Welcome to iGrow News, Your Source for the World of Indoor Vertical Farming
USA: Velázquez Bill Would Bring Green Rooftops to Public Schools
Forward-thinking Congresswoman, Nydia Velázquez. @rep_velazquez recently introduced the Public School Green Rooftop Program Act, legislation that will establish a grant program to fund the installation of green roof systems on public school buildings
July 24, 2020
Washington, DC –If Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) has her way, schools may become fertile ground for learning about the environment and sustainability. The New York Representative has authored a bill allocating federal resources for the adoption of green roofs at public elementary and secondary schools, known as the Public School Green Rooftop Program. The bill has the potential to open up a world of environmental and educational benefits for students and the broader community. The legislation would be especially beneficial to urban areas where access to green space is commonly limited.
“There is no better place to begin teaching our children about conservation than our public schools,” said Velázquez. “However, their education does not need to be confined to the classroom. These roofs allow students to directly engage with sustainable practices and see for themselves the impact that environmentally conscious initiatives can have on their hometowns and neighborhoods. By exposing them to these ideas early on in their education, we forge a path to a cleaner, healthier community.”
Under this program, the Department of Energy will implement a grant program for the installation and maintenance of green roof systems. Green roofs are a sustainable, durable method of improving a building’s carbon footprint, as well as a place where exploration by teachers and students of pressing environmental and agricultural issues can take root. Children living in urban areas will have the chance to see these practices firsthand, an opportunity they are not often afforded. The roofs, according to the EPA, provide a notable advantage to urban communities, where greenery is often hard to come by.
This bill follows a legacy of success in other states. According to estimates from the Missouri educational system, green roofs can save a single school up to $41,587 a year in electricity costs alone. These roofs will cut district energy and maintenance costs substantially. A regularly maintained green roof has a longevity of forty years, as opposed to a standard roof’s ten to fifteen. Additionally, the bill grants maintenance funding for up to four years after the installation of every roof.
Teaching outdoors may also confer an additional benefit: open air schoolrooms may mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. In the 1900s, schools utilized an open-air classroom to prevent students from contracting tuberculosis. Today, this measure has seen support from elementary school teachers who fear that sending teachers and children back into school buildings may pose a danger.
“While we navigate this year’s public health crisis, we need to ensure that we take careful steps towards reopening, with safety as a priority,” asserted Velázquez. “Green rooftops can answer to the call for safer schooling: additional outdoor space provides an opportunity to increase social distancing and open air. This may be one of the ways we can continue to give children the education they need, safely.”
The bill has received resounding support, with endorsements from notable organizations such as National Resources Defense Council, UPROSE, The Nature Conservancy, New York City Audubon, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Green Roof Researcher Alliance, Williamsburg Greenpoint Parents for our Public Schools (WAGPOPS), The HOPE Program, Sustainable South Bronx, The New School Urban Systems Labs, Alive Structures, New York Sun Works, Riverkeeper, Red Hook Rise, Voces Ciudadanas de Sunset Park, Red Hook Rise, New York League of Conservation Voters, Resilient Red Hook, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, NYC H20, the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Brooklyn Grange, El Puente, Brooklyn Greenroof, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, St. Nicks Alliance, New York Environmental Law & Justice Project, Environmental Justice Initiative, National Lawyers Guild - Environmental Justice Committee and Brooklyn Community Board 6.
“This critical legislation will give other public schools, especially those communities historically overburdened by ecological discrimination, the opportunity to reduce their building's environmental footprint significantly and enhance learning opportunities as our green roof has demonstrated at P.S. 41 in Manhattan,” said Vicki Sando, STEM Teacher and Green Roof Founder of P.S. 41 in New York City.
