CitiesAlive San Francisco Call for Papers due March 4th!

February 23, 2013 at 1:00 pm

Just a quick note to let you know that the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities’ “CitiesAlive San Francisco Call for Papers” has been extended to Monday, March 4th.  Have you submitted yours yet?

GRHC: 2013 CitiesAlive in San Francisco

Haven Kiers and I just did for our “2013 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design”  - “early” for once!  Speaking of which, you can see our ”Greenroofs.com 2012 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design + a Look into 2013“ video on demand now through March 13 at the Greenroofs & Walls of the Worldâ„¢ Virtual Summit 2013: Connecting the Planet + Living Architecture.

Hopefully we’ll get selected again for our 7th annual Top 10 List – Haven lives in the area and San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the world!

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge

Check out the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities’ Call for Abstracts here.

See you in the City by the Bay this October?

Until then, happy greening!

~ Linda V.

Connect with the $7.7 billion 2017 global market now at the Greenroofs & Walls of the World Virtual Summit 2013!

February 12, 2013 at 1:15 am

Today is the start of our Virtual Summit 2013 – don’t miss our exciting Opening Keynote Address “Building-Integrated Vegetation: Redefining the Landscape or Chasing a Mirage?” by Dr. Aditya Ranade, Senior Analyst on the Lux Research Intelligence team leading the Sustainable Building Materials Intelligence service.

What does this have to do with living architecture?  Plenty!  Aditya is the lead author of the recent and much extolled Lux Research report on the potential of our burgeoning greenroof and wall market.  Armed with an Engineering degree, MBA, and PhD in Macromolecular Science, Aditya has enjoyed a long and varied career in science-driven innovation and emerging technologies.

Aditya Ranade Keynote

Lux Research states that greenroofs will account for $7 billion of the market, presenting a $2 billion opportunity to suppliers of polymeric materials such as geosynthetic fabrics and waterproof membranes. Greenwalls will swell to a $680 million market, using $200 million worth of materials such as self-supporting polyurethane foam growth media.

The full contents are only available to clients of the Sustainable Building Materials Intelligence service…But want to learn more?  Don’t miss Aditya’s in-depth, exclusive research Keynote this morning, Tuesday, February 12 @ 10:00 am EST (15:00 GMT), followed by his live 15-minute Q & A Session.

New this year are the Expo Wednesdays – Feb. 13, 20, 27 & Mar. 6 – four full days of live action at The Expo Pavilion where you’ll see leading companies and learn about their products and services, and The Associates Pavilion, where you’ll learn about different world organizations.  Visit them all 30 days and leave them a message if it’s not a Wednesday!

Expo Pavilions at the VS2013

The entire Agenda for this week, with live Q & A’s to follow each:

Opening Day, Tuesday, February 12, 2013:

Opening Remarks from Linda Velazquez and Prof. Dr. Manfred Köhler

Opening Keynote Address by Aditya Ranade, PhD, MBA:Building-Integrated Vegetation: Redefining the Landscape or Chasing a Mirage?

Panel Session Green Wall Maintenance – Needs, Opportunities and Best Practices with Melissa Daniels, Christopher Lyon, Steven Peck (Moderator), and James Sable

 

Opening Expo Wednesday, February 13:

Mary Ann Uhlmann

Keynote Address by Mary Ann Uhlmann, GRP:Green Infrastructure Design and the Biophilic Effect

Visit the Expo Pavilions live and see our wonderful exhibitors!

 

Thursday, February 14:

The Greenroofs.com 2012 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design + a Look into 2013 by Linda Velazquez and Haven Kiers



Friday, February 15:

Award Winning Designers Sharing Projects & Lessons Learned” with Michael Franco, Brendan Shea, Emily Shelton, and Keith Tufts

Profiles of Women Business Leaders Greening the Way with Barbara Deutsch, Lexie Hain and Marguerite Wells; Vanessa Keitges; and Joy Schmidt

Panel Session ”Environmental Healing through Phytoremediation – Chapter One with Patrick Carey (Moderator), Dr. Alan Darlington, Dr. Paul Mankiewicz, and Dr. Clayton Rugh

 

See the Agenda and Speakers pages for the complete list.

~ Connect with Social Media Open 24 Hours all 30 Days!


Registration for the entire 30 days:

Regular Price $99

Discounts:

WGIN Members (including Green Roofs for Healthy CitiesGet GRP credits!) & Greenroofs.com Advertisers $39

Associates $59

Students/Staff/Faculty & Government $29

See our Registration Page for the Discount Codes and Register Here.

Registration is open through the entire 30 days.  Once a video has played it becomes available On Demand, but Q & A Sessions are live and you can only participate on the scheduled day and time.  Transcripts will be available On Demand, too.

