AIA (American Institute of Architects)

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have 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. The COTE Top Ten Green Projects program, now in its 16th year, is the profession's best known recognition program for sustainable design excellence. The program celebrates projects that are the result of a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology. They make a positive contribution to their communities, improve comfort for building occupants and reduce environmental impacts through strategies such as reuse of existing structures, connection to transit systems, low-impact and regenerative site development, energy and water conservation, use of sustainable or renewable construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality.

2012 Top Ten Award Winners with Green Roofs:

• Mercy Corps Global Headquarters; Portland, OR - THA Architecture
  The roof reduces heat-island effect using light-colored roofing combined with a 3,800 sf green roof, which not only filters water and slows stormwater discharge but also contributes to better air quality in this area of the downtown.

• Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts; Philadelphia, PA - SMP Architects (in collaboration w/ SRK Architects)
  The project received expedited review and approval by the Water Department (critical for its tight construction schedule) by reducing stormwater run-off to zero. This was accomplished through the use of porous paving materials, grass paving blocks and no-mow turf. Visible (even from the EL) strategies included vegetated roofs on 45% of the roof area and a rain garden filled with flowering plants at the main entrance.

• University of Minnesota Duluth – Bagley Classroom Building; Duluth, MN - Salmela Architect
  The design is very sensitive to issues of site disturbance, water run-off, and views and meets the energy efficiency goals of the University while gracefully marking the entry to the nature preserve and allowing the students to study the natural systems without disturbing them. The building footprint and heat island effect were addressed by minimizing size to 1995 gsf and 1550 nsf and providing a vegetative roof. [4.19.12]

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has selected the 2012 recipients of the Institute Honor Awards, the profession’s highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture, interior architecture and urban design. Selected from over 700 total submissions, 27 recipients located throughout the world will be honored at the AIA 2012 National Convention and Design Exposition in Washington, D.C.:

2012 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture (with a Greenroof)
8 House; Copenhagen, Denmark - BIG - Database Project ID#1328
This multi-family residential housing structure contains 475 units that accommodates a variety of residents. The bow-shaped building creates two distinct spaces, separated by the center of the bow which host the communal facilities of 5,300 square feet. The apartments are placed at the top, while the commercial space unfolds at the base of the building. The 8 House has two sloping green roofs totaling over 18,000 sf (1700 m2), which are strategically placed to reduce the urban heat island effect as well as to visually tie it back to the adjacent farmlands towards the south.
Read Sky Gardens Blog post "8 House Honored by the AIA"

2012 Institute Honor Awards for Interior Architecture (with a Greenroof)
Integral House; Toronto, Canada - Shim-Sutcliffe Architects
The project integrates many sustainable features into the site and building. A field of vertical geothermal pipes supplies heating and cooling for the entire project including the main concert hall/performance space for 150 – 200 people. A lush green roof is centrally located and a visual feature from many parts of the project. [1.9.12]

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The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) has selected13 educational and cultural facilities for this year’s CAE Educational Facility Design Awards. The purpose of the design awards program is to identify trends and emerging ideas, honor excellence in planning and design, and disseminate knowledge about best practices in educational and community facilities. [6.2.11]

2011 CAE Educational Facility Design Award Winner with Green Roofs:

GFS, Sustainable Urban Science Center, Philadelphia, PA

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have 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 2011 National Convention and Design Exposition in New Orleans. The COTE Top Ten Green Projects program, now in its 15th year, is the profession's best known recognition program for sustainable design excellence. The program celebrates projects that are the result of a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology. They make a positive contribution to their communities, improve comfort for building occupants and reduce environmental impacts through strategies such as reuse of existing structures, connection to transit systems, low-impact and regenerative site development, energy and water conservation, use of sustainable or renewable construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality. See the AIA press release and the AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects Web site. [4.14.11]

2011 Top Ten Award Winners with Green Roofs:

Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, CA
First Unitarian Society Meeting House, Madison, WI - Database Project ID#816
Vancouver Convention Centre West, Vancouver, BC, Canada - Database Project ID#545

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The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has named the year's top ten examples of sustainable architecture and green design, selected by the AIA's Committee on the Environment (COTE). Many of the new buildings were awarded or are expected to earn LEED Platinum certification, the highest level of achievement under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program. The awardees range from a prototype for mass single-family home construction in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans to the world's largest LEED Platinum project, a new international research university in Saudi Arabia. There are also examples of a mixed-use high rise, an art gallery, and an elementary school. The winners are located in six states—California, Connecticut, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, and Virginia—as well as in Canada and Saudi Arabia. Most of the buildings make use of geothermal heat pumps, daylighting, shading, natural ventilation, and passive solar heating. The architects also employed energy efficiency technologies such as radiant heating and cooling, cool roofs, energy efficient appliances and equipment, and evaporative cooling with reclaimed water. Some use recycled materials and green roofs, while others generate renewable energy with solar panels, and one (Twelve West, in Portland, Oregon) even features roof-mounted wind turbines. See the AIA press release and the AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects Web site. [4.19.10]

2010 Top Ten Award Winners with Green Roofs:

355 11th Street, San Francisco, CA
Kroon Hall, New Haven, CT

American Rivers

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 let’s 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! [4.20.12]

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 today by American Rivers, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and ECONorthwest. The report, Banking on Green: How Green Infrastructure Saves Municipalities Money and Provides Economic Benefits Community-wide, demonstrates that green infrastructure practices can offer more cost-effective solutions relative to traditional infrastructure approaches. The report also details additional potential benefits of green infrastructure such as lower energy expenses, reduced flood damage and improved public health. [4.12.12]

Innovative financing and pricing flexibility are key to preparing the nation’s aging freshwater systems to handle growing demand and environmental challenges, according to a Charting New Waters report released by The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread, American Rivers and Ceres. The Financing Sustainable Water Infrastructure report, is the product of a meeting convened by The Johnson Foundation, in collaboration with American Rivers and Ceres, which brought together a group of experts to discuss ways to drive funding toward the infrastructure needed for the 21st century. [1.26.12]

Want to create 1.9 million American jobs and add $265 billion to the economy? Upgrade our water infrastructure. That's the message of Water Works: Rebuilding Infrastructure, Creating Jobs, Greening the Environment, a report by Green For All, in partnership with American Rivers, Pacific Institute, and the Economic Policy Institute. The report looks at an investment of $188.4 billion in water infrastructure—the amount the EPA indicates would be required to manage stormwater and preserve water quality. That investment would inject a quarter of a trillion dollars into the economy, create nearly 1.3 million direct and indirect jobs and result in 568,000 additional jobs from increased spending. [10.4.11]

