chance to accompany a team of
botanists on a plant-collecting expedition to South America,
most gardeners would probably be satisfied with the experience.
They wouldn’t come home and try to recreate the rain forest in
Manhattan...Matthew McGregor-Mento put 400 plants in his
vertical garden in Manhattan...Many of the modular
systems — essentially plastic trays filled with dirt and
attached to a wall, with a sprinkler or drip irrigation system —
differ dramatically from Patrick Blanc’s living walls...”
[5.5.10]
Plant wall cleans indoor air
healthzone.ca, by Paul Dalby
Toronto, Canada. "What does a car plant in Cambridge have
in common with a new condo building and a supermarket in
Toronto’s Regent Park? Answer: they’re all using biologist Alan
Darlington’s magical green plant wall to purify
the air in their buildings...The reason Darlington and his
researchers are so far ahead of the game is they were the first
to realize it’s not actually the plants doing the fresh-air
cleanup — it’s the microbes nestled around their roots. They
mount subtropical plants on porous lava rock with air flowing
through it and a pool at the base of the wall pumping water to
carry nutrients to the plant roots..." [5.5.10]
Cincinnati celebrates new Green Learning Station in Avondale
Soapbox
Cincinnati, by Randy A. Sines
Cincinnati, OH. "...As part of the transformative
project, the asphalt parking lot of the former SOHIO gas station
will be replaced by pervious paving, bioswales and rainwater
harvesting units that will capture most of the rainwater that
falls onto the surrounding ground. There will also be three
types of green roof systems installed on the Green
Learning Station in addition to the region's first sloped
green roof on the neighboring Park District building..."
[5.4.10]
Green-roofed bike racks in the works
Western
Front, by Lillian Furlong
Billingham, WA. "A student-led group is proposing to have
green roofs installed on bicycle racks around
campus, making bicycling to campus even more sustainable.
Plant-covered bicycle racks help reduce storm water run off and
would provide an ecosystem for small insects..." [5.4.10]
Mayor Bloomberg, HUD Secretary Donovan, Speaker Quinn,
Commissioner Cestero and Other Officials Announce 100,000 Units
of Affordable Housing Financed Through City’s Housing Plan
New York
RealEstateRama, by Staff
New York, NY. "...Via Verde reflects a commitment to a
new kind of sustainability - not just the environmental
sustainability of green roofs and compact
fluorescents but also the social and economic sustainability
that can only result from housing with a mix of incomes and
uses...At the heart of the project are a series of gardens that
begin in the courtyard then spiral up through a series of
green roofs..." [5.3.10]
Columbia Study Finds Con Edison's 'Cool Roofs' Save Energy, Help
the Environment
MarketWatch, Press Release
New York, NY. "Green and white roofs atop a Con Edison
training and conference center in Long Island City, Queens, help
prevent energy losses and provide important environmental
benefits compared to traditional dark roofs, according to
researchers from Columbia University...The "green roof,"
consisting of 21,000 plants, keeps heat in the building during
the winter, reducing the need for heating, and keeps heat out
during the summer, reducing the need for air conditioning..."
[5.3.10]
Get Your Wildflower On: Eat some charismatic megaflora at top
restaurants in NYC this week
Treehugger, by Bonnie Hulkower
New York, NY. "Wildflower
Week NYC celebrates its 3rd Anniversary in New York City
this week with a bunch of events that will make you think
differently about wildflowers, or at least make you stop and
smell them!...Want to see how you can put a green roof
on an arts space in the East Village?..." [5.2.10]
LEED, Prefab, Apartments: The Modules
Jetson
Green Blog, by Preston Koerner
Philadelphia, PA. "This 72-unit building, The Modules, is
under construction near Temple University in Philadelphia.
Designed by Interface Studio Architects, the apartment project
includes 60,000 square feet of living space with a green
roof, parking for 38 cars, and storage for 50 bikes.
What's impressive is not just that this will be a prefab, green,
contemporary, apartment building, but that it may be the largest
modularly-constructed LEED for Homes project in the nation..."
[5.2.10]
Realtors® Recognize School of the Future Design Winners
PR-CANADA.net,
Press release
US. "Wind and solar power, recycled building materials
and structures that encourage community involvement are all
components of winning designs for the annual School of the
Future Design Competition...The students chose low VOC paints as
well as LED lighting, rain barrels and green roofs.
The school includes recycled tire walkways, indoor elevators..."
[5.2.10]
Making Claims on Green Buildings
Risk &
Insurance Online, by Matthew Brodsky
US. "How will green buildings and the insurance policies
that cover them perform? Some claims data is coming in with
answers...Fireman's Fund, the first insurance company to offer
green-related coverage in 2006, has tracked losses over the last
four years, according to Glick. What the insurer found was that
green buildings had 20 percent fewer claims than non-green
buildings...Still, questions persist. These include the standard
ones that underwriters have been talking about for the past
couple of years. For insurers, they are kept up at night with
nightmares of green roofs and other redefinitions
of covered property..." [5.1.10]
Greening the Rooftops: World Green Roof Conference Secretary
General Wang Xianmin
thebeijinger.com Blog, by Gabriel Monroe
Shanghai, China. "Secretary General Wang Xianmin of the
International Promotion Center for Vertical Planting explains
his excitement for roof gardens, the potential he
sees in the movement, and what to look forward to at the
World Green Roof Conference,
which will be hosted by his organization in partnership with the
Shanghai World Expo, in Shanghai, on May 7-10..." [5.1.10]
Saving the Sound from Stormwater
TheNewsTribune.com, by Dean J. Koepfler
Tacoma, WA. "Stormwater: Runoff from lawns, streets and
parking lots carries pollutants, but there are solutions to keep
the grime in place...Tacoma’s new Center for Urban Waters
building on the Thea Foss Waterway was intended as a model of
low-impact development and incorporates several features,
including a green roof, a rainwater-capture system
and rain gardens...The vision for low-impact development goes
far beyond green roofs, permeable pavement and
rain gardens..." [5.2.10]
User fee touted for aging Alcosan system
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, by Len Barcousky
Pittsburgh, PA. "...The money raised through the user
fees could be used both to improve the existing stormwater
system and to finance "green infrastructure" projects, he said.
Those measures, for example, could include providing tax credits
to property owners who install "green roofs," he
said. Rooftop plants are grown in materials that absorb
rainfall. Acting as mini-parks, they also help to lower
center-city temperatures and can reduce a building's heating and
cooling costs..." [4.30.10]
Royal visit marks opening of Flowcrete's new HQ
PR Log,
Press Release
Cheshire, UK. "Global flooring company Flowcrete has
reinforced its commitment to manufacturing in the UK and to
leading edge sustainable design with the opening of new
state-of-the-art headquarters in Cheshire...alongside a
vegetative green roof, with waterproofing, from
Tremco Roofing Division...The green roof
comprises of a living carpet of succulent plants, which absorbs
carbon dioxide, adds thermal insulation and provides an
environment for native birds, insects and other wildlife..."
[4.28.10]
City says green roofs at O'Hare well worth the effort
Chicago
Daily Herald, by Marni Pyke
Chicago, IL. "...We believe going green reduces our
dependency on other sources of energy, making Chicago's airports
good neighbors to the surrounding communities," Chicago
Department of Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie S. Andolino said.
O'Hare has about 33,967 square feet of
green roofs and anticipates growing that to 390,840
square feet in the future. What does the city plant on its
green roofs? Varieties of sedum, a flowering plant
that tolerates drought and doesn't attract wildlife. The sedums
used by the city have white or yellow flowers and are hardy
ground covers...." [4.28.10]
ASLA announce 2010 Professional Awards
ASLA.org,
by Staff
D.C. "The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
announced the winners of the 2010 Professional Awards,
representing the best in landscape architecture around the world
in the categories of general design, residential design,
analysis and planning, research and communication. The jury
considered 618 entries – the largest number in ASLA history –
from 20 countries around the world, selecting 49 projects for
distinction...Click here for a list
of project winners that included green roofs or green walls in
their design..." [4.27.10]
Garden Center's one-stop green shop
Cincinnati.com, by Amy Howell Hirt
Cincinnati, OH. "...The flat, wheelchair-accessible roof
of the former gas station will include two styles of tray-based
'green' roofing, both of which absorb rain and
provide extra insulation. And the sloped roof on a stone cottage
behind the Civic Garden Center will be covered with varieties of
sedum - a drought-tolerant and low-maintenance succulent often
used for green roofing..." [4.27.10]
Green roofs take earth-friendly urban living to new heights
Deutsche Welle, by Laura Schweiger
Dusseldorf, Germany. "Buildings in the German city of
Dusseldorf prove the sky is the limit when it comes to enriching
the urban environment. Trading tiles for vegetation, green
roofs promise both environmental and economic
benefits...More than just a rooftop garden, a 'green roof'
is a different way of approaching architecture, using vegetation
supported by waterproof materials instead of conventional
construction materials..." [4.26.10]
ESRI Canada's Green Roof Receives Toronto's Award of
Environmental Excellence
DirectionsMag.com, Press Release
Toronto, Canada. "ESRI Canada, which provides enterprise
geographic information system (GIS) solutions, today announced
it has received the 2010 Green Toronto Award for its green
roof project...the green roof helps the
company promote environmental stewardship and demonstrate how
organizations can integrate green initiatives into their
business..." [4.26.10]
Nat'l Fish & Wildlife & FedEx Deliver Grant to Expand Parks' 5
Borough Parks Green Roof
Broadway World, by Staff
New York, NY. "...With this grant, we will expand our
green roof by another 6000 square feet, said
Commissioner Benepe...The Parks Department's GreenApple Corps
secured a $50,000 grant from FedEx and the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation to expand its green roof
project at its Five Borough Shop..." [4.26.10]
Digital Coffee Shop: Green from top to bottom
Golf Course Industry Magazine, by Pat Jones
Ardmore, PA. "You know the famous picture of Ben Hogan’s
perfect follow-through with a 1-iron off the 18th fairway during
the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion GC? Fantastic image, huh? Go visit
the course today, stand on that famed spot on 18 and look left.
You’ll see something equally fantastic: the first “green
roof” at a golf course maintenance facility in the
nation..." [4.26.10]
Prince of Wales calls for environmentally-friendly stately homes
Telegraph.co.uk, by Louise Gray
UK. "The Prince of Wales has called for a major
environmentally-friendly refurbishment of Britain's historic
buildings to "avert the climate crisis"...More complex solutions
include fitting solar panels or planting a "green roof".
The UK is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80
per cent by 2050..." [4.25.10]
Urban Forager | Wilds of the Rooftop
New York
Times, by Ava Chin
New York, NY. "...With the proliferation of
eco-roofs sprouting up across the city, I have long
looked up at the tops of buildings and been curious about what
tenacious weeds may be growing there...on issues of
environmental and business sustainability, informed me that
she'd seen a weed thriving in their living roof, I
was curious to identify it..." [4.25.10]
DC fire department installs first 'green roof'
Washington Examiner, by Nafeesa Syeed
DC. "D.C. fire officials say they are creating the first
'green roof' at a fire station in the city...D.C.
fire and EMS department spokesman Pete Piringer says crews are
installing the dirt roof at the Engine 6 station on New Jersey
Avenue in northwest Washington. Piringer says grass and other
plants will grow on the specially designed roof, which will
collect runoff rain water and provide insulation..." [4.25.10]
Highly productive
Financial Times, by Sarah Murray
World. "As the world’s cities expand rapidly, demand for
fresh, local produce increases and metropolitan authorities
gradually start to ease planning restrictions...City
vegetable gardens come in many sizes. While Saunders’
balcony amounted to just a few square feet, at the other end of
the scale are projects such as the one installed by
Goode in Brooklyn, which covers 6,000 sq ft and produces
fruit and vegetables for local restaurants and shops..."
[4.24.10]
Tokyo's goal: Be the greenest
Los Angeles Times,
by Marla Dickerson
Tokyo, Japan. "It’s been reducing solid waste, requiring
factories and offices to cut carbon emissions, giving cash
incentives to install solar panels, toughening building
standards and planning more greenery...Still, simply preserving
what's there is a victory, Matsushima said, and essential in
combating the so-called heat-island effect. Heat-trapping
concrete and asphalt have raised Tokyo's temperature by about 3
degrees Celsius over the last century, according to the
government. Green roofs, along with tree planting
and community gardens, are a way to build community support to
fight climate change..." [4.23.10]
Vancouver a leader among green-roof cities
Vancouver Sun,
by Doug Ward
Vancouver, Canada. "Vancouver's roofs are getting greener
-- with the city in a front group of North American cities
embracing the living-roof movement, says the
city's deputy manager...Vancouver has not adopted Chicago's
policy of offering incentives to builders who put green
roofs on their buildings. Chicago has about seven
million square feet of green roofs. Its city
hall's green roof is one of the best-known
examples of the roofs in the U.S..." [4.23.10]
Earth Day 2010 Chicago: Climate Protection is Good Business
Eco Factory,
by Staff
Chicago. IL. "Chicago Mayor Richard Daley today marked
the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by re-committing the city to
protecting human health, the environment and the climate, which
in turn promotes economic development and improves the quality
of life for all residents...And he said Chicago is acknowledged
as the national leader among cities in green roofs,
with 600 completed or underway totaling more than seven million
square feet. The city requires green roofs to be
installed on buildings of developers who receive economic
assistance from the city..." [4.22.10]
Earth Day 2010 San Diego: Building a Greener Downtown
Eco Factory,
by Staff
San Diego, CA. "On the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, San
Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders unveiled a new program designed to
make the downtown more environmentally sustainable and to help
San Diego reach state climate change goals for 2020...Strata and
its neighbor, the LEED-certified Hotel Indigo, were two of the
first projects to use CCDC's incentive program that allow
developers to add square footage to their projects in exchange
for installing green roofs..." [4.22.10]
Muskegon Community College touts 'green' roof
MLive.com, by Jordan Travis
Muskegon, MI. "Muskegon Community College isn't just
talking the talk. The college is implementing some of the
"green" technologies it preaches to its students. College
officials and faculty said Wednesday MCC is committed to a green
future, both in training students for alternative energy jobs
and in campus building practices. Lush plants on the green
roof built in a courtyard of the college's campus at 221
S. Quarterline is one example...The green roof,
which college officials claim can save at least 25 percent in
energy costs for a single-story building, was installed by
Spring Lake-based
LiveRoof, LLC..." [4.22.10]
Bayer Inc. Celebrates Earth Day as One of Canada's Greenest
Employers - For the Second Year in a Row!
Canada
NewsWire, Press Release
Toronto, Canada. "Bayer Inc. announced today that it has
been selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2010 by
Mediacorp Canada Inc., as featured today in The Globe and Mail.
This is the second consecutive year that Bayer Inc. has received
this prestigious recognition...Bayer's
green roof, composed of 10,000 square feet of
plant life, reduces energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Not
only has the green roof improved air quality by
absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutants..." [4.22.10]
California's First LEED Platinum School Teaches With The
Environment
Inhabitat Blog, by Andrew Michler
Occidental, CA. 'It’s spring at last, and the new Salmon
Creek School in Occidental, CA is celebrating the sunny weather
with a beautiful new living roof! The recently
finished building is the first school in California to be LEED
Platinum certified, and it sprouts not just a green roof but
lavender, pink, white, and yellow as well...Pesinger Architects
and
Symbios Design worked closely with students, administrators,
community and environmental groups to cover all the bases..."
[4.21.10]
EPA Proposes “Next Generation” Storm Water Controls in Clean
Water Permit for Washington D.C.
U.S.