We here at Greenroofs.com will be online throughout the 30 days of the Virtual Summit and hope to see you via video, audio or text chatting.   Come visit our booth – where we’ll be offering a Special Advertising Discount to participants - or just connect with us in the Networking Lounge.

Once again, thank you to our Rare Earth Sponsor, Tremco, and to our growing list of exhibitors – by the way, it’s not to late to exhibit and join in the networking!

See you online!

~ Linda Velazquez

  VS2013-SponsorsandExhibitors

See the Amazing Greenroofs & Walls of the World Virtual Summit 2013 Collaborative Videos!

February 8, 2013 at 5:25 pm

There are just 4 days left until the start of the Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2013!  We here at Greenroofs.com and WGIN are excited and hope you have already registered for this this networking opportunity.

You’ve heard about our awesome Keynotes and our expert Panel Sessions, and now check out our assortment of lively collaborative video presentations from industry leaders and innovators, all followed by 15-minute live Q & A Sessions where you can interact with each of them online:


Opening Day: Tuesday, February 12, 2013:

“Profiles of Women Business Leaders Greening the Way with Barbara Deutsch; Lexie Hain and Marguerite Wells; Vanessa Keitges; and Joy Schmidt

Women Leaders: Barbara Deutsch; Lexie Hain and Marguerite Wells; Vanessa Keitges; and Joy Schmidt

Hear about the trials, tribulations and personal stories of not only running a woman-led company/organization, but highly succeeding at it from: Barbara Deutsch, FASLA, Executive Director of the Landscape Architecture Foundation; Lexie Hain and Marguerite Wells, Co-Owners of Motherplants Nursery; Vanessa Keitges, President & CEO of Columbia Green Technologies; and Joy Schmidt, CEO of Vitaroofs International.

 

Thursday, February 14:

“The Greenroofs.com 2012 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design + a Look into 2013 by Linda Velazquez and Haven Kiers

Top 10 for 2013 + a peek into 2013 by Linda Velazquez and Haven Kiers

Greenroofs.com Founder & Publisher Linda Velazquez and Haven Kiers, Greenroofs.com Editor present our highly popular annual series.  2012 was the sixth year we have been compiling our “Hot Top 10 List” and our presentation will show you the latest and greatest from 2012 and we’ll include spectacular new projects from around the world sure to be on our Hot Top 10 List for 2013!


Friday, February 15:

Award Winning Designers Sharing Projects & Lessons Learned with Michael Franco, Brendan Shea, Emily Shelton, and Keith Tufts

Award Winners Michael Franco, Brendan Shea, Emily Shelton, and Keith Tufts

Join these four Green Roofs for Healthy Cities 2012 Award of Excellence winners as they share the trials and tribulations of their greenroof living architecture projects: The Royal York Condominium in Manhattan; The Ledge in Boston, Daniel F and Ada L Rice Plant Conservation Science Center’s Green Roof Garden in Chicago, and the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market in Nova Scotia, Canada.

 

Monday, February 18:

Upping the Urban Green. What is the Actual and Potential Role of Ecology in our Cities?“ by Dr. Mark Simmons and Christine Thuring

"Upping the Urban Green. What is the Actual and Potential Role of Ecology in our Cities?" by Dr. Mark Simmons and Christine Thuring

Meet Mark Simmons, PhD from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas and Christine Thuring (Chlorophyllocity) from the University of Sheffield in The Inspiration Nook.  Their under 3-minute video gives a brief introduction to urban ecology and presents a case for collaborative ecological urban design towards an optimistic future for our cities and planet.

 

Expo Wednesday, February 20:

Skyrise Ag: 5 Ways to Local Food Production“ with Helen Cameron, Mohamed Hage, George Irwin, Ben Flanner and Alan Joaquin

"Skyrise Ag: 5 Ways to Local Food Production"with Helen Cameron, Mohamed Hage, George Irwin, Ben Flanner and Alan Joaquin

The current importance of urban agriculture is evidenced by the numerous food farms currently operating at many different scales and many different parts of the world.  We visit just 5 innovative approaches to growing local produce on horizontal and vertical spaces on rooftops and on the interior from Canada and the United States.  Watch Mohamed Hage, the founder of Lufa Farms in Montreal; Helen Cameron, co-owner of Uncommon Ground in Chicago; Ben Flanner, head farmer, CEO, and co-founder of Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm in New York City; George Irwin:  The founder and CEO of Green Living Technologies International in Rochester; and Alan Joaquin, the founder of FarmRoof in Waimanalo on the island of Oahu.

 

Thursday, February 21:

A Tale of Two Hydroponic Living Wall Systems from Canada and Spain“ by Dr. Alan Darlington and Ignacio (Nacho) Solano in Spanish with English voice-overs and subtitles, followed by a live Q & A in English with Dr. Alan Darlington

of Two Hydroponic Living Wall Systems from Canada and Spain" by Dr. Alan Darlington and Ignacio (Nacho) Solano

Dr. Alan Darlington of NEDLAW Living Walls will present “Indoor Air Biofilters.”  His presentation will outline the science and engineering behind the biofilters; their impact on the indoor space as well as issues related to design and integration into the built environment.

