newslinks Archives of previous years 2013  Grow your own roof: As this year's Chelsea Flower Show opens, learn how to get one of its key looks
Daily Mail UK, by Staff
London, UK. "Green roofs have been popping up everywhere at the Chelsea Flower Show in recent years. The idea is simple: instead of using hard materials such as concrete, why not grow plants on that surface? Green roofs also help keep buildings cool in summer and warm in winter, and they have great aesthetic appeal. The RBC New Wild Garden, winner of a Silver-Gilt medal at 2011’s Chelsea Flower Show, attracted a lot of attention for its roof planted with a mixture of wildflowers, sedums, herbs and flowering perennials, all selected to enhance biodiversity..." [5.17.13]
 Why Manhattan's Green Roofs Don't Work--and How to Fix Them
Scientific America, by Amy Kraft
Manhattan, NY. "City rooftops covered with vegetation are seen as a way to reduce the urban heat-island effect and cut energy usage--but so far, the results have been unimpressive...Krista McGuire has taken sedum’s inadequacy as a challenge. The assistant professor of biological sciences at Barnard College wanted to see if a variety of native plants could survive on green roofs and how well they would deliver the desired benefits..." [5.17.13]
 Which Hotels Have Solar or a Green Roof? Check Out TripAdvisor
SustainableBusiness.com, by James Anderman
US. "If you're looking for a hotel or B&B to stay in, you might want to check out TripAdvisor's Green Leaders website, where hotels across the US are ranked on sustainable practices. You can find out if they have solar, electric car charging, a green roof and composting among many other features. Developed in partnership with the EPA's Energy Star, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the United Nations Environment Program, hotels apply to be accepted into the program. Once evaluated, they are given LEED-like ratings - Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum..." [5.16.13]
 Green roofs, living walls springing up around Windsor
CBC.ca, by Staff
Windsor, Canada. "Spring has sprung in Windsor. That means greener grass - and greener roofs and walls, too. According to the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Association, there has been a 24-per-cent growth rate among industries installing green roofs...St. Christopher Catholic School in Windsor has a green roof that's visible from some parts of the school's second floor. Teacher Mike Kosty said it improves the quality of life in the classroom. This is a wonderful sight," he said. "Here we are and we feel like we're outside just by looking out the window. Green isn't just for rooftops..." [5.10.13]
 Green Roof Project Brings Earth To Sky At Texas A&M
Texas A&M University, by Staff
College Station, TX. "The stark, gray rooftop of the Langford Architecture Building on the campus of Texas A&M University will turn green in the months and years to come as students and professors from three academic disciplines come together to create a 'green roof.' Green roofs are roofs that are either partially or completely covered with vegetation. “Green roofs help cool rooftops, conserve energy, prevent urban flooding, provide wildlife habitat and create urban green space,” says Bruce Dvorak, a professor in Texas A&M’s Department of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning, and one of three faculty members leading students in the rooftop planting project..." [5.9.13]
 Investing in green infrastructure will bring multiple returns to nature, society and people
EU News, Press Release
Europe. "The European Commission adopted today a new strategy for encouraging the use of green infrastructure, and for ensuring that the enhancement of natural processes becomes a systematic part of spatial planning. Green Infrastructure is a tried and tested tool that uses nature to provide ecological, economic and social benefits. Instead of building flood protection infrastructure, for example, a green infrastructure solution would be to allow a natural wetland to absorb the excess water from heavy rain...Green infrastructure urban environmental features like green roofs, parks and greenways contribute to human health, help address social problems, save energy and ease water run-off..." [5.6.13]
 U of T's Green Roof Innovation Testing Laboratory launches new website
University of Toronto, News Release
Toronto, Canada. "In 2010, the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design created a state-of-the-art green roof research facility on top of its building at 230 College Street. Now, the interdisciplinary research team behind the Green Roof Innovation Testing Laboratory, or GRIT Lab, has launched a new website which will allow it to share the results of its work with a much broader community...The GRIT Lab focuses on testing the effectiveness of various green roof, green wall, and solar photovoltaic (PV) (solar panel) technologies in the context of the Toronto climate..." [5.6.13]
 Paris shopping centre opens green roof as French cities make room for nature
The Guardian, by Audrey Garric
Paris, France. "Thirty metres above the ground, thousands of flowers – bellflower, foxglove and spurge among others – are poking timidly through the soil, braving this spring's harsh cold. At the beginning of April the largest green roof in Paris – covering 7,000 square metres, equivalent to a football stadium – was officially opened on top of the Beaugrenelle shopping centre in the 15th arrondissement. The aim of this particular variation on the roof garden is to provide a haven for biodiversity and limit temperature extremes inside, and perhaps around, the building, a worthwhile goal, but not always easy to achieve..." [5.4.13]
 With 500,000 plants, Fort Bragg building's roof is green -- literally
The Fayetteville Observer, by Nancy McCleary
Fort Bragg. NC. "...One of Fort Bragg's newest buildings has a roof covered with an unusual array of dragon's blood, coral carpet and immergrunchen. The plants - types of low, drought-tolerant succulents - make up the post's first "green" roof on the $13.4 million Installation Transportation Deployment Support Area, where units will prepare and inspect vehicles and equipment for deployment... The plants were grown and installed by LiveRoof, a network of green roof innovators operating across the country..." [5.3.13]
 University of Maryland sustainability fund helps green programs take root
The Diamondback, by Madeleine List
College Park, MD. "From rooftop gardens to water bottle-filling stations, this university boasts many green initiatives. Scott Tjaden wanted his project to stand out, though, and to do that, the environmental science and technology graduate student realized he needed to think vertically. Tjaden is working to create a “green wall,” a tall lattice system that supports climbing plants on the southern side of the animal science and agricultural engineering building, improving its energy efficiency..." [5.3.13]
 IVS students plan for a greener Karachi
The Express Tribune, by Shahzeb Ahmed
Karachi, Pakistan. "...They incorporated ideas from various known examples of suitable developments around the world and adapted them into their projects to design urban sites in Karachi. The first group presented their project based on the sub-theme of ‘Green Infrastructure’. The project was based on the idea of utilising, otherwise wasteful and underdeveloped, spaces in apartment buildings and recreating them into a social space with a pleasant environment. For this, the students presented the idea of rooftop gardening – a practical method of utilising rooftops given they receive the most sunlight. It also helps save valuable energy by absorbing the heat energy so that the climate stays cooler. Additionally, it provides a much more pleasant breathing atmosphere..." [5.3.13]
 Raising the roof
HorticultureWeek, by Staff
London, UK. "...Ecologist Gary Grant is waiting for planning permission for a green roof on the Rubens Hotel in Victoria, London. It cannot come a moment too soon. Urban greening is becoming and must be a "cornerstone" of planning given that it can help to ease flooding and heat waves, says Grant, author of Ecosystem Services Come to Town: Greening Cites by Working with Nature. Forget talk about urban food production and city farming that is snatching all the headlines...The real excitement and growth is in retrofitting existing buildings with features like green roofs and living walls, and in the greening of the surrounds of buildings with pocket parks and rain gardens..." [5.2.13]
 Saving Native Species with Green Roofs
The Great Energy Challenge Blog, by Christina Nunez
College Park, MD. "Green roofs have been touted as a means of saving energy, improving water management and expanding natural space within urban environments. Can they also help save native plants? National Geographic grantee Clark DeLong is working to answer that question, particularly with regard to species in the U.S. mid-Atlantic region. The botanist, who is based at the University of Maryland’s Plant Science and Landscape Architecture department, answered some questions about his work via email..." [5.1.13]
 BCBS parking deck has second largest 'green roof' in Michigan
MyFoxDetroit, by Robin Schwartz
Detroit, MI. "This time of year, Blue Cross Blue Shield's 'green roof' may look more brown than green, but make no mistake. The plants up there are thriving and doing their job. The green roof of our parking garage here in downtown Detroit has several economic benefits. It prevents the heat island effect that a lot of buildings get when they have tar roofs. So it doesn't reflect as much heat, said Andy Hetzel, vice president for corporate communications. He added that the 52,000 square foot roof makes the building more sustainable. It's the second largest green roof in the state and one of the first buildings of its kind in the world to be LEED certified, a hard to earn distinction from the Green Building Council, which measures green design, construction and operations..." [5.1.13]
 Of biomass and green roofs: US school slashes winter energy bill
Gizmag, by James Holloway
Lakeville, CT. "A US school has cut a six-figure sum from its winter energy bill by replacing its oil-burning boiler with woodchip biomass ones. The switch has reduced the school's carbon footprint by between 35 and 45 percent. The boilers are housed in a brand new green-roofed building which has become only the third LEED-certified power facility in the US...As one should expect from a green roof, this one serves more than aesthetic purposes. Bioswales, specially designed sloping channels, combine with rain gardens to slow and filter rainwater before it enters the ground..." [5.1.13]
 Coming to a rooftop near you
The Boston Globe, by Joseph P. Kahn
Boston, MA. "...In this rooftop project, think tomatoes, basil, parsley, chervil, lovage, and thyme, and lots of it, spread over 13,000 square feet in what will be the most ambitious experiment to date in local urban ag. By next year, the project is expected to total 40,000 square feet of planted produce and another 15,000 square feet of harvest stations and support equipment...Landscape architect Lauren Mandel has been studying the urban ag movement for the past four years. In her new book, “Eat Up: The Inside Scoop on Rooftop Agriculture” (New Society Publishers), she identifies eight North American cities — Chicago, New York, and San Francisco, among them — that have been leading the way in high-rise urban farming..." [4.30.13]
 Grand Opening Planned for new Science, Math, Nursing Building
College of Marin, by Cathy Summa-Wolfe
Kentfield, CA. "The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening and dedication of the state-of-the-art Science, Math, Nursing building with noted lecturer and alumnus Adam Steltzner from the NASA Mars Rover “Curiosity” expedition...The building has green roof areas which contribute to landfill diversion through the use of recycled materials; contributes to prolonging the life of the HVAC systems through decreased use due to the added roof insulation the green roof provides; Contributes to increased storm water management and improved air quality..." [4.30.13]
 Green Infrastructure Boosts Property Values
Express Milwaukee, by Lisa Kaiser
Milwaukee, WI. "New UWM study indicates that stormwater management features have economic benefits. Preliminary results conducted by a UW-Milwaukee researcher show that 'green infrastructure' has boosted property values in Milwaukee...The green infrastructure features Madison studied were those that manage stormwater runoff, such as greenways, rain gardens, wetlands, bioretention facilities, porous pavement and other landscaping elements...A stronger link between increased property values and green improvements could be found in the Lincoln Creek area, which was prone to flooding and sewer backups..." [4.30.13]
 Making Walls Bloom May Be Key To Sustaining The Renaissance Of America's Best Cities
PR Newswire, Press Release
Grand Rapids, MI. "Living wall vertical gardens from LiveWall help high income Millennial tech workers continue to live downtown instead of abandoning cool cities for the suburbs. The stock market may be booming but the continuation of America's urban renaissance could well depend, surprisingly, on flowers. Not just blooming gardens in parks and along boulevards but also in year-round planted walls. In other words, living walls or, as the New York Times headlined the phenomena, "Gardens That Grow On Walls" with products from companies like LiveWall, LLC, located not far from Grand Rapids..." [4.30.13]
 Rooftop gardens add pastoral touch to Beijing
Shanghai Daily, by Liu Lu & Fu Shuangqi
Beijing, China. "About three km from the Forbidden City, the heart of China's capital, a small vegetable garden has just entered growing season. Vegetable seedlings are starting to sprout on the roof of an old building in one of the city's ancient courtyard neighborhoods...The Beijing Rooftop Landscaping Association, established in 2006, said the city has 1.3 million square meters of 'green roofing,' with some of the area employed for growing produce and other areas that serve purely ornamental purposes...The association is working to provide technical training for people who are interested in rooftop gardening and drafting regulations that can promote the hobby, Tan said, adding that he hopes the government will offer more financial support..." [4.30.13]
 British Embassy brings UK green roof expert to Budapest
Gov.UK, by Staff
Budapest, Hungary. "The British Embassy supported an international seminar organised in Budapest to discuss the latest developments and technologies in green building. In line with its priority of taking international action to mitigate climate change, the embassy brought British expert and president of EFB (European Federation of Green Roofs Association) Dusty Gedge to Budapest to talk about the environmental and economic advantages of innovative green technologies in urban environments at a conference entitled “Green roofs around the world 2013 – new prospects for urban development”. The conference, organised by EFB member Hungarian National Association for Green Roofing (ZÉOSZ), took place on 9 April, 2013 and was hosted at the Budapest University of Technology..." [4.29.13]
 Group looking to install green roof at Century Center
South Bend Tribune, by Erin Blasko
South Bend, IN. "A local group committed to water and energy conservation is looking to grow downtown — literally. With an assist from the city, Greening the Bend is working to install a green roof on top of the South Bend Museum of Art at Century Center. A recent engineering study determined the triangular-shaped roof can support the project, paving the way for the group to begin raising the money needed to fund it, estimated at about $300,000...Burke said the current roof needs to be replaced regardless, making now the ideal time to consider a green roof. He added that a green roof would have a lifespan about double that of a conventional flat roof, 40 years compared to 20 years..." [4.29.13]
 Guelph Study May Grow More ‘Green’ for Green Roof Suppliers
University of Guelph, News Release
Guelph, Canada. "A University of Guelph study on how substrate pH affects a popular plant in 'green roofs' is already proving a boon to local growers and green roof plant suppliers. The study, “Optimal Growing Substrate pH for Five Sedum Species,” was published recently in the agricultural journal HortScience. In the study, researchers led by Prof. Youbin Zheng and research associate Mary Jane Clark, School of Environmental Sciences, looked at the effect of varying growing substrate acidity on sedums. This plant is a favourite for rooftop green space, as it withstands winter conditions and drought. The market for rooftop plants in North America has exploded recently, as more buildings recognize their environmental benefits..." [4.29.13]
 Drexel-Cooper Union Partnership to Monitor Second Largest Green Roof in U.S.
