Voting Closed for “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!” Earth Day Photo Contest

Wow, Greenroofs.com received 30 entries from around the world in our first greenroof contest ever – the “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!” Earth Day Photo Contest – and the enthusiasm has been enormous!  We wanted a way to honor Earth Day and hear what you, in our greenroof world, have done to lessen our footprint, so I came up with this idea to highlight your efforts.

Voting and submissions are now closed.  Thanks to everyone who submitted a project – each beautiful, unique and special in their own way.  And let’s admit it – any roof that has been greened is a huge step up from the traditional conventional roof – hot, barren, and certainly unproductive (OK, unless you have solar or a reflective roof)!

We’ll announce the winner on Friday, April 30, the last day of Earth Month.  And we’ll soon get to learn all about the winning roof from the person who submitted it – we already know the What (a greenroof!), but how about the Who, Where, When and Why of the project?  Stay tuned!

Check out the entries here and look for our announcement on Friday.

Happy greening,

~ Linda V.

Enter the “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!” Earth Day Photo Contest

Some of you may recall back a couple of years ago that Greenroofs.com was a semi-finalist in a competition from The Green on the Sundance Channel called “What’s the Big Idea?” Contest with our 60-second video “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!”  While we didn’t win, the tag line stuck with me – simple and direct.  April 22, 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and we are excited to honor Earth Day, really the entire Earth Month of April, with our first photo contest ever!

The “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!” Photo Contest is designed to be quick, simple, and fun.  Any and all types of greenroofs are eligible, any place on Earth.  Send us* your favorite shot of that special greenroof which graphically epitomizes its relationship to our planet – how it is a living example of loving the Earth.  We’ll be keeping everyone updated on Greenroofs.com with a special page for all the contest photos, and on Twitter.

Tell us how it is a living example in 285 characters or less for the write up on the Love the Earth, Plant a Roof! Voting Page next to your thumbnail photo to let people why they should vote for this particular project and you.  Include a photo source/credit, not part of the 285 count.

For the Greenroofs.com tweet, pare it down to the meat and bones in 120 characters for all to see (we need 20 characters for the link to your photo – so people can click and vote immediately!). Don’t follow us on Twitter yet?  Do so here.

Here’s an example for inspiration – this precious child is my own grandson, Nicky, at The Greenroof Pavilion and Trial Gardens of Rock Mill Park here in Alpharetta, Georgia, USA:

Example tweet @ 120 characters:

Vote Rock Mill Park! The design honors the land & Cherokee heritage with hands-on models & signage for young and old.

The contest is open to everyone, not just the roof owner or the designers of record.  And voting is open to everyone, too, as many times as you like, so tell your friends to vote for your submission!

Entries will be accepted today and voting will be open to everyone until Wednesday, April 28 at 5:00 p.m. EST – but, of course, you’ll increase your chances of receiving the most votes by entering early!  Enter now and rally your forces – don’t delay.

Vote as often as you wish by clicking on your selected photo.  Include your real name and contact info or it will be discarded.

The winner will be announced on the last day of Earth Month, Friday, April 30, 2010, in our Top 10 List for the “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!” Photo Contest.  The winner will have “their” project highlighted on Greenroofs.com as an upcoming Greenroof Project of the Week and we’ll feature you in a Sky Gardens interview so you can really tell us more about this living roof and why you love it so much.

And, as a humble token of our esteem, the winner will also receive your choice of a $100 gift card to either The Home Depot or Lowe’s for your spring projects or just a good old fashioned check!

Some requirements:

  • ~ You can enter as often as you wish, but only one photo per project for the Contest (send more photos and project description for the blog post if you win, but send the contest photo clearly identified as such).
  • ~ It has to be a real project, no Photoshopping!
  • ~ Didn’t take the photo yourself?  Make sure you credit the source and check for any copyright issues – we’re not liable!
  • ~ Don’t break any laws or bones while taking the photos!
  • ~ Minimum size: 491 x 367
  • ~ And, obviously, by submitting the photo you agree to its being published.

* Include your real name and contact information; a 120-character including spaces description for the tweet starting with “Vote (Name of Project)!…”; a 285-character including spaces (or less) description for the write up including Name of Project, City, State, and/or Country; any additional photos in case you win, but that can come later.

Submit away and good luck – start telling your friends now!  Vote for your favorite here on the Love the Earth, Plant a Roof! Voting Page.

Happy Greening for the Earth, ~ Linda V.

Vote Now in the Greenroofs.com “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall” 2016 Photo Contest!

 “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Photo Contest

Happy Earth Day!

As of noon eastern time zone, voting is now open in our “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Earth Month Photo Contest for 2016! #lovetheearthcontest

We have a total of 8 entries, so for those of you who submitted, start telling people to vote for you/your project!

Remember, one vote per entry on Facebook.  Share it on social media with #lovetheearthcontest on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!  Voting will continue through the end of April, Earth Month, at 11:59 pm eastern time zone.

Here are the entries, 6 greenroofs and 2 greenwalls, from when they were entered, starting with the earliest:

Vote Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall Contest

Residential Greenwall, Canada.

 

Vote Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall Contest

Aleutian Spray Fisheries, Seattle, Washington, USA.

 

Vote Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall Contest

Courtyard Marriott, Washington DC/Foggy Bottom, USA.

 

Vote Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall Contest

Living Roofs, Otternes, Norway.

 

Vote Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall Contest

Multnomah Building Green Roof, Portland, Oregon, USA.