Ignacio (Nacho) Solano of Paisajismo Urbano will share the history of Paisajismo Urbano and how the love of plants has been transformed into one of the leading companies in our sector worldwide.  Come and discover his interviews with rare footage and follow this firm which is synonymous with experience and expertise in the world of advanced vertical gardening.

 

Thursday, February 28:

A Tale of Two Hydroponic Living Wall Systems from Canada and Spain by Dr. Alan Darlington and Ignacio (Nacho) Solano in Spanish with English voice-overs and subtitles, followed by a live Q & A in Spanish with Nacho Solano

Naturación Urbana en España - “Urban Greening in Spain” by Dr. Julian Briz, Dr. José María Durán-Altisent, Dr. Isabel de Felipe, and Joaquin Sicilia Carnicer in Spanish with English subtitles

"Naturación Urbana en España" - "Urban Greening in Spain" by Dr. Julian Briz, Dr. José María Durán-Altisent, Dr. Isabel de Felipe, and Joaquin Sicilia Carnicer

Four Spaniards from the worlds of academia and architecture share their views on the current situation in Spain in Spanish with English subtitles.  Their videos will serve as backgrounders for the Panel Session La Agricultura Urbana en Iberoamérica y España” - “Urban Agriculture in Ibero-America and Spain.”

 

Thursday, March 7, 2013:

Green Roofs & Solar: Double Your Benefits! with Jörg Breuning and Ryan Miller

"Green Roofs & Solar: Double Your Benefits!" with Jörg Breuning and Ryan Miller

Jörg Breuning, Principal of Green Roof Technology (and newest Greenroofs.com contributing editor) and Office Manager Ryan Miller will explain the many benefits of integrating renewable energy into modern green roof technology through the use of solar energy, and will demonstrate the upfront costs and paybacks within 5-10 years.

So, if you haven’t registered yet, here are the extremely low rates – this includes access to all of the Speaker videos and all of the virtual environment, too, including the Expo Pavilions and all the different Lounges and Social Media Spaces:

Regular Price $99

Discounts:

WGIN Members (including Green Roofs for Healthy Cities - Get GRP credits!) & Greenroofs.com Advertisers $39

Associates $59

Students/Staff/Faculty & Government $29

See our Registration Page for more information and Register Here.

See you online this Tuesday!

~ Linda V.

Greenroofs.com Updates & Happy Holidays!

December 27, 2012 at 8:34 pm

Hello readers and fellow colleagues,

I hope you have all been enjoying your holidays with family and friends with an eye towards the New Year – especially after our collective escape from the dire but thankfully misled (or misinterpreted) Mayan predictions on the winter solstice of 12.21.12!

Kidding aside, we here at Greenroofs.com have simply been swamped since late summer with various milestones including our trips to Chicago followed immediately by 2 weeks in China, not to mention orchestrating our 2nd annual Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2013.

And, by the way, I couldn’t make it to The International Green Conference in Bangalore, India last month – a recent bout with upper respiratory problems were aggravated with all the traveling and I developed ear issues and was told not to fly for a few months.  I was extremely upset but everyone told me that the Conference was wonderful.

And so I’ve been very behind in my various blog posts ~ so one of my New Year’s resolutions is to catch up here at Sky Gardens with the following blog posts:

- On a personal note, most of you who have been following us for years know that I have been an international flight attendant with Delta Air Lines for a long time (hey, I didn’t want to give up my “day” job until I knew this greenroof gig would work out!)…well, as of September 1, I officially retired after 33 years of loving (almost) every bit of it!  I had the privilege of working with the best people ever – the end of an era…

- The 10th Annual CitiesAlive Green Roof & Wall Conference in Chicago – what a great town!  For now I will say it was great, one of the very best get-togethers we as an industry have enjoyed so far.  If you have photos to share, please send them to linda@greenroofs.com – there was a lot I missed and then Aramis and I had to leave Saturday morning following the conference since we left for Shanghai the next day and we missed out on all the tours (I also took a class on Wednesday, so I couldn’t go then, either).

- The World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN) World Green Roof Congress in Hangzhou, China which was simply awesome!  The resort was beautiful and the organization was amazing as there were at least 1,400 – 1,500 attendees – the largest crowd I’ve ever presented to before (I presented Haven Kiers’ and my “2012 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design“).

We had a day of touring followed by 2 days of the wonderful speakers, excellent food and hospitality, ending with another day of touring.  Each evening there was a celebratory feast – Professor Xianmin Wang and his awesome International Rooftop Landscaping Association (IRLA) team of William Wei, Lisa and many others are to be highly commended.  We then followed this sumptuous experience with an additiional 8 or 9 more days of once in a lifetime touring around China!