Quantifying the economic value of green infrastructure’s benefits is the key to helping municipalities adopt this innovative and cost-effective stormwater management approach, according to a new report by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and American Rivers. “The Value of Green Infrastructure: A Guide to Recognizing Its Economic, Social and Environmental Benefits” is a broad analysis that is the first to place an economic value on the numerous benefits provided by green infrastructure. [1.21.11]

American Rivers and the Green Reserve - Funding Green Infrastructure Solutions: A new report issued by American Rivers analyzes how the $1.2 billion of green water infrastructure funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been spent. According to "Putting Green to Work: Economic Recovery Investments for Clean and Reliable Water," demand for green infrastructure projects has never been higher. The report highlights case studies and makes recommendations for how to best leverage future spending for clean and reliable water. Of the 19 states studied for the report, Maryland stands out as exemplary, with the highest percentage (64 percent) of green projects. Other strong states include New York and Rhode Island, where over 40 percent of green reserve-funded projects added elements such as wetlands, green roofs and water efficiency to existing, centralized water infrastructure. For more information, visit www.americanrivers.org/greenfunding. [11.8.10]

ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects)

The Sustainable Sites Initiative™ (SITES™) is an interdisciplinary effort by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden to create voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices - see below for more information. [1.25.12]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently initiated a national rulemaking to establish a comprehensive program to reduce stormwater runoff from new development and re-development projects, and make other improvements to strengthen its stormwater program. The EPA announced that during this rulemaking process it will evaluate sustainable green infrastructure design techniques that mimic natural processes to evapo-transpire, infiltrate and recharge, and harvest and reuse stormwater. The EPA asked ASLA to collect case studies on projects that successfully and sustainably manage stormwater. ASLA members responded with 479 case studies from 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. Not only do these projects showcase landscape architecture, they also demonstrate to policymakers the value of promoting green infrastructure policies. Green infrastructure and low-impact development (LID) approaches, which are less costly than traditional grey infrastructure projects, can save communities millions of dollars each year and improve the quality of our nation’s water supply. [10.20.11]

New Sustainable Design 101 resource available for students and teachers from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Plants that digest toxic waste, parks built from old building materials, trees that lower utility bills and many other sustainable concepts are part of a new free educational resource from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) available at www.asla.org/animations. In addition to the animations, the resource now includes 20 case studies of sustainable projects of all sizes, including master plans, university campuses, urban farms, green roofs and backyards. Each case study lists the project’s environmental benefits and includes a slideshow with images and descriptions, project facts and a downloadable one-page brief. [5.5.11]

ASLA Headlines Congressional Hearing on the Benefits of Green Infrastructure: David Yocca, FASLA, represented the American Society of Landscape Architects in testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Water and the Environment Subcommittee on September 30, 2010 for a hearing entitled “Impact of Green Infrastructure and Low Impact Development on the Nation’s Water Quality, Economy, and Communities.”  Green infrastructure and low impact development approaches and technologies were introduced and their impacts summarized, with greenroofs leading the bullet list. ASLA asks us to take a moment to let your member of Congress know how green infrastructure has provided multiple benefits in your community: Ask your legislators to support HR 4202/S 3561 which would provide localities the tools they need to implement a green infrastructure agenda.  [9.30.10]

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) announced support for new Senate legislation designed to encourage green infrastructure – a novel, sustainable approach that uses natural systems of trees, plants and soils to manage rainwater instead of the overburdened and outdated infrastructure that currently exists in cities. In most instances, rainwater picks up pollutants as it flows from driveways, parking lots, roofs and roadways before pouring untreated through the sewer system into the nearest watershed or drinking water supply. Introduced by U.S. Senator Tom Udall, the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act (S 3561) offers grants and technical assistance for communities to use green roofs, rain gardens and other sustainable approaches that naturally capture and clean the rainwater – often preventing the water from ever entering the sewer system. “Green infrastructure techniques can save cities millions of dollars each year on water management and billions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades. In addition, these natural systems actually remove pollutants from the water while helping clean the air, reduce the urban heat-island effect and lower energy consumption,” said ASLA Executive Vice President and CEO, Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA. “We applaud the leadership of Senator Udall for this legislation, and encourage swift action.” The legislation would create between three and five centers around the country to research best green infrastructure practices and provide technical assistance to communities. S 3561 also provides community grants to implement these practices and create a green infrastructure program within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Learn more about the issue at: http://www.asla.org/ContentDetail.aspx?id=27316. [7.7.10]

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS ANNOUNCE 2010 PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) announced the winners of the 2010 Professional Awards, representing the best in landscape architecture around the world in the categories of general design, residential design, analysis and planning, research and communication. The jury considered 618 entries – the largest number in ASLA history – from 20 countries around the world, selecting 49 projects for distinction. The awards ceremony will take place on Monday, September 13, at 12 noon during the ASLA Annual Meeting and EXPO in Washington, D.C. The upcoming ceremony and awards video are sponsored by Firestone Specialty Products.

Honor Awards to projects which included green roofs or green walls in their design:

General Design Category. Nueva School, Hillsborough, CA - Connecticut Water Treatment Facility, New Haven, CT - High Line, Section 1, New York, NY - Rooftop Haven for Urban Agriculture, Chicago, IL
Residential Design Category. Padaro Lane, Carpinteria, CA - Parkside Garden, San Francisco, CA
Analysis and Planning Category. Seattle Green Factor, Seattle, WA - Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID) Master Plan, Philadelphia, PA - Park 20/20: A Cradle to Cradle Inspired Master Plan, Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands
Landmark Award. Bryant Park, New York City, NY

To view the full list of award winning projects, along with high-quality images, project descriptions and the professional jury, visit www.asla.org/2010awards. [4.27.10]  

ASTM International

Forty-six ASTM International standards covering various aspects of building construction are cited in the 2012 International Green Construction Code (IgCC). Published by the International Code Council (ICC), 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. [3.28.12]

The ongoing focus on sustainability in construction has contributed to greater interest in vegetative, or green, roof systems, in which traditional roofing material is replaced or supplemented with vegetation. A proposed new ASTM International standard will address an important aspect of designing this kind of roofing: determining the proper roofing and waterproofing membrane for a particular system. The proposed new standard, ASTM WK29304, Guide for Selection of Roofing/Waterproofing Membranes for Vegetative Roof Systems, is currently being developed by Subcommittee D08.24 on Sustainability, part of ASTM International Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing. [8.24.10]