“We at NYC Audubon and the Green Roof Researchers Alliance are thrilled about this legislation and would like to thank Congresswoman Velázquez for her commitment to the natural world. The Public School Green Rooftop Program will result in the growth of critical habitat for wildlife, make the US more resilient in the face of climate change, and provide our youth the opportunity to experience conservation and environmental science first hand,” said Dustin Partridge of the Green Roof Researchers Alliance and Molly Adams of New York City Audubon.
“Passage of this bill will provide exceptional green roof benefits to children, their parents, and teachers at a time when access to safe, green space is very important to communities, and the need to redress the racial injustices is greater than ever,” said Steven W. Peck, GRP, Founder and President, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.
“The HOPE Program, with extensive experience building and maintaining green roofs through our social enterprise, fully supports the Public School Green Rooftop program. This initiative will provide cleaner air for children in schools and the surrounding communities; contribute to ambitious local sustainability goals; and has the potential to provide living wage employment opportunities to the communities most impacted by the current crisis. It's a win, win, win,” said Jennifer Mitchell, Executive Director of the HOPE Program.
“Voces Ciudadanas is grateful for Congresswoman Velázquez’s leadership in introducing ‘the Public School Green Rooftop Program’ bill and hopes that Congress passes this bill that prioritizes long-term green investments into our communities that are beneficial on so many fronts including encouraging multidisciplinary learning, facilitating meaningful parent involvement, providing opportunities for physical activity, and promoting healthy eating,” said Victoria Becerra-Quiroz of Voces Ciudadanas de Sunset Park.
The bill, H.R. 7693, has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
A pdf version of the bill can be found here.
Washington, DC Office
Brooklyn Office
Lower East Side Office
Lower East Side Office
500 Pearl Street
Suite 973
New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212) 619-2606
Washington, DC Office
2302 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2361
Greenroofs.com Featured Project
Sky View Parc
Flushing, NY, USA
55,000 sf. Greenroof
April 15, 2019
Wow, this awesome project looks like something you’d see in pro-environmental design Singapore with its highrises, beautifully landscaped park, and living architecture, right? But it’s not – the lucky location is in the New York City borough of Queens.
Image: Sempergreen
Due to its undeniable scale and multi-color presence, the distinctive Sky View Parc green roof benefits not only condominium’s residents and the environment, but developers and marketers, too. It’s as a great sales tool for eco-friendly design!
Read the entire article here
AMY'S Drive-Thru Restaurant Rohnert Park, CA, USA - 2,650 sf. Greenroof
Everyone loves healthy food (if it tastes good), and the many delicious choices at Amy’s Kitchen are proof. Since we don’t have our own Amy’s Drive-Thru (yet?) in Georgia, we’re very happy to find many of their offerings in the local grocery store.
America’s first all vegetarian organic fast food restaurant’s second drive-thru recently broken ground in Corte Madera, California. And AMY’S just announced on April 26, 2019 they were opening their third vegan friendly drive-thru with living roof within the state in Walnut Creek.
Read The Full Article Here
Call For Videos: 2019 Greenroofs & Walls of The World Virtual Summit
Linda Velazquez on April 19, 2019
Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2019
The 2019 Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit – Greenroofs.com’s 5th completely online conference – will be held Live in September.
Held biennially since 2011, the Mission of the Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summits is to inform, share, and create a global social media experience online for learning and networking via the power of the Internet.
The theme of the 2019 Virtual Summit:
“Cooling a Warming Planet with Living Architecture”
The climate crisis is now and we need to embrace bold solutions and address it in many ways, especially with nature-based design and projects that promote green infrastructure as well as those with social and socially equitable benefits.
Encompassing a broad range of design solutions and a diverse community of multi-disciplinary professionals are crucial in our effort to mitigate and reverse the cataclysmic effects of human induced global warming.
Unique in our industry, the Greenroofs.com Virtual Summits are community destinations that allow you to connect with everyone and experience greenroofs, greenwalls, and green living infrastructure online. Participants have an incredible opportunity to learn about innovative site-specific, cultural, and climatic approaches in living architecture and – this time around – some transformative climate policy.