DrexelNow, by Britt Faulstick
New York, NY. "In what is estimated to be one of the largest green retrofitting projects in U.S. history, a makeover of the Jacob Javits Center is underway in New York City. The cost of the transformation is on the order of $463 million. While the effects that the green technology will have on the massive convention center and its surrounding environment are not yet known, they will, however, be closely monitored by a team of engineers from Drexel University and The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. The 22-acre green roof is the centerpiece of a series of renovations designed to make the 26-year-old building an example of retrofitting for sustainability... [4.29.13]
 Fort Bragg's First 'Green' Living Roof Installed
FortBragg Patch, by Kelly Twedell
Fort Bragg, NC. "Today marks a significant event as Fort Bragg's first 'green roof' in unveiled. As part of the Army's efforts to conserve energy and find innovative ways to promote sustainability, an Army Corps of Engineers project at Fort Bragg has installed a vegetated roof system of succulent plants on the newly constructed Installation Transportation Deployment Support Area. This green roof project will help to reduce the heat island effect that can make large, concrete-covered spaces like the Installation Transportation Deployment Support Area unbearably hot in the summer and very costly to operate..." [4.29.13]
 Green roof still struggling to take root in San Juan
The Monitor, by Elizabeth Findell
San Juan, TX. "Representatives of Texas A&M University-Kingsville suggested new ideas last week for how to construct a live green roof above Amigos Del Valle, an effort that has been ongoing despite numerous roadblocks. Augusto Sanchez Gonzalez, a research associate with the university, gave city commissioners an update at a meeting Tuesday: The project was progressing, but planting details had been a challenge...the building required heavy work to make the roof strong enough to hold foliage, as well as general structural repairs. The city went through multiple rounds of construction totaling more than $150,000 in 2011 and 2012, but then still struggled to find a vendor who could create a green roof within the building’s weight limitations..." [4.29.13]
 Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District aims for zero wastewater overflows by 2035
JSOnline, by Don Behm
Milwaukee, WI. "...MMSD is working with municipalities and landowners on two fronts to accomplish the goal: repairing private sanitary sewer laterals between residences and street mains to reduce leaks of storm water into the pipes; and planting specially designed rain gardens on lawns or planting grasses and other vegetation on building roofs - known as green infrastructure - to hold rain rather than letting it flow into sewers...While rain gardens, porous pavement in parking lots, green roofs, and replacement of turf grass lawns with native plants capable of absorbing more storm water will deliver the biggest punches, smaller successes will come from planting trees and setting out rain barrels..." [4.27.13]
 Cedar Rapids Library "Green Roof" Now Getting Planted
KCRG-TV9, by Dave Franzman
Cedar Rapids, IA. "Construction is now underway on a 'green roof' atop the new Cedar Rapids Public Library. The new main library, opening in August, will have the only public green roof open to the public. Instead of regular building materials, the roof will also be a home for a variety of plants. In fact, 58% of the entire library roof will be taken up by the planting system. Contractors began the process of putting down layers of material and a special drainage system on Wednesday. The green roof will allow the new library building to absorb and use more rainfall instead of just letting it run off into storm drains. Plants on top the roof will also allow the library to reduce its urban heat signature and keep things cooler inside..." [4.25.13]
 Library begins new chapter with 'garden in the sky'
Vancouver Sun, by Tiffany Crawford
Vancouver, Canada. "...The central library has been given the green light from the city to start planning its long-awaited "garden in the sky," a multi-level outdoor area featuring 16,000 square feet of new public space, including an 8,000 square-foot garden. Since the library was built in 1995, few people have climbed the steep metal ladder out the roof hatch to visit the 28,000 square-foot roof. But that's about to change. In 2015, when the library reclaims the eighth and ninth floors from the provincial government, it will begin a massive renovation that will incorporate the two extra floors and make the roof accessible to the public..." [4.25.13]
 Green Roof blooms in the Pee Dee
WBTW13 News, by Aubrey Jackson
Florence, SC. "A 6,000-square foot 'Green Roof' at The Moore Farms Botanical Gardens in Lake City serves as a part of a national experiment in green building design. The roof has the potential to save money and help make an environmental impact by cutting down on energy use. The 'Green Roof' has gained popularity in New York, Chicago, the Pacific Northwest and in Europe. The Pee Dee-area experiments are designed to figure just which plant varieties will work best for the area..." [4.23.13]
 Proposals for DUMBO’s Empire Stores include green roofs, retail, office space
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, by Mary Frost
Brooklyn, NY. "Ten design firms have submitted ambitious proposals for the development of the long-empty Empire Stores coffee warehouses on the waterfront in DUMBO, Brooklyn. The proposals aim to generate income for the adjacent Brooklyn Bridge Park while preserving and reusing the landmarked 19th century structures. The designs include retail, office and cultural space, and have built in features like terraced green roofs, glass structures, outdoor decks and restaurants..." [4.23.13]
 Happy Earth Day! How Ecologists Are Using Surveys to Support Urban Green Roof Architecture
SurveyMonkey Blog, by Mark Simmons and Christine Thuring
World. "It’s Mother Nature’s big day–Earth Day! Here to talk with us about how surveys are helping advance their research on green roofs in urban environments are Mark Simmons, PhD, Director of Ecosystem Design Group at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and Christine Thuring, PhD researcher at University of Sheffield (UK) and Principal of Chlorophyllocity. Both ecologists are focused on uniting the ecological process with the design of roofs and walls, rivers, urban green spaces, and natural parks..." [4.22.13]
 Green roofs appearing in the area
WDBJ7 News, by Frankie Jupiter
Roanoke, VA. "The new green roof trend is growing literally both by the construction project and by the inch. It's certainly still growing, It's probably been popular for the last 10 years, There are other places in Roanoke that have already started the trend, said construction project engineer, Jeffrey Shifflett. Virginia Western Community College's installed a new green roof at its Center for Health and Science Profession building. It will be used by students and it will also be used to help filtrate storm water runoff..." [4.22.13]
 Inaccessible New York Earth Day Special: The 5 Boro Green Roof Garden
CBS New York, by Evan Bindelglass
New York, NY. "In our series, Inaccessible New York, we’ve been visiting places that are off limits to the public. Well, this one has a twist because you can go there – it’s just not that easy to do. In advance of Earth Day, I took a trip out to Randall’s Island, which, if you’re wondering, is officially part of Manhattan, and arrived at the NYC Parks Dept. Five Borough Garage and Shops building, which, at first glance, isn’t all that interesting...Up on top is the 5 Boro Green Roof Garden, which is the largest multi-system green roof on the planet..." [4.22.13]
 New measures to reduce flood risks
Channel NewsAsia, by Monica Kotwani
Singapore. "Developers of new projects 0.2 hectares or larger will have to implement on-site measures to slow down and reduce the flow of stormwater into the public drains as part of an effort to reduce flood risks...For example, a new residential site that has a green roof, detention tanks or ponds will collect water during heavy rain. Once the rain stops, the water would be released over a period of several hours – thereby preventing flooding and the overflowing of the drainage system..." [4.22.13]
 Go Green Up Top With a Living Roof
Yahoo! Homes, by Erika Riggs
US. "For thousands of years humans relied on natural roofs — made from sod, mud or straw — to keep their homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Today, 'living roofs,' the next generation of those earlier thatched roofs, are slowly sprouting up throughout the U.S., primarily in cities where green space is limited and the benefits are more substantial...Each year, more than 27 billion gallons of untreated sewage enters the New York Harbor alone when stormwater runoff floods city sewers. The appeal of green roofs even led New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to previously offer one-time property tax abatements for owners who installed green roofs..." [4.18.13]
 NYC: Leading Global Companies join the "Carbon Challenge’
Bloomberg, Press Release
New York, NY. "Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the expansion of the Carbon Challenge, an initiative launched through the City’s sustainability program, PlaNYC, to encourage businesses, universities and other private organizations to cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and reduce the impact of climate change...The Fashion Institute of Technology was the first university to reach the Carbon Challenge goal and is continuing to build on that initiative with the installation of its second green roof...The hospital’s green program has grown to include waste and energy reduction strategies, a recycling program, infrastructure projects and a green roof installation of plants to reduce water runoff..." [4.18.13]
 Green infrastructure could give Chicago's sewer system a break
Medill Reports, by Julie Davies
Chicago, IL. "...Finding solutions is important because flooding is expensive. Sprague said over a 5-year period, 5 to 600 million dollars was spent on claims for flooding in basements and backyards. That is money that could be going to infrastructure...However, David J. Yocca, a principal landscape architect and planner at the Conservation Design Forum said green infrastructure planning on a larger scale is also important. Green infrastructure is not just something you can do one off and reduce neighborhood flooding. Yocca and the team at Conservation Design Form designed Chicago’s City Hall green-roof pilot program. Yocca said projects such as green roofs are a good investment because they extend the life of a roof and conserve energy as well as reduce water run off..." [4.18.13]
 University’s green roofs among 38 in St. Louis area
The Alestle Live, by Mac Swartz
St. Louis, MO. "As SIUE’s campus grows, so does its vegetation, whether you can see it or not. SIUE is continuing with their green roof projects in full force as they develop new gardens, revamp the old ones and plan new projects that will benefit the environment, as well as the campus itself. According to mechanical engineering professor Serdar Celik, green roofs, or living plant systems constructed on building tops, have multiple benefits, one of the main being the energy saved when they are installed...In addition to their money saving advantages, green roofs are important in that they improve air quality as well as biodiversity in the area, and can even affect the temperature of an entire city..." [4.18.13]
 Researchers produce findings of green planted-roof pilot study
Voxy, by Staff
Christchurch, New Zealand. "The University of Canterbury (UC) is investigating the benefits of green planted-roofs for the New Zealand built-environment. Initial findings into a year-long UC ecological pilot study has found more than half the stormwater run-off from a planted roof is reduced, compared to an unvegetated roof as it evapo-transpires back to the atmosphere...Christchurch’s rebuilding plans strongly encourage low impact designs including green roof systems and UC has established a green roofed building with different types of plants on campus. After a year’s trial here we can demonstrate green roof systems respond well under Christchurch’s climate..." [4.18.13]
 Green Roofs: International Inspirations