- All about our Greenroofs & Walls of the Worldâ„¢ Virtual Summit 2013 on February 12 through March 13, 2013 - it’s going to be very different from last year. First of all, this time we’ve partnered with the World Green Infrastructure Network and we’re thrilled to have them on board to provide an ever greater world stage.

You’ll enjoy a full 30 days of scheduled and on demand video Keynotes, panel sessions, individual and combo presentations with a lot more interactive fun with scheduled live Q & A chat sessions with speakers and other greenroof & greenwall enthusiasts from around the globe, plus visiting the Sponsor Spaces and Social Media Areas.  Here are our 5 distinguished Keynotes:

New this year is the Prize Center where you’ll accumulate points for cool prizes; the Joblinks Lounge where you can post jobs wanted and view job openings; and the Inspiration Nook where you can post under 3-minute videos about your research idea, project, or poster boards (no commercial ventures!) and participate in scheduled chat discussions which will be included on the Agenda.

In order to feature our Sponsors and exhibitors, we will also offer 4 dedicated days – one per week – to our Expo Trade Show, each anchored by a Keynote Presentation and a Panel Discussion from leading authorities.  By the way, we’d like to thank Tremco for once again committing their greenroof industry leadership through our highest level of Sponsorship - the Rare Earth Sponsor!

Other Greenroofs.com News:

- Starting in the New Year, our “This Week in Review” news roundup video, hosted by our daughter Anjuli Velazquez, will come back as “This Month in Review.”

- We’re currently  scheduling our “Greenroof or Greenwall Project of the Week” series – if you’d like to see your project highlighted, first of all we need to have a profile for it in the Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database!  (We are still backlogged with entries but hope to be up to date within a month).

We only spotlight profiles that have 10 or 11 photos and lots of descriptive content.  People ask us if they have to be listed in the Greenroof Directory to be selected, and the answer is no – although we do highlight our advertisers about 4:1 as compared to non-advertisers for their loyalty.

Advertising with Us is extremely affordable, and we certainly appreciate the support!  Plus there’s no better place in our industry to have your company listed than with us, the #1 website in the world for greenroofs.

- And ordering our 2013 Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Wall Calendar is still an inexpensive (only $9.95 including shipping & handling within the U.S.and Canada) and perfect last minute gift to ring in the New Year.

That’s it for now – we’d like to wish you and yours Seasons Greetings & a Happy New Year 2013!

~ Linda V. & all of us here at Greenroofs.com

The Greenroofs.com 2012 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design

November 20, 2012 at 3:04 pm

2012 has been a whirlwind year for an amazing assortment of spectacular living architecture projects, and Haven Kiers and I have taken notice.  Did you see our October 16, 2012 Greenroofs.com Announces the “2012 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design” Press Release about it?

Here we go:

2012 marks the sixth year of our “Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design.”  Compiled by our Design Editor Haven Kiers, MLA, LEED AP, GRP and I, we have been proud to share the Top 10 List at the following conferences so far:

The 10th Annual CitiesAlive Green Roof & Wall Conference in Chicago, IL on October 17-20, 2012 and the WGIN World Green Roof Conference 2012 (WGRC) in Hangzhou, China on October 22-26, 2012.

Next up is the International Green Conference 2012 in Bangalore, India on November 26-28, 2012, and, of course, we will be presenting it at our second Greenroofs & Walls of the Worldâ„¢ Virtual Summit 2013 on February 12 through March 13, 2013.  And for the Virtual Summit we will add a twist – a sneak peek into projects on our radar for the 2013 Top 10 List.  Haven and I always have a great time showing amazing examples of living architecture and will be available afterward for a live Q & A session – right from the convenience of your desktop, laptop or mobile device.

So, what’s it all about in 2012?

Starting with trends that we’ve seen in previous years that have either refused to go away or have sprung back with new vigor within the last year, we continue to see amazing integration of urban agriculture into new and existing structures, the use of vegetation to create soothing and healing gardens within hospital settings, and the design of schools that incorporate living architecture into their basic curriculum.  As always, we doff our caps to the fantastic skyscrapers that spiral up through the clouds and the client specific boutique greenroofs that defy categorization.

We are also excited to highlight new trends in green infrastructure.  This year, museums embraced their inner green goddesses and began highlighting living art both in and outside of their walls (and roofs).  Another rising trend features elevated walks.  Capturing everything from bridges, railways and promenades, this category features stunning expanses of elevated greenery.  And new this year, we’re incorporating two of the greenest cities in the world as categories in and of themselves, starting with tropical Singapore, a “herban” oasis that has started a green revolution on the island nation.

We culminate our Top 10 List of Hot Design Trends with a look at Chicago, an early trendsetter in city greening and now the definitive leader in living and green infrastructure and our #1 spot for 2012.