EPA.gov, Press Release
DC. "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today
announced that it has issued a proposed permit to the District
of Columbia requiring the District to continue improving its
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program for
controlling stormwater runoff. EPA is accepting comments on the
permit until June 4...Implementing a sustainable and enforceable
approach to promoting low impact development and green
infrastructure, including enhanced tree planting, green
roofs, and water reuse onsite to slow down the rate of
runoff from paved areas of the District..." [4.21.10]
Economic downturn boosts green innovation
StarNewsOnline.com, by Gareth McGrath
US. "As the environmental movement prepares to celebrate
the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, there’s no question the
economy has taken a toll on the ability of people and businesses
to be green...But the green roof industry has
grown even during the recession, he said. Mott said the
popularity of vegetated roofs is growing because
of economics as much as anything to do with being
environmentally friendly. They pay for themselves in 5-7 years,
he said, referring to the energy savings from the nontraditional
roofs..." [4.21.10]
City transit center gets top green rating
Billings
Gazette, by Ed Kemmick
Billings, MT. "The city’s new MET Transfer Center in
downtown Billings is a platinum hit. The city found out this
week that it has been awarded the highest certification — LEED
Platinum — from the U.S. Green Building Council...The
gardens on the building’s roof, for instance, insulate
the roof membrane from UV rays, extending its life from a
typical 20 years to as many as 50..." [4.20.10]
Portland refines approach to eco-roof goal
Daily
Journal of Commerce, by Justin Carinci
Portland, OR. "Planting greenery on 43 barren acres in
Portland by 2013 may not sound like such an ambitious goal -
except that the acres are on rooftops...Instead of paying the
incentive directly to building owners, the city will hire a
contracting team to find buildings suitable for eco-roofs,
convince the building owners to allow them, and then design and
build the roof systems..." [4.20.10]
Ten years of green roofs in Chicago: Mayor Daley's green thumb
and iron fist have produced impressive gains, but the movement
remains in its infancy
Chicago
Tribune Blog, by Blair Kamin
Chicago, IL. "...Yet the green roof
movement in Chicago remains in its infancy, not only in numbers
but in design quality. There should be more green roofs...While
it’s true that quantity matters in green roofs —
it is easier to cool off a city with 5,000 green roofs
than with 500 — quality should matter just as much. The key is
to weave the roofs in the texture of everyday life. Think of a
building with a planted roof where you could take a break from
your computer..." [4.20.10]
NETL's green projects promise energy efficiency all year round
Environmental Expert, Press Release
Pittsburgh, PA. "...The National Energy Technology
Laboratory (NETL) is taking the lead in this green revolution by
developing cutting-edge, clean energy technologies...Two
Pittsburgh buildings are being outfitted with green roofs
similar to the one on Morgantown's TSF. The concrete roofs
already covering these two buildings are ideal for supporting
the added weight, and the rubber coating over the concrete will
last much longer protected by the vegetation..." [4.19.10]
A Green Building Grows in an Unlikely Neighborhood
NBC Bay
Area, by Joe Rosato Jr.
San Francisco, CA. "...From its 24 rooftop solar panels,
to its rainwater collection tanks, the building shuns PG&E for
electricity, and the City for its water...The center captures
rainwater from its roof, which is then funneled into three,
massive 4,800 gallon tanks. The tanks supply water to toilets, a
living roof of native plants, and other
irrigation..." [4.19.10]
NYC Schools Convening To Go Green Together
GothamSchools, by Elizabeth Puccini and Anisa Romero
New York, NY. "Schools, non-profit organizations, and
businesses all came out to demonstrate their wares and share
their efforts Saturday at the city’s first-ever Green Schools
Alliance conference, titled “Visioning the Future.'...Green
Living Technologies, an approved Department of
Education vendor, is bringing gardens into the classrooms with
green roofs, walls, and vertical agriculture. The
company is a partner for a new sustainability-themed high school
scheduled to open in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx next
year..." [4.19.10]
Electric Vehicle on Display at Children's Museum
Inside
Indiana Business, Press Release
Indianapolis, IN. "Beginning April 17, The Children’s
Museum of Indianapolis invites visitors to go green as the
organization kicks off its 2010 celebration of Earth Week...a
new garden will cover more than 4,000 square feet of the
museum’s roof space. The space is visible from the Sunburst
Window, located on the Mezzanine level of the Sunburst Atrium.
The rooftop garden will feature a product called
GreenGrid®, a lightweight
modular green roof product, and will have several different
types of sedum..." [4.19.10]
USM's Rooftops Go Green
The Free
Press of the University of Southern Maine, by Dave Holman
Portland, ME. "Keen observers may notice plants growing
on several small roofs of the Abromson Community Education
Center and Wishcamper Center of the USM Portland Campus. These
plants are not there by accident - they're green roofs
designed to reduce water run-off, extend roof lifespan, and
reduce heating and cooling needs...there are only two
green roofs in Maine registered with
greenroofs.com - an industry website where people can
list their
green roofs in the site's..." [4.19.10]
Ritz-Carlton places two beehives on hotel's roof
WCNC,
by Staff
Charlotte, NC. "The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, which opened
in October 2009 as the first LEED®-built hotel for greater
Charlotte, has introduced a living change to its green,
vegetated roof. Currently planted with 18,000 sedum
plants to enhance building insulation, and housing a chef’s
garden providing organic herbs for the hotel, the green
roof of The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte is also home to two
new beehives, which will generate honey for hotel culinary
use..." [4.19.10]
UW team brings rooftop garden to campus
greenhouse
The
Daily of the University of Washington, by Erin Fleming
Seattle, WA. "Right off the Burke-Gilman Trail by Stevens
Way, what was once a metal roof at the UW Botany Greenhouse is
now furnished with three different plant beds, making a
productive and earth-friendly 'green roof.'
Through donations, planning and coordination across multiple UW
departments, the Green Roof Research team of graduate students,
faculty and an alumna constructed a rooftop garden intended to
demonstrate the various uses of a green roof..."
[4.19.10]
GSD Experiments With Roofs
Harvard
Crimson, by Stephanie B. Garlock
Cambridge, MA. "The Harvard Graduate School of Design
removed 3,750 pounds of gravel from the roof of Gund Hall and
replaced it with different amounts of organic substrate on
Friday afternoon to test different cost-effective methods of
green roof retrofitting. The installation of five
additional plots marks the third round of testing led by
Christian Werthmann, a professor of landscape architecture at
the School of Design who has been looking to create a
cost-effective green roof since 2006..." [4.19.10]
Dayton looking for ways to capture methane
released from water treatment
Dayton
Daily News, by Joanne Huist Smith
Dayton, OH. "The city of Dayton’s waste water treatment
process produces 600,000 cubic feet of methane gas per day and
the city is looking to capture the gas and reduce waste...A
'green' roof reduces the Urban Heat Island Effect by
insulating and shading the roof, thus reducing the amount of
heat that is radiated back into the atmosphere..." [4.18.10]
Grand Haven Community Center board eyes improvements -- 'green'
roof, terrace renovation
MLive.com, by Dawn Veltman
Grand Haven, WI. "...The center wants to install a
green roof on the exposed roof on the west side of the
building and then explore the possibility of putting a
green roof over the entire building...A
LifeRoof is a living plant roof system that was developed by
the Hortech company in Spring Lake. It uses plants in modular
containers to cover the roof..." [4.17.10]
Plants put the green in nursery barn roof
Akron
Beacon Journal, by Mary Beth Breckenridge
Norton, OH. "...The low-growing plants supply the
''green'' in the green roof that Dayton installed to demonstrate
the rainwater-control and temperature-regulation benefits of the
technology. Green roofs are specially designed
rooftop gardens that help moderate a roof's temperature, cool
the surrounding area and mitigate storm-water runoff..."
[4.17.10]
U.S. Government Reaches a Milestone $4
Billion for Green Buildings
EnergyBoom, by Alison Pruitt
US. "The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
recently reached a landmark US$4 billion in American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act funds that it has invested in energy
efficiency for federal buildings nationwide...Constructing a new
energy-efficient courthouse in Austin, Texas, with
high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, extensive use of
natural light, and an efficient "green" roof..."
[4.16.10]
Research Matters... Other species for
green roofs
Horticulture Week, by Dr. Ken Cockshull
London, UK. "The main reason for growing on roofs is that
the plants will absorb solar radiation and use much of that
absorbed energy to evaporate water. This has the benefit of
cooling the roof, which reduces the cost of air-conditioning
within the building and improves the local environment around
it...." [4.16.10]
Next-Generation City Building
The Mark
News, by Ross McGregor
Toronto, Canada. "...From the use of the latest, best
technology to treat and reuse contaminated land to a
comprehensive series of mandatory green building requirements,
waterfront buildings and neighbourhoods will be among the
greenest in the world. These buildings will incorporate
ecologically friendly features, such as green roofs,
and all will meet LEED Gold certification..." [4.16.10]
Tarkington Teachers Go Green, Visiting
Europe
Southwest News-Herald, by Amanda Drapiewski
Chicago, IL. "As an Earth Day celebration this year, two
teachers from Tarkington School of Excellence plan to recount
their adventures observing Europe...Inspired to instill
stewardship inherent in two countries devoted to environmental
practices, the teaching team capitalized on a Fund for Teachers
fellowship to observe Germany’s green roofs, wind
turbines and recycling bins..." [4.16.10]
Public Invited to Celebrate Earth Day at
Biosphere 2
UA News,
Press Release
Oracle, AZ. "...as a new decade begins, we believe it's
time for Earth Day to reflect the ideals of the younger
generation that will inherit and care for our planet...New
Biosphere 2 Exhibits – Featured topics will include solar
energy, green roofs, rainwater harvesting and
more..." [4.16.10]
Green roofs: a constructive design
Society
of Chemical Industry, by John Fifield
London, UK. "Today, roof gardens and roof terraces not
only provide much-needed outdoor space in urban areas, but the
environmental benefits of turf and green roofs,
are also widely recognised. Due to the high degree of insulation
that they provide, green roofs are known for their
ability to provide an extremely constant temperature throughout
the year..." [4.16.10]
Bronx Activists Trying to Turn Park
Projects, Stimulus Cash Into Economic Engines
New York
Times, by Nathanial Gronewold
New York, NY. "...100 or so community organizers, union
leaders and out-of-work laborers gathered at Bronx Community
College to brainstorm ways at using the "green jobs" initiative
to tackle unemployment in the South Bronx...that the borough
boasts more green roofs than any other part of the
city; there is a green roof atop Borough Hall, the only one on
municipal property..." [4.15.10]
Roswell, Alpharetta going green
NorthFulton.com, by Hatcher Hurd
Alpharetta, GA. "...Today, Alpharetta's
Rock Mill Creek has been seen as one a leading project in
green innovation. City Environmental Education Coordinator Terry
Porter said it was a park designed with the environment in mind
as place where people can connect with nature and learn about
environmental issues. The parks great pavilion is a test tube
for using roofs as a vegetative incubator, capturing rain for
plants on the roof. The green roof on top of the
pavilion is engineered to be efficient in capturing the runoff
for reuse to keep the plant life healthy. The plants themselves
are a trial to see which ones will survive on rooftops...You can
watch the entire video about this project on
greenroofs.tv..."
[4.14.10]
Gainesville business wins environmental
award
Inside
NoVA, by Amanda Stewart
Gainesville, FL. "...A green roof,
featuring wetland plants, tops the Wetland Studies and
Solutions, Inc. building in Gainesville. The company recently
won a gold medal in the 2010 Governor’s Environmental Excellence
Awards for its LEED gold-certified building..." [4.14.10]
FAB-HOMES design wins treehuggers “best of
green” award
Environmental Expert, Press Release
Vancouver, Canada. "FAB-HOMES, a new Passive House design
studio based in Vancouver, Canada, has won Treehuggers 'Best of
Green' Readers Choice Award 2010 in the category Design and
Architecture...The extensive list of green building options
include a highly efficient heat recovery ventilation system,
triple pane passive windows, rainwater harvesting and grey water
recycling system, solar photovoltaic and solar hot water panels,
green roof gardens, the use of renewable, low-VOC
materials throughout the design and many more..." [4.14.10]
Columbia building boasts green technology
MidlandsConnect.com,
by Wach Fox
Columbia, SC. "Clemson's Sandhill Research Center sits
across from the Village at Sandhill. Nestled behind an expanse
of dirt roads lies a building designed to cut energy and give
each employee a view. A guided tour of the facility Wednesday
afternoon gave us a chance to see the building's green
roof, which helps manage rainwater runoff and provides
natural insulation, and its greywater system, which reuses more
of the facility's water through a complex filtration system..."
[4.14.10]
National Weather Center to showcase
vegetative roof system
Oklahoma
Daily, by Staff
Norman, OK. "The National Weather Center on the OU campus
will showcase the state’s first experimental vegetative
roof system on a university campus from 9 a.m. to noon
Thursday, April 22. The green roof project is a
collaboration between the OU colleges of Atmospheric and
Geographic Sciences and Architecture. The project is also
sponsored by the Oklahoma Water Resource Board and the Oklahoma
Conservation Commission..." [4.14.10]
Utah gets first 'living roof'
KSL-TV,
by Richard Piatt
Salt Lake City, UT. "One of the newest state-owned
buildings is also one of the greenest in the state. The Unified
State Laboratories building is a high performance building and
includes a unique living roof...When you put the
green roof on, the temperature drops to 70
degrees, and it will stay that way even if the outside
temperature is 110..." [4.13.10]
Mayor Miller talks green-ness in Bancroft
Barry's
Bay This Week, by Dan Schell
Bancroft, Canada. "A self-proclaimed passionate
environmentalist, David Miller has been a vocal leader for
green-focused municipal initiatives during his time as the Mayor
of Toronto...Something like green roofs can lead
to a two degree drop in the temperature in summer months,
therefore leading to a drop in the use of damaging air
conditioning systems on the environment..." [4.13.10]
One-stop permitting
Waukegan
News Sun, by Jim Newton
Libertyville, IL. "...The county also obtained grant
funding to help institute environmental building practices,
including a "green roof," for the new
complex...the green design features incorporated into the
building demonstrate the county's commitment to the environment
and serve as an example to developers. The sustainable building
features include an 8,000-square-foot green roof
that absorbs precipitation and reduces storm water runoff, and
helps regulate the temperature of the building..." [4.13.10]
Want to build in Tel Aviv? You'll have to
go green, says mayor
Ha'aretz,
by Ranit
Nahum-Halevy
Tel Aviv, Israel. "...Building permits will be issued by
the city engineer only after receiving an expert opinion on the
environmental aspects of the plan. Requirements for green
construction include lower water use, energy efficiency, thermal
and acoustic insulation, limits on the use of raw materials,
natural ventilation and prevention of mold, natural lighting,
so-called green roofs and recycling..." [4.13.10]
Walls you can eat
CNNMoney.com, by Eilene Zimmerman
San Diego, CA. "Mario Batali decided last year to install
a garden between his adjoining West Hollywood restaurants,
Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza. But a plain old backyard patch
wouldn't do. Batali wanted something more visually striking,
something more ... vertical? So he turned to Jim Mumford, the
owner of
Good Earth Plant and Flower Company in San Diego...Edible
walls are a gamble for Good Earth, which took in just
over $1 million in revenue last year..." [4.12.10]
From Green Roofs to Clean Tech: How
Chicago Is Preparing for the Sustainable Future
Huffington Post Blog, by Suzanne Malec-McKenna
Chicago, IL. "More than 20 years ago, Mayor Richard M.
Daley had a vision of a green Chicago, from trees and roofs to
green buildings and alleys. While on a visit to Germany in the
late 1990s, he saw a green roof on Hamburg's City
Hall and sought to replicate the idea in Chicago. He wanted the
city to be a model for America around the environment. That
first rooftop garden gained residents' interest,
lowered fees and sparked other incentives to make the city the
nation's "green roof" capital, with more than 300
buildings totaling 4 million square feet...Search for projects
in Chicago in our
Green Roof & Wall Projects Database" [4.12.10]
Testa Produce turns a brighter shade of
green with new HQ
Refrigerated
Transporter,
by Staff
Chicago, IL. "With a new distribution center under
construction, Testa Produce says it is on its way to becoming
the first US food distributor to operate in a facility certified
as LEED Platinum by the US Green Building Council. Worldwide,
more than 5,000 sites are now LEED-certified, but only some 5%
of those have achieved the highest Platinum rating...A partially
vegetated roof will help prevent stormwater runoff
and will slope down to form a green wall through which employees
and visitors pass to enter the building..." [4.12.10]
Heritage Aviation Opens New, Full Service
FBO
PR Newswire,
Press
Release
Burlington, VT. "Heritage Aviation will unveil its brand
new, 79,000-square-foot, eco-friendly Fixed Base Operation (FBO)
at the Burlington International Airport (BTV) during a
celebration to be held on May 20, 201...Rain water is collected
and reused, and the building has one of the largest green
roofs in all of New England. Additionally, the parking
lot was constructed using pervious pavement, a porous substitute
for traditional asphalt, which allows water to be absorbed into
the ground rather than runoff into storm..." [4.12.10]
Greening the state's roofs
Albany Times
Union, by
Rick Karlin
Albany, NY. "Holland Avenue building to have vegetative
roof system...Holland Avenue building to have vegetative roof
system. Essentially, green roofs employ vegetation
to add insulation, control storm water runoff and to help
control carbon dioxide levels..." [4.12.10]
Green Rooftops a Growing Trend for
Businesses
Earth911.com,
by Marisa McNatt
US. "Rooftops of businesses across the country are
blooming with vegetation, and research shows that these roofs
have more to offer than just aesthetic appeal. By replacing the
impermeable surface of a standard roof with vegetation, a
green roof provides numerous environmental and economic
benefits...The university’s green roof research
team advised Ford Motor Co. on the installation of a 10.4 acre
green roof on top of its plant in Dearborn, Michigan..."