 

Vote Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall Contest

Bristol-Myers Squibb, Devens, Massachusetts, USA.

 

Vote Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall Contest

Federal Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

 

Vote Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall Contest

Pinkberry Greenwalls, Alpharetta, Georgia, USA.

“Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Photo ContestAll of them are beautiful and special in their own way and deserve to be highlighted!

Visit our special “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Earth Month Photo Contest for 2016 page on Facebook to read a little more about each project and to vote.

Decided purely by the most number of votes on Facebook,
the winner will be announced on May 1, 2016 and receive a whopping $100 Amazon.com Gift Card – just a small token of our esteem – but you’ll get some publicity, too!

The mission of the “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Earth Month Photo Contest is to create interest in all kinds, styles, and sizes of beautiful living architecture and highlight some outstanding designs.  It’s designed to be quick and simple, and is basically a popularity contest among our international readership, so promote, promote, promote.

Visit our Facebook page to see who’s winning!  Not your favorite?  Get others to vote for yours! Use #lovetheearthcontest on social media.

Click here to see the Official Rules.

Although it’s not necessary to see the photos or vote, if you’re not already a fan of Greenroofs.com, we invite you to Like Us and stay connected.

Learn what Earth Day Network has been doing across the world to encourage action and celebrate Earth Day 2016:

Vote Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall Contest

 

Once again, Happy Earth Day, and thank you to the millions of you out there who honor our planet every day with your sustainable actions, policies, projects, and ideals!

Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall,

~ Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA, LEEP AP, GRP
Greenroofs.com Publisher

Celebrate Earth Month with Greenroofs.com! Enter the “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall” 2016 Photo Contest

April is Earth Month, a 30-day emphasis on our planet, sustainability, and how we can make the world a better place, and April 22 is the 46th year we celebrate Earth Day.  Earth Day Network is the global organizer behind Earth Day and creates tools and resources for you to get involved with Earth Day in your community, and there are tons of activities planned across the world.

“Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Photo Contest

Read “10 Tips to Celebrate Earth Month!” from the Ian Somerhalder Foundation. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net via ISF.

April is also World Landscape Architecture Month, an international celebration of landscape architecture, and my own background.  Join us as we showcase environmental design and fight environmental apathy by highlighting some fantastic, endearing, earth-healing landscapes on roofs and walls.

Celebrate Greenroofs & Walls with our Earth Month Photo Contest

In celebration, once again Greenroofs.com is happy to announce our “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Earth Month Photo Contest for 2016#lovetheearthcontest

 “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Photo Contest

Although we started this feature annually in 2010, we switched to featuring it biennially in off years of our biennial Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit: Connecting the Planet + Living Architecture due to time overlapping, and we hope you join in.

The Essentials:

Submit your favorite picture on our special Facebook Contest tab of a beautiful greenroof or greenwall project by noon Eastern Time on Earth Day, April 22 – one entry per email.

Enter a caption for your photo including its name and location – tell us how it is a living example of loving the Earth and worthy of being an example of forward-thinking sustainable design.

Tell people to vote for you/yours – one vote per person.  Share it on social media with #lovetheearthcontest on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Start voting for your favorite on Facebook at 12:01 pm Earth Day through the end of Earth Month, at 11:59 pm – one vote per entry on Facebook.

Decided purely by the most number of votes, the winner will be announced on May 1, 2016 and receive a whopping $100 Amazon.com Gift Card – just a small token of our esteem – but you’ll get some publicity, too!

More Info:

The mission of the “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Earth Month Photo Contest is to create interest in all kinds, styles, and sizes of beautiful living architecture and highlight some outstanding designs.  It’s designed to be quick and simple, and is basically a popularity contest among our international readership, so promote, promote, promote.

What kinds of projects are eligible?  

Any and all types of real greenroofs or walls are eligible, any place on Earth, old or new. Most importantly, no concepts or Photoshopping will be accepted!

“Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Photo Contest

The beautiful & popular 2014 Photo Contest winning entry: Green Wall in Israel by Asaf C.

Once voting is open, you can see all of the submitted projects on our Facebook page before voting for your favorite – and see who’s winning!

What do I have to do to enter the contest or vote?

Then, click here and follow the directions to submit your photo.  You’ve got just over two weeks to enter, and then you’ll have until April 30 to rally your friends, family, and colleagues to vote for your submission.

Does it have to be “my” project or just one of my favorites?

The contest is open to everyone, not just the roof/wall owner or the designers of record.  But you must be the sole owner of the copyright of any image submitted.  Didn’t take the photo yourself?  Make sure you contact the source and check for any copyright issues and get it in writing.

How do people vote?

Once open on April 22 at 12:01 pm, click on the View Gallery tab and click on the photo you want to vote for. Use #lovetheearthcontest on social media.

“Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Photo ContestHow do I win?

The photo with the most votes will be announced as the winner.

What do I get if “my” project wins?

The winner will have “their” project highlighted on Greenroofs.com as an upcoming Greenroof or Greenwall Project of the Week, and receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card to spend on your favorite Spring project!

“Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Photo Contest

Image courtesy of ponsulak at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Click here to see the Official Rules.

If you’re not already a fan of Greenroofs.com, we invite you to Like Us and stay connected.

Let’s honor Earth Month by participating in our “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!” Earth Month Photo Contest for 2016 with our living architecture community to help inspire awareness of and appreciation for our Earth’s environment!

Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall,

~ Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA, LEEP AP, GRP
Greenroofs.com Publisher

Happy Earth Day 2010!