Sustainable Cities Collective, by Future Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa. "...The most well-documented benefits are the creation of ecosystem networks, storm water runoff management, improved building insulation, as well as aesthetic enhancement. Prime examples of these benefits are prevalent across the world. The top of Chicago City Hall provides a lush green view amidst harsh blacks and browns. A hospital in Switzerland provides a habitat to fauna and flora that were initially displaced when the building was built. A meadow on top of an architect’s house in London not only increases the lifetime of the waterproof membrane of his roof, but also sets a new standard in energy efficiency as it insulates his home. In the heart of Manhattan, a penthouse is designed with a private garden to increase the property value with a side benefit being the minimisation of storm water runoff..." [4.17.13]
 Case Study: Green Roofs Provide Signature Element for Affordable Townhomes
MHN Online, by David Aquilina
Milwaukee, WI. "Located in an inner-city neighborhood in Milwaukee at South 35th Street and West National Avenue—and topped off by a distinctive green roof installation—Silver City Townhomes includes 20 1,500-1,900-square-foot rent-to-own, three- and four-bedroom townhomes...The five green roofs, each measuring 2,315 square feet, were funded with a $172,278 grant from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District (MMSD) and installed by Gibraltar Landscape and Construction LLC using the Xero Flor Green Roof System..." [4.17.13]
 Gardening above Rolla
The Rolla Daily News, by Paul Hackbarth
Rolla, MO. "A group of Missouri University of Science and Technology students who weren’t afraid of heights or getting their hands dirty planted a garden Tuesday on the roof of Emerson Electric Company Hall on campus. The planting project was one of the activities being held at the university during No Impact Week, which will run through Earth Day this coming Monday. No Impact Week is highlighting an environmental theme each day and Tuesday’s theme was energy. The planting project also will provide a research opportunity for students and staff to learn what kind of effect a green roof can have..." [4.17.13]
 University could benefit from 'Green Walls'
The University Daily Kansan Blog, by Jenny Stern
Lawrence, KS. "I think it is about time that the University surpasses the 'Ivy' league. When someone describes a building covered in plants, most people automatically think of ivy. However, what they may not know is that there is a much better alternative to common ivy. Innovative 'green walls' are making a sustainable effects without the potential damage that ivy can sometimes cause. A 'green wall' is a wall or side of building that is covered in specially engineered vegetation to serve a specific purpose while remaining aesthetically pleasing..." [4.17.13]
 Rooftop resources
Mountain Xpress, by Anna Raddatz
Asheville, NC. "It’s not every day that a local small business gets its product tested by a hurricane. But Living Roofs Inc., a local company founded 2006 by Kathryn Blatt Ancaya and Emilio Ancaya, got just that. A green roof they designed and installed for Duke University’s Ocean Conservation Center was hit by Hurricane Earl in 2010, and again by Hurricane Irene in 2011. The outcome? The Ancaya’s installation did just fine. Incredibly, after being whipped by wind gusts of 90 to 100 miles per hour, the roof system and vegetation showed no signs of damage..." [4.16.13]
 Lettire Construction Corporation Announces Award for Affordable & Green Housing Around NYC
PR Web, Press Release
New York, NY. "As one of the largest premier builders and developers of affordable and sustainable housing in the New York region, Lettire Construction Corporation has become known for the economic rebuilding of the City. It therefore comes as no surprise that Lettire has also served as the recipient of a number of awards for its commitment to affordable housing, particularly when these projects are sustainably built...Environmentally-friendly features at Castle Gardens include an extensive green roof that utilizes a rainwater harvesting system, aluminum solar shades that are employed on the building's south facade, and materials free of toxic ingredients which are used throughout the building..." [4.16.13]
 Rooftop gardens boost hospital's green credentials
ABC News, by Pamela Medlen
Murdoch, Australia. "...At the hospital, the usual dingy rooms even take on a new feel with all of the windows in patient rooms facing either natural bushland, the Perth hills, coastline or the roof top gardens...some of the rooms had to be in more internal spaces but courtyard and rooftop gardens were created so even those patients had something nice to look at...Most of the landscape in and around the building is either what is termed a roof garden or a podium landscape, which is built over underground structures such as car parks..." [4.16.13]
 Seattle School Certified as World’s Fourth Living BuildingSM, First on West Coast
Business Wire, Press Release
Seattle, WA. "Bertschi School, an independent elementary school in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Wash., is now home to the first Living Building on the West Coast and the world’s fourth fully certified Living Building. Completed in February 2011, Bertschi’s Living Building Science Wing is a 3,380-square-foot interactive learning environment for students ages 5-11. It is the first built project to meet the standards of version 2.0 of the Living Building ChallengeSM, a green building certification program which integrates urban agriculture, social justice and universal access issues, and the use of healthy building materials...Other water-saving features include a green roof and an interior living wall of tropical plants, which treats all of the building’s grey water..." [4.15.13]
 Earth Day and Arbor Day reminders of sustainable landscapes
The Times-Tribune, by Vincent Cotrone
Scranton, PA. "With Earth Day and Arbor Day right around the corner, it is time to evaluate the function of the landscapes in our communities and around our homes. Are those landscapes sustainable? Do they provide a net benefit to the environment, or do they cause more harm than good?...Across the country, landscapes are being transformed and are playing a role in improving our environments. Some landscapes are helping to solve problems that are caused by urbanization. Green roofs, rain gardens, native meadows and large, canopy trees are just a few examples of how sustainable landscapes are helping to save energy, reduce storm water runoff and flooding, providing habitat and reducing air and water pollution..." [4.14.13]
 Greenroofs Spread Across City, Soak Up Storm Water & Praise
Curbed, by Molly Webb
Philadelphia, PA. "Greenroofs are proliferating across Philadelphia at breakneck speed. An 11 townhome mixed-use development at the 1000 block of South 17th Street will be completed before the end of the year, and will feature a lush meadow to break up the desolate stretch of concrete and construction in the area...We've already covered South Philly High's ambitious green roof project, (which is still seeking funding,) and we've mentioned the firm consulting with them, Roofmeadow, but we haven't mentioned Roofmeadow's 39 other projects in Philly, including their 47,000 sq ft green roof atop the PECO building, which you can tour..." [4.12.13]
 Indoor vertical gardens a growing attraction for Hongkongers
South China Morning Post, by Christopher DeWolf
Hong Kong, China. "Bringing plants indoors can introduce benefits including better air quality … and the trend for 'living walls', even in small flats, is taking root...In 1989, research by the US space agency NASA on the International Space Station found that common indoor plants eliminate toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde, which are commonly found in vehicle exhaust. Even most air purifiers don't take away this kind of chemical pollution, said Chen. The NASA study concluded that a 900 sq ft apartment needs just eight large houseplants to improve the quality of its atmosphere significantly..." [4.10.13]
 New Rental Car Center Opens at Midway
NBC Chicago, by BJ Lutz and Charlie Wojciechowski
Chicago, IL. "Eight rental companies now consolidated under one environmentally-friendly roof. The "Quick Turn-Around" center area is a single-story building for rental car agencies, nine car wash bays, a large canopy with a green roof sheltering nine fueling islands, 36 fuel pumps and two 20,000 gallon underground fuel tanks...The center itself sports solar panels and wind turbines to generate electricity, includes a retention center for storm water and uses 17,000 square feet of space on the roof for vegetation..." [4.9.13]
 Redding Library's rooftop has its gardening challenges
Redding.com, by Jenny Espino
Redding, CA. "The mess that is Redding Library’s garden rooftop is turning out to be more challenging than master gardeners had anticipated and may push a freshened look into the fall. Volunteers with Shasta College and University of California Master Gardeners say the weed pulling is going more slowly than they want for two reasons: First, there are so many. Second, the city has been unable to produce the specifications for the ultra-lightweight soil used on the green roof, meaning volunteers are having to take their time shaking off the weed roots to preserve every particle they can..." [4.9.13]
 Building the future at the University of Windsor
Exchange Magazine, by Staff
Windsor, Canada. "Creating a building that houses students who may one day go out and design their own building elements was a feat taken on with that specific concept in mind when University of Windsor constructed their newest addition, the Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation...Among the many design features, the 300,000 sqft building has a 20,000 sqft living green roof with measurement devices that allow students to compare the green roof’s data to that from the control sample on the regular roof. With engineering education in mind, the entire building was made with different concrete and steel building materials..." [4.9.13]
 Europe's largest 'living wall' unveiled at Two Snowhill in Birmingham
Birmingham Post, by Graeme Brown
Birmingham, UK. "The largest ‘living wall’ in Europe has been unveiled in Birmingham – garlanded with over 600 square metres of plants. The 220 metre long wall forms an eye-catching feature of Two Snowhill – the latest addition to Birmingham’s skyline and the largest office development underway outside London. The wall, which stands seven metres high and includes a total of 604 square metres of plants, is believed to be the biggest of its kind anywhere in Europe..." [4.9.13]
 CBD rooftop farm plan laid low by height limits
The Standard, by Jane Lyons
Melbourne, Australia. "Joost Bakker, the trader behind restaurant pop-up Greenhouse Bar and eco-themed Silo Cafe, wants the City of Melbourne to amend its 40-metre building height limit so that he can establish a rooftop farm and restaurant...The proposed rooftop restaurant would incorporate a 1000-square-metre rooftop glasshouse, stonemill bakery and fish farm. This is a unique proposition. We're not trying to add a few floors onto an office tower to get some more revenue, says Bakker. This is really about activating a dead roof-top space. On the one hand, the council has got a rooftop activation program and then on the other side they are saying they can't let this go through because of the height limit..." [4.9.13]
 Trinity College Dublin awarded environment ‘Green Flag’
TheJournal.ie, by Staff
Dublin, Ireland. "Thanks to its reduction in water consumption, energy efficiency and green roofs, Trinity College Dublin has been awarded a Green Flag for the environment. TCD was given the prestigious ‘Green Flag’ award as part of An Taisce’s Green-Campus programme today, recognising the quality of its environment. The Green Flag is an international award and comes following years of work by those at the university. Green-Campus is similar to the Green-Schools programme and is operated by the environmental education unit of An Taisce on behalf of the internationally-based Foundation for Environmental Education..." [4.8.13]
 2013 awash in greens of all shades
The Gazette, by Melia Tatman
Cedar Rapids, IA. "...One of the most anticipated aspects of the new Cedar Rapids Public Library’s Grand Opening (tentatively set for Aug. 24) is the green roof. To see how various establishments, including other libraries, have incorporated such beautiful, functional green spaces, read Karla Dakin’s “The Professional Design Guide to Green Roofs.” Despite the formal-sounding title, the book’s casual, informative style of intelligent text combined with incredible photos of these green roofs (for example the Vancouver Public Library roof garden on page 36) makes this a standout selection, found in the Ladd Library’s lighted display on gardening..." [4.7.13]