And with our social media and live events, you can connect and meet awesome experts and practitioners – all with with no carbon footprint!
#VirtualSummit2019
Earth. Image: NASA
Call for Videos
New this year and for the first time, we are issuing an Open Call for Videos! Do you have something unique and interesting to share with the world regarding “Cooling a Warming Planet with Living Architecture?” We’d love to hear from you!
What
Think of your video as an interactive live presentation that is prerecorded by you. We are looking for creative videos about 10 – 30 minutes in length of ideas, people & projects talking about how design can and does address climate change. We are open to videos from both individuals and multi-speakers either in a panel-type or multiple interview format.
Watch previous speaker videos on our Albums / GreenroofsTV channels: 2017, 2015, 2013 and 2011.
Send us an Abstract of your proposed video, either in writing or short under 1-minute video format (much more fun!). But it’s up to you.
Please include: Video Title; Primary Presenter(s); Contact Info; Type(s) of vegetated LID (Low Impact Development) Living Architecture (for example greenroof, greenwall, green street, bioswale, bioretention pond, storm barrier, etc.); Abstract (300 word maximum); and Biography: (100 word maximum).
We need engaged speakers: you MUST be available to participate in social media and make time for a Live Q & A!
By submitting your video, you grant Greenroofs.com permission to share your work with our readership via website, email, and on social media channels.
What Not
We are not looking for:
General information on green roofs and/or green walls/living architecture/green infrastructure – we have a pretty sophisticated audience!
Simply narrated PowerPoint presentations – sure you can show a few narrated slides, but overall it has to be lively and dynamic. Go outside and film your subject or film inside with people discussing and actively engaging with each other.
Your entire video – please only send us What is listed above for now!
Just Another Day on Aerosol Earth. Image: NASA/Joshua Stevens/Adam Voiland
How
Send Abstract and/or Video Abstract to: virtual@greenroofs.com
Our distinguished 2019 Advisory Board and I will review all Video Abstracts to determine a diverse group of sustainability and living architecture professionals.
Key Dates
Upon acceptance of your video, specifics will follow but these are the Key Dates to keep in mind:
Call for Videos: April 19, 2019
Call for Video Abstracts Due: May 31
Notification of Accepted Videos: June 7
Completed Videos Due: July 26
The 2019 Virtual Summit is Open with Scheduled Live Happenings & Social Media Events: September 1-30
Earth. Image: NASA Earth Observatory by Robert Simmon, using Suomi NPP VIIRS data from Chris Elvidge (NOAA National Geophysical Data Center)
#VirtualSummit2019
Join Us and the World in September
The 2019 Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit will be a fun and interactive experience for all.
We hope you join us online in September to learn and share your vision for a healthier planet enveloping living architecture with the world!
For additional info, contact me at:
Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA, LEED AP, GRP
Greenroofs.com Publisher & Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summits
Host
linda@greenroofs.com
o: (770) 772-7334 | t: (888) 477-1326
ARCHITECTURE, CLIMATE CHANGE, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, GREEN ROOFS, GREEN WALLS
New York Passes Mandatory Green Roof Legislation
Linda Velazquez on April 18, 2019
Javits Convention Center. Image: Aramis Velazquez
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Celebrates Historic Passing of The Climate Mobilization Act in New York City – Green Roofs Required on New Buildings
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities shares the historic win for all New Yorkers as well as the larger green infrastructure community: Today, April 18, 2019 at 1:30 pm EST time the New York City Council passed The Climate Mobilization Act, a suite of measures to reduce greenhouse gases released from buildings in New York City, including a requirement for green roofs and/or solar panels on newly constructed buildings.
Brooklyn Grange. Image: Linda Velazquez
The package of bills includes three pieces of legislation from New York City Council members Rafael Espinal, Donovan Richards and Stephen Levin.