Happy Earth Day 2010!   It’s the 40th anniversary of observing this date, and April has been unofficially dubbed Earth Month, too, in its honor.   April is also Landscape Architecture Month, a fitting selection for a profession so dedicated to respecting the Earth through responsible environmental design.

So how am I celebrating Earth Day and Month?   Well, you know we started our first annual “Love the Earth! Plant a Roof Earth Day Photo Contest”  – it’s open until April 28 for entering your favorite living roof and for voting.   By the way, there’s one clear early leader so far with over 200 votes!   Get your friends and colleagues to vote for your roof shot now.   We’ll announce the winner on April 30.

My hands-on project involves a local area  Daisy Troop – eleven young girls aged 7 and 8 who attend Birmingham Falls Elementary  in Milton, Georgia.   Their Girl Scout Leader, mom Sandra Nichols, contacted me a while back about speaking to the troop about the greenroof I designed at Rock Mill Park  in Alpharetta, GA.   The girls are working towards one of their badges, the  Clover Project, which involves preserving and protecting a local treasure and saving resources.   Since Sandra had been to the park before, she felt this would be a great learning opportunity to present the greenroof idea to the girls to educate them about saving water and reducing energy usage.

By the way, our Student Intern, Caroline Menetre – below, and I had just been up to the roof last week, doing routine weeding and taking notes to see which plants had fared well and which ones didn’t – more on that later.

Being a mom of three myself, and now a grandmom, of course I said yes!   I met with them this past Tuesday and had a blast speaking about rain water, stormwater, and an introduction to greenroofs to this lively and rambunctious group.   They especially loved touching all the plants in our four Greenroof Trial Garden tabletops – and they all got to try the garlicky Alliums in the Non-native Module!

I’ll be following up with them at their school this upcoming Tuesday to help them plant two 2′ x 2′ x 4″ greenroof modules of their own – both Green Roof Blocks and GreenGrid  donated a module each, which will be on display at the school for all the children to have hands-on experience and learn about different types of greenroof plants.   Thanks to Kelly Luckett of Green Roof Blocks, and Jim Lindell and Greg Harper of GreenGrid!   I should add a thanks to GreenTech as well – they offered their larger 4′ x 4′ x 8 1/2″ module, but it was decided  two smaller modules placed in two locations would better serve the students.

Also, Bobby Saul of Saul Nurseries  here in Atlanta and Alpharetta, GA, is donating the plants for both modules, as well as the growing media from ItSaul Natural.   After my little talk, I presented each girl with her own greenroof plant from Saul Nurseries to take home – a beautiful green  Jovibarba ‘Green Carpet’ –  succulent and spiky!   You know how kids like to touch things, well, they loved these!

I know that many of you are passionate about protecting the planet, and hopefully you are doing something this April to honor our land.   I’ll leave with this quote:

“Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species – man – acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world.” ~ Rachel Carson

~ Linda V.

Love the Earth: Plant a Roof!

About a month ago my husband, Aramis, alerted me to a competition from The Green  on the Sundance Channel called “What’s the Big Idea?” Contest.   The Sundance Channel and Lexus Hybrid Living were encouraging either a video or photo essay no longer than 60 seconds which illustrated how you work green, play green, eat green and live green, making our planet a cleaner, greener place.   And what’s the grand prize?   A private green consultation with BIG IDEAS FOR A SMALL PLANET experts, CURRENT ENERGY and $10,000 to help you live a greener life!

So you can imagine what my Big Idea was – greenroofs, of course!   I’m lucky that our oldest son Joey offered to help and that I have access to one of my own designs here in Alpharetta, GA,  The Greenroof Pavilion of Rock Mill Park.   The deadline for submissions was midnight on May 20, 2008, but Joey and his wife were out of the country in April, returning just after the Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference in Baltimore.   So we had to wait.   I had some editorial catching up to do and trips planned for work and play the first half of May, but since I’m no stranger to tight deadlines anyway, and even though I always underestimate each project by at least half of the time I really need, we hurriedly decided to give it a go and off we went to film the day before it was due.

We had just planted this roof on October 25 of last year, and about 5 weeks ago went up to check on its progress, weed, and since it is a test greenroof, take notes on which species were faring well and those which were not.   It looked great; the grasses in the “Forest” and “Upland Meadow” zones were swaying in the wind, the blue phlox in “Big Creek” and the white phlox in the “Meadow” were in flower, and the chives were blooming in the “Wetlands.”

Korinne going up on May 19, 2008I figured that if I was going to be up on the greenroof again, I would bring up some additional plants and more river rock used as design accents, too.   The City of Alpharetta graciously provided usage of their bucket truck once again, and up we went individually, buckled up tightly in our safety harness to plant and film:   Caroline Menetre, our intern, Joey, his wife Korinne – at left – and me.   I have to give special thanks, of course, to the City of Alpharetta and particularly Terry Porter, the Environmental Education Coordinator, who has always gone up with me before and has been a champion of this project for years – but this time she just watched on the sidelines with a broken wrist!

Now with a borrowed camera and  our rushed filming and editing schedule, I did not realistically believe we had much of a shot to win this thing, but it was a fun learning process, at least for me.   We went back the next day to take video on the ground, in front of the Greenroof Pavilion and next to the Greenroof Demonstration Model.   Lessons learned?   It’s amazing how much film you need to compile a minute’s worth of work, and it’s not so funny to be fumbling your lines over and over again!   Wind is awesome for movement but not so good for sound.   Lighting is essential, and some cue cards would have been a thing of beauty!