 NBA Green Week presented by Sprint Tips Off Encouraging Fans to go Green
NBA.com, Press Release
New York, NY. "The NBA today tips off NBA Green Week presented by Sprint, featuring community greening projects, recycling programs, green giveaways, special Adidas on court apparel, and auctions to encourage fans to “go green.” Continuing through April 12, this marks the fifth year of the league wide Green Week hosted in collaboration with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)...in September 2009, the Minnesota Timberwolves installed a green roof spanning 115,000 square feet on the Target Center, making it the first green roof on any North America arena and currently the nation’s fifth-largest..." [4.3.13]
 Unique Green Home First Completed Under Arlington’s Special Use Permit
PR.com, Press Release
Arlington, VA. "Local homebuilder Arlington Designer Homes has just finished building one of the greenest houses in the county. This unique single-family home, located on the first pipe stem lot to be developed in Arlington County under a new special use permit process, features a living green roof and an advanced storm water management system...The Liveroof® system is a modular system where sedum plants that serve to absorb rain and protect the roof are grown in trays and then transported to the building site ready to go. The advantage to this system is that you can install a fully planted green roof in a day..." [4.2.13]
 Whole Foods Market® and Gotham Greens to build nation’s first commercial-scale rooftop greenhouse above Brooklyn store
Press Release
New York, NY. "Whole Foods Market is proud to announce Gotham Greens as its operating partner of the nation’s first commercial scale greenhouse farm integrated within a retail grocery space. The 20,000-square-foot greenhouse, currently being constructed on the roof of the forthcoming Whole Foods Market store in Gowanus, Brooklyn, is scheduled to open later this fall. Gotham Greens will grow premium quality, pesticide-free produce year round in the greenhouse for Whole Foods Market Gowanus, as well as other Whole Foods Market locations throughout New York City...Watch a video about Gotham Greens and this greenhouse initiative..." [4.1.13]
 Mexican molder making roof modules from recycled polypropylene
Plastics News, by Stephen Downer
Mexico City, Mexico. "Family-owned BMI Plásticos SA de CV is expecting delivery of a KraussMaffei 420 injection molding press this spring with which it plans to launch an environment-friendly venture that's been five years in preparation. Employing technology licensed from LiveRoof LLC, of Spring Lake, Mich., the Mexico City processor will manufacture modules from recycled polypropylene caps used on PET bottles...Much of its attention this year will be focused on the green roof project. It's an ambitious program, said González, pointing out that he's been heavily promoting the technology with city governments and builders across Mexico..." [4.1.13]
 Facebook’s Green-Roofed ‘Hobbit Hole’ Gets Green Light
Environmental Leader, by Staff
Menlo Park, CA. "Facebook has received approval to build its green-roofed, Frank Gehry-designed second campus in Menlo Park, Calif. The Menlo Park City Council voted last week to allow the social network giant to move ahead with its plans for the 433,555-square-foot building. The new campus will connect with Facebook’s current headquarters via an underground tunnel, according to media reports, and feature an oak tree-filled park on its roof...Facebook’s new green roof is one of many sustainability initiative the social network company has undertaken..." [4.1.13]
 Look, up in the sky: green roofs
The Baltimore Sun, by Meredith Cohn
Baltimore, MD. "...Baltimore is emerging as one of the nation's greener roofed cities, with approximately 150,000 square feet added last year, or the nation's fifth most...There are at least 20 green roofs in Baltimore, including Sinai Hospital's 1,050-square-foot roof garden on its new eco-friendly addition. There's a 5,500-square-foot roof on a BP gas station on Key Highway. And the Maryland Science Center plans to build a 4,000-square-foot green roof that will be open for public viewing...At the Hilton, which has a city-leading 31,000 square feet in two green roofs, the project meant managers did not have to build a $175,000 underground storm water management system..." [3.29.13]
 Upwards Trend
Airport World, by Robin Stone
World. "An increasing number of airports are investing in vertical gardens and living walls to create a unique setting, make themselves more environmentally friendly and, even grow their own food...Changi’s Green Wall is made up of 20 different species of 25,000 climbing plants and four cascading waterfalls. The ‘vertical landscape’ design, which hangs above the baggage reclaim areas to maximise planting space, covers almost 4,500 square metres, making it one of the largest indoor vertical gardens in Singapore..." [3.29.13]
 Eco living: turn your roof into a green garden
Telegraph.co.uk, by Sarah Lonsdale
London, UK. "...From quite a young age I was alarmed at the way we were building over farmland and covering up nature, says Justin, now a leading architect spearheading an aesthetic movement away from sharp-lined, human-dominated building and towards design that lets nature clamber over it. This ethic has inspired Justin to build “semi-submerged” homes with green roofs, sky gardens providing vegetable plots way above street level and habitat for wildlife in towns and cities where birds and insects are finding it increasingly difficult to find food and shelter...Scientific studies on green roofs show that ideally you need a long flowering season, from March to October, to be of real help to bees, says Dusty Gedge, a nature conservationist and green roof expert..." [3.27.13]
 Sowing Success in Green Roof Retrofits
Buildings.com, by Christopher Curtland
US. "...Get a structural engineer to evaluate the system’s capacity, recommends Peter MacDonagh, director of science and design for The Kestrel Design Group...extensive green roofs are the most common and represent about 95% of green roofs in Europe, estimates Clayton Rugh, general manager and technical director of supplier Xero Flor America...Your structural capacity dictates how much growing media you can support, and thus what plants you can grow...says Nathan Griswold, senior garden roof technical sales coordinator for supplier American Hydrotech..." [3.25.13]
 Green Walls May Cut Pollution in Cities
National Geographic, by Christine Dell'Amore
World. "A living wall bursts with vegetation at Paris's Musée du Quai Branly—a type of green wall that's catching on in some big cities. These vegetated surfaces don't just look pretty. They have other benefits as well, including cooling city blocks, reducing loud noises, and improving a building's energy efficiency. What's more, a recent modeling study shows that green walls can potentially reduce large amounts of air pollution in what's called a "street canyon," or the corridor between tall buildings..." [3.25.13]
 Living roof revolution across Brighton and Hove
The Argus, by Ben Leo
London, UK. "From suburban homes to giant water treatment plants, the city’s rooftops are turning green in a bid to cut carbon emissions and summertime temperatures...One of the biggest remedies for the urban heat island effect requires green-fingered gardeners to get the pitchfork out and take a trip up to the roof of their office block or home. Then, start work on planting your thriving 'green roof'...London, backed by Mayor Boris Johnson, is spearheading the green roof agenda – all major new developments within the most of Westminster...are required to have a green roof..." [3.25.13]
 Rooftop garden lets lobbyist look forward - and back to his roots
Denver Post, by Karen Mitchell
Denver, CO. "Where does a nationally recognized Democratic strategist with offices in Denver and Washington, D.C., go to relax, garden and entertain? To his roof, naturally...He rises early and heads up the square-cornered spiral staircase of his 15th- and 16th-floor penthouse to the 500-square-foot, u-shaped roof garden...When you're planting with pots, it's like playing with moveable sculptures, says Karla Dakin, landscape architect and co-author of 'The Professional Design Guide to Green Roofs'..." [3.23.13]
 Living roofs grow in Pee Dee
SCNow.com, by Gavin Jackson
Lake City, SC. "The 6,000-square foot green roof at the Moore facility, the garden center built by Lake City philanthropist Darla Moore last January. It is one of a handful of new “green roofs” that are springing up in the Pee Dee. They are part of a national experiment in green building design. The roofs can save money and help mitigate environmental impact by cutting down on energy use and mitigating stormwater runoff...Those advantages, plus the potential savings in energy costs and meeting new sustainability standards led to a 28,500-square foot green roof atop the federal building in Florence a little more than a year ago. Living Roof from Asheville, N.C., won the bid to build the green roof system..." [3.23.13]
 Chicago’s plant evaluations help us in Ohio
Dayton Daily News, by Pam Bennett
Dayton, OH. "This past week I had the awesome opportunity to be on the same program with Richard Hawke, plant evaluation manager at the Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG), at the Michigan State University Extension Plants of Distinction programs...The goal of these trials is to find superior plants for the Upper Midwest. If plants do well in the Chicago area, then I know that they will perform in Ohio. There are four components to the CBG plant evaluation program: 1) comparative trials of herbaceous and woody plants; 2) cooperative evaluation projects; 3) green roof research; and 4) plant exploration to discover new plants (South Korea, China, Republic of Georgia and the United States and more)..." [3.22.13]
 City's urban agriculture gets permanent committee
The Montreal Gazette, by Michelle Lalonde
Montreal, Canada. "After holding a year of public consultations on urban agriculture, the city has announced a permanent working committee to ensure those hearings produce some concrete results. Today, Montrealers are taking another step - mobilizing to further develop their community gardens, green roofs, and to inspire the boroughs and neighbourhoods to favour the local and affordable production of foods, said Josée Duplessis, member of the executive committee responsible for environmental issues and green spaces..." [3.21.13]
 Turning roofs into gardens can help agencies cut energy costs
Federal Times, by Andy Medici
US. "In 2009, the U.S. Postal Service replaced the aging roof atop the Morgan Processing and Distribution Center in New York City with a 2.5-acre “green” roof, complete with native plants, grass and walking paths. The installation is projected to save the agency $30,000 a year in heating and cooling costs...Other federal buildings that have green or reflective roofs include: The Sam Nunn Federal Center in Atlanta has two green roofs and another white roof that have helped lower its energy bill by 23 percent...The Peace Arch Land Port of Entry in Blaine, Wash., has a 22,000-square-foot green roof...The Environmental Protection Agency regional headquarters in Denver has a 19,000-square-foot green roof..." [3.19.13]
 Broadneck's Environmental Club Wants School Roof to go Green
Broadneck Patch, by D. Frank Smith
Annapolis, MD. "Students at Broadneck High School are working toward installation of a 'green roof' for the school. Green rooftops, long popular in Europe, have been growing in popularity worldwide in recent years. Anne Arundel Community College's new Truxal Library has its own green roof. Broadneck High School's Environmental Club is seeking approval to install their own take on a green roof. But before that can happen, they need to acquire the help of a qualified engineer..." [3.15.13]
 Gardening: Progression of roof garden science
Maple Ridge News, by Mike Lascelle
Langley, Canada. "I recently attended a green roof certification seminar at NATS Nursery in Langley and was impressed by how far this plant science has progressed over the past 20 years...The LiveRoof system also incorporates temporary soil lifts (which are later removed) and moisture portals, so that the trays lock in from side to side and the soil from each module connects with the one next to it. This allows the plants from different trays to grow into each other, so that you have a continual garden instead of just isolated modules..." [3.15.13]