“For the past two years Green Roofs for Healthy Cities has been advocating for new measures to grow the green roof market in New York City, and we are very pleased with the passage of this new legislation”, said Steven W. Peck, GRP, Honorary ASLA, Founder and President, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. “New York now joins cities like Denver, San Francisco, Toronto and Portland, Oregon in making green roofs a requirement.” he added. “Through direct lobbying efforts from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities members and other partners, New York City will quickly become a leader in reducing the effects of climate change from its buildings. Thanks to all of the individuals involved!” he added.
Rafael Espinal, NYC Council Member, 37th District, who has been at the forefront of this push for a greener New York City said,
“Today, we are passing a bill that won’t just make our skyline prettier – it will also improve the quality of life for New Yorkers for generations to come. My legislation will require green roofs to be installed on new residential and commercial buildings, making New York the largest city in the nation to pass such a law. We’ve already seen the revolutionary benefits of green roofs in action thanks to places around the city like Brooklyn Steel, the Barclays Center, the Javits Center, the USPS Morgan Processing and Distribution Center, and many others. They cool down cities by mitigating Urban Heat Island Effect, cut energy costs, absorb air pollution, reduce storm-water runoff, promote biodiversity, provide sound-proofing, and make our cities more livable for all.”
“I want to thank the advocates who were instrumental in pushing this forward, Council Members Donovan Richards and Stephen Levin for partnering with me on this effort, and Speaker Johnson for his leadership. These bills show that New York will not be idle in the face of an existential threat like climate change. At a time when the federal government is taking us backward, it is up to cities to lead us into a sustainable future. The time to act is now.”
Kingsland Wildflower Rooftop. Image: Kingsland Wildflowers Green Roof & Community Space
The Climate Mobilization Act covers eight initiatives and two resolutions, among which includes:
• Int. 1031 – Green Roof Information
• Int. 1032 – Green Roofs for New Construction
• Res. 66 – Green Roof Tax Abatement increase
The Climate Mobilization Act is the largest single act to cut climate pollution of any city. In a densely packed metropolitan of over seven million residents, commercial and residential buildings are the largest source of emissions and sit at the center of the policy change. The Act will set emission caps with the goal of reducing emissions by 2030. Depending on the size and property assessments of the buildings, owners will be able to meet targets, ranging from a cut of emissions by 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 for larger buildings. Smaller buildings will reduce emissions in more modest measures.
Also see today’s article from Brooklyn Eagle.
Congratulations to New York City and to all whose hard and persistent work made this important Climate Mobilization Act happen!
How Convention Centers Around The World Are Getting Greener
Aramis Velazquez - February 19, 2019
Photo: Javits Center
Kelsey Ogletree of Trade Show News Network writes:
Implementing sustainable practices isn’t just good for the environment, it’s also good for business, as many convention centers have discovered. According to the 2017 Green Venue Report (the 2018 report has not yet been released), event venues are saving millions of dollars each year thanks to sustainability upgrades through energy, waste or water conservation programs. Energy tracking for events is also improving, with 88 percent of venues surveyed reporting doing so. Yet technology is constantly changing, and what was good (or good enough) a few years ago is likely behind the times now. With that in mind, here’s a look at new sustainability efforts at some of the biggest convention centers around the country.
Convention Centers are Getting Greener
Below is a list of some the Convention Centers in our Greenroofs.com Projects Database:
The Green Venue Report (GVR) is an industry-wide initiative to provide benchmarking data, catalyze best practice, and stimulate competition around global convention & exhibition center sustainability. The report aims to give insight and content to best practices, with real data showing trends across the facets of event and venue sustainability. You can download the 2017 Green Venue Report for more detailed information.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, GREEN ROOFS, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, SUSTAINABILITY
EPA Case Study: Estimating The Environmental Effects of Green Roofs
Aramis Velazquez | November 2018
Photo: EPA
EPA Staff of Environmental Protection Agency writes:
Green roofs can contribute to environmental and livability goals—to mitigate the urban heat island effect, maintain clean air and water, and lower energy costs in buildings—while greening the urban landscape. As this methodology demonstrates, city planners, environmental regulators, and other practitioners can estimate the environmental and public health benefits of green roofs using free, credible, accessible tools. Because of the multiple benefits green roofs provide, they are gaining traction from a diverse set of stakeholders and businesses.