Of all of the submissions, 25 semi-finalists  were just  chosen the week of May 26, and now the videos/photo essays  are open for voting from the general public to determine the five finalists; then the Grand Prize Winner will be selected by a panel of judges from the Sundance Channel’s GREEN Advisory Board.   The winner will be announced on or about July 7, 2008.

Well, I’m thrilled to say we were chosen as a semi-finalist!   So here’s my entry entitled: Love the Earth: Plant a Roof!   Is it worthy of an Academy Award?   No way!   Is it worthy of promoting greenroofs as The Big Idea for the Next Big Thing?   You bet!   Please vote for us by June 24, 2008 – what great exposure for our greenroof community, don’t you agree?

You must be a Sundance Channel member to vote!   Please login or register here.

~ Linda

Greenroofs.com’s “This Week in Review” on GreenroofsTV: April 27, 2012

Each week you can expect to learn What’s New here on Greenroofs.com through our “This Week in Review” video.  Here is the transcript from April 27, 2012 from our daughter, Anjuli – click on the photo below to see the video, or here.  Enjoy!

– Hello, I’m Anjuli Velázquez and welcome to “This Week in Review” for April 27, 2012 on GreenroofsTV.

Project of the Week

–  Our project of the week is  the Nathan Phillips Square Toronto City Hall Podium Green Roof built in 2009 in Toronto, Canada.  The public square surrounding Toronto City Hall was designed with the original architectural structure in mind.  The landscaped gardens, courtyards, terraces, furniture and walkways provide unique views of downtown from this urban oasis in the heart of the city.  This 3,400 square meter green roof is the largest in Toronto and the recipient of a 2011 Canadian Society of Landscaped Architects Regional Honour Award, a 2011 Design Exchange Award Silver Award for Landscape Architecture – Public, and the 2011 Green Roofs for Healthy Cities 2011 Award of Excellence in the Extensive Institutional Category.

The green roof consists of three formal conditions: a sedum mosaic, a paved courtyard that frames the curved chamber and a deck café that occupies the prow.  The perimeter garden is treated as a field in purple, pink, yellow/orange and green sedums.  This ground cover is planted in a pre-vegetated tray system with shade tolerant species concentrated in the shadows of the City Hall’s towers.  The Nathan Phillips Square green roof was constructed with the LiveRoof hybrid modular green roof system.  It contains a combination of 6 inch deep and 4 inch deep LiveRoof Standard Modules; and the project was grown at the LiveRoof Ontario nursery during the summer of 2009, and installation started on September 1st, 2009.

–  To learn more about the Nathan Phillips Square Toronto City Hall Podium Green Roof,  click on our project of the week photo on our homepage (or on the above photos).

What’s New

–   Speaking of the Nathan Phillips Square Toronto City Hall Podium Green Roof, congratulations to our 2012 “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!” Earth Day Photo Contest winner, Patrick Biller!  Patrick submitted the Toronto City Hall entry and we featured that project as our Project of the Week this week, in honor of Earth Day and his submission.  He’ll also be receiving $100 for his entry.  Congrats!

–  The Greenroofs.com eNewsletter

– Look for our April 2012 eNewsletter in your inbox or our homepage.  If you’re not  subscribed, you can click on the mail icon by our social media links on our homepage, enter your e-mail address and you’ll get our monthly eNewsletter to let you know what’s been going on that month here at Greenroofs.com!

–  Contributing Editor

–   Read Ed Snodgrass’ “A Green Roof Day in New York“ (with The Martha Stewart Show) Blog post.

Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Video

– Watch our Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Episode 20: “The Current Situation and Future of Green Roofs in China” by Wang Xianmin.

And find the rest of the videos in this series on our GreenroofsTV page and/or our greenroofsTV YouTube channel.

Advertiser Press Releases:

LiveRoof ® Hybrid Green Roof System Selected for Chattanooga City Council Project.

Joblinks

–  Compost Supply is now hiring a Green Sales Hero in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

– Evergreen Environments is looking for a Green Roof Specialist in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

Industry News

–  Illinois EPA Interim Director John Kim announced the award of nearly $5 million in Green Infrastructure Grants designed to reduce the amount of pollution running into Illinois waterways from stormwater sources.  Applicants applied for grant awards in three categories: Combined Sewer Overflow Rehabilitation; Stormwater Retention and Infiltration; and Green Infrastructure Small Projects.  The $5 million in grants will result jobs for installation of green structures by construction workers and the trades, as well as to create work for professional engineers and public works staff designing Best Management Practices and developing and submitting permits, and construction oversight.

–  In their recent report, Banking on Green, American Rivers explained the many benefits of using green roofs and other techniques like rain gardens and green streets to save money, reduce energy use and flooding, and keep people healthy and water clean.  Now, working with Goodby Silverstein & Partners they’ve just released Get More Green – an interactive tool that lets you virtually “green” a roof in your own community to find out how much money you’ll save in heating and cooling costs as well as how much dirty water you’ll keep out of your local river!

– The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) has selected the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and green design solutions that protect and enhance the environment.

The projects will be honored at the AIA 2012 National Convention and Design Exposition in Washington, D.C. 2012 Top Ten Award Winners with Green Roofs include the Mercy Corps Global Headquarters in Portland, Oregon, the Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the University of Minnesota Duluth – Bagley Classroom Building in Duluth, Minnesota.

–  Sky Gardens Blog

–  Over at Sky Gardens, check out Linda’s latest posts: “Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Episode 20: The Current Situation and Future of Green Roofs in China,” “Happy Earth Day! The Winner of the 2012 “˜Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!’ Earth Day Photo Contest is…,” and “Greenroofs.com’s “˜This Week in Review’ on GreenroofsTV: April 20, 2012.”