City of Austin

On August 27, 2009, Austin City Council charged the Green Roof Advisory Group (GRAG) to work with City staff to explore the feasibility of offering energy and stormwater credits and other incentives, based on performance, to encourage the creation of green roofs in the City. GRAG produced a policy document that included recommendations regarding those credits and incentives that would be appropriate for promoting green roofs in Austin. The stakeholder group was drawn from the fields of design, development, and green building and includes input from local green roof organizations and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. GRAG's findings were presented to various City of Austin Boards and Commissions throughout September and October, and the final report to City Council will be on October 28, 2010. Please see below for the final GRAG Report: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/place1. [10.28.10]

Austin is moving to make roofs in the city greener. The City Council heard a report from its Green Roof Advisory Group (GRAG) on Thursday, March 25. This was the culmination of the initial phase of research into how green roofs could benefit Austin and how to make it easier for them to flourish in the city. The next phase will determine best practices and develop policy recommendations for the city over the next five years. Green roofs take many forms, but essentially involve vegetation atop building structures. Most any level or near-level roofing structure can be made to support greenery. There are many lightweight solutions for existing roofs, including roll-out systems and shallow modular trays. If a structure is built with green roofs in mind, more substantial plans, including trees, can be included. Austin City Hall was built with an underground parking garage, so the roof of the garage is actually a 12,000 square foot plaza with trees and plants. Eleanor McKinney, a registered landscape architect and licensed green roof professional, chairs the GRAG and presented the report. She said there are nineteen green roofs recorded in the city database of green roofs in Austin. Green roofs provide many benefits to cities. They help mitigate the urban heat island effect, where city temperatures are often up to ten degrees warmer than surrounding areas. They help moderate cooling and heating costs in the buildings they cover by keeping the rooftop temperatures lower and providing another layer of insulation to the building. They extend the life of the roofs they cover. They help improve air quality in the city by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. They reduce and filter runoff of rainwater, easing city sewer systems and local creeks.  The GRAG final report will be presented to the city council in August 2010. Reported by Blane Conklin, Austin Green Technology Examiner of Examiner.com. [3.28.10]

City of Chicago

As of January 1, 2012, the Department of Environment no longer exists as a standalone unit. The integrated model that replaces it is critical to incorporate sustainability so that it is a part of every policy decision and capital investment. Starting in 2012, each department and sister agency will be engaged in creating a more sustainable Chicago. For more information on the Chicago Center for Green Technology's programs, courses, and volunteer opportunities, please visit: www.chicagogreentech.org.  

City of Louisville

The Louisville Metro Council unanimously passed an ordinance adopting changes to the Land Development Code via a resolution introduced in March 2011, which Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh sponsored. These changes will reward builders and developers for incorporating green building practices into their projects by providing for greater development intensity on qualifying projects. The changes also encourage builders and developers to orient their buildings to account for the sun, to add more windows to reduce energy used on lighting and to reduce surface water runoff by using green roofs or adding open space. [7.29.11]  

City of Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is providing incentive funding to increase green roof coverage within its service area. The Regional Green Roof Initiative will provide up to $5 per square foot of an approved green roof project. The District’s interest in green roofs is to hold rainwater where it falls, thereby diminishing the risk of sewer overflows and improving the overall water quality in the region. In addition to managing stormwater, green roofs offer numerous additional environmental, economic, and social benefits. The application due date is March 30, 2012. [2.19.12]

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is inviting units of government, organizations, school districts, and businesses within the 28 communities it serves to participate in a 2010 Regional Green Roof Initiative Program. Participation in the program will require interested parties to respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP) following standard procedure. The MMSD’s interest in green roofs is in capturing rainwater on our region’s rooftops and keeping it out of our regional sewer system. Doing so will help reduce polluted stormwater runoff and combined and separated sewer overflows to Lake Michigan. For more information you can download the press release from we energies regarding the Initiative along with a Green Roof Program Notice and RFP from MMSD. Read more in Industry Support. [11.9.10]

City of 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. [3.28.12]

The City Planning Commission unveiled a proposal to amend New York City's zoning code to make it easier for buildings to incorporate environmentally friendly additions such as solar panels, wind turbines and wall insulation. New Yorkers spend $15 billion annually to heat and power buildings, contributing 80 percent of the city's carbon emissions. But building owners currently face height and floor area restrictions that can stand in the way of adding energy-saving features on building exteriors. In November, City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden said her department would soon propose rule changes to do away with these hurdles, but she declined to provide details. The package of rule changes, dubbed Zone Green, would permit solar panels, green roofs, storm water detention systems, skylights and other green features on buildings, despite height restrictions, and would allow owners to install wind turbines up to 55 feet above rooftops on waterfront buildings and buildings taller than 100 feet. Free standing turbines would be permitted on waterfront blocks in commercial and manufacturing areas. The proposal would also loosen restrictions on sun control devices that help provide natural light, exempt greenhouses up to 25 feet from floor area and height limits on non-residential buildings, and specify that electric vehicle charging is allowed in all parking facilities. Building owners could also add external wall insulation without impacting floor area calculations, among other things. The rule changes are subject to a full public review process before the city's community boards, borough presidents and city council. [12.12.11]

Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland announced up to $4 million in grants as part of the 2012 Green Infrastructure Grant Program to build green roofs, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, right-of-way bioswales, and similar methods for reducing and managing stormwater on private property and public sidewalks in combined sewer areas. The new round of grants continues to support the PlaNYC goal of improving water quality by reducing the likelihood and intensity of combined sewer overflows. New York City, like other older urban centers, is largely serviced by a combined sewer system where stormwater and wastewater are carried through a single pipe. During heavy storms, the system can exceed its capacity and is designed to prevent treatment plants from washing out by discharging a mix of stormwater and wastewater — called a combined sewer overflow, or CSO — into New York Harbor. Under the 2011 Green Infrastructure Grant Program, DEP awarded $3.8 million in grants to 13 entities out of 52 that applied. [11.21.11]

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection reached a draft agreement to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSO) into area water bodies, the agencies announced. The agreement modifies New York City's approach to improving harbor water quality, under which the city will invest an estimated $187 million in green infrastructure projects by 2015, part of a planned $2.4 billion public and private investment over the next 20 years. The city will also complete work on approximately $1.6 billion in gray infrastructure projects. [10.19.11]