The Greenroofs.com Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design for 2012:

10) Client Specific “Boutique” Greenroofs
9) Green Museums: Art Living Inside & Out
8) Educational Facilities as Green Living Laboratories
7) Upward Spirals of Green
6) Hospitals Healing through Living Architecture
5) Gardens in the Clouds: Stacking & Stepping with Vegetation
4) Sky Farms on the (High)Rise
3) Singapore: A City within a Sky Garden
2) Green Elevated Walks: Bridges, Railways & Promenades
1) Chicago’s Trend-Setting Style: A “Miracle Mile High” City of Plants & Leadership

If you didn’t make it to one of the fabulous physical conferences listed above, please join us in January and February 2013 for our second annual Greenroofs & Walls of the Worldâ„¢ Virtual Summit 2013 to experience first hand our fast-paced, lively, and presentation jam packed with awesome and sometimes incredible greenroof & greenwall photos of projects worldwide.

After the 2013 Virtual Summit, we will be happy, once again, to post our video of the 2012 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design on our Top 10 page and on greenroofsTV, our video channel on YouTube.

See you in Bangalore or at the Virtual Summit in 2013!

Linda V.

Chic Sustainability Watch: 2012 European Solar Decathlon, London Design Festival, Venice Architecture Biennale, Milan Design Week & Canada Blooms Garden Festival

September 28, 2012 at 1:28 pm

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve contributed to my half of the “Chic Sustainability Watch” team commitment (the other half being our wonderful Design Editor, Haven Kiers).  We had originally agreed to a bi-monthly column, which equated to each of us committing to writing about every two weeks…

Well, since it was my turn next, I’m the one who messed the bi-monthly thing up. But I’m baaak, so with real-life commitments and all, let’s see how it goes from now on!

Here are just some of the interesting and what I would call examples of true green - not just eco-friendly - living (as in vegetation-embracing) architecture entries that I’ve come across from these recent 2012 design events: The European Solar Decathlon, London Design Festival, Venice  Architecture Biennale, Milan Design Week and the Canada Blooms Garden Festival – none of them winners, but certainly noteworthy!

Several entries with greenroofs or greenwalls caught our attention, in particular from the:

European Solar Decathlon- September, 2012

- Omotenashi House, Chiba University

Via Inhabitat

What a beautiful home!  Held in Madrid, the sole European Solar Decathlon 2012 contestant entry from Japan by Chiba University architecture students, the Omotenashi House (Omotenashi means to “thoughtfully and sincerely conveying a feeling of consideration to those who you encounter”) provides a roomy and comfortable space envisioning a home with a lower carbon footprint.

Not only does it have solar panels, of course, but it also sports a solar hot water heating system and grey water recycling, among other innovations…and take a look at the hairy living walls above and living curtain of climbers below that not only provide shade but could provide vegetables as well!

Via Inhabitat

See a short video of the Omotenashi House at the European Solar Decathlon 2012 homepage (in Spanish from the Japanese Ambassador to Spain). It also has urban food production with a rice paddy in its side garden.  If this hadn’t been a solar decathlon, they certainly could have put the rice paddy on the roof!

It wouldn’t be the first time – see Episode #20: “The Current Situation and Future of Green Roofs in China” by Wang Xianmin, an example from China from our inaugural 2011 Greenroofs & Walls of the Worldâ„¢ Virtual Summit on greenroofs.tv.

Via Inhabitat of 9.17.12 and Omotenashi House, and Inhabitat of 9.8.12, via The Japan Times.

- Para Eco-House, Tongji University

The pre-fab Para Eco-House from Tongji University architectural students in China draws inspiration from Daoist principles.

Via Inhabitat

Yet passive and active forces combine with Western philosophies of independence and autonomy resulting in using materials such as highly renewable bamboo, solar panels, rainwater harvesting system, and a greenroof which could eventually provide a food source.

Via Inhabitat

Via Inhabitat of 9.7.12, via Muy Interesante and Para Eco-House.

London Design Festival – September, 2012

Photo © Ana Lisa Alperovich for Inhabitat

Photo © Ana Lisa Alperovich for Inhabitat

Kicked off on September 14, the London Design Festival offers some unique entries, one being this high eco-style boat house.

Photo © Ana Lisa Alperovich for Inhabitat

Photo © Ana Lisa Alperovich for Inhabitat

The INACHUS is a modern, functional, water-borne 2-story home from Sanitov Floating Homes that uses recycled materials, is powered by the sun and which happens to have a beautiful interior greenwall to cleanse the air.  Plans include the roof to be topped off with a greenroof, which would be quite a fun and responsible topper!

Via Inhabitat, 9.15.12.