– “Upcoming Events“

–  April 27th-28th: is Green Living Roofs, a Green Living Technologies International Professional Installer training module at the State University of New York (SUNY) Ulster, in New York, NY.

–  April 30th: is the 3rd Annual Massachusetts Sustainable Economy Conference, in Boston, MA.

–  April 30th-May 25th: is the WBK International Green Roof Course, ZHAW in Waedenswil (Campus Gruental) with excursions to various regions of Switzerland.

–  May 2nd: is the “Making Engineered Green Roof Systems Work For Any Application” Seminar by Architek, The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre, in Vancouver, Canada.

–  May 2nd-3rd: is BuildingsNY/GreenBuildingsNY, in New York, NY.

–  And May 2nd-4th: is Living Future – Women Reshaping the World, in Portland, Oregon.

– “In the News“

– Kaid Benfield of the NRDC Switchboard Blog, talks about “Toronto’s leadership for green roofs.”  Since January 2010, Toronto has been paving the way for North American cities with their requirements of having green roofs on new commercial, institutional, and multifamily residential developments across the city; and next week, the requirements will include new industrial development as well.

Toronto’s municipal bylaw indicates that smaller residential and commercial buildings are exempt but the larger the building, the larger the green roof must be.  The largest buildings are required to have 60% of their available roof space to be vegetated.  For industrial buildings, the bylaw will require that 10% of available roof space be covered, unless the building uses cool roofing materials on 100% of the roof space and has stormwater retention to catch at least 50% of the annual rainfall.  Last fall, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities announced that Toronto’s green roof requirements had already resulted in more than 1.2 million square feet of new green space in the city.

– Lorena Galliot of the State of the Planet Blog, says “There’s no one-size-fits-all green roof, studies show.” Researchers are looking at how the types of vegetation used in greenroofs affects their functioning.  Sedum is a popular choice for green roofs because of their hardiness, shallow root systems and low maintenance requirements.  Two new studies are showing that grasses or taller shrubs may actually be more effective than sedums at reducing stormwater runoff.  It all depends on where in the world you are, there is no one-size-fits-all greenroof.

An author of the UK study, Nigel Dunnett, said that previous research on the efficiency of greenroofs had focused on their design and structural components, not on the types of plants used.  He also said, “There is a tendency in the green roof world to imply that all greenroofs are the same, and deliver benefits in the same way,” but that “vegetation choices can, to some extent, also influence green roof performance.”  Co-author of the Italian study, Sergio Andri, agreed and stressed that rooftop vegetation should reflect local growing conditions, and imitate natural ecosystems.  Local grasses can be an effective and a low-maintenance way of covering a greenroof.

– To learn more about these stories and new ones posted daily, go to our In the News or Newslinks section of our website.

– Send us your green articles, videos and images to editor@greenroofs.com and share your greenroof or greenwall info with the world!

– Make sure to keep up with everything Greenroofs.com by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, being a member of our network on LinkedIn, and subscribing to our greenroofsTV channel on YouTube!

– This has been This Week in Review for April 27, 2012 on GreenroofsTV.  I’m Anjuli Velázquez and I’ll see you next week!

*This week’s episode is sponsored by The Greenroof Directory, brought to you by Greenroofs.com.*


Did we miss something?  We’d love to hear from you!

~ Linda V.

Greenroofs.com’s “This Week in Review” on GreenroofsTV: April 20, 2012

Each week you can expect to learn What’s New here on Greenroofs.com through our “This Week in Review” video.  Here is the transcript from April 20th, 2012 from our daughter, Anjuli – click on the photo below to see the video, or here.  Enjoy!

– Hello, I’m Anjuli Velázquez and welcome to “This Week in Review” for April 20th, 2012 on GreenroofsTV.

Project of the Week

–  Our project of the week is the Library of Congress Packard Campus of National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, built in 2005 in Culpeper, Virginia.  This $120 million, former Cold War United States Federal Reserve bunker, facility is built into the side of Mount Pony in Culpeper, southwest of Washington, D.C., and was created through a partnership between Packard Humanities Institute, the United States Congress, the Library of Congress, and the Architect of the Capitol.  A state-of-the-art facility where the Library of Congress acquires, preserves and provides access to the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of films, television programs, radio broadcasts, and sound recordings, the Library of Congress Packard Campus is not only home to the largest library in the world but is also one of the largest greenroofs in the U.S.  The vegetated roof protects the film vaults which contain the nation’s heritage of film in their original nitrate form.

With plants provided by Emory Knoll Farms/Green Roof Plants, SmithGroup covered the center with a 228,000 square foot roof garden, while blending the design into the rural Virginia hillside; and the greenroof has the added benefit of helping to keep the temperatures inside the storage facility stable for up to two weeks in the event of a long-term power outage.  International Leak Detection performed the EFVM ® integrity test on the various roof slopes to ensure the membrane installation was watertight prior to the installation of the plantings.

– To learn more about the Library of Congress Packard Campus of National Audio-Visual Conservation Center,  click on our project of the week photo on our homepage (or on the above photos).

What’s New

– There’s still time to enter the 2012 “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!” Earth Day Photo Contest! If you have a greenroof photo you want to submit, go to our Facebook page and upload it!  Make sure to tell your friends and family to vote for it daily until Earth Day, April 22nd!

Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Video

– Watch our Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Episode 19: Panel Session “Green Roofs Without the Hype” with Patrick Carey, Dr. Robert Berghage, Charlie Miller, and Ed Snodgrass.

And find the rest of the videos in this series on our GreenroofsTV page and/or our greenroofsTV YouTube channel.

Advertiser Press Releases:

–  Iowa State University Selects LiveRoof ® for Memorial Union Green Roof.

Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance, Kee Safety Announce Cooperative Effort to Market Rooftop Fall Protection Equipment.

–  Sky Gardens Blog

–  Over at Sky Gardens, check out Linda’s latest posts: “See Ed Snodgrass on the Martha Stewart Show on Friday, April 20, 2012!,” “Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Episode 19: Green Roofs Without the Hype,” and “Greenroofs.com’s “˜This Week in Review’ on GreenroofsTV: April 13, 2012.”

– “Upcoming Events“

–  Don’t forget going on now through Sunday, April 22nd is our “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!” Earth Day Photo Contest!  So make sure to like our Facebook page, if you haven’t already, upload your greenroof photo and then get your friends and family to vote for it!

–  April 21st-22nd: is Green Festival – A Joint project of Global exchange & Green America, in New York, NY.

– April 22, 2012 is the 42nd Anniversary of Earth Day.  Building on the major achievements of Earth Day 2011 and A Billion Acts of Green ®, Earth Day Network is working to reach even more people all over the world to promote environmental awareness.  Support Earth Day!

Your support enables Earth Day Network to power the environmental movement and ensure a healthy and sustainable planet for all of us.  Your contributions and purchases help mobilize communities, implement environmental education programs and support Earth Day events and actions around the world.

From greening schools in post-Katrina New Orleans to improving water and sanitation services in a refugee community in Ghana, EDN supports and coordinates thousands of Earth Day events worldwide each year.  Earth Day, April 22, is the largest secular holiday in the world, now celebrated by more than one billion people.

–  April 23rd-25th: is a Design-Build for Water/Wastewater Conference, in Phoenix, AZ.

–  April 26th-27th: is Green California Summit and Exposition, in Sacramento, CA.

–  And April 27th: is a Green Rooftop Co-Working & Philanthropy Event, in Sydney, Australia.

– “In the News“

–  Tom Oder of the Mother Nature Network, tells you “How to install a green roof.”  Installing a green roof can be an ambitious project for anyone who doesn’t really know what they’re doing.  It’s always good to get professional help but if you want to try a smaller version, like on your dog house or porch roof, and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, here’s a do-it-yourself guide.  In this article, you can read about what a green roof is, choosing the location, choosing the weight, using a flat or sloped roof and then, how to install it.  He also tells you what kind of soil to use, which plants are ideal, and talks about the many benefits of green roofs, like the aesthetically pleasing effect, reducing heating and cooling costs, and more.

Robin Andrews, of the Greenbuild division of Saul Nurseries and ItSaul Plants in Alpharetta, GA said, “In areas of the country where summers are hot and dry, fall installation of matted plants is recommended because plants acclimate and establish best when the climate is mild.”  So if you’re interested, you can find this article in our newslinks and read all about how to install your own green roof.

–  Kevin Haas of the Rockford Register Star, announces “Green roof will top it all off at Nicholas Conservatory in Rockford.”  He says, “the roof of the Nicholas Conservatory will go from gray to green this summer.”  This green roof will provide many benefits like, reducing the building’s energy costs, extending the life of the roof, managing stormwater, and providing habitat for birds and insects.

Hundreds of trays filled with a variety of heat- and drought-tolerant plants will be installed, for year-round vegetation, plant color, and beauty.  The new roof is one of several features that helped the conservatory earn its LEED-certification; they also have solar panels and a geothermal system.  Go to the full article to also watch a short video with Ruth Miller, facility manager at Nicholas Conservatory, where she talks about the new green roof.

– To learn more about these stories and new ones posted daily, go to our In the News or Newslinks section of our website.

– Send us your green articles, videos and images to editor@greenroofs.com and share your greenroof or greenwall info with the world!

– Make sure to keep up with everything Greenroofs.com by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, being a member of our network on LinkedIn, and subscribing to our greenroofsTV channel on YouTube!

– This has been This Week in Review for April 20th, 2012 on GreenroofsTV.  I’m Anjuli Velázquez and I’ll see you next week!

*This week’s episode is sponsored by The Greenroof Directory, brought to you by Greenroofs.com.*


Did we miss something?  We’d love to hear from you!

~ Linda V.

Greenroofs.com’s “This Week in Review” on GreenroofsTV: April 13, 2012

Each week you can expect to learn What’s New here on Greenroofs.com through our “This Week in Review” video.  Here is the transcript from April 13, 2012 from our daughter, Anjuli – click on the photo below to see the video, or here.  Enjoy!

– Hello, I’m Anjuli Velázquez and welcome to “This Week in Review” for April 13th, 2012 on GreenroofsTV.

Project of the Week

–  Our project of the week is the  Green Wall Ferrara, built in 2009 in Ferrara, Italy. This project entailed converting a garden space in the courtyard of a private estate and there was little room for a traditional garden, which led the designers to plant on the walls.  The Optigreen Living Wall Garden system was installed and a beautiful vertical garden was created, resulting in a very soothing effect.

The core unit of the Optigreen Wall Garden system solution is a high-grade, substrate-filled aluminum cassette system which can be planted on site.  The horizontal suspension rails support the Wall Garden elements which are hooked into the rails. The irrigation system is fully automatic with a blending unit for fertilizer and herbicides. Three thousand plants with about 50 different species were planted into this 5 meter high, 120 meter squared private green wall.