[4.12.10]
Green Roof Set For State College Municipal
Building
State College
News, by
Adam Smeltz
State College, PA. "State College is about to get some
extra green with its government. The borough is seeking bids
this month for a green-roof project at the State
College Municipal Building, 243 S. Allen St. Expected to cost
about $140,000, the effort will turn a section of roof -- the
portion above the second-floor community room -- into a pocket
of earth and well-maintained plants..." [4.11.10]
Solar-powered classroom about to make
debut
San Francisco
Examiner,
by John Upton
San Francisco, CA. "An off-the-grid classroom is about to
open in one of San Francisco’s most environmentally
disadvantaged neighborhoods...The living roof,
which insulates the EcoCenter and protects against fires, is
expected to flourish within months. Rain runs off the roof into
three tanks, which provide the building’s only sources of
water..." [4.11.10]
The Hanging Gardens
Shalom Life,
by Omer
Shachnai
Concord, Canada. "...There is a new green groove that is
sweeping across the world. United States, Germany, Singapore,
Japan as well as Canada's new emerging solution to reduce
pollution is transforming urban rooftops to flourishing gardens,
who will reduce the heat and noise, clean the air and improve
the cities' grayish skylines...the green rooftops
seem to be a bright new environmental growing trend and one of
the first green initiatives the world's cities and countries are
actually pulling off." [4.10.10]
Stackable, portable concept homes offer
mobile living -- with a view
CNN,
by Emanuele Comi
Brazil. "The Brazilian architect has designed a concept
for a residential tower comprised of portable, stackable
apartment units, which he says opens up new possibilities for
ways of living in the city...His vision would call for units
with a green roof and walls and a system for
recycling water..." [4.10.10]
Travel green for Earth Day
CNN, by Eileen Ogintz
Chicago, IL. "...National Geographic Kids Magazine, which
devoted its April issue -- in the month we are celebrating the
40th Anniversary of Earth Day -- to how kids can help the planet
on Earth-Friendly vacations...Look for the Element Times Square
later this year. And Kimpton's new Hotel, Palomar Chicago, has a
green roof -- a first for the Kimpton brand..."
[4.10.10]
Finalists Chosen in Conceptual Design
Competition for Newark Visitor's Center
The Daily
Newarker,
by Ken Walker
Newark, NJ. "A structure with an undulating green
roof that is a metaphor for the Passaic River was the
winning entry in a conceptual design competition for a Newark
Visitor’s Center sponsored by the Newark and Suburban Architects
section of the New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of
Architects (AIA-NJ) in conjunction with its Emerging
Professionals and Young Architects Forum programs..." [4.9.10]
The environmental paradox of smart growth
Natural
Resources Defense Council Blog,
by Kaid Benfield
US. "There is no question that sustainable land use
requires, among other things, neighborhood density...Incorporate
green infrastructure for stormwater mitigation and livability
benefits...Seattle, in particular, has a terrific set of
guidelines for incorporating vegetation, green roofs,
drainage, pervious surfaces and other low-impact development
techniques that allow the urban watershed to thrive (and, in
many cases, recover) with density..." [4.9.10]
Underground five-star hotel plans
submitted
Property Week
News, by
Deirdre Hipwell
Hersham, UK. "...The hotel has been designed to blend
into the surrounding environment, with the guest rooms below
ground level set around a sunken garden and courtyard spaces and
a living green roof that reflects the natural
landscape..." [4.9.10]
A fresh new look for Nathan Phillips
Toronto Star,
by Patty
Winsa
Toronto, Canada. "When the green roof opens
at
City Hall next month, it will be a historic occasion: the
first time the podium between the two towers has been open to
the public in 30 years. But the green roof is
significant for another reason. It will mark the first completed
step in a multi-million-dollar makeover of Nathan Phillips
Square..." [4.9.10]
$42 Million Facelift For Nathan Phillips Square, by CityNews
Staff
Work to begin on $42.7-million makeover of Nathan Phillips
Square, by Kelly Grant of Globe and Mail
W&M awards five summer sustainability
internships
William and
Mary News,
by Staff
Williamsburg, VA. "William & Mary's Committee on
Sustainability (COS) announced the funding of five awards for
sustainability internships for the summer of 2010...Amanda
Anderson for "Green Roof / Green Design."
Anderson's project continues work begun as a pilot project
funded in 2009 by COS. She will be studying the efficiency and
efficacy of green roof designs and analyzing their
ability to control building temperature, storm water runoff and
nutrients..." [4.8.10]
Sustainability: Green Roofs
SIUE.edu,
by Staff
Edwardsville, IL. "...SIUE engineers and scientists are
evaluating the environmental benefits of green roof
technology and the performance of various green roof
materials and techniques...GREEN is a collaborative initiative
lead by the School of Engineering and the Department of
Environmental Sciences. The effort involves local St. Louis
companies
Green Roof Blocks and Jost Greenhouses and other
environmental industry leaders and universities...According to
Bill Retzlaff, associate
professor of biological sciences and chair of that department, a
green roof on the SIUE Engineering Building lowers
the roof temperature in the summertime as much as 70 degrees..."
[4.8.10]
Youth Learn Green Job Skills in NYC
Tonic.com,
by Katie
Leavitt
New York, NY. "...Instead of hanging out on the streets,
youth involved with the MillionTreesNYC Training Program are
hanging from the trees...Ecological restoration trainees learn
about restoration and management of NYC's parks and nature
zones, including erosion control, damaging plant removal and
green roof installation..." [4.8.10]
Chesapeake Bay Program releases bay health
report
BusinessWeek,
by Alex
Dominguez
Annapolis, MD. "...Continuing efforts are needed to put
systems into place to allow soil in the bay watershed to better
filter storm runoff. When more green roofs, rain
gardens, cover crops on farms and other runoff retention systems
are in place, the bay watershed will be able to better withstand
events such as this spring's heavy rains that wash nutrients
such as nitrogen and phosphorus off farms and lawns into
waterways..." [4.7.10]
Maryland Works To Become National
Sustainability Leader
Newswise,
Press
Release
College Park, MD. "The University of Maryland is making
great strides as it works to become a national leader in
sustainability efforts on campus. From green roofs
to LEED Certified buildings, being named the top green campus in
the U.S.,...These efforts have become especially important as
the world celebrates the 40th anniversary of
Earth Day by honoring the
entire month of April as "Earth Month."..." [4.7.10]
Monastery Becomes Highest-Rated LEED
Building in US
BuildingOnline,
by Staff
Middleton, WI. "The U.S. Green Building Council has
awarded the Benedictine Women of Madison's Holy Wisdom Monastery
a Platinum rating – the highest level of Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification available...Five
additional acres around the new building will be restored to
prairie and two vegetated roofs over the
maintenance building and garage are planted with prairie forbs
and grasses..." [4.7.10]
Green Infrastructure: More Bang for Your
Conservation Buck
The Epoch
Times, by
June Kellum
US. "The past decade has seen a dramatic new view of land
conservation. Green spaces, formerly seen by urban developers as
undeveloped commodities or pleasant amenities, are being
recognized as economic boons and essential public health...Other
examples of this smart planning, he said, are planting trees
that reduce summer use of air conditioning, green roofs
(roofs covered in vegetation)..." [4.7.10]
Midwest Health-Care Operations Add Solar,
Energy Efficiency
Environmental
Leader, by
Staff
US. "Health-care facility upgrades across the nation are
taking different roads to sustainability...Rush University
Medical Center in Chicago is aiming for LEED gold certification
for its new orthopedic building and new East Tower...Orthopedic
Building, completed in late 2009, features a green roof
that restores 50 percent of the site with adaptive vegetation,
decreases 25 percent of storm water runoff and reduces heat
island effect..." [4.7.10]
'Green roof safaris' tempt the black
redstart back to Sheffield
The Guardian,
by Martin
Wainwright
London, UK. "Wild and natural roofs have lured the bird,
which once favoured the city's dilapidated industrial sites...A
skyline route takes in a cluster of green roofs at
Sheffield University and on city council properties, including
Sharrow school whose roof is the first to be designated as a
nature reserve...Watch
AudioSlideShow..." [4.7.10]
Verizon Thinkfinity Brings the Lessons of
Earth Day Into the Classroom, With Free Educational Online
Resources, Podcasts
PR Newswire Press release
Baskinridge, NJ.
"Teachers looking for
lessons on environmental issues ranging from climate change to
renewable energy sources to local ecosystems will find a host of
educational resources available for free in Verizon
Thinkfinity's new Earth Day feature...Green Roof
Design: In this lesson from Science NetLinks, students work in
small teams to design a heat- and water-conserving roof of plant
material for an urban apartment building..." [4.6.10]
City-funded experiment using 16 types of
rooftop gardens to make air cleaner, harvest rainwater
New York Daily News,
by Erin Einhorn
New York, NY. "Emerging from the exhaust-choked air
beside the Triborough Bridge is a giant city-funded,
flower-blooming science experiment. Parks Department workers are
growing 16 types of rooftop gardens to see which
mixture of soil and plants works best to clean the air, harvest
rainwater and cool the building below..." [4.6.10]
Students help make roof 'green'
Mississauga.com,
by Julia Lee
Toronto, Canada. "UTM PhD candidate for the department of
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Shidan Murphy helps students
from the Froebel Education Centre design a green roof
for their school that captures rainwater and reuses the
run-off..." [4.5.10]
EDA Requests Applications under Energy
Efficient Building Systems Regional Innovation Cluster
Examiner.com,
by Valerie Amor
US. "...The Economic Development Administration (EDA) today has
announced its participation in the Energy Efficient Building
Systems Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative (Initiative), the
first pilot project of the Interagency Regional Innovation
Clusters Taskforce (Taskforce)...EDA encourages the Consortia to
consider new, energy efficient and environmentally beneficial
ways of constructing or renovating infrastructure, including use
of natural vegetation for storm water retention and sewage
filtration, green roofs, and on-site water
recycling..." [4.5.10]
Off-Grid Cliff House Harnesses the
Elements for Self Sufficiency
Inhabitat (blog) -
Andrew Michler - 15
hours ago
Muskoka, Canada. "Off the Grid means many things to many people.
The Cliff House on Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, interprets “off the
grid” as grand self-sufficiency...In the summer prevailing
breezes and thermal vent stack, along with a green roof,
keep the building naturally cooled..." [4.5.10]
Integrated Habit Design Competition
Green
Building Press, by Staff
London, UK. "Think your design or structure is really
green ? Then enter the
Integrated Habitat
Design Competition, in which the overall winner will receive
a cash prize and all finalists will receive free entry to
CIRIA's World Green
Roof Congress in London in September, as well as having
their work published and displayed at a 5-week exhibition at The
Building Centre, London..." [4.5.10]
Urban Waters spirit runs deep
The Olympian,
by Rob
Carson
Tacoma, WA. "Center hopes to be hub for environmental
expertise, green technology...It’s a smart building, managed by
a weather station “brain” on the roof...The building features a
green roof, recycled water for toilets, a natural
heating and cooling system, and natural light to reduce
dependence on electricity..." [4.5.10]
Water Town Place Going Green... On The
Roof
KCRG,
by Justin Foss
Cedar Rapids, IA. "Residents in a downtown condominium
have a lot of yard work to do this summer. That's because
they're turning their buildings roof into a green roof...We're
also partnering with Kirkwood so we're able to teach another
generation how to install and maintain green roofs
as well..." [4.2.10]
Designers look to the future of gardening
San Francisco
Chronicle,
by Joe Eaton
San Francisco, CA. "...A green roof, water
catchment planter and infiltration basin surrounded a
leaf-strewn patio in sunset light...This year's "The Living
Room" is a great green cube, its exterior walls covered with
19,000 aeoniums, sedums and other succulents in 20-inch-square
flats..." [4.2.10]
Villa Bio: House With a Cantilevered
Living Roof is a Feat of Engineering
Inhabitat Blog,
by
Bridgette Meinhold
Figueres, Spain. "The Villa Bio house is located in
Figueres, Spain in the province of Girona, and was built by
Barcelona-based Cloud9...The green roof on top is
actually a hydroponic garden and also supports people lounging
on the deck and gardening..." [4.2.10]
H Associates propose Green Energy Theme
Park for KEPKO's new headquarters
Ecofriend Blog,
by Anupam
Naju, South Korea. "...The design inverts the normative
scheme to create a polycentric organization with an open civic
space at the heart of the site. The podium mass is dispersed
into a series of sloped green roofs that integrate
with the landscape. This unique construction will channel light
and enhance air circulation..." [4.2.10]
HK Pavilion to get green roof
News.gov.hk,
by Staff
Hong Kong, China. "Green collaboration between Hong Kong
and Shanghai will ensure a vibrant and verdant rooftop
display for the Hong Kong Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo
2010...Showcasing Hong Kong's rich natural heritage and the
co-existence of its urban and countryside areas, the
"green" rooftop will help insulate the Hong Kong
Pavilion and keep the interior cool in the summer heat..."
[4.2.10]
Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort Named
Greenest Resort in the US
Inhabitat Blog,
by
Bridgette Meinhold
Lake Placid, NY. "Recently the Golden Arrow Lakeside
Resort in Lake Placid, NY was awarded a 5-Green Leaf Rating from
Audubon International and the Audubon Greenleaf Eco-Rating
Program...Among their many green practices, Golden Arrow has
installed a 3,400 square foot green roof to help
insulate the hotel, as well as offer a view their guests can
enjoy from a nearby deck..." [4.1.10]
Portland taking eco-roofs to a new level
kgw.com,
by Keely Chalmers
Portland, OR. "The city of Portland wants to take the
eco-roof concept to a new level by transforming building
rooftops into actual wildlife habitats...Dusty Gedge,
president of the European Federation of Green-roof Associations,
took a tour of some of Portland’s green roof-tops.
Gedge says Portland is internationally known for its traditional
eco-roofs which help reduce annual storm runoff by
about 70 percent. But he says, with a few modifications, the
green roofs also provide a home to wildlife like
insects and birds..." [4.1.10]
Auburn Hills sets sustainable example;
green roof on police dept
Metromode
Media, by
Jon Zemke
Auburn Hills, MI. "Auburn Hills city leaders are making
the effort to talk the sustainability talk and walk a greener
walk...The Auburn Hills Police Dept's shooting range also has a
green roof to soak up the rain water runoff..." [4.1.10]
Singapore Sky Gardens
GreenMuze,
by Staff
Singapore. "A new development in Singapore combines
stunning sky gardens with residential living
space. The environmentally friendly project from Daniel
Libeskind Studio, features six glass towers and eleven apartment
blocks in Keppel Bay..." [3.31.10]
Europe's first LEED platinum shopping
centre in Stockholm
Construction & Maintenance,
by Staff
Liljeholmen, Stockholm. "...This Stockholm-based centre
is the first shopping centre in Europe to achieve the highest
LEED classification, and one of the world's few platinum-rated
buildings of any kind...A special feature in Liljeholmstorget is
the green roof between the shopping centre and the
neighboring office building..." [3.31.10]
Demolition of old Children's Hospital,
county green roof approved
Pittsburgh Post Gazette,
by Diana Nelson Jones
Pittsburgh, PA. "The Pittsburgh Planning Commission
Tuesday approved the University of Pittsburgh's plans to
demolish the DeSoto Building of the former Children's Hospital
in Oakland and Allegheny County's plans to install a green
roof on the County Office Building...The county's
green roof -- on 8,500 of the 30,000-square-foot area --
will be installed by June with almost $613000 in energy
efficiency conservation block..." [3.31.10]
Homeowners plant a 'greenroof' for
aesthetics and cooling
Atlanta Journal Constitution,
by C. W. Cameron
Atlanta, GA. "...Several high-profile buildings such as
Atlanta City Hall and the
Woodruff Arts Center have planted roofs, and they’re
starting to show up on homes as well. These planted roofs are
called "greenroofs."...Not “green roof,”
but “greenroof,” a term becoming commonly accepted
as a way to differentiate the planted roof from a roof made of
green-colored building...Saul
Horticultural has been in the greenroof
business since 1996, providing both the growing mixture and
plants for projects all over the United States..." [3.30.10]
PSU and PGE Form Sustainability Alliance
ThePortlander,
by Staff
Portland, OR. "Portland General Electric, the region’s
major urban utility, and Portland State University, the region’s
major urban university, have formed a long-term strategic
partnership to promote the economic, environmental, and social
sustainability of the Portland metro area...PGE has also
contributed to a National Science Foundation-funded project at
PSU, studying how solar panels and green roofs can
be installed together on buildings to improve energy generation
and efficiency..." [3.30.10]
City Opens Up Contract Bids For School
Eco-Lab Meant to Supply Danny Meyer
DNAinfo,
by Nicole Breskin
Greenwich Village, NY. "The city is moving ahead with a
new "green" roof atop a Greenwich Village school,
which will be home to a wide variety of flora and fauna —
including bats, butterflies and basil — and likely provide
ingredients to restaurants like Danny Meyer's Gramercy Tavern.