Interested parties nationwide can apply these methods and point to other evidence-based studies to estimate the value of green roofs and other green design practices in their areas. Using this methodology to quantitatively demonstrate the benefits of green roofs provides tangible data to decision-makers who have the power to implement green roofs as a strategy for achieving local environmental and public health goals.
The EPA-published case study, Estimating the Environmental Effects of Green Roofs, demonstrates the environmental and health benefits of green roofs for Kansas City, Missouri. The case study lays out a replicable analytical framework using free quantitative tools created by EPA and others that state and local decision-makers and practitioners can use to assess the multiple benefits of green roofs.
Aside from quantifying the benefits of green roofs, cities are pursuing ways to encourage green roof adoption, including voluntary incentives and regulatory mandates. Many cities have enacted policies that encourage green roof development through rebate programs, tax incentives, or fast-track permitting programs.
23 Cities that have implemented these policies—including Washington, D.C.; Toronto, Ontario; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Seattle, Washington; and Chicago, Illinois—also reported the largest square footage of green roof installations in 2016.
Find more information about Green Roofs in the EPA website.
Check out this video of the 909 Walnut Green Roof Project (from our Greenroofs.com Projects Database) in Kansas City, MO by Stott & Associates Architects, Jeffrey L. Bruce & Company, Soprema, Turf & Soil Diagnostics, and many more:
VIA 57 West
VIA 57 West, a decidedly fantastic architectural mash-up with resident connection to views and nature
Linda Velazquez on September 24, 2018 at 2:50
VIA 57 West
22,000 sf Courtyard Greenroof
New York, NY, USA
Greenroofs.com Featured Project September 24, 2018
With the launch of our website redesign today, what better way to follow up the awesome Venice-Mestre Hospital (Ospedale dell’Angelo Mestre – Angel Hospital) than with the over-the-top VIA 57 West, a decidedly fantastic architectural mash-up with resident connection to views and nature at the forefront of its design strategy?
And the fact that BIG is one of my personal favorite team of architects just sealed the deal.
We also chose VIA 57 West this week in honor of CitiesAlive 2018– Green Infrastructure: Designing the Future of Resilience held in NYC starting today, September 24 and running through Friday, September 28. Brought to you by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, this year’s conference theme focuses on how green infrastructure builds resilience and equity in cities.
New York City has had quite a ride with an early array of beautiful and sensitive greenroof projects, and VIA 57 West adds a splash of the dramatic to its list of greened buildings.
Image courtesy of BIG, ©Iwan Bann
Mini Description & Details
Comprised of VIA, FRANK and Helena, the 57 WEST Superblock is an oasis in one of New York’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the multi-award winning 35-floor VIA 57 WEST is redefining green living with a vision of sustainability that both respects nature and promotes wellbeing.
And its gleaming tetrahedron shape is an immediately recognizable presence on Manhattan’s West Side. A hybrid between the European perimeter block and a traditional Manhattan high-rise, VIA 57 West combines the advantages of both typologies: the compactness and efficiency of a courtyard building with the airiness and the expansive views of a skyscraper.
Image courtesy of Starr Whitehouse
Image courtesy of BIG
By keeping three corners of the block low and lifting the north-east corner up towards its 450 ft peak, the courtyard opens views towards the Hudson River, bringing low western sun deep into the block and graciously preserving the adjacent Helena Tower’s views of the river.
The form of the 77,202 square meter building shifts depending on the viewer’s vantage point. While appearing like a pyramid from the West-Side-Highway, it turns into a dramatic glass spire from West 58th Street.