–  To learn more about the Green Wall Ferrara,  click on our project of the week photo on our homepage (or on the above photos).

What’s New

Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Video

– Watch our Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Episode 18: “Combining Green Roofs with Photovoltaics“ by Roland Appl.

And find the rest of the videos in this series on our GreenroofsTV page and/or our greenroofsTV YouTube channel.

Advertiser Press Releases:

Sika Sarnafil Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Sarnafil Brand Roofing Membrane.

Another Green Roof Boosts Stormwater Management at Loyola University Chicago by LiveRoof.

Industry News

– Communities looking for the most cost-effective options for managing polluted runoff and protecting clean water should choose green infrastructure solutions, according to a report released this week by American Rivers, the Water Environment Federation, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and ECONorthwest.  The report, Banking on Green: How Green Infrastructure Save Municipalities Money and Provides Economic Benefits Community-wide, demonstrates that green infrastructure practices can offer more cost-effective solutions relative to traditional infrastructure approaches.

–  Sky Gardens Blog

– Over at Sky Gardens, check out Linda’s latest posts: “Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Episode 18: Combining Green Roofs with Photovoltaics,” and “Greenroofs.com’s “˜This Week in Review’ on GreenroofsTV: April 6, 2012.”

– “Upcoming Events“

–  Don’t forget going on now through April 22nd is our “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!” Earth Day Photo Contest! So make sure to like our Facebook page, if you haven’t already, upload your greenroof photo and then get your friends and family to vote for it daily!

– April 14th-17th: is the American Planning Association (APA) National Planning Conference, in Los Angeles, CA.

– And April 17th: is the Green Roof Science Symposium, at Columbia University, in New York, NY.

– “In the News“

–  Matthew Camp of The Alestle, talks about “Unseen green grows on SIUE rooftops.”  He says several buildings at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are becoming a part of a greener tomorrow with the additions of rooftop gardens.  Civil engineering professor and acting environmental program coordinator, Susan Morgan, says there are currently three buildings on campus that have the gardens and there are several more planned for the future.  Biology professor Dr. Bill Retzlaff [one of our contributing editors] says the typical green roof may cost $11-50 per square foot, SIUE’s gardens are at the cheaper end, and “since 2004, more than 100 students have worked on the project.  SIUE is a leader in green roof research in the United States.  They are one of the five or six bigger institutions that conduct research on green roofs.”

Mechanical engineering professor Serdar Celik says they don’t use traditional soil for the roofs – they have been experimenting with different inorganic rocks and different varieties of sedum, and also that the students do experimental testing and theoretical analysis.  They take temperature readings, measurements of stormwater runoff weight, solar radiation, plant coverage, and more.  Celik also says that since we are aware of the global warming issue, the rooftop gardens are one of the solutions toward environmentally friendly sustainable design standards.

– Sandy Bauers of the Philadelphia Inquirer, reports on “Philadelphia embarks on green stormwater management.”  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave the go-ahead to Philadelphia’s $2 billion plan to manage its stormwater with green methods like porous pavements, green roofs, and planting more trees.  EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said “the city has earned a place as a national and global leader on sustainable innovation and clean water protection.”  She joined Mayor Nutter and other officials at the Fairmount Water Works to sign the agreement for a 25-year plan that has been described as one of the most innovative and ambitious in the nation, it will transform how the city looks but more importantly how the city handles its stormwater.

Other cities like Syracuse, Cleveland and New York will be following in Philadelphia’s footsteps, and hopefully they’re the first of many cities around our country to enhance their cities and beautify their streets.  Later this month, a nonprofit water sustainability organization, the Clean Water America Alliance, will name Philadelphia one of the six national 2012 prize winners for its stormwater plan.

– To learn more about these stories and new ones posted daily, go to our In the News or Newslinks section of our website.

– Send us your green articles, videos and images to editor@greenroofs.com and share your greenroof or greenwall info with the world!

– Make sure to keep up with everything Greenroofs.com by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, being a member of our network on LinkedIn, and subscribing to our greenroofsTV channel on YouTube!

– This has been This Week in Review for  April 13th, 2012  on GreenroofsTV.  I’m Anjuli Velázquez and I’ll see you next week!

*This week’s episode is sponsored by The Greenroof Directory, brought to you by Greenroofs.com.*


Did we miss something?  We’d love to hear from you!

~ Linda V.

Greenroofs.com’s “This Week in Review” on GreenroofsTV: April 6, 2012

Each week you can expect to learn What’s New here on Greenroofs.com through our “This Week in Review” video.  Here is the transcript from April 6th, 2012 from our daughter, Anjuli – click on the photo below to see the video, or here.  Enjoy!

– Hello, I’m  Anjuli Velázquez  and welcome to “This Week in Review” for April 6th, 2012 on GreenroofsTV.

Project of the Week

–  Our project of the week is the Salmon Creek School & Environmental Center, built in 2009 in Freestone, California.  This LEED ® Platinum certified school is the first public school in California to receive this highest level of LEED ® certification.  The educational building is also a community and environmental education center that focuses itself on place-based learning and developing eco-literacy among its students and parents.  SYMBIOS eco-tecture worked with students, administrators, community and environmental groups to design and plan a living roof that would be educational and functional.  The cafeteria food comes from the organic garden; the walls are not only natural plaster but also clean the air; and natural light is strategically introduced to keep the kids perky and to help heat the building in the winter.