 Green Roofs: Vegetated systems benefit environment, pocketbook
Winston-Salem Journal, by David Bare
Winston-Salem, NC. "When you think of watershed health, roofs aren’t the first thing that to come to mind. But roofs will figure prominently when Forsyth Creek Week begins Saturday. Creek Week is devoted to focusing the public’s attention on the importance of waterways. The centerpiece-event is at 11 a.m. Wednesday when Mary Ann Uhlmann, a certified environmental horticulturist and green-roof authority, will present a lecture on how green roofs improve living. Uhlmann is the national horticultural support coordinator for Tremco, a manufacturer of roofing restoration, repair services, materials, sealants, waterproofing systems, adhesives caulks and glazings..." [3.15.13]
 9 Stories High and Rising: Boston on the Brink of First Rooftop Farm
Take Part, by Steve Holt
Boston, MA. "...Higher Ground recently raised nearly $25,000 on Kickstarter and another $10,000 from a benefit concert. Right now the money is being used to finalize their design for the farm with Recover Green Roofs and engineering firm Simpson Gumpertz & Heger. Taking inspiration from the Eagle Street Farm and Brooklyn Grange Farm in New York City, as well as Cloud 9 Farm in Philadelphia, Cornerstone Rooftop Farm in Minneapolis and Uncommon Ground Farm in Chicago, Higher Ground will be Boston’s first rooftop garden—but probably not its last..." [3.12.13]
 Architect's Visit: A Green Roof, With Wildflowers
Gardenista, by Julie Carlson
Japan. "A weekend house for a family of three is built on a grassy plan between the ocean and the mountains in Japan. How do you build a house that sits between the two beautiful views without blocking either? "A grassy plain was cut into and lifted up to produce an in-between space for the house," according to Tokyo-based Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP Architects. As a result, the grassy plain became a living green roof—and playground...Seasonal changes in vegetation give the clients an opportunity to clip and shape the roof, creating a different silhouette for the house as the months progress..." [3.12.13]
 City Gardener: Un-concrete your garden to help the environment
Fulham Chronicle, by Sarah Heaton
UK. "Are there green gardening solutions for the borough’s drainage issues? New buzzword “SuDS”, not soap bubbles but “sustainable urban drainage systems” might be the answer...Seriously consider green roofs on extensions and sheds or garden rooms. These are attractive and most importantly absorb rainfall. A green roof using sedum plants for example is good for biodiversity and wildlife and will remove pollutants from the air. Green roofs can prevent degradation of roof membrane from UV exposure, reduce sound transmission and significantly contribute to insulation. They are popular with planners..." [3.12.13]
 Tianjin Eco-city blueprint for the future
E&T Magazine, by Abi Grogan
Tianjin, China. "There is no single internationally accepted definition of an 'eco-city', but China believes it has a pretty good suggestion in Tianjin Eco-city. We all have a rough idea of what an eco-city is: some perfect unison of nature and technology...All of the city's buildings meet the hybrid Chinese-Singaporean GBES regulations, based on China's Three-star certification programme. Commercial buildings have integrated natural lighting, including façade shading devices, green roofs and vertical greens and minimised openings on the north-facing wall to prevent heat loss..." [3.11.13]
 The growing roof, wall garden business
U-T San Diego, by Lily Leung
San Diego, CA. "If you're over the potted-plant look and have some tax money to spend on your home or business, one thing to consider is a wall garden or green roof. This special niche in the landscaping world remains relatively unknown but has in recent years attracted big-time clients like celeb chef Mario Batali, SDG&E and Fashion Valley Mall in Mission Valley, a major regional mall in Southern California. The firm that served those clients and many more is Good Earth Plants, which evolved from a downtown San Diego plant kiosk to a warehouse space in Kearny Mesa. It also birthed sister company Greenscaped Buildings..." [3.11.13]
 Two pairs of graduate students are first to receive Green Fund Fellowship
The Diamondback, by Madeleine List
College Park, MD. "...The council awarded a second grant to David Daily and Scott Tjaden for their research on the effects of integrating green roofs and solar panels to improve energy efficiency...Their research is aimed at comparing the energy efficiency of solar panels to a solar-powered roof that is also covered in vegetation. They hypothesize that using a solar panel combined with a green roof will be more efficient because of the plants’ cooling effects. Not only do solar panels produce more energy in cooler air, but a green roof can help keep the building cool as well, which can cut down its energy use in the summer..." [3.8.13]
 Which Major Cities Are Leaders in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
Smithsonian.com, by Claire Martin
World. "...Engineering and design firm Arup, along with the Clinton Climate Initiative, surveyed city officials and conducted research on their greenhouse-gas output and actions to reduce emissions...The Greener Greater Buildings plan mandates upgrades to meet the NYC Energy Conservation Code for renovations, and the NYC Green Infrastructure Plan integrates details like green roofs and porous pavement into the city’s quest to manage storm runoff and alleviate pressure on wastewater treatment plants, which overflow in storms..." [3.7.13]
 McGinn's new stormwater edict will mean more green roofs and rain gardens in Seattle
Puget Sound Business Journal, by Marc Stiles
Seattle, WA. "Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn on Wednesday announced a plan to handle up to 700 million gallons of stormwater a year with natural systems instead of traditional “pipe-and-tank” systems. McGinn’s executive order, which his office said is among the first of its kind in the country, directs city departments to develop a coordinated approach to significantly increase the use of natural drainage systems to slow and clean polluted waters by filtering the water through vegetation and soil. Green stormwater infrastructure approaches include bioretention swales, rain gardens, stormwater cisterns, pervious pavement and green roofs..." [3.6.13]
 New Report Highlights Strategies for Green Infrastructure Finance
Natural Resources Defense Council Blog, by Alisa Valderrama
US. "...A new report released today by the Natural Infrastructure Finance Laboratory (“NatLab”) —a consortium comprised of the Natural Resources Defense Council, The Nature Conservancy, and EKO Asset Management Partners—aims to answer those questions. NatLab believes that green infrastructure is a key to urban resilience and lower-cost stormwater management, and the new NatLab report details how private capital can play a significant role in helping cities meet their green infrastructure goals..." [3.6.13]
 St. Charles firm sues for $13M after green roof collapse in 2011
Chicago Daily Herald, by Harry Hitzeman
St. Charles, Ill. "St. Charles-based Aquascape has sued nine contractors, architects and construction firms for $13 million in damages after a section of a green roof at the company's headquarters collapsed two years ago. The collapse of a 500-foot by 60-foot section of the sloped roof, which contained prairie grasses and other plants, occurred Feb. 13, 2011, and did not injure anyone. The damage resulted in a $13 million payout from Aquascape's insurance carrier to cover reconstruction and damages to the Wittstock family of Wayne, which owns the company, and the cost to relocate employees for a year while the roof was repaired..." [3.6.13]
 Home sweet home: Understanding New York City soil fungal communities in green roofs and city parks
PLOS.org, by Jen Laloup
New York, NY. "...In order to better understand these green roof ecosystems, researchers of a recently published paper dug in and evaluated whether or not green roofs in New York City served as a habitat for fungal communities and compared these fungal communities to the microbial composition of nearby city parks. Their research uncovered that fungi form a diverse community, with many varieties that belong to groups capable of surviving tough conditions like disturbed and polluted habitats..." [3.5.13]
 Grow yourself a roof garden
Mirror.co.uk, by Diarmuid Gavin
London, UK. "Landmarks such as the Empire State Building, the Sky Tower in Auckland and the London Eye will turn green this month to celebrate St Patrick's Day. But there's another green revolution - the planting of rooftops...In cities and towns, where green space is being continually eroded for urban development, a green roof can offset some of this environmental damage. Of course, planting anything at all helps to reduce pollution through the natural phenomenon of photosynthesis..." [3.2.13]
 Gardeners look to revive Redding Library's green roof
Redding.com, by Jenny Espino
Redding, CA. "Baldwin and two of his peers with Shasta College and University of California Master Gardeners are getting ready to present city leaders a design to remove the grassy mess and freshen up the green roof. Once the plan clears, the volunteer gardeners will begin work in earnest sometime in April. The garden won’t feature only new plants. It also will add the artwork of north state artists...The Shasta College and University of California Master Gardeners seeks volunteers to prepare Redding Library’s roof garden for replanting..." [3.1.13]
 Why green roofs are sprouting up in some high places
The Seattle Times, by Wayne Apostolik
Seattle, WA. "Well-designed vegetated roofs provide advantages beyond the typical insulation and watertight properties of a traditional roof. Green roofs can cool cities as the vegetation reduces roof temperatures in summer, which can lower air-conditioning costs and demand on power plants...With a life span of 50 years or more, vegetative roofs make sense at the commercial and institutional level from an operational, tax and environmental perspective. For residential use, the biggest benefits are aesthetic and environmental..." [3.1.13]
 Roof garden making its debut in Lujiazui
China Daily, by Staff
Lujiazui, China. "The first high-end organic life experience club opened in Lujiazui, Pudong...Located along the Huangpu River, the experience club promotes the idea of low-carbon green lifestyles. The experience club resembles a sky garden and is designed by the same team who created the Germany pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. The club is made of natural and energy-saving materials, such as wood, stone, cotton, leather and other green items. The sky garden in the attic is full of natural and organic vegetables. Customers here can have a relaxing rest away from the city’s skyscrapers..." [3.1.13]
 Let’s address Urban Heat Island effect on urban environment
The Pioneer, by Mayarani Praharaj
India. "...Mitigation of the urban heat island effect can be accomplished through the use of green roofs and the use of lighter-coloured surfaces in urban areas, which reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat...Green roofs serve several purposes for a building, such as absorbing rainwater, providing insulation and helping to lower urban air temperatures and mitigate the heat island effect. The term green roof may also be used to indicate roofs that use some form of green technology such as solar thermal collectors or photovoltaic panels. Green roofs are excellent insulators during the warm weather months and the plants cool the surrounding environment..." [3.1.13]
 Green Roofs Are Trés Chic in Georgetown
Patch.com, by Makenzie Davis
DC. "DC’s green roof rebate program is turning enough heads that even foreign governments are taking advantage of funding for sustainable development. The French Embassy in Georgetown is one of several local buildings to take advantage of the Anacostia Water Shed (AWS) green roof rebate plan this year...Nearly $350,000 of the District Department of Environment D.C. Green Roof Rebate Program remains for the taking this year. Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis for local businesses and private homes to switch to green roofing..." [2.27.13]
 Are we paving over our national wealth?