On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Bloomberg signed into law a bill to exempt rooftop greenhouses from being counted toward a buildings’ height and floor area measurements. The greenhouses will join structures like roof tanks, air-conditioning equipment and chimneys as apparatus that are not factored into buildings’ official totals, easing limitations on the construction of such structures. As for greenroofs, new legislation will allow 4 inch depth systems to be submitted to the NYC Department of Buildings without the need for construction plans or permits. [8.17.11]

Urban forestry grants totaling $966,489 are being awarded to communities and organizations across New York, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced. The New York State Urban and Community Forestry Program provides technical assistance to communities through local DEC Urban Foresters and ReLeaf volunteers. Financial assistance is available from the state through competitive cost-share grants. "Urban forestry initiatives are key to promoting clean air, clean water, energy savings, habitat creation, and improved quality of life for New York residents," Commissioner Martens, said. "These grants build upon our goals to improve the environment across the state and will have a lasting impact by creating cleaner, healthier communities for both current and future generations to enjoy." [7.25.11]

In the fall of 2009, North Star Fund launched the "Greening Western Queens Fund," a new $7.9 million initiative to invest in energy-efficiency and environmental projects in the Western Queens community affected by a July 2006 electric power outage. This program is supported by funds from the community's settlement with Con Edison. The Public Service Commission of the State of New York selected North Star Fund to administer the project because of our expertise in facilitating community led grant making processes. This includes efforts to improve existing sites, as well as creating new green spaces. Special consideration will be given to the planning and/or creation of green roofs and other newly created green spaces that demonstrate multiple benefits, for example, energy conservation and increased local food production. Examples of community and public sites include: community centers, schools, libraries, etc. To apply for a Greening Western Queens Fund grant, you must submit an application to the North Star Fund by September 12, 2011. [7.25.11]

Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway announced the 15 winners of DEP's 2011 Green Infrastructure Grant Program. Selected from a total of 52 applications, the 15 winners will share approximately $3.8 million of funds to build green infrastructure projects that will reduce combined sewer overflows and improve water quality in New York Harbor. During heavy storms, the sewer system often reaches capacity and must discharge a mix of stormwater and wastewater — called a combined sewer overflow, or CSO — into the city's surrounding waterways. As part of the NYC Green Infrastructure Plan that calls for investing $1.5 billion over the next 20 years to reduce sewer overflows, the grant program enables the city to partner with community organizations, businesses and not-for-profits to address stormwater runoff from private property. The grants will be used for a wide variety of innovative and creative stormwater controls, including green roofs, blue roofs, porous concrete, bioswales, and other measures to reduce and manage as much as 5.7 million gallons of stormwater a year. [6.11.11]

DEP announces $3 Million in community-based Green Infrastructure Program grants. Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway announced up to $3 million in grants this year for green infrastructure projects within combined sewer overflow drainage areas in New York City as part of the NYC Green Infrastructure Plan. The grants can be used for green roofs, enhanced tree pits, and other measures to reduce and manage stormwater on private property and public sidewalks. The launch of the grant program fulfills a 2011 State of the City commitment made by Mayor Bloomberg last month, and helps achieve the PlaNYC goal of improving water quality. [2.2.11]

DEC Accepting Applications for Urban Forestry Grants: Tree Plantings, Green Infrastructure Can Reduce Pollution, Improve Urban Quality of Life. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced it is making grants available to support urban forestry projects across the state. The Urban and Community Forestry grants will enhance New York's urban landscapes with healthy trees and provide numerous environmental, health and economic benefits. Eligible projects include tree inventories and management plans, tree and shrub planting and maintenance, and green infrastructure projects such as green roofs and rain gardens. [12.8.10]

Yesterday, New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection released a proposed “NYC Green Infrastructure Plan” to integrate green infrastructure into the city’s efforts to combat Combined Sewer Overflow. The Plan presents an alternative approach to improving water quality, integrating swales and green roofs, among others, with investments to optimize the existing system and to build targeted, cost-effective “grey” or traditional infrastructure. [9.28.10]

The NYC Department of Buildings launched a new process for Green Roofs and Solar Electric Generating Systems tax abatements. This process will involve new job filing and abatement application filing procedures in the New York City boroughs for 2010 thru 2013. The Green Roof and Solar Tax Abatement Program Team have revised the PC1 form to reflect new required items - PTA3 and PTA4 Abatement Eligibility Approval.  To learn more and for prompt and current updates about this, and other department initiatives, visit Industry Support.

Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx) is a non-profit organization that champions hope and opportunity for their community and other urban communities with innovative programs that improve both the economy and our environment. They seek to combat climate change and urban disinvestment through green collar job creation. Their nationally-recognized Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training (BEST) celebrated their 175th graduate at the end of 2009, nearly doubling the scope of SSBx's training from the past year. SSBx continues to seek employer partners who are looking for the right employee trained from their BEST Academy program, which is currently recruiting for 2010 training sessions. Learn more here.

The Stormwater Infrastructure Matters (S.W.I.M.) Coalition invites NYC stakeholders who have either attained or attempted to attain the current greenroof tax credit in New York City to complete a short survey on their experiences. Read Linda’s Sky Gardens Blog post of July 5, 2010 or go directly to the “NYC Green Roof Tax Credit…did it work for you?” survey here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/THN898G, which will be up through mid July, 2010. [6.30.10] 

City of Philadelphia

On June 1, the PA Department of Environmental Protection and the Philadelphia Water Department will sign a groundbreaking agreement that will allow PWD to officially implement its Green City, Clean Waters plan. PWD plans to spend approximately $2 billion over the next 25 years to use largely green infrastructure (stormwater tree trenches, porous paving, rain gardens, sidewalk planters) to transform manmade surfaces that repel the rain into green acres that capture, infiltrate and manage rainwater runoff—just like Mother Nature. [6.1.11]

The City of Brotherly Love, aiming to become America's greenest, has joined other U.S. cities in requiring energy-efficient reflective roofs for new buildings. Philadelphia's "Cool Roof" bill, signed into law last month by Mayor Michael Nutter, follows similar steps taken in Chicago, California and New York, according to Builder magazine. Unlike traditional black asphalt roofs, cool ones (often white) reflect the sun's rays back into the atmosphere and release absorbed heat. This keeps buildings cooler, reducing the demand for air conditioning by 10% to 30%. "This legislation is a simple step to reduce energy consumption and is virtually cost-neutral for new construction," its sponsor Councilman Jim Kenney said at a press conference overlooking Philadelphia's City Hall from the white roof of 1515 Market Street. The new law, which applies to all new buildings with little or no roof slope, will likely affect only row houses and commercial buildings. Not many single-family homes have flat or near-flat roofs. The law, which exempts projects with vegetative roofs and those with rooftop photovoltaic panels, is part of Philadelphia's plan to become the "greenest city in America" by reducing its energy consumption 10% and retrofitting 15% of its housing stock by 2015. To get started, Nutter also announced that all homes on the 1200 block of Wolf Street won the "Coolest Block" contest and will receive energy efficient upgrades that include a cool roof, air sealing and insulation. The Dow Chemical Company is helping fund the project. [6.3.10]