In the summer the green living roof keeps the school cool, in the winter keeps it warm and creates a habitat for wildlife all year long.  Biodiversity was emphasized in the planting scheme of the greenroof, which included 12 species of drought-tolerant succulents, three of which are native to California.  Salmon Creek that runs through the school’s property is currently undergoing a multi-year restoration project to restore the Coho Salmon populations and therefore a net zero stormwater discharge rate was mandated.  Other sustainable features of the building include passive solar design, daylight harvesting, a 30 kilowatt PV solar system, eco-plasters and floor finishes, reclaimed lumber and recycled content steel framing low-water use fixtures, and more.

– To learn more about the Salmon Creek School & Environmental Center,  click on our project of the week photo on our homepage (or on the above photos).

What’s New

Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Video

– Watch our Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011  Episode 17: “Sustainability in Plant Production” by Lluis Recasens Pahí.

–  Contributing Editor

–  Also read Haven Kiers’ new “Chic Sustainability Watch: Trends, Projects & People – Disappearing Acts.”

Advertiser Press Releases:

Tecta America Expert Angie Durhman Named Opening Speaker for the NYC Green Roof Science Symposium.

Industry News

–  Toronto is the first city in North America to have a bylaw to require and govern the construction of green roofs on new development.  It was adopted by Toronto City Council in May 2009, under the authority of Section 108 of the City of Toronto Act.  The Bylaw applies to new building permit applications for residential, commercial and institutional development made after January 31, 2010 and will apply to new industrial development as of April 30, 2012.

– New York City Planning Commission unanimously approves Zone Green proposal.  Zone Green is the most comprehensive effort of any city in the nation to sweep aside obstacles to green buildings and energy efficiency – eliminating barriers to green roofs to energy generation and to rooftop agriculture.  Zone Green will give homeowners and building owners new opportunities to make investments that save them energy, save them money, and improve our environment.

–  Forty-six ASTM International standards covering various aspects of building construction are cited in the 2012 International Green Construction Code.  Published by the International Code Council, the new model code addresses the construction and remodeling of residential as well as commercial structures.  The IgCC is expected to increase cost savings and job growth while enabling safe and sustainable building design and construction.  ASTM green construction standards such as E2399 on green roof systems, C1549 for solar reflectance and E2635 on water conservation in buildings are part of the 2012 code.

–  Sky Gardens Blog

– Over at Sky Gardens, check out Linda’s latest posts: “Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Episode 17: Sustainability in Plant Production,” “Enter the 2012 “˜Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!’ Earth Day Photo Contest Now!,” and “Greenroofs.com’s “˜This Week in Review’ on GreenroofsTV: March 29, 2012.”

– “Upcoming Events“

– Speaking of our 2012 “˜Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!’ Earth Day Photo Contest, make sure you enter your favorite greenroof and then get friends and family to vote for it daily!  The winner gets $100 plus a lot of air time!  Going on now through April 22nd: Enter the 2012 “Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!” Earth Day Photo Contest, on our Greenroofs.com Facebook page!

– “In the News“

–  Peter Raabe of the American Rivers Blog, has “A Vision Of Green Roofs In Durham, NC.”  He says “North Carolina has a stormwater problem.”  Many of its rivers are polluted due to stormwater runoff.  The state has put rules into effect to clean up its act and Durham is at the center, on one side, Jordan Lake and the other, Falls Lake reservoirs, and both have strict clean up requirements due to the poor land use practices around them.

Beyond stormwater runoff reductions, greenroofs could offer many benefits to Durham like reducing roofing maintenance, improving building energy efficiency, reducing urban heat island effect, improving habitat for wildlife, improving air quality and the potential creation of a green economy work force.  American Rivers has partnered with Downtown Durham, Inc. and they put on a forum for more than fifty city and business leaders that explored the potential of greenroof enhancements in Durham.  The forum created momentum within Durham and they are on their way to creating a more sustainable city.

– Texas A&M University talks about “Interdisciplinary green roof effort to engage wide variety of students.”  Next fall, 1,000 students from a variety of academic programs, including architecture, construction science, environmental geosciences, environmental studies, landscape architecture, horticulture and meteorology at Texas A&M, will begin working together on an interdisciplinary, three-year project to install and monitor a greenroof and living wall atop a campus building.  Assistant professor of landscape architecture and leader of this project,   Texas A&M University  , says this initiative is aimed at preparing students to become leaders in energy conservation and resource management.

In the project’s first year, students will have learning experiences beyond a traditional classroom setting, as they build, install and maintain all of the elements of the greenroof, including physical structures, standard meteorological and soil monitoring instrumentation, planning and plant maintenance, manual measurement and associated live and stored data processing and display.  This project is funded by a $100,000 Texas A&M reallocation grant for enhancing students’ preparation for the workplace and society through high-impact learning experiences.

– To learn more about these stories and new ones posted daily, go to our In the News or Newslinks section of our website.

– Send us your green articles, videos and images to editor@greenroofs.com and share your greenroof or greenwall info with the world!

– Make sure to keep up with everything Greenroofs.com by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, being a member of our network on LinkedIn, and subscribing to our greenroofsTV channel on YouTube!

– This has been This Week in Review for April 6th, 2012 on GreenroofsTV.  I’m Anjuli Velázquez and I’ll see you next week!

*This week’s episode is sponsored by The Greenroof Directory, brought to you by Greenroofs.com.*


Did we miss something?  We’d love to hear from you!

~ Linda V.