Image courtesy of BIG, ©Iwan Bann
Image courtesy of BIG, ©Iwan Bann
Designed by Starr Whitehouse, the design of the open-air landscaped courtyard shares the exact proportions as Olmsted’s Central Park, planted with 47 species of native plant material including over 80 trees and lawn.
Starting in a grove of fern and birch, the path meanders up one story into a plaza that recalls a forest glade. Crossing through a fog feature, the path climbs a flight of stairs to arrive on a platform overlooking the Hudson. At this rocky summit, visitors can barbecue, enjoy the view, or sunbathe on a grassy knoll beneath a honey locust, surrounded by sumac, pine, and meadow grasses.
Image courtesy of Starr Whitehouse
Image courtesy of Starr Whitehouse
The single-source greenroof system chosen for Via 57 West is the Garden Roof Assembly® with Waterproofing Monolithic Membrane 6125® from American Hydrotech.
Built with an array of sustainable features and materials – not to mention stunning, unsurpassed vistas across the Hudson River and Manhattan – the spacious alfresco courtyard sky garden beckons to become a part of the engaging VIA 57 West community.
Image courtesy of BIG, ©Iwan Bann
Image: VIA 57 West Facebook page.
Year: 2016
Owner: The Durst Organization
Location: New York, NY
Building Type: Multi Use, Multi-Family Residential
Greenroof Type: Intensive
System: Single-Source
Size: 22,000 sq.ft.
Slope: 5%
Access: Accessible, Private
Image courtesy of Starr Whitehouse
Credits:
ARCHITECT: BIG
PROJECT ARCHITECT: David Brown, BIG
EXECUTIVE ARCHITECT: SLCE Architects
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER OF RECORD: Thornton Tomasetti
MEP ENGINEER OF RECORD: Dagher Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEER: Langan Engineering
MAIN CONTRACTOR: Hunter Roberts Construction Group
FAÇADE CONSULTANT: Enclos Corp., Vidaris, Inc.
TRAFFIC CONSULTANT: Philip Habib & Associates
VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANT: Van Deusen & Associates
ACOUSTICS CONSULTANT: Cerami & Associates
WIND CONSULTANT: CPP (Cermak Peterka Petersen)
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT: AKRF and ROUX Associates, Inc.
LIGHTING CONSULTANT: Brandston Partnership Inc.
GREENROOF SYSTEM: American Hydrotech Roof Garden Assembly®
Image courtesy of BIG, ©Iwan Bann
All the Info:
View the VIA 57 West project profile to see ALL of the Photos and Additional Information about this particular project in the Greenroofs.com Projects Database.
Image courtesy of BIG, ©Iwan Bann
Featured Project
Watch the VIA 57 West Featured Project Video above or see it on our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube.
Greenroofs.com Featured Project 9/24/18 video photo credits: Courtesy of BIG, ©Iwan Bann and ©Nic Lehoux; Starr Whitehouse, ©Iwan Bann and others; and American Hydrotech, ©Kirsten Bucher.
Did we miss your contribution? Please let us know to add you to the VIA 57 West profile.
Would you like one of your projects to be featured on Greenroofs.com? We have to have a profile first! Submit Your Project Profile.
Love the Earth, Plant a Roof (or Wall)!
By Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA, LEED AP, GRP
Greenroofs.com Publisher & Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summits Host
A Year After Passing “Green Roof” Law, Denver Suddenly the Focus of 20-Year “Cool Roof” Debate
New law would force affected property owners to choose between creating green space, installing solar panels and saving energy.
By ANDREW KENNEY | akenney@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
October 27, 2018
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The Flight office building, at 3575 Ringsby Court in Denver, has a green roof in its design on May 9, 2018 in Denver. If a cool roof ordinance was passed for the city, it would replace the green roof law that voters approved last year.
The days of sprawling black roofs in Denver may be ending — but they won’t go quietly.