The city issued a request for proposals Monday for a
construction partner for the estimated $1.1 million-plus
“green roof infrastructure” for P.S. 41, a kindergarten
through fifth grade school at West 11th Street..." [3.30.10]
Energy Filmgoer: Carbon Nation
Huffington Post
Blog, by A.
Siegel
DC. "Sadly, the thirteen-day smorgasbord of the 2010
Environmental Film Festival
in the Nation's Capital came to an end this Sunday. The festival
ended with a bang: the world premiere of Carbon Nation, a film
by Peter Byck and a (clearly) talented team...the power of white
and green roofs, which can lower ambient
temperature, the comment that lowering Chicago's summer
temperature would save $150 million a year in lower utility
costs..." [3.30.10]
First Look, Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Living Wall
Projects, People & Products Blog,
by Chris Lyon of
Tournesol Siteworks
Atlanta, GA. "Thanks to our partner
Saul Nurseries, who sent us these images of the VGM
living wall being installed last week at the Atlanta
Botanical Gardens by Valleycrest. The wall is 52′ long x 8′
high, made up of 120 modules..." [3.29.10]
Nats pitchers and catchers report to a
green ballpark
SmartPlanet.com Blog,
by Melanie D.G.
Kaplan
DC. "...Nationals Park became the first major sports venue
in the nation to become LEED Silver Certified by the U.S. Green
Building Council. The ballpark, a brownfield redevelopment near
Washington’s Anacostia River, is expected to serve as an anchor
for urban revitalization...I also want to create more
green roofs and even green walls, like the
six-story one that PNC Bank did..." [3.29.10]
Green roofs over Austin
The Examiner,
by Blane Conklin
Austin, TX. "Austin is moving to make roofs in the city
greener. The City Council heard a report from its Green
Roof Advisory Group (GRAG) on Thursday, March 25. This
was the culmination of the initial phase of research into how
green roofs could benefit Austin and how to make it
easier for them to flourish in the city. The next phase will
determine best practices and develop policy recommendations for
the city over the next five years..." [3.28.10]
11th annual Doors Open Toronto will unlock
the city's architecture
Canadian Architect,
by Staff
Toronto, Canada. "Doors
Open Toronto, the popular annual citywide celebration
featuring free access to architecturally, historically,
culturally and socially significant buildings, is back for its
11th year...The
City Hall Podium Green Roof will reopen as the city's
largest publicly accessible green roof on the
Doors Open Toronto weekend..." [3.27.10]
Eco warrior aged 89 does power of good
The Star,
by Staff
UK. "An eighty-nine-year-old eco warrior is opening up
his environmentally-friendly home to visitors tomorrow...He
collects rainwater via a 'living' green roof. His
home is kept warm in winter by a wood-burning biomass heating
system..." [3.27.10]
Business blooms on high
Edmonton Journal,
by David Finlayson
Edmonton, Canada. "...The firm hopes the 'living
roof' it starts installing next week will be the
benchmark for the increasing number of companies planning on
going green...There's a huge interest in green roofs
in Alberta. It will be interesting to see how this one develops
over the year." [3.27.10]
Solar-powered 'Living Loom' gateway
designed for Nigerian capital
Ecofriend Blog,
by Anupam
Abuja, Nigeria. "...Designed in the form of a traditional
Nigerian bow harp, the new development will feature a giant
solar canopy and green roofs. Dubbed the “Living
Loom”, the sustainable gateway will be constructed from bricks
made from the local laterite clay..." [3.27.10]
Film Festival Sounds Alarm on Environment
Voice of America,
by
Penelope Poulou
DC. "Every spring the nation's capital welcomes the cherry
blossoms and the Environmental Film Festival...The U.S.
documentary, "The Green House," shows how private initiative is
changing the world one step at a time. Jason Scadron and Liv
Violette's documentary chronicles the building of the first
carbon-neutral house in McLean, Virginia...Its green roof,
thermal floor tracks and fiber optic skylights all say green..."
[3.26.10]
World Health Day Spotlights Urban
Well-Being
findingDulcinea,
by Sarah Amandolare
World. "Next month, the World Health Organization’s World
Health Day will focus on urbanization and health. Many U.S.
cities are already making strong efforts to go green...In recent
years, vegetated rooftops have been showing up in
surprising places, including Major League Baseball stadiums and
New York City factories. These green roofs, topped
with grasses, succulents and other vegetation, are being built
across the United States and Canada due to increasing efforts to
prevent pollution, lower energy costs and thwart runoff..."
[3.26.10]
Guess who builds deep green in Wisconsin?
USA Today, by Wendy Koch
Middleton, WI. "When you think of people building green, who
comes to mind? Movie stars? Software moguls? Al Gore? What about
female monks? Seriously...Four rain barrels that collect and
store water for plant care and two rain gardens to minimize
stormwater runoff. Two vegetated roofs over the
maintenance building and garage..." [3.26.10]
The Houses That PET Built
3BL Media - Greenopolis,
by Staff
Honduras. "Eco-minded architects and designers are making
treasure out of trash by recycling used PET bottles into
beautiful, sustainable, buildings...Each casa ecologica has a “living
roof” made from sod and turf which insulates the house
better than a conventional roof..." [3.26.10]
Hard-working roofs
Greenbuild News,
by Mike Crook
UK. "...It’s no accident that the roof is often referred
to as the fifth elevation – a reflection of the growing
expectation that they should also perform aesthetically...Planted
roofs can play a pivotal insulating role. Research by
Nottingham Trent University found that the temperature beneath
the membrane of a conventional roof fluctuated between 0.2 and
32ºC – while in contrast temperatures beneath a green roof
varied much less, from 4.7 to 17.1ºC..." [3.26.10]
Real estate software firm scoops up
business award
Waterloo Record,
by Chuck Howitt
Cambridge, MA. "...Environmental Award: Farm Mutual
Reinsurance Plan Inc. The new $15-million headquarters for the
company representing mutual insurance companies in Ontario,
located on Pinebush Road and visible from Highway 401, features
geothermal heating and cooling, a green roof,
recycled building materials, automatic light dimmers and
recycled rainwater..." [3.26.10]
Planning 'central' to climate change
adaptation
PlanningResource,
by Michael Donnelly
UK. "Climate change adaptation and mitigation must become
more central to the planning system...Innovative spatial
planning will be critical in introducing the measures required
to help make our urban areas less vulnerable to a changing
climate – measures such as green open space, green roofs,
and sustainable urban drainage systems..." [3.25.10]
Nationals Park Gets a Green Win
NBC Washington,
by Alison
Drucker
Washington, DC. "...Nationals Park was the country's first
major league ballpark to be certified under the LEED green
building rating system...The park has a 6,300 square foot
green roof, and other areas of the roof use highly
reflective materials -- both features minimize heat gain..."
[3.25.10]
Succulents sizzle in Southern California
gardens
Nursery
Management & Production,
by Debra Lee Baldwin
Escondido, CA. "In frost-free areas of the drought-ridden
Southwest, succulents with colorful leaves and intriguing
textures are the celebrities of the plant world and the darlings
of landscape designers...Because of their compact and unusual
shapes, striking foliage, and ease of maintenance, succulents
lend themselves to imaginative, nontraditional gardens. The
plants can be used as wildfire barriers, for green roofs..."
[3.24.10]
10 to watch: Under 30, changing Baltimore
Baltimore Sun, by Staff
Baltimore, MD. "...Jeremy Frederick had his way, the
Baltimore skyline would be dotted green. Since joining
Baltimore-based Floura Teeter Landscape Architects straight out
of college four years ago, Frederick has been instrumental
around town integrating green-roof technology..."
[ 3.24.10]
In Brooklyn, Lettuce, Not Steel, Scrapes
the Sky
Atlantic Online Blog,
by Annie Novak
New York, NY. "...Today, I farm a 6,000-square-foot
roof-turned-vegetable-farm on the shoreline of the East River in
Greenpoint, North Brooklyn. I believe it's the only full-on
commercial green roof growing in the country, to
date. Built atop a sound stage warehouse by television and movie
production company Broadway Stages, and installed by green
roof company
Goode Green..." [ 3.24.10]
Learn to keep construction projects
Earth-friendly
Metro Canada - Toronto,
by Rafael Brusilow
Toronto, Canada. "...George Brown introduced the first
LEED course last year with a focus on methods and materials for
new construction to great interest and that course – Building
Green with LEED: Core Concepts and Strategies will return in
April again and enrolments are still open. The college also has
several planned courses on green roofs and
sustainable development in the pipeline as well...." [3.23.10]
Vancouver Convention Centre West Achieves
LEED Platinum
EP Magazine,
by Staff
Vancouver, Canada. "The
Vancouver Convention Centre West (VCC) has been awarded
LEED® Canada Platinum certification, the first convention center
project in the world to earn what is the program's highest
rating...Landscaped with 400,000 native plants and grasses, the
green roof acts as an insulator to mediate the
exterior air temperature..." [3.22.10]
Alexandria officials question need for
'green' library roof
Washington Examiner,
by Markham Heid
Alexandria, VA. "As Alexandria officials scramble to fill
a $44 million budget shortfall, plans to construct a new
$380,000 eco-friendly rooftop on one of the city's
public library branches have angered some local
leaders...However, the roof project is supplemented by federal
grants -- money awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency
for eco-friendly projects -- that the city will lose unless it
moves forward with its plans..." [3.22.10]
JPL Wins 'Green Building Award'
Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
by Whitney Clavin
Pasadena, CA. "JPL's environmentally friendly Flight Projects
Center received a "Green Building Award" at the fourth annual
Green California Leadership Awards, held during this week's
Green California Summit...The building's green assets include: a
"living roof" of desert plants, low-flow faucets
and toilets, a "smart" heating and cooling system..." [3.19.10]
Fully insulating houses good for cutting carbon emissions
UK Net Guide,
by Staff
London, UK. "Reducing carbon emissions from the UK's
housing stock is one of the primary focuses of the government as
it aims to meet targets of cutting carbon emissions from homes
by 29 per cent by 2020...And as global temperatures continue to
increase it may be wise for city dwellers to start considering
putting green roofs in place..." [3.19.10]
Teachers Strive to Bring Earth Day Alive
for Students
PR-USA.net, Press Release
Chicago, IL. "Earth Day 40 takes on a new meaning for
four elementary school teachers as they bring their global
summer experiences home to their students. Katie Schneider and
Meghan O'Connor teach at Tarkington School of Excellence,
Chicago's first "green" school complete with a
vegetated/reflective roof and floors crafted from recycled
glass...Inspired to instill stewardship from two countries that
excel at environmental practices, they capitalized on a Fund for
Teachers fellowship to witness Germany's green roofs,
wind turbines, and recycling bins on every corner, ride
Switzerland's ethanol-powered buses and drink fresh water from
the Alps from a tap..." [3.19.10]
Grimshaw wins work in Wales and South Korea
Building Design,
by Ruth Bloomfield
London, UK. "Grimshaw was celebrating this week after
being appointed to design two landmark projects on different
sides of the globe...Visitors will move through botanical
exhibits, aquariums, exhibition halls, a 3D theatre and
restaurants, before re-emerging by way of a rooftop garden
with views of the immediate outdoor eco-park..." [3.19.10]
Sky's the limit of Kensington Roof Gardens
This is London,
by Rosie Boycott
London, UK. "...Kensington Roof Gardens boast 1.5 acres
of green space including fully grown oaks and fruit trees
growing in 1.5m of soil, and a stream stocked with fish and
wildlife...Between 2004 and 2008, 420,000 square metres of
green roofs were installed in London, compared to
96,000 square metres in 2003...The champion of roof gardens is
Dusty Gedge who has built green roofs on Barclays Tower in
the City and the Komodo Dragon House at London Zoo. You can
download his DIY guide at
http://livingroofs.org..." [3.18.10]
Burning With Inspiration
Metromode Media,
by Kirk Vanderbeek
Detroit, MI. "...The Rouge Factory Tour is an interactive
experience that, as she explains, combines innovation and
manufacturing with history and green architecture...visitors can
view the world's largest
living roof (an attraction that requires Jones to ask of
herself: "How do I make porous pavement interesting?)..."
[3.18.10]
City studies green roof regulations
Pittsburgh Post Gazette,
by Diana Nelson Jones
Pittsburgh, PA. "Legislation that would define a
green roof and establish zoning height allowances for
rooftop gardens was considered and postponed...Councilman
William Peduto's legislation would define green roofs
as "regular and customary accessories" to homes and commercial
properties..." [3.17.10]
Rainwater runoff the key to a green city
Victoria Times Colonist, by Calvin Sandborn
Victoria, Canada. "We need to completely reinvent how we
deal with storm water...Engineers, developers, and governments
across North America are adopting green rainwater management
techniques, including porous pavement, brick pavers, narrower
streets, sidewalk planter boxes, replacing curbs and gutters
with grassy boulevards and swales, improving soil absorption,
retention ponds, rain gardens and green roofs..."
[3.17.10]
Felipe Campolina's Portability Skyscraper features green roof
and walls
Ecofriend Blog,
by Anupam
Brazil. "Brazilian architect Felipe Campolina has
unveiled the designs of a futuristic skyscraper that is composed
of hundreds of mobile living units. The skyscraper deals with
both environmental and social issues with the living units
starting from a modular system scaled from the standard OSB
plate...The individual units come with windows in tempered
glass, green roofs and walls and can be aligned
according to the need..." [3.17.10]
Station kiosks to become 'buzz' stops
Islington Gazette, by Staff
London, UK. "News and flower kiosks outside Angel Tube
station are set to be transformed into "buzz stops" to attract
wildlife...New mini green roofs will attract
insects and birds and add a touch of greenery to one of
Islington's busiest junctions. The council's executive will
also..." [3.16.10]
Climate Change In Business, Going Green Often Means Saving Green
Business West,
by Joseph Bednar
Springfield, MA. "But what an increasing number of
companies are discovering is that not only do green
considerations benefit the planet, they’re often good for the
bottom line, too...The most visible result of that priority will
be a 'green roof,' featuring a walking path and a
variety of plant life, where staff, patients, and visitors ca
relax..." [3.15.10]
Creative Discovery Museum Getting City's Largest Green Roof
The Chattanoogan, by Staff
Chattanooga, TN. "A new green roof is being
installed this week over the existing roof of the at the
Creative Discovery Museum...According to the manufacturer’s
information,
LiveRoof, green roof vegetation will help cool
the air during the hot summer months reducing indoor
temperatures and air-conditioning costs..." [3.15.10]
Gimme Shelter: A Q & A with Leslie Hoffman
Mother Nature Network Blog,
by Matt Hickman
New York, NY. "Earth Pledge's Leslie Hoffman discusses
how community plays a key role in her remarkable green home
building project, Gimme Shelter....Hoffman also wanted the home
to be different beyond just being a beautiful, sustainable
structure with solar photovoltaics, a rainwater catchment
system, green roof, and so on..." [3.15.10]
Going green with buildings
Malaysia Star,
by Thean Lee Cheng & Tee Lin Say
Malaysia. "There was a time some 20 years ago when being
green was fashionable. Many felt it was just hype; like most
passing fads, it would go away. It did not...The idea is to
reduce the use of potable water for its rooftop gardens.
The company will also collect condensate water from its
air-conditioning units..." [3.13.10]
The sky's the limit: A roof garden will make your neighbours
green with envy - and developers are catching on
Daily Mail,
by Dotti Tulle
London, UK. 'Roof gardens have come of age.
But they are no longer just open spaces in which to put up a few
deckchairs and wait for the sun to shine. All kinds of elaborate
and exotic garden designs are landing on a rooftop near you..."
[3.12.10]
Triptych combines art and architecture
Architecture and Design,
by Staff
Melbourne, Australia. "Designing a residential tower that
stands 29-storeys high within the heart of Melbourne’s art
precinct was indeed a challenge...each apartment opens out onto
a vertical village featuring a nine-metre high glass atrium with
a live green living wall and communal space for
residents to enjoy..." [3.12.10]
Living Walls: The Indoor Garden Trend
SanDiego.com,
by Dave Good
San Diego, CA. "Live plants can cover an apartment wall,
or a whole skyscraper facade...Time called the 'living
wall' one of the 50 best inventions of 2009. Developed
by a French botanist named Patrick Blanc, living walls
come in all shapes and sizes. They can cover entire facades of
skyscrapers with greenery or they can grace interior apartment
walls..." [3.12.10]
Pay now — and pay later
Baltimore Sun,
by Karen Hosler
Baltimore, MA. "...We're not getting any free ride by
putting off the cost of installing green roofs,
rain barrels, retention ponds and other water containment and
cleansing techniques. Mother Nature says it's not a question of
pay me now or pay me later, but one of pay me now and pay me
later. However, the interest rate on inaction is going to rise
considerably..." [3.12.10]
Cultivating crops on city rooftops
Environmental Expert Press Release
London, UK.