City of Portland

Portland has again topped the 100,000 square foot mark for new greenroof construction in a calendar year. 2011's total is just a hair over the mark and comprises the green, vegetated portions of ecoroofs and roof gardens constructed within the City limits. There's likely a bit more out there as this comprises only projects which City staff are aware of. Thank you and congratulations to everyone involved in the industry and we look forward to setting a new record this year. You can also read a guest feature article "Portland Builds Over 100,000 Square Feet of Greenroofs in 2011" by Casey Cunningham, Landscape Architect, City of Portland’s Sustainable Stormwater Division. [2.21.12]

New Round of the Ecoroof Incentive: The next round of ecoroof incentives is now open, and the deadline for applications is December 1, 2011. Nearly all roofs in Portland are eligible to receive up to $5 / per square foot for an ecoroof. This is the seventh round of funding the incentive, and since 2008 the program has funded close to 150 projects across the City. If you have a roof that might be a good candidate, please submit an application or contact us to discuss. You can also visit our website, where we have amassed technical resources to help you, project reports from past incentives, and our ecoroof blog to keep you updated. Learn more and download an application at www.portlandonline.com/bes/ecoroofincentives. In addition, the City of Portland is again offering FREE technical workshops for anyone interested in learning more about ecoroof in Portland. There will be two separate one-day seminars: one for Professionals and one for Property Owners. To register, please send an email to BESEcoroof@portlandoregon.gov or call 503-823-7863. Please remember to specify which seminar you're hoping to attend. You'll receive a confirmation email with further details as we approach the event dates. Read Matt Burlin's Sky Gardens Blog post "Fall 2011 Portland Ecoroof Opportunities." [10.26.11]

The city of Portland has reopened its incentive program that subsidizes the development of ecoroofs. The incentive program is part of Portland's Grey to Green initiative to increase sustainable stormwater management practices, control non-native, invasive plants, and protect sensitive natural areas. The incentive funds up to $5 per square foot of an ecoroof project. Installation costs for ecoroofs in Portland range from $5 to $20 per square foot. Ecoroofs are lightweight, vegetated roof systems that replace conventional roofs with a layer of foliage over a growing medium on top of a waterproof membrane. They are an important part of Portland's efforts to manage stormwater with facilities that work like natural systems. Ecoroofs are an approved stormwater management technique under Portland's Stormwater Management Manual. To quality for the incentives, applicants must submit buildable projects within the city limits, and must start construction within two years of approval. Environmental Services is accepting incentive applications now. Download and submit a PDF application or apply online. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. [3.17.11]

See "Portland Celebrates Ecoroof Month in March" post by Matt Burlin in our Sky Gardens blog. [2.23.11]

The City of Portland is continuing to offer an incentive for ecoroofs on private property. Applicants can receive up to $5 per square foot for approved ecoroof projects. The next round for the Ecoroof Incentive began October 1st, and the deadline for application will be December 1st. If you have a project in the works, or are considering an ecoroof on your property, now might be the perfect time to apply. Visit the Ecoroof Incentive webpage to learn more. www.portlandonline.com/bes/ecoroofincentive. The Ecoroof Seminars will be taking place in just a few weeks. This year, the Seminars will consist of two separate one-day workshops - one for interested property owners, and one for aspiring or practicing professionals. You can learn more information on the Seminars webpage: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=44422&a=321054. Advanced registration is required - please send an email to BESEcoroof@portlandoregon.gov, or register by phone at (503) 823-7863, and indicate which date you'd like to attend. Also, please forward along to anyone you think might be interested. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact me. As always, you can keep up to date on ecoroof projects and our program by visiting our blog at www.portlandonline.com/bes/ecoroofblog. [10.10.10]

June, 2010 marked the one-year anniversary of the City of Portland's Greenroof Information Think-tank (GRiT), a "network of businesses, government agencies, non-profit organizations and others, collaborating to grow the knowledge and use of green roofs in the Pacific Northwest." It's a meeting place that provides members of GRiT with a shared calendar, discussion forums, member profiles, photo gallery, file storage and more. Visit http://www.greenroofthinktank.groupsite.com to learn more or contact Matt Burlin at 503-823-7863. [8.1.10]

Portlanders who have considered installing a vegetated-roof system or ecoroof may be able to tap some free money. The city's Bureau of Environmental Services launched a new round of incentives with a June 1 application deadline. The incentive will pay up to $5 a square foot for new ecoroof projects in the city. Residential, commercial, industrial and mixed use projects are all eligible to apply. Check out online or call 503-823-7914. The incentives are part of Portland's Grey to Green effort. Ecoroofs reduce storm-water runoff, improve air quality and save energy. The program aims to add 43 acres of new ecoroofs by 2013. The initiative began in July 2008. Since then more than four acres of ecoroofs have been completed and over six are in design or construction. Portland currently has 211 ecoroofs that cover almost 11 acres. [4.22.10]

Environmental Services Ecoroof Request for Proposal: The City of Portland, Procurement Services is seeking proposals on behalf of the Bureau of Environmental Services from qualified firms, contractors, companies, or teams of consultants with demonstrated experience in designing and constructing ecoroofs. Please click the following link to learn about a unique opportunity to promote, design and install ecoroofs:
http://cityofportland.ebidsystems.com/public/solicitationDetail.asp?Solicitation=110970.
If you haven't already, you will need to register as a vendor to view the RFP. It is an easy process. Be sure to include your State M/W/ESB certification if you do register. There is an optional pre-proposal meeting that we invite you to attend: Optional Pre-Proposal meeting April 29, 2010, 1:30 - 3:30 pm, Multnomah Building, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR, 4th Floor, Oak Room. Please contact Denise Henshaw with any questions about the RFP: denise.henshaw@portlandoregon.gov (503) 823-2299. [4.14.10]