The Denver City Council will decide Monday whether to create a “cool roof” law for the city. The big hope is that requiring reflective, light-colored roofs on large buildings would lower ambient temperatures, fighting back against the city’s heat-island effect.
“It’s not groundbreaking in Denver, but it’s one of the biggest” of the new cool roof laws, said Kurt Shickman, executive director of the Global Cool Cities Alliance. “They’ll join a small number of big cities.”
The change would affect new construction and reroofing projects for buildings over 25,000 square feet — not your typical home renovations. The new law also would force affected property owners to choose between creating green space, installing solar panels and saving energy.
And, for once, many developers are looking forward to a new rule: It would replace the “green roof” law that voters approved last year, which would have required more costly rooftop gardens. The proposal has the support of green-roof organizer Brandon Rietheimer.
Roofers vs. reformers
But even this smaller change has put the city in the middle of an ongoing debate between roofers and reformers. The council on Monday is likely to hear from industry representatives who say that the cool-roof mandate is an oversimplified approach for a complicated problem.
“Mandating a single component of a roofing assembly is just not what is good design practice,” said Ellen Thorp, associate executive director of the EPDM Roofing Association, which represents manufacturers of EPDM, a rubber membrane for roofs.
The trade association argued in a letter that cool roofs can cause two major problems in colder climates like Denver’s. First, they can purportedly accumulate moisture. Second, they are meant to retain less heat, which means heating bills can be higher.
“Some of the best roofs on the market really were not going to be allowed, period,” said Jeff Johnston, president of the Colorado Roofing Association, who says that much of his Steamboat Springs business is still focused on dark roofs. “Why eliminate it?”
Colorado politics from city hall to the halls of Congress, sent every Thursday.
Attempting to adapt
The reason is simple, according to Katrina Managan, the city staffer who coordinated the roof revision.
“The reason to do them is to adapt to climate change,” she said. Denver could see a full month of 100-degree days in typical years at the end of the century, according to projections from the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization for a “high” warming scenario.
And the impact will be worse in urban areas, where dry, unshaded rooftops and pavement are baked by the sun and heat the air around them. Urban environments can average up to 5 degrees hotter than the surrounding rural areas, and the difference can be much greater at times, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Cool roofs address part of that problem: They reflect the sun’s energy away and stay up to 60 degrees cooler than traditional roofs, the EPA reported.
“It will save Denver a tremendous amount of money. It will create a huge amount of benefit through cooling. And it will set the example,” Shickman said. “It really does add to the argument that says we really should be considering this for almost all of our big American cities.”
City research found that the cool roof mandate would be more effective than the green roof initiative in combating heat, since the green roof requirement only covered parts of rooftops.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Nikki Smith, of Zeppelin Places, shows off the green roof at the Flight office building, at 3575 Ringsby Court, on May 9, 2018 in Denver.
The bottom line?
Major cities began adopting cool-roof requirements nearly 20 years ago, with northerly Chicago among the first. It’s been joined by Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York City and Los Angeles, among others, according to GCCA. Much of the southern United States is now covered by the requirements, and San Francisco in 2017 adopted the first “green roofs” requirement.
“We’ve been in an epic fight between the industry and those of us on my side who are trying to push this forward,” Shickman said.
Thorp, the EPDM Roofing Association representative, pointed to research to argue that Denver should proceed cautiously. Because cool roofs don’t get as hot, they can accumulate more condensation, which requires specialized designs to combat. And she said that a cooler roof could mean higher heating costs and thus more carbon emissions in colder Denver.
She acknowledged that the law would hurt sales of EPDM: Competing materials are cheaper and more popular for cool roofs. But she said that her clients also make those other materials.
“They’re going to make the sale one way or another,” she said.
Shickman countered that the companies are more heavily invested in EPDM, and therefore have a financial motivation to lobby against cool roofs. Other materials “have been eating the lunch of EPDM,” he said. Thorp declined to disclose sales figures for the companies, but said the organization’s “primary driver” was to give roofers options.