"To meet the challenges of producing food in a
more environmentally-friendly way, the European Environment
Agency (EEA) has called on cities to develop 'living walls'
of edible plants. Through vertical farming, agriculture could
become a feature of urban life, lowering energy consumption,
carbon emissions and resource use in food production..."
[3.11.10]
Brown roof project by LDA Design wins biodiversity award
Horticulture Week, by Staff
London UK. "LDA Design's brown roof project at Royal
Arsenal Riverside in Woolwich, south London, has won a
biodiversity award...Different from a green roof
in that its aim is to increase biodiversity and habitat space in
urban areas, the LDA Design project was a joint scheme with
ecologists Baker Shepherd Gillespie (BSG)..." [3.11.10]
Affordable, Curvy, and Super Green
Jetson Green Blog,
by Preston Koerner
London, UK. "...Designed by Acanthus LW Architects for
Paradigm Housing, these homes were built with recycled steel and
minimal construction waste...Green features include a
sedum-covered green roof, photovoltaics, solar
thermal, rainwater capture for toilet usage, high insulation,
abundant natural light, passive ventilation, biomass boiler for
heating and hot water, and heat recovery systems..." [3.10.10]
In Oakland, Solar and Affordable Housing Part of the Same Deal
Sunpluggers.com,
by Erin Milnes
Oakland, CA. "...Designed by architect David Baker +
Partners and built by J. H. Fitzmaurice, Ironhorse incorporates
many sustainable building measures, among them solar-heated
water, photovoltaic arrays to supply electricity for common
areas, certified 'green' carpets and vegetated 'green
roofs,' which last longer than conventional roofing and
provide insulation from both heat and sound..." [3.10.10]
Win a green roof for your school by photographing local wildlife
The Ecologist,
by Matilda Lee
London, UK. "With spring around the corner, why not take
a walk around your local park or forest to get a closer look at
- and photograph - local wildlife. Uploading pictures can win a
school near you a green roof...Dusty Gedge, an
urban ecologist and founder of
www.livingroofs.org, an
independent source of green roof information in
the UK, says that a green roof can be used as an
outdoor classroom and will help to preserve local wildlife..."
[3.9.10]
A Few Things the West Could Teach Japan About Housing - #8 Roof
Garden
AlaTown.com Blog,
by Alastair Townsend
Japan. "...like Fukuoka’s
ACROS building and the
Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka in Tokyo are remarkable examples
of urban green roofs...Japan has a number of notable green roofs
(both large offices and houses). That said, Japan (and the rest
of the world) is still somewhat behind Europe in this regard. We
can all agree, however, that the world needs more green
roofs – particularly Japan..." [3.9.10]
Futuristic New York and Sustainable Sao Paulo Projects Win
Zumtobel Prize
Fast Company,
by Alissa Walker
World. "...Sao Paulo workspace named Harmonia//57
designed by French-Brazilian architects Triptyque was named as
the winner. The firm was charged with creating a flexible
environment on a unique site deluged with heavy rain and very
high temperatures. Taking advantage of the abundance of natural
resources, the designers added not only a green roof,
but vertical gardens as well..." [3.8.10]
City will hold ecoroof fair Friday and Saturday
OregonLive.com,
by Susan Green
Portland, OR. "Anyone interested in installing an
ecoroof, a vegetated roof that absorbs rain and reduces
stormwater runoff, can find all the information and resources
they need at the free, city-sponsored
Ecoroof Portland
2010 fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Leftbank
Annex, 101 N. Weidler St..." [3.8.10]
Media-TIC building will cut emissions by 37 percent with
energy-saving skin
Ecofriend,
by Staff
Barcelona, Spain. "...Architect Enric Ruiz-Geli has
designed an inflatable membrane façade from the Media-TIC
building that will help it save energy and reduce carbon
emissions by as much as 37 percent...The roof of the building
will feature a green cover and photovoltaic
panels. The green roof collects rainwater, which is then
collected in a tank and re-used for sanitation and
landscaping..." [3.8.10]
Former Larimer gas station to make 'green' statement
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,
by Jodi Weigand
Pittsburgh, PA. "A long-vacant gas station in Larimer is
being transformed into a place where people can learn about
water conservation and growing local produce. The Energy and
Environment Community Outreach Center at East Liberty Boulevard
and Larimer Avenue is expected to be completed this fall. It
will also feature solar panels, a community garden and a
'green' roof that will collect rainwater for
irrigation..." [3.8.10]
Green by design
yourhome.ca,
by Donna Laporte
Toronto, Canada. "...Terry McGlade is a horticulturalist
and landscape designer who has been specializing in green
roofs for 10 years. He says a lot of thought went into
designing the green roof system for this
home...McGlade is founder of
Gardens in the Sky, a
division of Flynn Canada, the largest roofer in Canada. He says
interest is growing and he has designed green roofs
for about eight houses in the past year..." [3.6.10]
Maldives To Fight Rising Sea Levels With Floating Islands
Inhabitat Blog,
by Jill Fehrenbacher
Maldives. "The tiny island nation of the Maldives is
under serious threat from rising sea levels caused by climate
change...the renderings for the amphibious mini-cities appear
depict star-shaped, tiered islands with indoor spaces hidden
under lush green-roof terraces, complete with interior pools and
beaches..." [3.5.10]
'Flagship' grass roof development takes shape in Witham
BBC News,
by Staff
Witham, UK. "An eye-catching residential development that
features an eco-friendly green sedum roof is
taking shape in Witham...The green roof is
predominantly made of moss, with a few wild flowers, was laid as
a blanket similar to turf. As well as improving the insulation,
it also captures rain water run-off which is reused to irrigate
itself...Listen to an explanation..." [3.4.10]
Seminar in Carnegie touts green roofs
Pittsburgh Post Gazette,
by Bob Podurgiel
Carnegie, PA. "Even though most roofs are still covered
with ice and snow, people in Carnegie are thinking green -- as
in green roofs. Dr. Rob Berghage, associate
professor of horticulture at Penn State University, gave an
audience Friday of about 50 local political leaders, business
owners and conservation advocates an introduction into how
green roofs are constructed and how they can benefit
building owners and the environment at a green roof
and green landscaping conference in the Carnegie Borough
Building..." [3.4.10]
Saturday, March 13th Meet Mike Darcy at EcoRoof Portland 2010
750 KXL,
by Staff
Portland, OR. "The City of Portland is sponsoring
Ecoroof Portland,
taking place March 12-13, 2010. Come learn how ecoroofs work,
why they're important, and what's next for Portland's rooftops
and sky..." [3.4.10]
Stunning Green Roofed Apartment Building Rises in Amsterdam
Inhabitat Blog,
by Bridgette Meinhold
Amsterdam, The Netherlands. "Construction was recently
finished on this stunning green-roofed apartment
building in Amsterdam, and residents will soon be able to move
into their stunning new light filled apartments. Designed by NL
Architects, Blok K is located between the historic center and
the recently redeveloped harbor area in the east...More
photos..." [3.3.10]
DuPage gets grant to create green roof
Chicago Daily Herald,
by Jake Griffin
Chicago, IL. "The county recently received a $250,000
federal grant from the Department of Energy to convert the
cafeteria's roof to a more energy efficient and ecologically
friendly version...The 'green' roof would provide
energy-saving benefits by providing better insulation for that
area of the building thereby lowering heating and cooling..."
[3.2.10]
Roofing demand in US projected to be $17.9 billion in 2014
MMD Newswire Press Release
US. "...As increasing awareness and interest over
environmentally friendly roofing products that also help reduce
building utility costs continue to expand and gain in
popularity, the roofing market is expected to see gains at above
average paces in composite shingles, photovoltaic roofing, and
green roof systems through 2014." [3.9.10]
SIUC's first 'green roof' in the works
The DailyEgyptian,
by Erin Holcomb
March 1, 2010
Carbondale, IL. "Landscaping isn’t new to the campus,
especially to the agriculture department — but tending to
greenery on a rooftop will be. The recent renovations the
university made to the Agriculture Building’s roof this past
summer may seem like simple repairs, but the roof has been built
to double as its own ecosystem...SIU-Edwardsville already has
green roofs on three of its buildings, said
Bill Retzlaff, chairman of the
department of biological sciences at SIUE. The green roof on its
engineering building houses six projects used for research..."
[3.1.10]
NYC Students, Officials to Host Design Unveiling Event of Public
School
ps41 News Release
Greenwich Village, NY. "New York City public school students
and officials will host a design unveiling ceremony for a
first-of-its-kind Greenroof Environmental Literacy Laboratory (GELL)
on March 2 at PS41 in Greenwich Village..." [3.1.10]
DM concludes second phase of Green Roofs awareness campaigns
WAM - Emirates News Agency,
by Staff
Dubai, UAE. "Dubai Municipality has concluded the second
phase of the awareness campaigns on Green Roofs
project in the Global Village, which was held from 18 to 28
February. Engineering models of the project were placed at the
Global Village to explain the idea of the project in a
simplified form to the public..." [3.1.10]
Absorbing ideas address runoff
Atlanta Journal Constitution,
by Heather Vogell
Atlanta, GA. "Ideas that sounded utopian a few years ago
— such as roof gardens and pavement that absorbs
water — are cropping up across the country to meet new mandates
for controlling rainfall after it hits the ground...The city
expects its seven acres of green roofs to more
than double in the next few years..." [3.1.10]
Roof garden opens at Liverpool University
BBC News, by Staff
February 26, 2010
Liverpool, UK. "Students at the University of Liverpool
have created an urban roof garden on the roof of
the Guild building in Mount Pleasant, Liverpool...The garden
provides a place to grow herbs and salad and includes two
beehives and bird nests to encourage local wildlife to the
area..."
It's Alive! That Roof is Alive!
Huffington Post Blog, by David Becker
February 26, 2010
New York, NY. "...But what if you started putting farms
in new and unexpected areas closer to home? Areas with plenty of
sunlight. Look up. Think green roofs. Building
owners motivated to lower HVAC costs, speed building approvals,
and lower construction costs are turning to green roofs..."
Green Olympic Games track energy savings
Los Angeles Times Blog, by Kim Murphy
February 26, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "...While the technology allows
Olympics organizers to pat themselves on the back for
innovations such as green roofs, waste-to-energy
power generation, solar panels and reuse of waste heat,
developers say the more important targets are older, drafty
buildings that need to tighten up on their power consumption..."
Walmart to sit atop Lowe's at 25th Street Station by fall 2011
Baltimore Sun, by Edward Gunts
February 26, 2010
Baltimore, MD. "...Walmart, the world's largest retailer,
would join Baltimore's first Lowe's Home Center as tenants in
the center. The new store would generate 250 jobs, according to
company officials...The new store will have a vegetated "green
roof" covering more than an acre..."
Growing Up -- On The Roof
Calgary Herald, by Trent Edwards
February 26, 2010
Calgary, Canada. "Green roofs: an ancient
idea, and yet so cutting-edge as a way to make modern buildings
more sustainable. But setting up a green roof in Calgary today
isn't as simple as it was for an ancient Viking or Japanese
farmer laying sod on their home. Green roofs today
need an insulating membrane, city bylaw officials' approval and
a whole lot of know-how..."
Green Thumb: Mid-South Hydrangea Society hosts sought-after
plant curator
Memphis Commercial Appeal, by Christine Arpe Gang
February 26, 2010
Memphis, TN. "...While most of us spend our lives trying
to get plants to thrive in the ground we walk on, others look up
to find new gardening frontiers in green roofs...Andy
Sudbrock's passion for plants and the natural world has taken in
him in two directions. He owns Nashville Natives, a nursery and
landscape business specializing in using native plants for
environmental restoration and landscaping. In his other
business,
Southeast Green Roofs, he
grows sedums and other succulents for green roof applications..."
Algonquin College's EDC TTBS building will be covered in an
undulating green roof
Ecofriend Blog, by Staff
February 25, 2010
Ottawa, Canada. "...The unique form of the building
blends into the landscape and uses color to animate the facades.
With parks and garden spaces for added greenery, the building
also features an undulating green roof that covers
over 50 percent of the surface. This green wall enhances
bio-diversity and reduces storm water run-off, conserves energy
and reduces urban heat island effect..."
Green roof installation made easy
Nursery Management & Production, by Kelli Rhoda
February 25, 2010
US. "More efficient green rooftop installation methods
mean more profit...Green roofs are a wonder of
engineering, but it can be a labor-intensive process. But
Express Blower, a
manufacturer and distributor of pneumatic blowing equipment in
Eugene, Ore., has a solution. By pairing up with pneumatic
blower truck owners, contractors are saving time and money, and
truck owners are expanding their services and increasing
profit..."
With tubs of dirt, a 16-year-old New Canaan student schemes to
green the high school
New Canaan News, by Brittany Lyte
February 25, 2010
New Canaan, CT. "...Milunovich spent part of her February
vacation in an eight-hour Certified Green Professional course
learning about green building...Last year she founded the
green roof club at New Canaan High School. And perhaps
most impressive, Milunovich has launched this club into a
no-nonsense campaign to convince the New Canaan Public School
administration to install a green roof at the high
school..."
New Fire Design Standard Approved for Green Roofs
GRHC Media Release
February 24, 2010
Toronto, Canada. "Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC)
and SPRI, Inc., the trade association representing the
manufacturers of commercial roofing systems and component
suppliers, are pleased to announce that the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) has accepted their VF-1, Fire Design
Standard for Vegetative Roofs as an American National Standard.
This document was created to provide a design and installation
reference for roofing professionals to help eliminate the risk
of fire on vegetative / green roofs..."
Dare we tamper with the process of rain?
Wicked Local Roslindale, by Dr. Karen Weber
February 24, 2010
Rolinsdale, MA. "Why do we not have a huge refrigerator
to cool the earth down and in winter make snow? Fortunately,
nature has provided us with a unique cooling system...One
solution that has been consistently overlooked is that of
green roofs, or vegetative roof coverings. By using
plants to cover our buildings, we recreate a natural balance on
our human-made world..."
How to turn blueprints green
MIT News, by David L. Chandler
February 24, 2010
Cambridge, MA. "Open-source
program developed at MIT allows architects and engineers to
optimize a building’s energy systems early in the design
process...He developed comparisons based on three types of
roofs: conventional dark asphalt roofs, cool roofs (such as
white roofs) and green roofs (with a layer of soil
and grass or other plants growing in it)..."
Vancouver's Green Olympics: Exceptions that Change the Rules
WorldChanging Blog, by Alex Aylett
February 23, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "...The stunning new LEED certified
athlete's village and convention centre have been the
centerpiece of what is being touted as the most sustainable
Games ever. What's one green-roof on a convention
centre (even if it is the size of four football fields) if the
rest of the city just keeps chugging along the same as always?
But for Vancouver, these two super green developments are icons
of a larger shift. Rather than being exceptions that prove the
rules of unsustainable urbanization, these are exceptions that
have helped change the rules..."
Georgian CCHR promotes sustainable architecture with an
insulating green roof
Ecofriend Blog, by Staff
February 23, 2010
Atlanta, GA. "Antoine Predock Architect in collaboration
with Perdock_Frane and Moody-Nolan have designed the Center for
Civil and Human Rights (CCHR) for Atlanta, Georgia that
expresses the universal and timeless struggles for human and
civil rights...While normal roofs waste space are hidden from
view, the new CCHR’s roof will be layered with a patchwork of
gardens, that apart from adding a green touch to the
architecture also serve as natural cooling systems..."
Green-roof bylaw earns mixed reviews
The Toronto Observer, by Tanis Reynolds
February 22, 2010
Toronto, Canada. "Toronto’s new green-roof by-law has
earned praise from environmentalists but concern from local
developers who worry about the impact of the by-law on their
bottom line. The green-roof by-law, approved by Toronto City
Council in May 2009, has won kudos from environmental groups who
claim green roofs are both economically and environmentally
viable..."
Urban blossoms
Norristown Times Herald, by Staff
February 22, 2010
Philadelphia, PA. "Temple University Ambler Landscape
Architecture and Horticulture students will add a vibrant green
to the gray shades of the urban landscape. Temple’s exhibit — "METROmorphosis
— Transforming the Urban World" — meshes perfectly with the
Pennsylvania Horticultural
Society’s 2010 Flower Show theme, "Passport to the
World."...Green roofs, urban beekeeping, vertical
farming, rain water harvesting, solar and wind farms, waste
recycling, and edible landscaping are some of the innovative
ideas at various stages of development and application that will
shape the future cities..."
Transport for London unveils UK's largest hydrogen fuel cell
The Guardian, by Cath Everett
February 22, 2010
London, UK. "Transport for London (TfL) hopes to cut its
carbon emissions by 40 per cent and save £90,000 per annum on
utility bills with a newly unveiled green power plant at its
head office that includes the UK's largest hydrogen fuel
cell...Solar panels will be introduced to heat water, while
green roofs will be installed to boost insulation,
absorb rainwater and improve local ecology..."