Tillsonburg News, by David Suzuki
Canada. "Despite its huge area, Canada has relatively little dependable farmland...Almost half of Canada’s urban base now occupies land that only a few generations ago was farmed. Most of it can never be used for agriculture again, despite city peoples’ efforts to grow food in community plots, on green roofs and by guerrilla gardening...Paving over prime farmland and natural assets like wetlands is foolhardy. Studies show that near-urban croplands and farms contribute billions of dollars in revenue to local economies each year, producing a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables, beef, pork, dairy and award-winning wines..." [2.25.13]
 Urbanites combat climate change with rooftop farms
MSNBC.com, by Faiven Feshazion
Boston, MA. "...But as Congress continues to lightly mull a plan of action, urban visionaries John Stoddard and Courtney Hennessey of Higher Ground Farm are cultivating their own solution to environmental problems. In our vision we’ve got this amazing green roof that produces food and then also has these great environmental benefits, one of which…mitigating climate change...Higher Ground Farm in Boston is in production to be the second-largest rooftop farm in the world, following New York City’s Brooklyn Grange flagship farm...Recover Green Roofs is the Massachusetts-based company set to build the Higher Ground Farm roof, which will be their largest green project to date..." [2.23.13]
 New Google campus planned, turning the Googleplex into a megaplex
Los Angeles Times, by Jessica Guynn
San Francisco, CA. "With its gourmet cafes, workout gyms and sundry perks, the Googleplex is already the stuff of working stiffs' dreams. Now the sprawling suburban office park that houses one of the world's most famous companies is about to get even bigger and better. Google Inc. is preparing to break ground on a 42-acre campus called Bayview that promises to elevate the pampering of its hard-driving, type-A workers to a whole new level. Bayview is to have nine structures, most of which will be four stories tall. The structures will be shaped like bent rectangles to make room for courtyards and will be connected by bridges, one of which will lead to a green roof with an outdoor cafe..." [2.22.13]
 Things are looking greener up on the roof
The Age, by Megan Backhouse
Melbourne, Australia. "It's not unprecedented to find sinuous flowerbeds, a dry creek or native grasses on a roof. There is all that and more atop the heritage-listed blond-brick administration building at the Burnley campus of the University of Melbourne, with this new extravaganza of a green roof being launched on Friday morning by lord mayor Robert Doyle...University of Melbourne senior lecturers Nick Williams and John Rayner have been at the forefront of researching green roofs for Australian conditions and their aim with this $550,000 project is to highlight both the environmental and aesthetic benefits..." [2.22.13]
 Wall Flowers: LiveRoof's "Living" Green Wall System Could Turn Your Wall Into a Vegetable Garden
New Times Broward-Palm Beach, by Nicole Danna
Palm Beach, FL. "...But even though a living roof can be an eco-friendly, money-saving investment for any business or home, many states across the U.S. -- including Florida -- have strict building codes that make them difficult to implement. According to Michigan-based Hortech, creator of LiveRoof and LiveWall -- one of only several U.S.-based living roof and wall systems that do professional installation of their products -- Florida's building codes (and similarly Miami-Dade and other county-level building codes) have not yet established parameters for green roofs to be evaluated, which limits their product's use..." [2.21.13]
 Plant a Green Roof: Feed 70 Chickens and Lower Your Bills
Movoto Blog, by Kristin Crosier
US. "If you live in a large metro like we do, odds are you see mostly bleak-hued buildings. Lots and lots of buildings. One thing we don’t see enough of? Greenery. Of any sort, really. (Unless you count the dog park, or rather, the patch of brown grass down the street.) We’re so nature-deprived we’d welcome the sight of some weeds. Lucky for us though, we recently came across the perfect solution for our green-deficient misery: green roofs. Plant them on your roof and the top of your home becomes your very own grassy plain; convince the super next door to grow one and you’ll have the perfect view of faux fields to wake up to..." [2.20.13]
 Port Of Long Beach Harbor Commission Approves Plan To Build Green Wall Demonstration
Everything Long Beach, by Staff
Long Beach, CA. "On Tuesday February 19, 2013 the Port of Long Beach Harbor Commission approved a plan to build a demonstration of an innovative “Green Wall” along the Terminal Island Freeway. While in the past it served to transport navy personnel to nearby housing, for the past decade the TI Freeway has served largely as a service road for the goods movement industry. This Green Wall, along with the trees that will be planted beside it as part of the project, will help improve air quality, provide sound mitigation, and lessen visual blight. Councilmember Johnson has long fought for such protection for West Long Beach neighborhoods, and this solution was developed by the City of Long Beach’s Office of Sustainability..." [2.20.13]
 Raising the roof could get a lot greener in Saskatoon
Metro News Saskatoon, by Morgan Modjeski
Saskatoon, Canada. "Saskatoon’s Environmental Advisory Committee is trying to get the conversation started on green roofs in Saskatoon. As part of a report on the city’s Stormwater Management Policy the Environmental Advisory Committee (SEAC) will be discussing a number of recommendations for City Council, one of them being the piloting of a green roof concept. According to the recommendations, the SEAC wants to see Saskatoon pilot the concept on select civic facilities, and/or with commercial development partners leading to the development of a bylaw mandating green roofs on all commercial buildings over a specified size..." [2.19.13]
 Research into living walls aims to improve urban life
The University of Sheffield News, by Amy Stone
Sheffield, UK. "A year-long research programme at the University of Sheffield is aiming to improve urban life in the UK through the use of living walls. The research will quantify the long term effects of living wall systems in the UK climate over all four seasons of the year...The study is being carried out in collaboration with a leading living wall contractor, Scotscape Ltd and is funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). It has established the first bridge between the rapidly growing ‘green wall’ industry and academic knowledge, and will promote the benefits of living walls with much needed technical data..." [2.19.13]
 OSU rooftop garden to bloom soon
The Columbus Dispatch, by Mark D. Somerson
Columbus, OH. "A rooftop garden on Ohio State University’s Howlett Hall was supposed to be the first of its kind on a college campus. But the building went up in 1967 without the garden. A lack of money killed the project. Now a group led by the nonprofit Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens is trying to fulfill the promise more than four decades later...Chadwick has landed several large donations, including one of about $100,000, and recently won the $100,000 grant from the Ohio EPA. The group still is trying to raise an additional $77,500 to upgrade the plans, which include putting in paved paths instead of gravel..." [2.19.13]
 Research district has green design in mind
Minnesota Daily, by Hailey Colwell
Minneapolis, MN. "One of the largest building projects on campus is not just going to help the University of Minnesota research cancer — it’ll help the school do so sustainably. Located north of TCF Bank Stadium, the University’s Biomedical Discovery District will house about 700,000 square feet of energy-efficient research space by its projected April completion. The $292 million project will incorporate a green roof, light-harnessing windows and a storm water runoff reduction system...A green roof made of plants on one of the buildings will also assist with storm water control and reduce heating costs..." [2.19.13]
 Plants help lower temperatures
Science Alert, by Staff
Melbourne, Australia. "...A team of University of Melbourne and Monash University researchers is trying to establish how street trees, parks, green roofs and green facades (collectively known as green infrastructure) can interact with urban design to reduce temperatures in cities. Their results show that leafy, green streets and irrigated open space areas were much cooler than built up urban areas without green infrastructure..." [2.18.13]
 Birds of prey used to protect Peacehaven’s giant grass roof
Sussex Express, by Staff
Peacehaven, UK. "Birds of prey are being used to prevent one of the largest grass roofs in the UK from being dug up by hungry crows and seagulls looking for food. The 18,000 m2 living roof covers Southern Water’s new wastewater treatment works at Peacehaven. It is made up of a mixture of down land grasses to reflect the surrounding landscape. A team of goshawks, harris hawks, a golden eagle and a great horned owl have been brought in to scare away the other birds which have been digging up the newly-mown turf in the hope of finding insects and worms to eat...." [2.13.13]
 Hoboken mayor says seawalls and green roofs could protect city from future Hurricane Sandys
The Jersey Journal - NJ.com, by Charles Hack
Hoboken, NJ. "In a speech dominated by talk about Hurricane Sandy, Mayor Dawn Zimmer outlined plans to build seawalls and install more pumps to protect the city from future superstorms...She wants to buy land for park space and building large underground detention systems, create parks on the western side of Hoboken to alleviate the flooding, green roofs that to reduce rainwater runoff, street trees, porous asphalt and pavers, and rain barrels..." [2.13.13]
 Green roofs: A possible solution to urban flooding
Irish Times, by Frank McDonald
Dublin, Ireland. "Dublin-based architect Laurence Nesbitt maintains that retrofitting “green roofs” to office and apartment buildings could play a vital role in reducing flooding in urban areas, such as the city’s docklands. In his thesis for an MSc in architecture, Nesbitt measured 403 existing flat roofs with an area of 17.5 hectares (about 43 acres) in the docklands area, concluding that a cover of greenery would reduce run-off by at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours..." [2.13.13]
 UW’s Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center is Awarded for Sustainable Building Features
UW News, by Brenna Marsicek
Laramie, WY. "The University of Wyoming’s Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center, home to Laramie’s only living roof, has been awarded LEED Gold certification for its environmentally and user-conscious building features. In addition to the living roof, the Berry Center also showcases sustainable features that include locally sourced building materials, natural air ventilation, native or adapted landscape vegetation and building exhaust energy recovery...The building and green roof were designed by Malone Belton Abel P.C. in conjunction with NJRA Architects Inc..." [2.11.13]
 Wayside sows seeds of plenty up high
The Sydney Morning Herald, by Julie Power
Sydney, Australia. "At the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross, they're growing veggies on the rooftop garden, cooking with the produce on the third floor and including the bounty in the busy ground-floor cafe. The garden is one of 75 green walls and rooftop gardens flourishing in the sky across the City of Sydney. Together they measure about 20,000 green square metres. That's a patchwork of lawns and vegetable gardens about the size of the Sydney Cricket Ground. The city's green roof program is receiving one application a week from developers to include a green roof or wall. A further 26 roofs or walls have been recently approved or are lodged and waiting approval..." [2.10.13]
 Vancouver's push to become world's greenest city in 2020 gains strength in 2013
Vancouver Observer, by Mike Chisholm
Vancouver, Canada. "It’s been three and a half years since Vancouver’s deputy city manager Sadhu Johnston made the leap from the green roof of Chicago City Hall to the green vistas of Vancouver. As Mayor Richard Daley’s chief environment officer, his hand was in the greening of the Chicago city hall roof, putting bike racks on Chicago streets and attracting wind company head offices. But he admits it was always a struggle to green the Windy City...As Vancouver pushes to become the greenest city on the globe by 2020, the trail appears to have some serious hurdles that need to be overcome..." [2.8.13]
 9 Steps Cities Must Take to Dramatically Cut Carbon Emissions
The Atlantic Cities, by Emily Badger
Toronto, Canada. "The city of Toronto has already begun to sketch out policies that could reduce the area’s greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades. Officials have proposed greening the electric grid, banning incandescent light bulbs, promoting green roofs on commercial buildings, retrofitting 1960s-era high-rises and implementing a stricter energy-efficient building code for new construction...But to really alter the future prospects for climate change, much more will have to happen in Toronto, and every other city..." [2.8.13]
 'Play streets' can reduce obesity: expert
News.com.au, by Staff
Sydney, Australia. "Blocking off streets to allow children to play and turning apartment roofs into greenhouses would create a healthier Sydney, an expert says. Addressing a forum of NSW government planners on Thursday, Dr Karen Lee described building designs and active transport options that could increase physical activity and access to healthier food in Sydney...'Green roofs' are also another option the city could consider, Dr Lee said. They're good for the environment and decreasing heat generation from concrete buildings. They're also great places for children and adults to play or be active..." [2.7.13]
 Detroit's Framework Plan uses natural systems to save money, help the environment
Crain's Detroit Business, by Saulius Mikalonis
Detroit, MI. "...One does not need to go to Chicago to see how green infrastructure works, however. The largest green roof in the world sits on the Rouge Assembly Plant. It covers 10.4 acres of the plant. In addition to reducing cooling and heating costs and creating new habitat, Ford's green roof can collect four million gallons of storm water, annually. Before the green roof, that water would have flowed off of impervious surfaces and ended up in the Rouge River, along with the contaminants the water would have picked up along the journey. In addition, the Rouge Plant has a natural system storm water management system that consists of rock beds, ground level plantings, swales, porous pavement, retention ponds and underground reservoirs..." [2.6.13]
 Summoning Nature for Healing