After three months of tweaking, the city’s fifth Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Package has been approved by Portland City Council. Approved at a recent council meeting, RICAP 5 addresses outdated codes on the proper installation of solar panels, wind turbines, eco-roofs, rain or grey water cisterns and other sustainable technologies. In addition, it provides for larger Accessory Dwelling Units, where a smaller building is constructed alongside an existing residence. ADU’s are considered a more sustainable housing option since they use existing land and require fewer materials to build than single family homes. Under the new code, ADUs can be 75 percent the size of the main unit or a maximum of 800 square feet. [3.11.10]

The City of Portland sponsored Ecoroof Portland on March 12-13, 2010. Attendees learned how ecoroofs work, why they're important, and what's next for Portland's rooftops and skyline. The City has nearly 200 ecoroofs and an incentive available to help with the costs - if you own property in Portland, manage or own development projects, aspire to work in the ecoroof industry, or just support things sustainable, the yearly Ecoroof Portland is the event to get involved with this alternative roofing approach. Activities included Portland ecoroof tours, live ecoroof installations, presentations by local and national experts, and workshops to help you get started on your own project. Fair attendance is always free and vendors can reserve booth space very economically. In addition to Dr. David Sailor of Portland State University and others, Ed Snodgrass, Patrick Carey, and Linda Velazquez spoke at Ecoroof Portland 2010.  Learn more here.

Part of Portland's Grey to Green initiative to increase sustainable stormwater management practices, control non-native, invasive plants, and protect sensitive natural areas, over $800,000 will be spent on the incentive in this fiscal year, and will make funds available over the next three years. You could receive $5 per square foot to build your ecoroof! Applications of incentive applications will be available in April 2010 for the next cycle that begins in the summer of 2010.  Read more under Industry Support.

City of San Francisco

The City of San Francisco’s Green Building Ordinance (GBO) and related policies was named the winner of the World Green Building Council’s Best Green Building Policy Award. A joint venture led by URS Corporation provided significant guidance during the ordinance’s preparation by the San Francisco Department of the Environment. Evidence of the city’s commitment to green building includes the URS joint venture’s design and implementation of the city’s newest “living roof” at One South Van Ness Ave. The 10,000 square foot living roof adds insulation to the building, reduces stormwater runoff and features native plants that provide habitat for hummingbirds and butterflies. The project team also participated in San Francisco’s JobsNow training program by instructing interns on plant identification, irrigation control and weeding techniques. [12.19.11]

City of Seattle

The Washington Department of Ecology has released its draft draft plan for beefing up its low-impact development requirements for controlling polluted stormwater runoff -- which is considered the top environmental threat to the Puget Sound and many other Northwest lakes, rivers, and streams. This policy change is a big deal. It's trying to solve one of the region's top environmental and health challenges, perhaps second only to climate change and ocean acidification in importance to our area. And what's approved in the coming months will be on the books for a long time. [10.12.10]

The Emerald City is living up to its name, according to a new study which found that half of all new commercial structures here are designed with planted rooftops. With 62 green roofs already built—359,375 square feet, about the size of nine football fields—Seattle is a national leader in the field. The report found that the rate of new green roof installation has increased nearly every year in Seattle since 2001 and the design and installation business sector has also consistently expanded during this time. The study also created the first self-guided walking tour of green roofs in North America, which will allow residents and visitors to explore the hidden gems of our urban ecosystem. [9.23.10]

City of Toronto

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. [3.30.12]

According to Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, the City of Toronto’s award winning Green Roof Bylaw has already resulted in more than 1.2 million square feet (113,300 square meters) of new green space planned on new commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential developments across the City. By the way, make sure to apply now for the City of Toronto’s Eco-Roof Incentive Program at Live green Toronto - funding ends December 31, 2011. [9.30.11]

The City of Toronto is now accepting applications for its Eco-Roof Incentive Program, an initiative designed to promote the use of green and cool roofs on Toronto’s industrial, commercial and institutional buildings, and to help Toronto’s business community take action on climate change.

Eligible projects include:

• Any green or cool roof on an existing industrial, commercial or institutional building.

• Any above grade green roof on a new industrial building with a gross floor area (GFA) of 10,000 m2 (107,600 sq ft) or greater.

• Any green roof on a new institutional or commercial building with a GFA of less than 2,000 m2 (21,528 sq ft) Projects must be above grade; parking garages and at-grade roofs are ineligible.

Owners who install a green roof, which supports vegetation, can apply for a grant of $50 per square metre up to $100,000. Cool roofs, which feature a membrane or coating to reflect the sun's rays, are eligible for $2-5 per square metre up to $50,000. Green roofs reduce urban heat and associated energy use. Green roofs also help manage stormwater, enhance biodiversity and improve air quality. Applications will be accepted online until April 1, 2010. A second round of funding will be available in the fall. For more information, visit www.toronto.ca.

Toronto City Council Adopts Mandatory Green Roof Requirements: the City passed a new greenroof by-law with overwhelming support on May 26, 2009, consisting of a greenroof construction standard and a mandatory requirement for greenroofs on all classes of new buildings. The by-law requires up to 60% greenroof coverage on multi-unit residential dwellings over six stories, schools, non-profit housing, commercial and industrial buildings. Larger residential projects require greater greenroof coverage, ranging anywhere from 20 to 50% of the roof area. Read more in Industry Support. [5.26.09]

Denver Botanic Gardens

Green inside and out, the Gardens is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Gardens’ living collections encompass specimens from the tropics to the tundra, showcasing a plant palette chosen to thrive in Colorado’s semi-arid climate. The Gardens' dynamic, 23-acre urban oasis in the heart of the city is now in its 52nd year, offering unforgettable opportunities to flourish with unique garden experiences for the whole family – as well as world-class education and plant conservation research programs. Additional sites at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, a 750-acre wildlife and native plant refuge in Jefferson County; and Mount Goliath, a high-altitude trail and interpretive site on the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, extend this experience throughout the Front Range. For more information, visit us online at www.botanicgardens.org.