Guangzhou Metro Authority Headquarters will be insulated by
green roofs
Ecofriend Blog, by Staff
February 22, 2010
Guangzhou, China. "Perkins Eastman have designed a
sustainable building to serve as the headquarters of the
Guangzhou Metro Authority...Due to the tropical climate of
China, the building design integrates a terracotta sunscreen
system on the exterior envelope that contributes to a reduction
in the cooling system’s energy consumption. Moreover,
green roofs insulate the building and prevent storm
water runoff..."
City needs to redo its recipe for handling food, Manhattan
Borough President Scott Stringer says
New York Daily News, by Sondra Wolfer
February 19, 2010
Manhattan, NY. "The city should amend its PlaNYC program
to include a massive overhaul of the way it deals with
food...The city should facilitate the development of
rooftop gardens and create an NYC Urban Agriculture
Program, which would provide access, resources and information
to promote community gardening..."
Mike Holmes: Olympic Village gets gold for roofs
Kelowna.com, by Mike Holmes
February 18, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "When you're watching coverage of the
2010 Olympic & Paralympic Games, take a look at the roofs of the
Olympic Village. They're green, and I think they represent
exactly the kind of design we need to be incorporating in all
developments, especially large ones in urban areas...A
green roof provides an oasis for wildlife – birds and
insects can live on it. And I think green roofs
just simply look good..."
A sneak peek at new Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation campus
KING5.com, by Deborah Feldman
February 18, 2010
Seattle, WA. "...It is the future of the world's largest
charitable foundation and designed to combine the best
environmental practices with some stunning aesthetics...The
living roof that we have, and the million gallon
water storage to recycle that water..."
Green Jobs Will Exceed Trained Workers, Says Report
The Epoch Times, by Cindy Chan
February 18, 2010
Ottawa, Canada. "Jobs in the environmental sector are
growing rapidly and Canada needs to catch up to train more
workers to meet the demand, says a recent report. The Canadian
Council on Learning (CCL), the country’s national organization
for educational research, says that in 2011 the demand for
environmental employees is expected to increase by 8.1 percent,
fuelled by rising interest in environmental issues..."
Tour 'Home of the Future,' on display at Vancouver's Olympics
USA Today, by Wendy Koch
February 18, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "...Outside is a panel of plants such
as native ferns and mosses by
Green Living Technologies,
a company based in Rochester, N.Y., that's been building
green walls worldwide. The wall reduces storm water
runoff, filters air pollutants, absorbs carbon dioxide,
insulates the home and also provides shade..."
8 Things You Should Know About Designing a Roof
Insurance News Net, Press Release
February 18, 2010
US. "Roofing industry expert Joseph Schwetz maintains
that there is an important difference between what building
codes require and what the construction insurance
industry—notably mutual insurance firm Factory
Mutual—demands—and that this difference can lead to problems in
designing a roof...Be prepared to do extra work to get approval
for a green roof. Schwetz says that FM is close to
finalizing its requirements for vegetated roofing..."
Roofs in Rexdale get cool
insideTORONTO.com, by Jordan Maxwell
February 18, 2010
Toronto, Canada. "Even though the winter season still
reigns, Rexdale is about to become just a little bit cooler.
Cool Rexdale, a new economic, social and environmental program,
was launched this month to save energy by installing green
or cool roofs on buildings while engaging local youth in
the project...The initiative is part of the City of Toronto's
Eco-Roof Incentive Program..."
Blue Forest's off-grid 'Eco Classroom' also has a green roof
Ecofriend Blog, by Staff
February 18, 2010
UK. "...Constructed using sustainably harvested timber
and incorporating a green roof, the Eco-Classroom
also features a green roof that allows the
structure to blend perfectly with the woodland. The structure is
also the first building in the UK that processes harvested
rainwater from the green roof into hot and cold
drinking water using solar energy..."
Academy of Sciences' living roof flourishing
San Francisco Examiner, by John Upton
February 18, 2010
San Francisco, CA. "Winter rains have helped prepare
Golden Gate Park's newest and most native habitat to flourish
this spring. The carefully managed experimental ecosystem that
occupies the undulating 197,000-square-foot rooftop of the
California Academy of Sciences has evolved in the 17 months
since the new building opened. The living rooftop
slopes up and down to form large mounds that create
microclimates, with some areas windier and drier than others,
which has helped to create a tapestry of native plant
populations..."
Winter Olympics gets a touch of greenery
Gizmag, by Tannith Cattermole
February 17, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "When Vancouver won the competition to
host the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games thoughts
immediately turned to construction, and one of the most
awe-inspiring initiatives has to be the redesign of the
Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Center (VCAEC).
Currently hosting the international broadcasting and media hub
for the Winter Olympics, this waterfront building is not only
beautiful and functional but is environmentally sustainable,
boasting a green electricity program, a seawater heating and
cooling system and the largest "living roof" in
Canada populated with 40,000 plants and grasses..."
The Olympic Effect
Huffington Post Blog, by Gregory Unruh
February 17, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "Potential host cities spend millions
attracting the Olympic Games. The hope for a return on their
investment is largely economic...We're seeing it with the
Vancouver winter games. The city boasts an Olympic Village
constructed to the highest LEED® green building standards
fitting facilities with now de rigeuer green roofs,
solar panels and water harvesting..."
Too much pavement, too little oversight: EPA to tackle
stormwater runoff
Environmental Health News, by Sarah Coefield
February 17, 2010
US. "Across the country, stormwater runoff hammers
thousands of rivers, streams and lakes. Communities are left to
struggle with the consequences of too much pavement and too
little oversight. Now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
is gearing up to tighten federal stormwater rules that have been
criticized by environmental groups and deemed ineffective by a
national panel of researchers...The rules may include guidelines
for techniques such as rain gardens, rain barrels, green
roofs, green streets and porous pavements..."
Firm selects winning design for proposed visitors center in
Newark
NJBIZ, by Shankar P.
February 16, 2010
Newark, NJ. "A proposed visitor center in Newark has
attracted interest from 200 design firms in more than 200
countries, but it was a domestic firm, Long Island, N.Y.-based
design and architecture firm Di Domenico & Partners, that won
the winning entry in the Newark Visitor Center International
Design Contest...The winning design focused on sustainability,
including a 'green roof' with landscaping,
rainwater harvesting and features to ward off heat generated by
pave environments..."
TD donates $50000 toward Vancouver Island University's
Aboriginal centre
CNW Group, Press Release
February 16, 2010
Nanaimo, Canada. "A traditional First Nations feast at
Vancouver Island University (VIU) honoured TD Bank Financial
Group on Monday for its contribution of $50,000 toward The
Gathering Place, a new Aboriginal centre on the Nanaimo
campus...Waugh describes The Gathering Place as a holistic
integration of sustainable strategies. The green roof
reduces storm water runoff and reduces energy demands for
cooling and heating..."
Ecoroofs the topic of event from Bureau of Environmental
Services
OregonLive.com, by Carrie Sturrock
February 15, 2010
Portland, OR. "Ever considered putting a vegetated
roof on your home or business? Then don't miss
Ecoroof Portland
2010. Building and home owners can get all their questions
answered at the March 12-13 event sponsored by the City of
Portland Bureau of Environmental Services. The roof systems
absorb rain and reduce stormwater runoff and are supposed to
last longer than conventional roofing..."
Horticulture, arboriculture careers begin at Olds College
Edmonton Journal, by Staff
February 14, 2010
Edmonton, Canada. "...Through innovative research
activities horticultural students now have access to use of
alternative energy strategies that will open doors to brand new
fields of endeavor such as 'green roof' technology
and environmentally sustainable yards..."
The greenest Olympics ever? Consider medals, transit, buildings
USA Today, by Wendy Koch
February 13, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "Is this the greenest Olympics ever?
The 2010 Winter Olympics, now underway in Vancouver, have taken
steps to make the games eco-friendly...The
Vancouver Convention Centre,
home to the media center, has a living roof of
400,000 native plants...All the buildings have green roofs,
cisterns to catch rainwater, passive solar design, upgraded
insulation and windows as well as carpets and paint with low or
no VOC..."
An Olympic accomplishment
CTV.ca, by Lisa Rochon
February 12, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "...There's a shift away from exultant
views of the mountains to something more intimate and,
ultimately, more urban. Green roofs have
established an exhilarating new visual rhythm. The buildings
turn the corner in elegant ways, the landscaping is generous,
and there are open corridors in the non-market (affordable)
housing for natural cross-ventilation..."
What Will Vancouver Look Like When the Winter Games Are Gone?
Fast Company, by Jesse Ashlock
February 12, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "...As the largest city ever to host a
Winter Olympics, Vancouver made sustainability the centerpiece
of its design strategy, an approach that's evident in the
high-density Southeast False Creek
Olympic Village complex, where units will be sold as condos
after the Games (assuming anyone's buying). Built to a LEED Gold
standard, it's won plaudits from environmental advocates for its
green roofs, rainwater reuse, and integration with
parkland and public transit..."
Green Gasoline Station Goes Old School EV Style
EarthTechling Blog, by Susan DeFreitas
February 12, 2010
Europe. "...The brainchild of Geotectura, a European
design firm, in association with Malka Architects, the charging
station is known as Green Gasoline...natural ventilation, on
site renewable energy (including wind and solar) that powers the
building as well as cars, along with water reuse and a
green roof."
A sustainable stay
Explore Howard County, by Judy Colbert
February 11, 2010
Baltimore, MD. "...When the
Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel opened, it had the
largest green roof in the city. More than 60,000
one-inch plugs of six different plant species were used on the
32,000 square feet on the East Building roof. This reduces storm
water runoff, lowers the cooling loads, eliminates heat islands
(no blacktop roof) and creates habitats for birds and other
wildlife..."
Working in a green building feels good
Mother Nature Network, by Melissa Hincha-Ownby
February 11, 2010
Denver, CO. "One employee at the Environmental Protection
Agency describes what it is like to work in a green
building...Wendy works at the
EPA’s Region 8 Headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The
building features a green roof, which serves two
purposes: reducing the heat island effect and managing
stormwater..."
Port of Portland headquarters, PDX parking nearly complete
OregonLive.com, by Amy Hsuan
February 10, 2010
Portland, OR. "When the Port of Portland's new home opens
in May, the 200,000-square-foot headquarters will be heated and
cooled by 200 geothermal wells. Its 10,000-square-foot
eco-roof, sprouting plants and grasses, will overlook
Portland International Airport..."
Freight Container Retreat
GreenMuze, by Staff
February 10, 2010
London, UK. "Converted freight containers live on as a
lakeside residence at the Scottish Cove Park artist retreat,
located on the Rosneath peninsula. The cube units, designed by
London-based Urban Space Management, offer accommodation and
work space units for visiting artists...Each recycled freight
container unit has a kitchen, dining area, shower room, bedroom,
balcony and living roof."
Vancouver to Host International Green Roof and Wall Conference
GRHC, Media Release
February 9, 2010
Toronto, Canada. "Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, the
North American green roof industry association and the British
Columbia Institute of Technology (academic co-host) are pleased
to announce that they will be hosting the
2010 Green
Roof and Green Wall Conference – CitiesAlive! in
Vancouver. The Call for Papers process is now underway, and
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is actively soliciting paper
abstracts for presentation at the Conference..."
National Science and Engineering Week 2010 for teachers
Culture24, by Rachel Hayward
February 9, 2010
London, UK. "National Science and Engineering Week, the
nation's largest celebration of science, runs from March 12 – 21
2010 and there are some great resources on the British Science
Association website to engage your pupils with science...What on
Earth is also offering a biodiverse green roof to
a school or educational building in the country that
collectively uploads the most photos before the end of March.
This has been sponsored by green roof developer
Sika Sarnafil in conjunction with wildlife expert and
Dusty Gedge..."
Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards presented to 10,
including three in design
Chicago Tribune Blog, by Staff
February 9, 2010
Chicago, IL. "Chicago’s community development world
celebrated its present and future at the Hyatt Regency Chicago
with the 16th Annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards...UrbanWorks
for UNO Veterans Memorial School Campus...The project also
incorporates a host of environmentally sustainable elements –
including a green roof, energy efficiency measures
and solar panels..."
LMN Architects-designed Vancouver Convention Centre West is
World’s First Convention Centre to Achieve LEED Platinum Rating
Earth Times, Press Release
February 9, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "As media from around the world
descend upon Vancouver, B.C. for the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic
Winter Games, they will experience in the Games’ broadcast media
center an unparalleled model of sustainability...A prominent
feature to be recognized around the world is the
centre’s six-acre living roof, which is Canada’s largest and
the biggest non-industrial living roof in North
America. Landscaped with 400,000 native plants and grasses, the
green roof acts as an insulator to mediate the
exterior air temperature, as well as contributes to the
building’s stormwater utilization and integrates with the
waterfront landscape ecosystem..."
Florida International Unveils Green Roof
Florida Nursing News, by Staff
February 8, 2010
Miami, FL. "Florida International University, Miami
officials announced the completion of Miami’s first “Green
Roof,” a prototype “xeriscape” roof made of vegetation
aimed at reducing the building’s environmental impact and
maintenance costs, according to a news release. The roof places
Miami on the list of cities that participate in the
Environmental Protection Agency’s “Green Roof”
Initiative..."
Tamagawa Takashimaya commercial facility features a mesh of
gardens
Ecofriend Blog, by Staff
February 8, 2010
Tokyo, Japan. "Green roofs and plantations
not only improve the air quality but also better the aesthetic
appeal of any facility. This is the reason we see buildings with
green roofs and vertical gardens.
Japanese architects Kengo Kuma have designed a commercial
building in Tokyo that carries gardens on the roofs and
borders..."
Building of green spaces continues
The GW Hatchet, by Kara Dunford
February 8, 2010
DC. "The University's effort to increase green space on
campus is progressing with construction continuing on two major
green spaces, the Square 54 green roof and the
Square 80 green space. Square 54 will include more than 26,000
feet of green roof structures, including 18,000
square feet on the roof of the below-grade parking and loading
structure that will function as a courtyard..."
WEG Part Of 'Cool Rexdale' Program
Standardbred Canada, by Staff
February 8, 2010
Toronto, Canada. "Partners in Project Green today
announced the launch of Cool Rexdale, a new program that will
help to improve the economic, social and environmental vitality
of Rexdale, one of Toronto's priority neighborhoods...Cool and
green roofs can help businesses reduce their
heating and cooling costs and extend the life of their roofs.
Green roofs, which support rooftop vegetation, also
help clean our air, enhance biodiversity and retain storm water
and its pollutants..."
Dubai Pearl Achieves Prestigious LEED Gold Pre-Certification
Al-Bawaba, by Staff
February 8, 2010
United Arab Emirates. "Dubai Pearl, the 20 million sq ft
integrated sustainable destination, overlooking the Palm
Jumeirah, has attainted pre-certification from the US Green
Building Council (USGBC) at the Gold level for Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)...extensive grey water
collection and re-use, green roofs and heat
recovery systems will be integrated into the development..."
Fact Sheet: News on the Recovery Act
American Chronicle, by Staff
February 7, 2010
Bronx, NY. "...the borough is getting a $4 million
federal stimulus grant to create a free job-training program
that will prepare about 400 borough residents for 'green jobs.'
Program participants will get job training at several South
Bronx sites that focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy
industries, training in such areas as building green roofs,
retrofitting buildings and planting trees..."
Vermonters shape space, better and better
BurlingtonFreePress.com, by Joel Banner Baird
February 7, 2010
Burlington, VT. "Vermont’s architects, bless ’em, are
stepping up to the challenge. Displays of some of their latest
(and greatest, some would argue) work will surface Wednesday and
Thursday at the “Better
Buildings by Design” conference, held at the Sheraton
Burlington Hotel and Conference Center...A living, 'green'
roof planted with sedum (in patterns designed to appeal
to airborne viewers) drains to a 35000-gallon underground tank -
and the water is used to wash aircraft..."
County stormwater shift to promote more 'green'
SoMdNews.com, by Meredith Somers
February 5, 2010
Charles County, MA. "The preservation of Charles County's
natural landscape and the promotion of conservation-friendly
drainage systems is the way Charles County development will be
headed in the coming months...Alternative surfaces include such
things as green roofs and permeable surfaces, the
latter of which is already in use throughout Southern
Maryland..."
Building's secret garden top idea
Otago Daily Times, by Allison Rudd
February 5, 2010
Dunedin, New Zealand. "Passers-by will never see the
secret the University of Otago's new psychology building is
hiding. High above the campus, the six-level building on Leith
Walk has a roof garden - not a space to be admired
or sat in, but one contributing to the building's rainwater
collection and recycling system..."