New York Times, by Julie Lasky
Chicago, IL. "The Crown Sky Garden, on the 11th floor of the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, is a 5,000-square-foot area for play and contemplation and the second healing garden completed last year by Mikyoung Kim. Ms. Kim, a 44-year-old landscape architect, is regarded as an artful weaver of nature and sculpture. The Sky Garden features a bamboo grove and interactive furniture that emits sounds when an embedded brass hand is touched with a live one..." [2.6.13]
 Government’s proposed green efforts do not outweigh the environmental damage of its Land Use Plan
InSing.com, by Azim Azman
Singapore. "The government’s Land Use Plan may be introducing green initiatives like green roofs for HDB flats and more land to build parks, but it will not be enough to compensate for what will be lost if the Land Use Plan goes all the way...Primarily a plan to cater to Singapore’s growing population, there are also green initiatives which set aside 0.8 hectares of land per 1,000 residents for parks, the implementation of green roofs and vertical greenery for HDB flats and the adding of Beting Bronok, Pulau Unum and Jalan Gemala to the list of nature areas..." [2.6.13]
 Soldier Field only LEED-certified NFL stadium
ABC7 News, by Staff
Chicago, IL. "Game days bring thousands of fans to Soldier Field -- and also lots of trash. Getting rid of it responsibly is one of the features that led Soldier Field to become the first and only stadium in the NFL that's LEED-certified green...Perhaps one of the stadium's crowning jewels is the accessible park that's actually a green roof. Having the grass and the trees, although it looks like a park, that green roof keeps the north garage cool in the summer time and warm in the wintertime…" [2.1.13]
 Frontline: Keep Western green, from top to bottom
The Western Front, by Staff
Bellingham, WA. "...Western has been working on developing and installing green roofs, like the one on top of Miller Hall. This green roof earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, gold certification from the US Green Building Council in 2011...Out of the $51.5 million spent on remodeling Miller Hall, the total cost of the green roof was only about $90,000. This is a small price to pay for such a creative and innovative idea. We need to support projects like this one by urging Western to allocate more funds to green renovations..." [2.1.13]
 Naples restaurant shows how to incorporate green space with a living wall
Naples News, by Michael Spencer
Naples, FL. "...Why not? Living walls, created by placing plants on vertical surfaces, are appearing in surprising places. This makes sense, according to Bruce Dvorak, professor of landscape architecture at Texas A&M University. Colors and textures on vertical surfaces tend to have a strong influence on the perception of a space, he said. And, plants absorb noise, clean the air, and calm nerves...While the living wall that dominates the exterior Masa facade is obvious from the street, the real surprise is inside the restaurant, where another living wall is filled with philodendron, orchids, staghorn ferns, peperomia, maranta, bird's nest fern, and more than 25 additional plants clinging to the wall..." [2.1.13]
 Four faculties share quarters in green, high-tech home at UBC
Okanagan News, Media Release
Kelowna, Canada. "An impressive high-tech building designed to inspire students and produce extraordinary research collaboration was officially opened today at UBC's Okanagan campus...Green roof research is underway that will help semi-arid regions around the world design more sustainable buildings. Civil engineers are helping communities make better decisions about how and when to replace aging – and failing – pipes, roads and bridges...This is also a LEED Gold building, which recognizes very high standards for building sustainability. Along with a geothermal energy system that heats and cools the building using groundwater from beneath the campus, the building features green roof technology, which helps insulate the building, handle storm water and also serves as a research laboratory..." [1.31.13]
 From rooftop garden to soccer, Rally St. Louis weighs projects
St. Louis Business Journal Blog, by E. B. Solomont
St. Louis, MO. "...Starting Friday, the organization will launch a crowdfunding effort to finance the ideas, which range from a rooftop garden in downtown St. Louis to bringing the National Soccer Hall of Fame to the city...Rally St. Louis' first wish list includes $65,000 for a food roof in downtown St. Louis, including a rooftop garden, chicken coop, outdoor education space and a shaded community gathering spot..." [1.31.13]
 On sale for £200m: Kensington Roof Gardens
Evening Standard, by Mira Bar-Hillel
London, UK. "...The 1.5 acre Kensington Roof Gardens on top of the art deco former Derry & Toms department store has been put on the market by its Asian owners...There are three themed gardens: Moorish style, based upon the Alhambra in Spain, with fountains, vine-covered walkways and Chusan palms; Tudor style garden, with archways, secret corners, hanging wisteria and summer-scented blooms, and English woodland garden, with over 100 species of trees...The Derry Gardens, as they were originally known, were inspired by similar roof gardens at the Rockefeller Centre in New York and designed and laid out by landscaper Ralph Hancock." [1.30.13]
 Detroit, blue city
Model D Media, by Matthew Lewis
Detroit, MI. "...Conveyance mechanisms, such as swales can be installed along roads to carry stormwater to retention ponds and detention basins in lower vacancy areas, and buildings can be can be retrofitted with green roofs...The realization of the vision of Detroit Future City will require actions by individuals, companies, neighborhood groups, and government agencies. Homeowners can disconnect the downspouts that lead from their gutters into sewers, companies can install green roofs on their office buildings and factories, and community groups can adopt and program blue infrastructure sites in their neighborhoods..." [1.29.13]
 Alcosan submits massive stormwater plan to EPA - Authority seeks 'green' research
Post-Gazette.com, by Don Hopey
Pittsburgh, PA. "Green roofs, permeable pavement and rain barrels aren't part of plans the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority submitted to the federal government to significantly reduce wet weather sewage overflows into the regions creeks and rivers, but they could be in 18 months...However, as part of its submission to the EPA, Alcosan asked for an 18-month extension to explore the feasibility of adding or substituting "green" infrastructure components to the plan..." [1.29.13]
 Park overshadowed by the 'Beer Can Building'
MyFox Tampa Bay, by Lloyd Sowers
Tampa, FL. "...The garden was designed by Dan Kiley, one of the most acclaimed landscape architects of the 20th Century. His other designs include landscapes at the National Gallery in Washington D.C. and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. His garden in Tampa was completed in 1988 intended to turn the roof of a parking garage into a park and a living piece of art. It was one of the first green roofs, continued Sabia -- an environmentally-friendly roof to provide a shady park near the Hillsborough River..." [1.29.13]
 Bass, of Morganville, paving the way as an inaugural LEEP Pioneer
APP.com, by Angela Bazydlo
Worcester, MA. "...The LEEP Pioneers have been working closely with faculty mentors as well as Clark alumni and organizational partners on projects of shared interest or leading-edge research and analysis...Under the advisement of geography professor Mark Davidson, Bass is working on incorporating green roof technology into the curriculum of the University and neighboring high schools including the University Park Campus School..." [1.29.13]
 Tips for growing edible wall of herbs at home
ABC 7, by Lori Corbin
Los Angeles, CA. "You don't need a lot of room to have your own outdoor herb garden. Think edible wall. It doesn't just taste good, it also looks great. Clifford Pleau is the executive chef for Seasons 52 restaurants. The chain's theme is based on the weekly changing of seasons in regards to produce. With everything on the menu under 475 calories, there are lots of fruit and vegetable variety. They grow their own herbs at the restaurant, on what is known as a living wall at their newest Century City Mall store..." [1.28.13]
 Roll tide, roll green? Alabama college students push for "green fund" projects
AL.com, by Martin Swant
Huntsville, AL. "University students across Alabama are working to bring green infrastructure projects -- solar panels, bike racks and rooftop gardens -- to their campus through "sustainable investment" programs...The other is a "Green Revolving Fund" program, where UA administrators invest in "low-hanging fruit" green infrastructure projects that have guaranteed return on investment within two years. These projects could include using solar energy to reduce water-heating expenses, collecting of rainwater to reduce irrigation costs or constructing plant vegetation "green" roofs to reduce heating and cooling costs at poorly insulated buildings..." [1.28.13]
 Green thumbs up for roof-top design
Hartford Business, by Becky Bergman
Hartford, CT. "A roof-top garden in Middletown and a pond preserve in Westport are among the projects honored recently by the Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. The Excellence Award for Corporate and Institutional Landscape Architectural Design went to Boston-based Robert Olson Associates for its work designing the rooftop garden at the Community Health Center in Middletown. The Excellence Award is the group's highest honor..." [1.28.13]
 D.C. Buildings Go Green On Their Roofs
WAMU.org, by Sabri Ben-Achour
DC. "Up a flight of utility stairs at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., and out through a normally dead-bolted door, is a 14,000 square foot green roof...When rain hits a parking lot or a regular roof, it's funneled down to a drain, then a gutter, and then some creek somewhere where it scours the sides of soil and dumps all kinds of motor oil and grease and even air pollution into someplace, such as the Potomac. When water hits a meadow, the water just gets absorbed. A green roof is more like a meadow, and it's good insulation..." [1.27.13]
 Could low-cost options reduce flooding from Passaic, Hackensack rivers?
NorthJersey.com, by James M. O’Neill
Hackensack, NJ. "...The principal obstacle remains the upfront cost to individual homeowners or developers who might consider embracing the strategy. Proponents say those costs often cause people to overlook real long-term savings, since green roofs can better insulate a building, making it more energy-efficient, and the captured water can be used to irrigate lawns and run toilets, cutting operational costs...Advocates say the obstacles of upfront costs can be alleviated by creative use of incentives, such as rebates and tax breaks. Examples of green infrastructure have already sprung up in North Jersey. A green roof sprawls across the top of a parking garage in Fort Lee and another sits atop a cancer center at Hackensack University Medical Center..." [1.27.13]
 Broadening the Role of Architects: Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center by WeissManfredi
Huffington Post, by Jacob Slevin
Brooklyn, NY. "...The building shifts from being overtly architectural at the entry (a broad entry plaza and shaded canopy) to being primarily about the landscape -- it is nested into a planted berm on the garden side where the building with its green roof (including over 40,000 new plants) virtually disappears into the landscape. Our hope is that architecture, landscape and ecology collaborate in a seamless design...At BBG, water is trapped in the building's green roof, which, among other things, is part of a larger water management system..." [1.24.13]
 To Tackle Runoff, Cities Turn to Green Initiatives
environment360, by Dave Levitan
US. "Urban stormwater runoff is a serious problem, overloading sewage treatment plants and polluting waterways. Now, various U.S. cities are creating innovative green infrastructure — such as rain gardens and roadside plantings — that mimics the way nature collects and cleanses water...These techniques are decentralized. Instead of one facility or large underground tank to store water when a big storm hits, the idea is to eliminate the need for such storage through the use of green rooftops, roadside plantings, carefully landscaped parks, rain gardens, rain barrels, and other swatches of nature dropped down inside the landscape of modern cities..." [1.24.13]
 What Chicago green roofs are missing out on
Medill Reports, by Neel Tandan
Chicago, IL. "Chicago is one of the leaders in green roofs in the nation, with more than 3.5 million square feet. But the city is not capitalizing on its environmentally friendly roofs, according to the latest research. Studies are showing that solar panels, an increasingly popular renewable energy source, are more effective when placed above green roofs. Green roofs, building tops covered with living vegetation that can absorb rainwater and provide insulation, have also been proven to create a cooler microclimate in which solar panels thrive..." [1.24.13]
 Buenos Aires Jumps on Green Roof Trend
Architecture Source, by Mercedes Martty
Buenos Aires, Argentina. "...The City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, took a big step last month by approving the Green Roofs Law. The law will grant building owners a reduction in service-related costs such as lighting, sweeping and cleaning to help offset the cost of integrating green roofing in the building design. That means that those who install and maintain green roofs on their buildings will be able to help reduce greenhouse gases in the busy city without paying wholly out of their own pockets..." [1.24.13]
 NRG Energy Brings Innovative Solar Power Solutions to New Santa Clara Stadium
BusinessWire, Press Release
Santa Clara, CA. "New home of the San Francisco 49ers to be the first professional football stadium to open with LEED certification and the first professional sports venue to achieve net zero energy performance in California during 49ers home games...As one of the first Founding Partners for the new stadium, and the exclusive sustainable energy provider of the 49ers, NRG will install a number of state-of-the-art solar elements, including three solar array-covered bridges, a solar canopy above the green roof on the suite tower portion of the stadium and solar panels over the 49ers training center..." [1.23.13]
 Living walls come under the research spotlight in industry-led project
HorticultureWeek, by Jez Abbott
UK. "A landscape contractor has teamed up with a university to weigh up the good and bad points of living walls. Scotscape designed and installed several systems at Sheffield University and is maintaining them for research and development projects. The 12-month programme will assess the performance of each living wall type...This is the most comprehensive piece of research ever undertaken into the thermal benefits of living walls and we’re looking forward to seeing the results in the autumn of 2013..." [1.22.13]