Venice  Architecture Biennale – August, 2012

image © designboom

This year’s Venice Architecture Biennale 2012 showcased a very interesting hanging system for growing plants indoors.  “Between Air” is a unique design by architects Jose Selgas and Lucia Cano of the firm SelgasCano, in collaboration with biologist Josep Selga and agronomist Juan Laureano, presented at the Spanish Pavilion here.

image © designboom

The suspended hydroponic system of recycled plastic airpots is connected by these neat looking porous cylindrical forms, planted with a variety of succulents, herbs and even tree seedlings!  Indoor growing with a new technology and high style.  Watch a short video from the architects at designboom.

Via designboom of 8.29.12

Milan Design Week – April, 2012

Photo © Fabrikaat

FABRIKAAT was a Dutch exhibition included in the Milan Design Week last April. Students Micaela Nardella and Oana Tudose from the Master of Interior Architecture and Retail Design program at the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam designed “Brick Biotope,” a set of modular brick nests with planted areas that can be mortared into walls for birds.

Photo © Fabrikaat

What an awesome idea!  Easy, practical and I’m sure our bird friends will love it.

Via Inhabitat of 4.27.12

Canada Blooms Garden Festival – March, 2012

Photo © b sq. Design Studio

Constructed out of shipping pallets, b sq. Design Studio Inc created the colorful and stunning “Plug and Play – the Pallet Garden” at the Canada Blooms Garden Festival in Toronto last March.

Photo © b sq. Design Studio

They used 105 pallets to create the dazzling and environmentally friendly display, which was meant to show we can use common materials at our disposal to create a thing of beauty, not to mention a thing of importance.  The recycled structures include an observation tower, planters, a water feature, and even wooden greenwalls planted with edibles.

Via Treehugger of 3.21.12

What a quirky set of some very cool projects designed and implemented in environments where just about anything goes – pure inspiration for the rest of us.

Hopefully we’ll see more of these prototypes built in the real world, not just a design festivals and competitions.  As far as the “Chic Sustainability Watch” goes, now it’s Haven’s turn!

~ Linda V.

Only 4 Weeks for the WGIN World Green Roof Conference 2012 in Hangzhou: Chinese Visa Tips

September 25, 2012 at 4:17 pm

On October 22 through 26, greenroof and greenwall professionals from around the world will gather and share information, encourage multi-national participation and business, and see wonderful local green infrastructure projects with the opportunity to tour amazing cities and sites beyond at the 2012 Hangzhou China World Green Roof Conference.

Our Chinese World Green Infrastructure Network friends from the International Rooftop Landscaping Association put it more eloquently:

“[The] World Green Roof Conference (WGRC) will build a friendly public platform for elites both from the Vertical Planting industry around the world and those who share concern for the global environmental protection to exchange information on new concepts, technologies and policies of ecological environmental protection as well as to promote the development of Green Roof industry in all countries, thus contributing to tackling global warming and solving the conflict between human and land.” ~ 2012 Hangzhou China World Green Roof Conference

Hangzhou West Lake, via wallpaperstravel.com

I count myself honored (and lucky!) to be one of the keynote speakers for the event; I will be presenting Haven Kiers’ and my annual Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design for 2012.

The Forbidden City; Photo Courtesy of Wang Xianmin

Aramis and I are so excited about our upcoming trip!  We hope you have also made plans to attend this once in a lifetime opportunity as well.

The Great Wall; Photo Courtesy of Wang Xianmin

Not only are we looking forward to reuniting with old friends and making new ones, we are thrilled to be going on Tour Two, the 6-day “Beijing and Xi’an, the Tour of China’s Ancient Capital Cities” afterwards.  We can’t wait!

Yu Garden; Photo Courtesy of Wang Xianmin

By the way, Tour Two is a 4-day tour to “Suzhou and Shanghai.”  Having to choose between the two was painful, so we decided to spend two days in Shanghai after the tour.

Century Avenue, Shanghai; Photo Courtesy of Wang Xianmin

One thing you will definitely need is your Chinese visa.  It’s not hard to get, it’s just time consuming, so if you haven’t done the paperwork yet, hop to it!

If you are a U.S. citizen, visit the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. website for all the requirements.

Here are some tips for U.S. Citizens:

The People’s Republic of China currently maintains one Embassy in Washington D.C., but also maintains 5 consulates-general in the following U.S. cities: New York; Chicago; San Francisco; Los Angeles; and Houston, TX.  If you live in any of these, you can walk your application in with no appointment necessary.

If not, you can use one of the online services available who will walk in your application to your corresponding state (check here).  Since we live in Atlanta and our corresponding Chinese consulate is in Houston, we opted for this and used travisa – which can help any world citizen.  Check out the U.S. citizen requirements, time schedule, and fees.

We chose the China Regular (5 Business Days) processing time and mailed it overnight, just in case.

About the # 5. Official Invitation from China – ask the 2012 Hangzhou China World Green Roof Conference organizers for this – they will email you an Invitation Letter in your name in PDF which you’ll print and include with your package.  Contact William Wei, Secretary-general, International Rooftop Landscaping Association for complete information at: wrgmay2010@hotmail.com.