A High School For Green Teens
Huffington Post Blog, by Kerry Trueman
February 4, 2010
New York, NY. "...At his current position teaching at the
Discovery High School in the Bronx, Ritz just oversaw the
installation of a living, edible green wall in
partnership with a for-profit enterprise called
Green Living Technologies, a pioneering developer of
cutting edge urban agricultural systems...Green Living
Technologies is sponsoring a team of Ritz's students, bringing
them to Boston later this month to be the first high students in
America to be trained and certified as green wall
and green roof installers..."
'Green' building in Hempfield now tells its story on the screen
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, by Maryann Gogniat Eidemiller
February 4, 2010
Hempfield, PA. "The roof and grounds surrounding the
building known as GreenForge in Hempfield were white with snow
last week. But Westmoreland County's ultimate model of
conservation was as green as ever...Jim Pillsbury, the
district's hydraulic engineer and specialist in storm water
management, worked on the project that turned the roof into
Westmoreland County's first -- and, so far, only -- green
roof. Instead of shingles, the surface is covered with
thousands of sedum plants in nine varieties..."
The urban Ewok village
The Martlet, by Glen O'Neill
February 4, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "Imagine flying over any major city
and, instead of seeing vast, square cement rooftops, you see
parks and walking-path bridges that connect to adjacent rooftop
parks...Vancouver is well known for its two large-sized
green roofs. In 1995, the
Vancouver Public Library had a 1,500-square-metre green roof
installed. As well,
Vancouver’s Convention Centre is home to a six-acre green
roof, which houses thousands of indigenous plants..."
Over the Top: Data Shows "Green" Roofs Could Cool Urban Heat
Islands and Boost Water Conservation
Scientific American, by Katie Moisse
February 2, 2010
New York, NY. "Quantifying their urban climate
change-mitigating effects is an important step in getting green
roofing initiatives off the ground...Green roofs
can cool near-surface air temperatures by an average of 16.4
degrees Celsius per unit area...A four-inch-thick green
roof can hold a gallon of water per square foot..."
LEED Gold Certification for Cape Cod Green Home Achieved by Cape
Associates and ZeroEnergy Design
PR Web, Press Release
February 2, 2010
Cape Cod, MA. "Modern Cape Cod house earns both ENERGY
STAR and LEED Gold certification for green features including
solar electric, a green roof, and the use of
sustainable materials...The house includes a wide variety of
green features including solar electric, solar hot water, a
living green roof, low flow fixtures and toilets,
local and rapidly renewable materials, stormwater management,
and a whole house ventilation and allergen filtration system..."
Green industrial roofing
PlantServices.com, by Robert C. Lichy
February 2, 2010
US. "Evolution is yielding effective
technology...Manufacturing plants located in urban or suburban
areas frequently are guilty of contributing to what has been
termed the Urban Heat Island effect because of large, black
parking lots and dark roofs. While a white roof might reduce the
negative effect, a green roof might actually
mitigate the heat island. Green roofs not only
cool and humidify the ambient air, they filter out dust and smog
particles. Plants absorb aerosol contaminants in the ambient
air, leaving the air safer for all of us..."
Israel's 'Living Building' In Jerusalem Grows With the Seasons
Green Prophet Blog, by Maurice Picow
February 2, 2010
Israel. “While many countries are taking pride in their
sustainable of 'green' building technologies, and LEED
certification as we learn from Qatar, Israel may have gotten the
upper hand by unveiling what it refers to as a 'living
building.'...The roof is a 'living roof,' and not
a 'green roof.' What is a green roof?
It is a roof of plants that require watering. A living
roof is comprised of native Middle Eastern flora which
bloom according to the seasons and do not require any
watering..."
Exploring the potential of the ground above our heads
BU Today, by Leslie Friday
February 1, 2010
Boston, MA. "Opportunity is in the eye of the beholder.
Flying low over Boston University, some might see a congested
Commonwealth Avenue bordered by a multitude of buildings and
parking lots. Others might see acre upon acre of available
space, where gardens could grow, energy could be produced, and
scientific theories could be put to the test...With partial
funding from Phillips’ carbon emissions project, they plan to
build boxlike surfaces covered in each of the three 'green
roof' options, and place them on the CAS roof...."
Counting bugs on the California Academy of Sciences' living roof
SF State Campus Headlines, by Elaine Bible
January 29, 2010
San Francisco, CA. "The California Academy of Sciences'
living rooftop is teeming with insects. Since it
opened in 2008, biology graduate student Jessica Van Den Berg
has sampled the wildlife in this unusual habitat, counting tiny
pygmy grasshoppers, honeybees and spiders. One find surprised
her: an iridescent ground beetle never before seen in San
Francisco..."
D.C. Greenworks names new leader
Washington Business Journal, by Vandana Sinha
January 29, 2010
DC. "DC Greenworks, a nonprofit that promotes and
installs green roofs, has named a new chief from
the Bethesda business community. Peter Ensign, a longtime
architect and former vice president of community development for
the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce, will
replace Sara Loveland as executive director of the D.C.
nonprofit. Ensign will take the helm of a group where a key
project has been managing the D.C. Department of the
Environment’s green roof subsidy program, which
has grown in the last few years to $5 per square foot and up to
$20,000 per project..."
White House debuts energy-saving plans for US government
USA Today, by Staff
January 29, 2010
US. "The U.S. government, which has held recycling
competitions, is expanding its eco-efforts. Today, the White
House plans to announce that the federal government, the
nation's largest energy consumer, will reduce its greenhouse gas
emissions by 28% over the next decade...The U.S. Postal Service
has built the largest green roof in New York City
on a seven-story mail-processing building..."
Transbay Terminal project gets stimulus funds
San Francisco Chronicle, by John Coté and Michael Cabanatuan
January 29, 2010
San Francisco, CA. "The final funding piece appears to be
in place for a new Transbay Terminal in San Francisco after U.S.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Thursday the project
will get $400 million in federal stimulus funds...Coming on the
heels of a $171 million federal loan announced this week, local
officials said the stimulus grant was the last piece of
financing necessary to begin demolition and then construction of
a terminal for high-speed and commuter rail, along with regional
buses, all under one landscaped roof..." Also read
SF’s Green Transbay Terminal Secures $171 Million for
Construction, by Ariel Schwartz of Inhabitat.com.
How to Bring Green into Your School
GREENandSAVE, by Kelly Neylan
January 28, 2010
US. "Many of us are interested in leaving the planet a
little better for our children. Our children spend so much time
in their learning environments that the school is a great place
to continue your greening efforts...Looking for an interesting
or green lesson for your classroom? You may be interested in the
green roof education guide for teachers and middle-school
students. Check out interactive guide, teacher’s resource and
lesson plan on green roofs..."
OGS to spend $1 million to 'green' state office roof
WRGB, by Chris White
January 28, 2010
Albany, NY. "It's one of the first ‘green’ roofs
for a state building in New York. The Office of General Services
announced today results of a bidding process to build a
vegetated roof system at the Holland Avenue Office
Building in Albany. The lowest bidder, of the ten applications,
was Titan Roofing, Inc. of Chicopee, MA, with $1,082,900..."
The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport Opens in Time for
Winter Games
Earthtimes, Press Release
January 28, 2010
Vancouver, Canada. "Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide,
Inc. announces the opening of The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver
Airport, a sophisticated, new-build hotel in Richmond, B.C...The
hotel incorporates green elements into the design and function.
A focus of the design is a “Living Wall” that
incorporates 360 living panels consisting of more than 9,000
native plants, which assist in irrigation. The hotel also has a
Green Roof system with a large landscaped area
consisting of drought tolerant sedum and ornamental grass with
long curved arches to emulate the flight paths and movements of
planes from the nearby airport..."
Massive 131 Acre Green Roof Planned for Seoul
Inhabitat Blog, by Mike Chino
January 28, 2010
South Korea. "The architects behind South Korea’s new eco
dome have hatched another stunning project that plants a 131
acre green roof in the heart of Seoul. Designed by
Samoo Architects & Engineers, the plan renovates the run-down
Garak Wholesale Market with an eco-upgrade topped with a
sprawling public garden..."
Apply for a Green Award in Boston
Allston-Brighton TAB, by Staff
January 28, 2010
Boston, MA. "Nominations are now open for the
Mayor’s 2010 Green Awards, which recognize local
sustainability and environmental awareness leaders in three
different categories – Green Business Awards, Green Residential
Awards, and Bike Friendly Business Awards. Constructing offices
with recycled plastic bottles, providing a fleet of bicycles for
commuting employees, and creating rooftop gardens
are just some of the innovative approaches that businesses are
taking to green Boston..."
Integrated Biofilter System for Wastewater Treatments
ibridgeNetwork, by Bradley Swope
January 27, 2010
Pennsylvania, PA. "The disclosed invention is an
integrated biofilter constructed of inexpensive and locally
available materials to decontaminate both gray and black
wastewater, allowing these waters to be reused. The system
combines a subsurface flow wetland, a living wall,
living columns, and a green roof to create a
complex of micro habitats for diverse bacteria and plant
communities..."
Toronto launches green initiatives designed to build a more
sustainable city
Canadian Architect, by Staff
January 27, 2010
Toronto, Canada. "On January 31, 2010, the City of
Toronto will introduce two initiatives designed to "green"
Toronto's new building stock: the Toronto Green Standard and
Green Roof Bylaw...Toronto's Green Roof Bylaw, the
first bylaw in North America to require and govern the
construction of green roofs on new developments.
The bylaw will apply to permit applications for residential,
commercial and institutional developments, while industrial
buildings have until January 31, 2011 to include provisions for
a green roof in new construction..."
Jerusalem Bird Observatory opens visitors center
Jerusalem Dispatch, by Dan Slobodkin
January 27, 2010
Jerusalem. "...Located on the Knesset grounds between the
Knesset building and the High Court, the observatory, with its
“living” roof, is the world's only birdwatching
spot situated at a parliament...The rooftop features more than
700 bulbs and plants native to Israel, making it an attractive
spot for a variety of species..."
Ross School Achieves Silver-Rating LEED Certification
Stephen M. Ross School of Business, by Bernie DeGroat
January 26, 2010
Ann Arbor, MI. "School earns high marks for use of
recycled building materials, green roofs, energy
performance, water efficiency and more. The Ross School of
Business is among the best in the world for research and
education on sustainable enterprise, so it should come as no
surprise that the school's new building is now officially
LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, a Washington
D.C.-based, nonprofit coalition of building industry leaders..."
Make-designed sustainable footballer's house goes for planning
Building Design, by Ruth Bloomfield
January 26, 2010
UK. "Make Architects has designed this ultra-sustainable
home for England and Manchester United footballer Gary Neville.
Plans for the house, which have taken three years to perfect,
have now been submitted to Bolton Council...A wind turbine will
provide power for the property itself and a neighbouring house,
while covering much of the house in a green roof
of meadow grasses and wildflowers will reduce energy usage..."
Instead of Building New Green Places, Green the Ones We Have
Opposing Views, by Kaid Benfield
January 26, 2010
DC. "...Speaking of green roofs, you are
unlikely to encounter any greener than the one I recently had
the pleasure of touring, on top of the
DC headquarters of the American Society of Landscape Architects
and pictured just above. The fact sheet on the roof, intended as
a demonstration project, says that the design includes two
elevated 'waves' that create a pleasant foliage-enclosed space
and block the unsightly view of the rooftop HVAC systems..."
AgeSong Bayside Park Brings Holistic Elder Care to Emeryville
Business Wire, Press Release
January 25, 2010
Emeryville, CA. "...The five-story 116,366 square-foot
residential complex offers independent and assisted-living
apartments for senior adults in a vibrant and healing
environment that reflects AgeSong’s holistic approach to
care...A 'green' roof is planted with native
vegetation that filters out particulates from rainwater runoff
prior to entering the storm drainage system..."
Urban Development And Ecosystem Go Hand In Hand
Bru Direct, by Edwin Eng
January 25, 2010
Brunei. "The Development Master Plan for Brunei
Darnssalam's capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is being prepared by
an international group of planning, environmental, economic and
infrastructure consultants...Among the suggestions highlighted
in the press release included using permeable materials for
paving driveways and parking areas, creating 'Green Roofs'
on new buildings that can absorb rainwater and slow down run-off
water, creating open areas around the site with vegetation that
can effectively retain and slow down water flows..."
Builders say nature cannot be ignored
Inquirer.net, by Tessa Salazar
January 22, 2010
Philippines. "Take nature into consideration, and the
rewards will be plenty. Ignore nature, and the consequences are
certain to be dire. The country’s top builders say they have
always built on this principle...cites Celadon Park and Senta,
which also have green roofs; Treveia, as part of
Nuvali, has sustainable features further enhanced. She cites
bioswales, a retention pond which serves both as a feature and
sustainability element..."
Network Rail national centre given green light
MK News, by Staff
January 22, 2010
UK. "Network Rail has been given the go-ahead to build a
new national centre in Milton Keynes...The design for the new
building includes eco-friendly features including 'living
roofs', which will encourage diverse habitats for flora
and fauna in the centre of the city, and a rainwater harvesting
system which will be used to flush toilets and irrigate
landscaping..."
Green rooftop project brightens roof at SIUE
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, by Staff
January 22, 2010
Belleville, IL. "Belleville-based Taylor Roofing Inc.
recently installed a "green roof terrace" at Rendleman Hall at
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville...The terrace garden
project includes a roof garden drainage system,
root barrier, protection fabric, aluminum roof garden edging and
aluminum drain boxes. The benefits include improved stormwater
run-off management, year-round energy efficiency and reduced
rooftop noise infiltration."
An In-Depth Look at the Hospital of the Future
Fast Company, by Kate Rockwood
January 21, 2010
US. "The hospital of the future is designed not just to
heal the sick but also to help sustain the environment.
Hospitals have a brutal effect on the earth. They consume twice
as much energy as typical office buildings and operate
24/7...Every hospital needs an oasis, but it's not just an aid
to patients and visitors. A rooftop garden also
helps regulate building temperature, providing an extra layer of
insulation while absorbing rainwater to reduce the strain on
overtaxed sewers..."
US homeless get green shelters and eco-friendly Detroit gym
USA Today, by Staff
January 20, 2010
Detroit, MI. "Not everyone gets to live in a green home,
but an increasing number of the U.S. homeless do -- temporarily,
at least, in shelters. Today in Detroit, the homeless can even
start working out in a green gym...This shelter has a
green roof, water-saving dual-flush toilets, 100 solar
panels, an interior courtyard with birch trees and a greenhouse
where residents can grow food..."
LA's Central Avenue gets its own City Hall
Los Angeles Times, by Scott Gold
January 19, 2010
Los Angeles, CA. "There are ice plants and clusters of
aloe on the roof, with views of the Hollywood sign in one
direction and the San Gabriel Mountains in another...The
one-acre complex, including a 1500-square-foot community center
and an adjoining, 7500-square-foot city services center -- and
the first 'green' roof on a municipal building in
L.A..."
Perth CBD now good enough to eat
G-Online, by Jessica Stone
January 19, 2010
Perth, Australia. "Perth residents have welcomed a new,
sustainably-designed addition to their inner CBD, with the
opening of the unique 'Greenhouse' bar...The exterior walls host
4,000 pots planted with cascading strawberries, and the
rooftop garden grows many many of the herbs, fruit and
vegetables that the European-style bar uses in its menu..."
Crowning glory
Malaysia Star, by Staff
January 19, 2010
Tokyo, Japan. "Standing on one of the streets of Tokyo,
visitors will be amazed by the soaring gleaming skyscrapers. But
if you were airborne, you will get a completely different view –
many of these high-rises are topped with plots of soothing
greenery. Tokyo has been sprouting green roofs,
alongside green walls, since the launch of its
10-year project for Green Tokyo in 2006..."
Storm over storm-water rules
Baltimore Sun Blog, by Tim Wheeler
January 18, 2010
Baltimore, MD. "New regulations intended to reduce
polluted storm-water runoff in Maryland have sparked a backlash
among developers and local officials, who contend the rules
undermine the state's Smart Growth policy by making it too
expensive to redevelop urban and older suburban areas...The new
rules discourage the now-common practice of collecting storm
runoff in ponds or underground tanks, in favor of letting the
rain soak into soil, whether on open ground or green roofs,
like the one shown above on a new elementary school in St.
Mary's County..."
Giant trellises will be grown on 18-story federal office
building in Portland
Los Angeles Times, by Tim Fought
January 16, 2010
Portland, OR. "They haven't figured out yet how to get
the pruning done, but architects and federal officials plan one
of the world's most extensive vertical gardens in
downtown Portland — what amounts to a series of 250-foot-tall
trellises designed to shade the west side of an 18-story office
building...More recently, green roofs have become
established as a way of providing insulation and controlling
stormwater runoff, among other benefits, and green walls
have begun to emerge as not only pleasing to the eye but also
part of highly efficient buildings..."