The third annual Green Roofs for the West Symposium will take place at Denver Botanic Gardens on June 16, 2011 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. This forward-thinking and informative event will spotlight innovative ways green roofs are leading us to a future of more sustainable cities in the challenging climate of the West. It is co-hosted by the Gardens, U.S. Green Building Council, the University of Colorado and Colorado State University. The Symposium will also highlight the publication of the new “Design Guidelines and Maintenance Manual for Green Roofs in the Semi-Arid and Arid West.” This publication is now available at http://growwest.org for free. The guidelines are a collaboration of the University of Colorado Denver, City and County of Denver, Green Print Denver and the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District. [3.25.11]

DC (District of Columbia)

The District of Columbia is a national leader in the total amount of Green Roofs constructed - second only to Chicago, IL in the total area of green roofs per capita – and need your help getting to number one! The District’s Green Roof Rebate Program is the perfect way to fund your green roof - and it’s now is back in full swing. AWS is offering $5 per square foot on a first-come, first-served basis for qualified DC buildings of any size! This program is available for residential, commercial and institutional properties. Green Roofs provide numerous ecological, health and economic benefits. The owner of a green roof can benefit from lower energy costs, extended roof-life, fee/tax credits, and increased property values. The 2003 National Research Council of Canada report found a standard extensive Green Roof reduced the average daily energy demand during summer months for some buildings by more than 75% as compared to a conventional bitumen roof. Green roofs also improve the District’s air quality, lower the heat-island effect, and improve water quality. In addition, they can provide ecological, quality of life and property value improvements by creating habitats for people, plants and animals. You can begin the application process by visiting www.anacostiaws.org and clicking on Green Roof Rebate Program in the right column. For more information, or to register, contact us at 202-557-5814 or 301-699-6204 or greenroofs@anacostiaws.org. You can also read "Greening the District with Green Roofs" by Laura S. Washington, Green Roof Rebate Program Coordinator, Anacostia Watershed Society in our Sky Gardens Blog. [3.16.12]

The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) is once again providing rebates, at $5 per square foot, for green roofs to qualified applicants for the third consecutive year! The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) is administering the program for DDOE and believes this is a great opportunity to help people cover some costs of their proposed green roofs as well as an opportunity to reach out to those unfamiliar with this technology all in an effort to help restore the watershed. More information about green roofs and the Rebate Program can be found on their webpage as well as DDOE’s website. Interested building owners and developers seeking to install a green roof on their building located in DC can get the process started by filling out a registration form, found on their webpage. Questions? Contact at 301-699-6204 or greenroofs@anacostiaws.org. [1.12.12]

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it renewed the District’s permit to discharge stormwater into local waterways, but only under the condition that it significantly reduce rainwater runoff and the huge amount of garbage that comes with it. Under the terms of the permit, the District is required to add a minimum of 350,000 square feet of green roofs on city properties, plant at least 4,150 trees yearly, and assure that new properties of 5,000 square feet soak up more than an inch of rainwater over a 24-hour rainfall to keep it from flowing into sewers and into rivers, streams and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. [10.5.11]

The District of Washington D.C. has a new Green Roof Rebate Program designed specifically for existing buildings whose owners want to retrofit a roof of 4,000 sf or more by adding a greenroof.  As part of efforts to promote green roofs throughout the watershed, the Anacostia Watershed Society is administering the District Department of the Environment’s (DDOE) new $7/sf rebate program. Read more under Industry Support. [2.22.10]

EERE (Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy)

The FEMP (Federal Energy Management Program) Technology Deployment Program focuses on market-driven technologies and creating market pull for new and underutilized technologies within the Federal sector. The information within this section help Federal agencies identify and assess new and underutilized technologies for deployment. The New and Underutilized Technology: Green Roofs webpage has been updated to include the following information which outlines key deployment considerations for green roofs within the Federal sector. This information spans: Benefits, Application, Climate and Regional Considerations, Key Factors for Deployment, Ranking Criteria, and Resources. [8.18.11]  

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

EPA’s Heat Island Reduction program focuses on translating heat island research results into outreach materials, tools, and guidance to provide communities with information needed to develop urban heat island projects, programs, and policies. www.epa.gov/heatisland.

Building on their 2011 Strategic Agenda, EPA's Green Infrastructure Program is pleased to unveil their new website and to announce the availability of technical assistance to 10-20 partner communities.

Their new website repackages and expands upon their previous website to showcase EPA's research on green infrastructure and to serve as a gateway to the wealth of resources developed by governmental agencies, academia, non-profits, and the private sector. Stakeholders will be able to consult the website for up-to-date information on green infrastructure publications, tools, and opportunities.

The first opportunity they are announcing through their website is the availability of direct assistance from EPA to facilitate the use of green infrastructure to protect water quality. Technical assistance will be provided through EPA contract support, and will be directed to watersheds/sewersheds with significant water quality degradation associated with urban stormwater. The total EPA assistance available is approximately $950,000, and will be distributed among 10-20 projects. The value of the assistance available to each project will be approximately $50,000 - $100,000. Letters of interest must be received by April 6, 2012. [2.21.12]

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a Clean Water Act (CWA) settlement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to resolve claims that untreated sewer discharges were released into Chicago area waterways during flood and wet weather events. The settlement will safeguard water quality and protect human health by capturing wet weather flows entering the combined sewer system, which services the city of Chicago and 51 communities. This consent decree requires MWRD to invest in green roofs, rain gardens and other green infrastructure to prevent basement flooding in the neighborhoods that are most severely impacted by sewer overflows, said EPA Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman. The enforceable schedule established by this consent decree will ensure completion of the deep tunnel and reservoir system to control untreated sewage releases into Chicago area rivers and Lake Michigan. [12.14.11]

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) have joined forces to promote the Federal Green Challenge Initiative in New England federal facilities. The Federal Green Challenge Initiative is a voluntary program designed to help federal agencies improve operating efficiency and reduce their environmental footprint. GSA’s goal is to reduce the environmental footprint of New England federal facilities by at least five percent annually in a minimum of two of the following areas: waste, electronics, purchasing, transportation, water and energy. [11.17.11]

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a commitment to using an integrated planning process to help local governments dealing with difficult financial conditions identify opportunities to achieve clean water by controlling and managing releases of wastewater and stormwater runoff more efficiently and cost effectively. The integrated planning process, outlined in a guidance memo to EPA’s regional offices from EPA’s Office of Water and Office of Enforcement and Compliance, will help municipalities prioritize infrastructure investments to address the most serious water quality issues and provide flexibility to use innovative, cost-effective stormwater and wastewater management solutions. Integrated planning approaches can also have other benefits, like leading to the identification of innovative, sustainable solutions that improve water quality and enhance community vitality. Green infrastructure, such as green roofs, rain gardens, planter boxes, and permeable pavement, is an example of an integrated solution that can reduce, capture, and treat stormwater runoff at its source before it can reach the sewer system. Green infrastructure provides a cost effective way to reduce overflows and add green space in communities. [10.28.11]