 Three Years of the Green Roof Garden…and Counting
My Chicago Botanic Garden Blog, by Richard Hawke
Chicago, IL. "It’s hard to believe that the Green Roof Garden has been in place for three full growing seasons already. Our horticultural and research staff is pleased to see how the green roof is growing and evolving as plants settle in and move around by rhizomes and reseeding. Despite the challenging weather of 2011 and 2012, the vast majority of the 240 taxa currently on the green roof have thrived. While our goal is to minimize the care and resources put into maintaining the roof, we had to give the plants supplemental water once in July 2011 and twice in June 2012 during periods of extreme heat and drought..." [1.22.13]
 Beijing needs a green roof revolution
China Dialogue, by Gavin Lohry
Beijing, China. "Beijing has 90 million square metres of potential green roof space, which could provide food, reduce air pollution and cool the city during hot summers...My research on the topic found that in Beijing there is around 93 million square metres of roof space suitable for cost effective green roof adoption. If the cheapest and most basic forms of green roofs covered the suitable roof space, the urban environment would be substantially improved...Greening all the suitable roofs would require an estimated capital investment of 29 billion yuan (US$4.7 billion) at the current price, plus the yearly maintenance costs..." [1.22.13]
 Smart Communities will Build Green Infrastructure
Forbes, by Annie Donovan
US. "...An emerging area that is gaining momentum and deserves the attention of impact investors is green infrastructure for stormwater management. It is a strategy that holds promise as a smarter way to reduce infrastructure development costs, protect human and environmental health, and create jobs...Green infrastructure generally refers to the use of the natural landscape instead of engineered structures. Applied to stormwater management, GI can be defined as “solutions that manage stormwater onsite through installation of permeable pavement, green roofs, parks, wetland, roadside plantings, rain barrels, and other mechanisms that enhance natural hydrologic functions, such as infiltration into soil and evaporation into the air..." [1.22.13]
 Dominion Power Awards VSU $150,000 Energy Grant
Progress-Index, by Staff
Ettrick, VA. "Dominion Virginia Power has awarded Virginia State University a two-year, $150,000 grant for a “Green Roof Initiative” that combines green roof and alternative energy technologies in novel ways to improve both the energy efficiency of buildings and the sustainable use of water for irrigation. The grant is part of Dominion Virginia Power’s selection of several Virginia universities to receive renewable energy research and development funding totaling $1.4 million as part of the company’s new R&D Partnership Program..." [1.22.13]
 Compost Moves Up in NYC
Wall Street Journal, by Carmel Melouney
New York, NY. "Half-eaten salads tossed out by Midtown office workers these days can end up being carted to an upstate compost farm and then returned to Midtown buildings for use as fertilizer on green rooftops. With more green roofs sprouting up across New York's skyline, the Durst Organization says it will spend between $750,000 and $1 million to install more than an acre of green space atop its Midtown Manhattan buildings...The company's first green roofs, which are covered in a mixture of hardy, low-lying plants that don't require deep soil, were installed last March above the Durst offices at One Bryant Park and at 675 Third Ave. By spring, the company will have installed green roofs on eight of its buildings..." [1.21.13]
 Green Options May Delay Water Tunnel Construction
The Hoya, by Madison Ashley
DC. "The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority has proposed suspending multimillion-dollar construction on its tunnel systems project while it explores the implementation of more environmentally friendly options...In light of recent developments in green technology, however, D.C. Water is now proposing that progress be halted on the Potomac and Rock Creek tunnels in favor of exploring environmentally conscious alternatives, which may include tree planting, bioretention facilities, rain gardens, green roofs and infiltration basins..." [1.18.13]
 Cool Roofs are not Green Roofs
Green Roof Technology Blog, by Jörg Breuning
US. "...White roofs relocate the transition point of light into heat from the roof into the atmosphere or surrounding bodies (e.g. buildings). They simply don't eliminate the problem of increasing temperatures (heat island effect) caused by human settlements and they don't decrease the environmental foot print of structures...By using this naturally occurring phenomenon and installing green roofs, the outcome will go further beyond any man-made machine or material..." [1.17.13]
 A New Kind Of Concrete Gives Regular Buildings Living Walls
Fast Company Co.Exist, by Ariel Schwartz
Barcelona, Spain. "This new building material is engineered to easily keep plant life living on it to create easy-to-care-for green buildings. Buildings covered in vegetation aren’t just beautiful. They also capture CO2 and provide insulation--you just have to deal with the fact that they need support structures that stress building walls and require lots of maintenance. Not so with the biological concrete developed by researchers at Barcelona’s Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)..." [1.15.13]
 Bonneville Power Administration becomes first federal agency to win city of Portland's gold sustainability certification
The Oregonian, by Dana Tims
Portland, OR. "Installation of a 'green roof,' reductions in fuel and paper and use of electronic recycling are among the factors prompting the city of Portland to recognize the Bonneville Power Administration as the first federal agency to achieve its Sustainability at Work gold certification. BPA earned gold certification by completing 60 out of a possible 74 actions related to initiatives including education, transportation, materials and waste, and energy and water use..." [1.15.13]
 The 32 most alarming charts from the government’s climate change report
Grist, by Philip Bump
US. "Just reading about the government’s massive new report outlining what climate change has in store for the U.S. is sobering. In brief: temperature spikes, drought, flooding, less snow, less permafrost. But if you really want to freak out, you should check out the graphs, charts, and maps. For the more visually oriented bunker builders out there, here are the 32 most alarming images from the 1,200-page draft report..." [1.14.13]
 Edible edifice: Building the offices of tomorrow
BBC News, by Michael Millar
World. "Urban eats: Could you find yourself tucking into lunch grown on the walls of your office in the not-too-distant future? There's a lot of debate over what place the office might have in tomorrow's working landscape. But one thing that might hurry the flight from the traditional office is the thought your canteen could be serving up meals grown on the walls of the building...Growing living facades could cool cities down like in a forest, where you find cool woodland glades because of all the evaporation going on around you..." [1.14.13]
 Watchdog report: Despite overruns, county proud of $12M 'green roof'
Democrat and Chronicle, by Steve Orr
Rochester, NY. "Going green on the Civic Center Parking Garage: In 2003, Monroe County officials sold the Civic Center Parking Garage...but kept the roof. Ten years and $12 million later, the county is proud of the eco-friendly park it has created...The green roof, one of the largest in New York state, has won several design awards. Through downpours and big snowmelts, the garage is drier than it's been in a half-century..." [1.12.13]
 Why 2013 will be a big year for green infrastructure finance
Natural Resources Defense Council Blog, by Alisa Valderrama
US. "Three recent publications present compelling reasons why private financing for green infrastructure is going to be a hot topic in 2013, and likely for decades to come. 1) Cities are speaking up, increasingly loudly, about their aging storm and sewer infrastructure, and the need for financing to help deal with polluted runoff problems...2) Continuing drumbeat of data confirming extreme weather...3) Recommendations of High-Profile 2100 Commission Make it Plain..." [1.10.13]
 Green roof provides chance for research
Mississippi State Agricultural News, by Susan Collins-Smith
Gulfport, MS. "Horticulture scientists at Mississippi State University are studying and recording the effects of the coastal climate on rooftop gardens in Gulfport. When they learned the eight green roofs at the Armed Forces Retirement Home were struggling to survive, Christine Coker and Gary Bachman, both horticulture scientists at MSU’s Coastal Research and Extension Center, knew they could help. We initially got involved because they needed some guidance on care and maintenance...There are very few green roofs in the area, so the project has also provided us with a chance to do a case study..." [1.10.13]
 We Don't Know What Facebook Is Unveiling Next Week, But It Could Be Its Big New Campus
Business Insider, by Owen Thomas
Menlo Park, CA. "...But we do know one multimillion-dollar object that Facebook is in the process of building. That's the new 2,800-person campus across the highway from its current home in Menlo Park. The single-building Campus West isn't quite on the scale of Apple's gigantic starship headquarters, but it will be big enough to house most of Facebook's engineers under one roof. In September, Facebook began environmental-remediation work on the site—work that should be wrapping up shortly, if it's not already completed...The most obvious feature will be the green roof, planted with trees, grass, and a garden..." [1.9.13]
 College gains expert to capitalize on opportunities
Vernon Morning Star, by Staff
Kelowna, Canada. "...Peter Haubrich, who led the Okanagan Research and Innovation Centre and helped set up several successful research labs for major electronics companies, will be on contract with the college...Already, the Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Penticton is a showcase for green technology. It features the largest photovoltaic solar array on a non-utility institutional building in Western Canada, it includes areas for testing and demonstration of alternative energy sources, features unique green roof designs and has been profiled internationally for its significant energy controls and monitoring systems..." [1.9.13]
 2012 Hottest Year Since Record Keeping Began in 1895
Environment News Service, by Staff
US. "The year 2012 was warmest year for the continental United States since record keeping began 107 years ago, the U.S. National Climatic Data Center announced today. The U.S. Climate Extremes Index indicated that 2012 was the second most extreme year on record for the nation, marked by historic drought, wildfires, hurricanes and storms...To protect the city core from flooding, Washington is having a flood gate constructed on the National Mall. In addition, the Capitol District had installed 1.5 million square feet of green roofs by the end of 2012 due to requirements and incentives to encourage green roofs, which cool the city and slow stormwater runoff..." [1.8.13]
 A Portland firm creates a high school that hugs the land and minimizes its carbon footprint
Architectural Record, by Clifford A. Pearson
Sandy, OR. "...So in addition to pushing much of it up against the hill for protection against heat and cold, DOWA-IBI installed a 300-kilowatt photovoltaic solar array on the roof, along with a solar preheat system for hot water. Green roofs top two of the classroom wings, and a 500,000-gallon rainwater-storage tank supplies water for irrigation and toilets. A 3-mile-long loop of geothermal piping runs beneath the athletic fields, providing heating and cooling, while a displacement-air system moves air up and out so germs don't hang around and infect other people..." [1.8.13]
 Rooftop Gardens Uplift Squalid Palestinian Camps
Al-Monitor, by Dalia Hatuga
Middle East. “An initiative to grow rooftop gardens in overcrowded, crammed camps is providing some economic relief for Palestinian refugees...The idea of rooftop gardening started with Karama, a camp-based non-governmental organization that focuses on women and youth. So far, 15 homes in Dheisheh and one in the nearby Aida camp have been fitted with these gardens — simple fixtures made out of rows of open pipes filled with soil, fitted with an irrigation system and covered by a large net to provide some shade to the plants..." [1.4.13]
 Landscape visitor centre with green roof and straw walls promises to cut energy costs
Horticulture Week, by Staff
Bournemouth, UK. "Hengistbury Head nature reserve in Bournemouth is to build a £1m visitor centre with green roof, straw bale walls and solar panels that will save £1,000 a year in energy bills...A natural turf roof planted with grasses will blend in with the natural surroundings, offer insulation and soak up rainfall. Modcell walls, timber frames infilled with straw bales will form a thick insulating cocoon...The centre will be a community-run project involving more than 50 trained volunteer heritage wardens and 10 apprentices and the council’s countryside team." [1.3.13]
 Northwest grant award supports local project
New Castle News, by Staff
New Castle, PA. "A Lawrence County project is one of eight receiving a grant in the Northwest Commission’s Greenways Block Grant Program. Human Services Center received $40,000 for its green roof project at the Fisher Building in 2012...The Human Services Center project entails installing a GreenGrid roof on the Human Services Center’s Fisher building in downtown New Castle. The roof is a pollution reduction activity that will result in eliminating more than 50,000 gallons of storm water from entering the Shenango River watershed." [1.1.13]
 Mayor of Copenhagen to Visit New York, Discuss Green Initiatives
The Epoch Times, by Zachary Stieber
New York, NY. "The mayor of the Danish city of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen, will talk at a panel discussion about greening cities in New York City in early January. Copenhagen is often thought of as a green city, with many of its residents riding bicycles every day, and an efficient waste incineration program…the city is preparing both short and long term for the changing environment. Plans listed on the city’s website include preserving the existing park system, planting more trees, installing green roofs and gardens, and expanding the capacity of the sewers to deal with heavier and more rain..." [1.1.13]
Archives of previous years
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