Roof gardens to have their time in the sun
Sydney Morning Herald, by Peter Ker
January 16, 2010
Australia. "...Dubbed the ''urban heat island'' effect,
the phenomenon is prompting action from experts around Melbourne
and the world - and much of the focus has turned to the tops of
our tallest buildings...Williams says both white and green
roofs shield buildings from solar radiation, but that
the vegetation on a green roof can also cool the
environment by evaporating water out of leaves...Green
roofs are operating on a number of levels, they have
storm water benefits which white roofs don't have..."
Green Walls Grow
GOOD.is blog, by Andrew Price
January 15, 2010
US. "If green roofs are too horizontal for
you, consider green walls...Green
Living Technologies LLC, of Rochester, N.Y., designed
the wall at PNC. Chief Executive
George Irwin said the company also has installed walls in
New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle...Green
walls have all the aforementioned environmental benefits
of green roofs. But, as the PNC example
highlights, for businesses they also have another very important
advantage over green roofs: You can easily
advertise that you have one."
California adopts first statewide green building code
Christian Science Monitor, by Daniel B. Wood
January 15, 2010
Los Angeles, CA. "...The California Building Standards
Commission voted unanimously this week to approve the first
statewide green building code. Taking effect
January 2011, the nation's first mandatory green building code –
dubbed “CalGreen” – lays out specific constraints for newly
constructed buildings...Some environmental groups including the
Sierra Club and the National Resources Defense Council were
critical of the two-tier “Calgreen" voluntary rating system
suggested by the new code. That would clash with the "LEED"
rating system, a voluntary green building label widely used
nationwide, and cause confusion among builders..."
From tar to tendrils
Chattanooga Times Free Press, by Tamara Best
January 15, 2010
Chattanooga, TN. "Roofs across Chattanooga continue to
receive 'green' makeovers with the number of green roofs
increasing. Now the Pioneer building, home to CapitalMark Bank &
Trust, has joined the list...The Pioneer project, funded by
greenspaces, used
LiveRoof, an already vegetated
system, which constructs its sedum trays from recycled plastic.
Sedum, a form of succulent vegetation, is often used for
green roofs..."
The green home which could save the planet
Portsmouth News, by Jeff Travis
January 14, 2010
Portsmouth, UK. "There's grass growing on the roof rather
than the garden - and it doesn't even need mowing...Solar panels
provide the hot water and the grass roof keeps the
building cool in the summer and maintains a constant heat in the
winter...The bungalows are among 125 eco-friendly homes to be
built across the Chichester area - many with grass roofs..."
From an idea to the tangible, green roofing gains momentum in
Somerville
Somerville News, by James Reddick
January 14, 2010
Somerville, MD. "...In what is largely a concrete jungle,
Somerville's residents, environmentalists and community leaders
are contemplating transforming its roofs into budding
ecosystems. The green roofs momentum has gone from
the initial, trial phase - marked by the St. Polycarp Village
roof installed this part summer - to a more comprehensive
discussion regarding policy..."
Green building gets LEED gold status
Central Florida Future, by Megan VanWaus
January 13, 2010
Orlando, FL. "UCF stayed true to its colors by earning
LEED gold status certification for the recently constructed
Physical Sciences I building...'This has been years of effort
lobbying with administration to get the LEED certification
going,' said Castro, who is also the president and co-founder of
Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions, a
student organization promoting environmental sustainability.
'This building has the first green roof to be
approved by the state at UCF..."
IDev Technologies opens Webster facility
Bizjournals.com, by Staff
January 13, 2010
Houston, TX. "IDev Technologies Inc. has opened the doors
to its new manufacturing facility in Webster....It has already
earned certification as a Gold Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design building, and features the largest “living
roof” in Texas. A living roof is roof of a
building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation
and soil."
The LEED Leaders
Data Center Knowledge, by Rich Miller
January 12, 2010
Frankfurt, Germany. "The Citi Data Center in Frankfurt
features a "green wall" featuring plants that are
irrigated with recycled water. This week Digital Realty Trust
confirmed that it is the first company to have two data centers
earn Platinum status, the highest rating possible under the LEED
( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program for
energy efficient buildings overseen by the US Green Building
Council..."
Expo roof gardens of China Pavilion
CCTV, by Staff
January 12, 2010
China. "Visitors to the Shanghai Expo can enjoy
roof gardens at the China Pavilion this May. The concept
comes from the Jiuzhou Scenic Area of Yuanmingyuan, or the Old
Summer Palace. The Scenic Area from the Qing Dynasty is believed
to be the concentration of half the culture of the dynasty.
Around the China pavilion, are provincial pavilions. They
represent the essential core cultures of each province. Now the
roofs will be equally marvelous. Roof gardens of
over 30 thousand square meters have been designed here. [Watch
a Video]"
'Good to Go' Centers Benefit from Tax Credits, Grants
PR Web, Press Release
January 12, 2010
Milwaukee, WI. "...More than 150 ‘Good to Go’
ECOnvenience Centers are targeted for future development; all
built to United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
standards...Infrastructure credits for construction established
by the USGBC for LEED certification include panelized
construction with Green Roof control of water
runoff, 100 percent LED energy-efficient lighting, use of
pervious concrete and rain garden installations minimizing storm
water runoff and recharging ground water at each Center site..."
Republicans are ready to say 'yes' in 2010
Pottstown Mercury, by Rep. Joe Pitts
January 12, 2010
Philadelphia, PA. "...individuals and companies across
the country are working to increase the energy efficiency of
their homes and offices. You may have read in the local paper
about companies installing new "green" roofs. A
green roof can be a big investment, but it pays off
over time. I'm one of the original sponsors of a bipartisan bill
that gives a tax break to businesses that install a green
roof, the
Green Roofing Efficiency Tax Act, H.R. 426. We have the
support of 31 Democrats and Republicans, and I hope that this
year we will see this bill signed into law..."
Tacoma Goodwill's garden wall is a new city icon
Seattle Times, by Valerie Easton
January 11, 2010
Tacoma, WA. "A new vertical garden at the
Goodwill-Milgard Work Opportunity Center in Tacoma features
about 100 different varieties of plants installed between layers
of felt and nourished by water. The garden wall, which measures
20 by 40 feet, is "a new iconic image" for the city, says
Matthew Erlich of Tacoma Goodwill..."
2010 Green Toronto Awards
HazMat Management Magazine, by Staff
January 11, 2010
Toronto, Canada. "Who’s the greenest of them all in
Toronto? Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 Green
Toronto Awards, the City of Toronto’s environmental awards of
excellence. The City of Toronto, in partnership with Green
Living, invites residents to nominate local individuals,
companies and organization is leading the way to a greener
Toronto...A winner in each of nine categories will receive an
award and $5,000 to donate to a registered charity of their
choice:...Green Roof — leadership in green
roof and living wall projects..."
Hulsey Center green roof gets results, draws attention
UAB News, by Staff
January 11, 2010
Montgomery, AL. "...UAB Facilities energy management
department was building UAB’s first green roof
atop the Hulsey Center Building, and the plants were being sent
here. Hurley contacted Energy Manager Matt Winslett to schedule
a time to visit and see the roof for herself. Now, ADEM is
interested in learning more about the green roof’s
benefits — and in promoting it throughout the state...Hurley and
ADEM are interested in learning more about the benefits of the
green roof to curb the amount of pollutants that
reach the storm sewer and ultimately flow to rivers, streams and
lakes..."
New biodiverse green roof will help fight climate change
Greenwise Business, by Staff
January 11, 2010
UK. "One of the UK’s leading turf specialists is
launching a new green mat for urban rooftops that will help UK
cities adapt to climate change and improve their biodiversity.
Lindum is launching the pre-grown vegetative mat as an
alternative to pure sedum blankets...Green roofs
that include wildflowers in the mix attract a wider range of
wildlife than pure sedum mixtures and offer high visual appeal
over a long season...Lindum is set to launch its ‘Biodiverse
Green Roof Mat’ at
Ecobuild 2010, which takes place at London’s Earls Court
from March 2 to 4."
Capital's rooftops to go green under GAM initiative
Jordan Times, by Staff
January 11, 2010
Amman, Jordan. "Thousand of rooftops in Amman will be
planted under a three-year programme designed to increase the
green cover and beautify the capital...The project, implemented
by the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and financed by the
World Bank, is already under way, with the initial phase having
seen the planting of gardens on rooftops around
the Citadel in the heart of the capital..."
2009 AIA Greenville Design Awards Recipients
AIA Greenville, by Staff
January 10, 2010
Greenville, SC. "Every other year, the Greenville section
of the American Institute of Architects recognizes a diverse
group of building projects for excellence in architectural
design during their Biennial Design Awards Program...Merit
Award: DesignStrategies, LLC, Patewood Memorial Hospital,
Greenville, South Carolina. The Architect designed the facility
as a two story diagnostic and treatment building with a
“green” roof, and a four level patient room tower..."
KU awarded stimulus funds for engineering
Lawrence Journal World, by Mark Fagan
January 9, 2010
Lawrence, KS. "...the project would receive $12.3 million
and be completed by spring 2012. KU will be responsible for
coming up with $6.5 million...The building itself will
incorporate sustainable features, including reflected sunlight
for illumination, solar shades for temperature control and a
“green” roof to capture carbon and provide
insulation. The federal money is part of the more than $123
million in awards to 11 public universities and nonprofit
research organizations announced Friday by the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, which is part of the U.S.
Department of Commerce."
Coast Guard HQ at St. Elizabeths gets full speed ahead
FederalNewsRadio.com, by Max Cacas
January 8, 2010
DC. "...the design itself is extraordinary, it's
mind-blowing in terms of how progressive it is, how eco-friendly
it is, the acres on acres of green roofs, and
other environmentally friendly features...The commission also
approved plans for a large car parking garage adjacent to the
Coast Guard complex, which is also being built with a
"green" roof and special architectural landscaping to
minimize the impact of such a large structure on the site..."
RDH Architects aims to elevate design of utilitarian municipal
building
Daily Commercial News, by Patricia Williams
January 8, 2010
Newmarket, Canada. "...A landscaped extension of the
building's green roof provides an additional
visual barrier creating the illusion, when viewed from the
north, of two distinct structures...LEED Silver is being
targeted. Green strategies include a geothermal heating and
cooling system, solar hot-water heating, stormwater collection
for irrigation in addition to the green roof, day
lighting and natural ventilation..."
St. Paul's newest fire station has red doors and a sheen of
green
Minneapolis Star Tribune, by Anthony Lonetree
January 7, 2010
St. Paul, MN. "...The combined fire station and
headquarters facility was designed to include energy-efficient
features throughout, including a green roof that
will be open to West End community use...But it is the
green roof that will be the 'big environmental feature,'
said Anne Hunt, environmental policy director for Mayor Chris
Coleman..."
Penn State exhibit at state Farm Show dripping with information
Penn State Live, by Staff
January 7, 2010
Harrisburg, PA. "The many faces of Penn State's College
of Agricultural Sciences will be evident at the
2010 Pennsylvania Farm
Show...Penn State is at the forefront of greenroof
research and implementation, with green roofs on a
number of campus buildings. Researchers in the college have been
studying green roofs for more than a decade...Penn
State was the first institution to offer a class in which
students design and construct green roofs and
living walls on real structures..."
Build your own eco-shed
Telegraph.co.uk, by Jean Vernon
January 7, 2010
UK. "Jean Vernon explains how to make your own green
garden building with minimal outlay...Normal sheds are not
strong enough to support a green roof. They need
strengthening or altering to take the weight. A sedum roof
is extremely heavy and if the roof shifts over time it can even
break the glass in the windows. One solution is to place the
shed under a separate green roof canopy..."
Nutter's Next Great City is being built
It's Our City Blog, by Christine Knapp
January 6, 2010
Philadelphia, PA. "In April 2009, Philadelphia Mayor
Michael Nutter released a plan called Greenworks. It is his
administration’s vision of how to make Philadelphia the greenest
city in the nation...The Philadelphia Water Department continues
to be one of the best, and most forwarding thinking in the
country. First, storm water fees from commercial properties will
now incentivize best practices like green roofs or
porous pavement..."
Living Walls May Be the Ultimate Raised-Bed Garden
New York Times, by Dean Fosdick
January 6, 2010
US. "Things are looking up for gardeners who are short on
space but long on imagination. It's increasingly easy to build
vertical gardens, structures that enable plants to grow upward
if there is no room for growing them laterally....'Holding water
on a flat roof isn't difficult, but turning it 90 degrees on a
wall is tremendously tricky,' said
Edmund Snodgrass of Street, Md., an author and operator of a
nursery dedicated to producing green roof
plants..."
Green roofs are the way to go
Pocono Record, by Gilman Ouellette
January 6, 2010
US. "The green movement today is as controversial as
ever. Its proponents urge change, citing the ethical
implications of our lifestyles, while their opponents cite a
lack of financial viability in 'going green.' But
by taking the movement off the ground — literally — we can find
options to satisfy both groups...The nascent technology of 'green
roofs' offers the perfect means of reusing the developed
space in the area..."
AMCOL International Headquarters Awarded Silver Certification by
the US Green Building Council
CNNMoney.com, Press Release
January 6, 2010
Hoffman Estates, IL. "MCOL International Corporation
(NYSE: ACO) today announced the U.S. Green Building Council
(USGBC) has awarded their new headquarters building, located in
Hoffman Estates, Illinois, the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED®) NC Silver certification...The
exterior of the building includes a native landscape design,
using bioswales and rain gardens to provide natural filtration
and treatment of rainwater. The two native planted green
roofs showcase
CETCO GreenScapes® components, which are part of AMCOL's
environmental segment and do not require any irrigation..."
Funding Approved For Catoctin Creek Nature Center
Your4State.com, by Jackie Cutler
January 5, 2010
Frederick, MD. "The Frederick County Catoctin Creek
Nature Center hacs been given the green light. On Monday,
Senator Ben Cardin announced that 2.7 million dollars in
stimulus funding would go towards the project. The Nature Center
would help preserve the Catoctin Creek watershed and would help
educate visitors. The center will house the first green
roof to be built in the county..."
Physalia – A positive energy amphibious garden to clean European
waterways
Ecofriend, by Staff
January 5, 2010
Europe. "...The zero carbon emission architecture is
designed to harvest renewable energy to make the prototype a
positive energy one, where it can generate more energy that it
consumes...is crossed in its double hull by a hydraulic network
that enables to filter the fluvial water and to purify it
biologically by the systems planted roof..."
Living roofs rise in popularity
Marketplace, by Kevin Maki
January 4, 2010
Missoula, MT. "Green can be found everywhere these days,
even on rooftops. Some farmers are responding and moving their
crops skyward...Lengacher contracted with a company called
XeroFlor to sell his
living roof. Over the past eight years, the company has
put up nearly 50 of them across the country..."
Going Green: Energy Efficiency through Lighting and More - an
Industrial Example to the Home Market
HiddenWires, by Stephen Calder
January 4, 2010
Belgium. "...In order to reduce the company's carbon
footprint, significant investment was made in solar energy
production and rainwater harvesting, using the latest
grass roofing technology...a grass roof
has been planted outside the top-storey meeting rooms and
hospitality areas. This not only provides a pleasant view, by
using a system of filters and reservoirs it provides efficient
temperature control of the building..."
Brand new in Boston
Boston Herald, by Paul Restuccia
January 4, 2010
Boston, MA. "Boston architecture broke out of its
conservatism in the past decade with many outstanding and
innovative buildings that have garnered national attention...Its
stepped-back pyramid form and layered landscaped roof
has inset decks for great views and its sustainable materials,
such as zebra wood, made for distinctive interiors..."
Local food for sustainable communities
ScienceAlert, by Rachel Sullivan
January 4, 2010
Australia. "Bringing food production much closer to home
makes sense. As our population becomes more urbanised, the
environmental and financial impacts of transporting produce to
our suburbs have risen...But can food forests, green roofs,
backyard veggie patches and community gardens realistically feed
the tens of millions predicted to live in the cities of the near
future?...Rooftop gardens are appearing in Japan
and the USA, notably Chicago and New York..."
Green house takes on a whole new meaning in eco-friendly
projects
Canada.com, by Marianne White
January 2, 2010
Quebec, Canada. "The $300-million, 800-housing units
green neighborhood, located close to the downtown in Quebec
City, will feature a thermal heating system using wood waste,
green roofs, solar panels, stormwater recuperation
and sustainable design...In addition, a basin will capture and
recycle stormwater to irrigate green spaces and there will be
green roofs, solar panels and LED street lamps..."
Improving Health through Community Design
Williams Lake Tribune, by Laine Kuyer
January 1, 2010
BC, Canada. "...It is becoming more widely recognized
that aspects of the “built environment” – that is, the places
and spaces created or modified by people, including buildings,
parks and transportation systems — impact our food choices every
day...Land use planning can help establish new grocery stores
and farmers’ markets and can help integrate agriculture into our
built environment in the form of community and school gardens or
rooftop gardens in underserved areas..."
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