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) has agreed to make extensive improvements to its sewer systems and treatment plants, at an estimated cost of $4.7 billion over 23 years, to eliminate illegal overflows of untreated raw sewage, including basement backups, and to reduce pollution levels in urban rivers and streams, the Department of Justice and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced. The settlement will also significantly advance the use of large scale green infrastructure projects to control wet weather sewer overflows by requiring MSD to invest at least $100 million in an innovative green infrastructure program, focused in environmental justice communities in St. Louis. Examples of potential green infrastructure projects include green roofs, bioretention, green streets, rain barrels, rain gardens and permeable pavement..." [8.5.11]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new strategy to promote the use of green infrastructure by cities and towns to reduce stormwater runoff that pollutes our nation’s streams, creeks, rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Green infrastructure decreases pollution to local waterways by treating rain where it falls and keeping polluted stormwater from entering sewer systems. In addition to protecting Americans’ health by decreasing water pollution, green infrastructure provides many community benefits including increased economic activity and neighborhood revitalization, job creation, energy savings and increased recreational and green space. Stormwater is one of the most widespread challenges to water quality in the nation. Large volumes of polluted stormwater degrade our nation’s rivers, lakes and aquatic habitats and contribute to downstream flooding. Green infrastructure captures and filters pollutants by passing stormwater through soils and retaining it on site. Effective green infrastructure tools and techniques include green roofs, permeable materials, alternative designs for streets and buildings, trees, rain gardens and rain harvesting systems. Click here to view the press release for this event. [4.29.11]

EPA's Heat Island Reduction program focuses on translating heat island research results into outreach materials, tools, and guidance to provide communities with information needed to develop urban heat island projects, programs, and policies. www.epa.gov/heatisland. EPA Heat Island Effect Listserv - Jan2011 National Green Building Standard, California Green Building Standards Code, TRB Annual Meeting, and Urban Heat Island News. EPA's Heat Island Listserv keeps you informed with periodic announcements of funding opportunities, webcasts, publications, and events of interest to the urban heat island community. If there are others at your organization that should be included on EPA's heat island distribution list, please direct them to the sign-up form at www.epa.gov/heatisland/admin/listserv.htm. [1.20.11]

Green Roofs for Stormwater Runoff Control - Urban development has led to large areas of impervious surfaces such as parking lots and building roofs, and runoff from these areas is causing problems for many urban and suburban communities. Green roofs have been suggested as a means to reduce the stormwater impact and test results indicate that green roofs are capable of removing 50% of the annual rainfall volume from a roof through retention and evapotranspiration. http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/lid/gi_case_studies_2010.pdf [12.7.10]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it has issued a proposed permit to the District of Columbia requiring the District to continue improving its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program for controlling stormwater runoff. EPA is accepting comments on the permit until June 4. “The innovations in this new permit are vital to restoring and protecting the health of local waterways in the District, as well as the Chesapeake Bay,” said Shawn M. Garvin, EPA mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. “We all need to do our part, and this permit can serve as a model to other municipalities for preventing runoff from washing harmful pollutants into streams and rivers in the Bay watershed.” Medium and large MS4s such as the District’s are required by federal law to have permits covering their discharges. The permit announced requires the District to take progressive steps that were not required by the old permit issued in 2004, including: Implementing a sustainable and enforceable approach to promoting low impact development and green infrastructure, including enhanced tree planting, green roofs, and water reuse onsite to slow down the rate of runoff from paved areas of the District. [4.21.10]

EPA Launches Web Forum on How to Best Protect America's Waters. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on how the agency can better protect and improve the health of our waters. For a two- week period, EPA is holding a Web discussion forum on how the nation can better manage some of the most significant water pollution problems facing our nation. The feedback received on the online forum will help shape the discussion at EPA’s upcoming conference in April, "Coming Together for Clean Water," where they will engage approximately 100 executive and local level water leads on the agency’s clean water agenda. EPA wants to receive input from water professionals, advocates, and anyone interested in water quality issues about best solutions—from planning, scientific tools, low impact development, to green infrastructure and beyond—in controlling water pollution and how resources can be better focused to improve these efforts. To join the discussion: http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/; for additional info contact: Enesta Jones, jones.enesta@epa.gov, 202.564.7873 or 202.564.4355. [3.17.10]

EPA Guides Federal Facilities to Greener Stormwater Solutions: A new technical guide to help federal agencies minimize the impact of federal development projects on nearby water bodies was issued on December 10, 2009 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Under the new requirements, federal agencies must minimize stormwater runoff from federal development projects to protect water resources. Agencies can comply using a variety of green infrastructure or low impact development practices, including reducing impervious surfaces, using vegetative practices, porous pavements, cisterns and green roofs. Click here to view or download the new guidance document - "Technical Guidance on Implementing the Storm-water Runoff Requirements for Federal Projects under Section 438 of the Energy Independence and Security Act." [12.10.09]

Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies: Urban areas are usually warmer than their rural surroundings, a phenomenon known as the “heat island effect.” As cities develop, more vegetation is lost and more surfaces are paved or covered with buildings. The change in ground cover results in less shade and moisture to keep urban areas cool. Built-up areas also evaporate less water, which contributes to elevated surface and air temperatures. Properties of urban materials, in particular solar reflectance, thermal emissivity, and heat capacity, also influence the development of urban heat islands, as they determine how the sun’s energy is reflected, emitted, and absorbed. Heat islands can affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness and mortality, and water quality. [10.1.08]

FedBizOpps.gov (Federal Business Opportunities)

The American Federal Government spends about $500 billion per year on services and products and about almost half of it is allocated to use services and buying products from small businesses in America. If you have business company, you might be asking yourself if the American Fed Gov wants your products or services. Yes they do, The US Government buy anything from cloths and uniform to satellite systems and aerospace components. You will find more than thirteen million services and products bought by the Federal government every year. There are more than 1000 government agencies that buy products plus all type of services intended to maintain the nation working and running smoothly, but just about a quarter of all US businesses that are registered and authorized for doing business with the US government. There aren’t any charges to register or join up and the procedure to be part of it is pretty simple. You can search for opportunities to install and maintain "green roofs" here. [3.15.12]

Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition

A new report released by the Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition identifies green infrastructure as a cost solution policy makers should be considering on the eve of the Ontario Budget and in subsequent political discussions centered on doing more with less. Health, Prosperity and Sustainability: The Case for Green Infrastructure in Ontario argues taxpayer dollars spent on green infrastructure offer a greater return on investment because of the multiple economic, health and environmental benefits. The report, co-written by the Coalition and Ecojustice, examines how other jurisdictions in North America are leveraging the rewards from public policies and investments in green infrastructure, and makes specific, practical recommendations to the provincial government on how to similarly benefit. [3.26.12]