NOTE:  Unless you have your  own account with UPS, FedEx, etc., do NOT include a prepaid return envelope as travisa will mail it back to you using their own account (which you’ll have to pay for anyway).

Scenic Hangzhou, via HANGZHOU.GOV.CN

If you haven’t already, make sure to read Greenroofs.com’s guest feature article You’re Invited to Hangzhou, China for the 2012 World Green Roof Congress, By Wang Xianmin, Secretary-general of the 2012 Hangzhou China World Green Roof Conference.

Hope to see you in Hangzhou next month!

~ Linda V.

Don’t Miss the Early Bird Discount for CitiesAlive this September 15!

September 12, 2012 at 5:06 pm

As I’ve mentioned before, the heavy fall line-up of conferences is here!  Get ready for some awesome speakers, networking, and travel!

For those of us here in North America, the one surely not to be missed is the 10th Annual CitiesAlive Green Roof & Wall Conference – the one that started it all – in beautiful Chicago, Illinois this October 17-20 2012.

As usual, programming at CitiesAlive features the leading experts from green roof and wall design, policy and research, plus engaging ‘On the Roof With’ sessions that bring living architecture to life.  In addition to inspiring plenaries, top-notch presentations, fantastic receptions, a record-setting Rise of Living Architecture Commemorative Edition book-signing – of which, by the way, I’m very proud to be included – and trade show, you can add in professional training workshops and inspirational green roof and wall tours to make your CitiesAlive 2012 experience unforgettable.

Aramis and I, along with many of our Contributing Editors will be hand, either speaking, exhibiting, taking a course, or just joining in the fun of going on the tours and, of course, networking!  For example, now for the 6th year, Haven Kiers and I will be delivering our fast-paced and fun 2012 Top 10 Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design – see the entire Agenda here.

If you haven’t already done so, make sure to read our Guest Feature Article this month by Steven Peck, GRP, Honorary ASLA, and Founder and President of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities entitled “10th Anniversary – CitiesAlive Returns to Chicago To Celebrate and Plan Ahead.”

Greenroofs.com has been a part of the CitiesAlive Conferences from the beginning in 2003 and we wouldn’t miss it!  Can’t wait to get back to the Windy City ~ we hope to see you there as well.

Visit www.citiesalive.org to learn more and register to learn about the future of green infrastructure and earn credits through LA CES, GBCI, AIA CES, APLD, RCI, and GRHC.

But don’t delay – save up to $169 if you register now for the 10th Annual CitiesAlive Green Roof & Wall Conference.

Happy greening!

~ Linda V.

Greenroofs.com’s “This Week in Review” on GreenroofsTV: June 1, 2012

June 3, 2012 at 3:05 pm

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 June 1, 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 June 1st, 2012 on GreenroofsTV.

- Project of the Week

- Our project of the week is the City Creek Center, built in 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah. City Creek Center is Utah’s newest retail and dining destination and one of the largest sustainably designed urban communities in the state.  It covers two downtown city blocks and features a unique shopping environment with a retractable roof, a creek winding through the property, a pedestrian skybridge, and two 18 foot waterfalls.  The Center’s fully retractable glass roof is the nation’s first in a shopping center and retracts over the retail galleria so visitors can enjoy the shopping center in any kind of weather.  It also features three unique fountains that delight and entertain Salt Lake City shoppers with musically choreographed animations using the elements of fire and water.

Designed by SWA Group, City Creek has earned Silver LEED for Neighborhood Development as a pilot project.  Sustainable principles have been applied in design, construction and operation of City Creek; for example, more than 50% of the demolition debris was recycled. The 1-kilometer-long recreated creek with live fish and other flora/fauna habitat serves as the central organizing feature for the retail/housing/office development downtown, and is the largest flowing watercourse of its kind built on-structure in the U.S.  The water portion of the creek totals about 19,000 sf of over-structure greenroof, but paving, plantings, courtyards, and roof gardens add up to a total of 90,000 sf over-structure.  There is also a pond with live trout, lush plantings of native material and an interactive fountain in which children can play.  American Hydrotech supplied 300,000 sf of waterproofing for the entire City Creek Center.

- To learn more about the City Creek Center, click on our project of the week photo on our homepage (or on the above photos).

What’s New

- Greenroofs & Walls of the Worldâ„¢ Virtual Summit 2011 Video

- Watch our Greenroofs & Walls of the Worldâ„¢ Virtual Summit 2011 Episode #25: “Biodiversity and Greenroofs” Panel Presentation with Christine Thuring, Nathalie Baumann, Gary Grant and Dusty Gedge.

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

- The Greenroofs.com eNewsletter

- Our May 2012 eNewsletter is out!  Check your inboxes for what’s been going on here all month long and if you’re not subscribed, click on the mail icon on our homepage and enter your e-mail address!

- Advertiser Press Releases:

- LiveRoof® Selected for Green Roof on Biomedical Discovery District Facility at the University of Minnesota.

- Joblinks

- Sika Sarnafil USA is seeking a Technical Sales Representative in the Greater Chicago Area, Illinois.

- Industry News

- The American Institute of Architects introduced the first overview guide on how architects can implement the International Green Construction Code in their practice which was introduced in March by the International Code Council.  The guide, entitled simply, “Guide to the IgCC,” is meant as a one-stop-shop document exclusively for AIA-member architects working in jurisdictions where the IgCC is adopted or soon will be.

- According to the 2012 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects, results show a preference for an undemanding outdoor space for lots of entertaining.  Landscape architects with a specialization in residential design across the country were asked to rate the expected popularity of a variety of residential outdoor design elements.  When thinking of gardening, Americans tend toward the practical and sustainable with native plants (86.3%), food/vegetable gardens (81.2%) – with over half of them preferred to be organic (61.2%), rain gardens (55.6%), and rooftop gardens (38.3%).

- Sky Gardens Blog

- Over at Sky Gardens, check out Linda’s latest posts: “Submission Deadline to the Green Roof and Wall Awards of Excellence Extended to June, 1st!,” “Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Episode 25: Biodiversity and Greenroofs Panel Presentation,” and “Greenroofs.com’s ‘This Week in Review’ on GreenroofsTV: May 25, 2012.”

- “Upcoming Events”

- June 1: is the new submission deadline for the Green Roof and Wall Awards of Excellence presented in Chicago at this year’s CitiesAlive in October.

- June 2nd: is the Summer Exhibition – Urban Garden at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, in Brooklyn, NY.

The new Garden Shop will have Green Roofs and Rooftop Gardens, a comprehensive look at New York’s most exceptional rooftop gardening projects—including BBG’s Visitor Center—on sale for the first time.  Featuring an authoritative guide to NYC green roofs—including a rooftop farm in Queens and a high school classroom in the Bronx in addition to BBG’s own Visitor Center—Green Roofs and Rooftop Gardens offers inspirational ideas and practical advice for a gardener of any level interested in learning more about gardening on the highest level.  Chapters include contributions from editors here at Greenroofs.com including: Green Roofs Past, Present, and Future, by Linda S. Velazquez, Green Roof and Living Wall Trends, by   Linda S. Velazquez with Haven Kiers, and Green Roof Horticulture, by Edmund C. Snodgrass.

- June 2nd-3rd: is the Mother Earth News Fair, in Puyallup, WA. Follow on Twitter: @MotherEarthFAIR #MENF

- June 5: is World Environment Day. Follow on Twitter: @UNEPandyou

- And June 6th-7th: is the 7th Annual Northeast Buildings & Facilities Management Show & Conference, in Boston, MA.

- “In the News”

 

- Jackie Wills of The Guardian, reports on “M&S: a sustainable blueprint to behold.”  The retailer’s landmark Ecclesall Road M&S store combines a range of unique characteristics, from LED lighting to rainwater toilets; and has become a learning store, where sustainability skills are shared among staff and local students.  It is the first United Kingdom store to win full Forest Stewardship Council project certification.

Some of the unique features include: natural ventilation in the stockroom and staff areas rather that air conditioning, glass doors on mobile fridges that cut energy use by 45% and an HFC-free refrigeration system, water use has been cut by 46% by installing low flush toilets, sensor taps and a rainwater-harvesting tank below ground.  Also, sun pipes bring natural lighting onto the shop floor, every brick was reclaimed from a disused mill in Manchester and polishing the concrete floor meant no need for coverings; and the shop has a sedum roof and a living wall for wildlife, which among other environmental benefits, will insulate the store and filter pollution.

- Sarah DeWeerdt of The Atlantic Cities, talks about “A 30,000-Square-Foot Community Garden, in a Parking Garage.”  The project, dubbed the UpGarden, will have space for about 120 local gardeners.  The project came about because Seattle’s P-Patch community gardening program was looking for space to build a new garden in the neighborhood.  Eric Higbee, a landscape architect working on the project says, “as far as we can tell it’s the first community-managed food production garden on a rooftop” in the country.

Typical green roof technologies were too expensive, so they settled on a series of wooden raised beds 12 to 18 inches deep, which will be filled with potting soil, which is lighter than topsoil.  Roofs are bright and hot, which should make it easier to grow hot-weather crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants but to offset the windy element and to help the soil stay moist, the team is considering putting in a drip irrigation system.  The knowledge developed here will aid in the development of other rooftop gardens in Seattle and elsewhere around our country.

- 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 June 1st, 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

April 7, 2012 at 9:42 pm

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 Worldâ„¢ 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.