Cool roofs are already popular
A city poll of roofers found that about 70 percent of new roofs in Denver are “cool.”
“What we’re tending to find is most companies now are wanting to go to a light roof,” said Scott Nakayama, director of operations for Denver-based North-West Roofing. “The amount that they’re going to save, as far as heating and cooling bills, tends to stand out.”
His company has been installing about 20 light-colored roofs per year, and hasn’t encountered any of the issues raised by the EPDM Roofing Association, he said. Shickman points to this apparent lack of complaints as evidence that a well-designed cool roof can avoid moisture and other issues.
They do come at a cost premium: Cool roofs can cost about 1.5 percent more than a traditional roof, according to city-commissioned research by Stantec, the engineering company. Thorp said that estimate is too low.
If the law is approved, it could take several years before it starts to have a regional effect, since roofs generally only need replacement every 20 years.
The rest of the details
Under the change, developers of new builders can choose among the following options.
Install green space on the building or on the ground.
Pay for green space somewhere else.
Install renewable energy or a mix of renewable energy and green space.
Design the building for 12 percent energy savings compared to city standards, or achieve 5 percent savings plus green space.
Achieve either LEED Gold or Enterprise Green Communities certification for green design.
Existing buildings will have similar types of options, with different details.
Greenroofs.com Featured Project October 15, 2018
Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park
30,138 sf Greenroof
Singapore
Greenroofs.com Featured Project October 15, 2018
I had selected the Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park as one outstanding project that just had to be included in my “Greenroofs.com 2018 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design” long before I recently received a Project Submission from our friends over at Elmich Pte Ltd in Singapore.
Its stunning, curved, and joyous greenroof just screamed at me – plus it looks like a juicy multi-colored caterpillar!
Photo: Elmich
I shouldn’t be glib about it, but it’s hard not to find a wonderful greenroof or greenwall project in Singapore.
With extreme governmental support to provide healthier living spaces in the tight quarters of the very built-up island nation and create a City in a Garden, it’s no wonder their plans are to have 200 hectares of greenroofs and walls in place by 2030 -that’s 2 million m2!
Photo: Darren Soh, Freight Architects
Mini Description & Details
Situated in the middle of a highly developed and built-up area, the new Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park preschool is the largest childcare center to be located within a public park in Singapore. It’s also the first collaboration between the Early Childhood Development Agency and the National Parks Board.
Designed by Freight Architects, the flagship 4,000 square meter complex is not only an architectural work of art but is imbued with biodiversity, inside and out.
Image: Freight Architects
Photo: Elmich
The nature-focused campus is designed to integrate seamlessly into the green surroundings of the park in order to keep the children in touch with nature, providing them with a safe and nurturing environment for their holistic development.
Resembling a “green cocoon,” the 2-story green roof is supported by steel ribs that open up towards the edges, merging into the landscape. Perforated by skylights and left open on the ground and second levels, the structure provides fresh air and dappled natural light indoors.
Photo above and below: Chng Shao Kai/TODAY
Due to the heavy structural load of the barrel-shaped roof, a lightweight, flexible, and erosion-proof design was required, as well as good thermal insulation properties. The Elmich green roof system was selected and to enhance drainage capabilities, Elmich’s VersiCell® drainage cells were placed underneath the planting boards and beneath a layer of geotextile.
Planted with twelve different species, the lush landscaping was implemented by Nature Landscapes. A Garden Atrium houses indoor trees, shrubs, an eco-garden, and a sky bridge, and children can learn about different flora and fauna.
Herbs grown in the eco-garden are cooked and served in the kids’ meals, giving them a unique “garden to table” culinary experience. To promote sustainability, rainwater is also harvested for irrigation and learning purposes.
The beautiful Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park green roof is designed to thrive year round in Singapore’s tropical weather and encourage healthy and strong, socially-emotionally confident, and environmentally responsible children.
Photo: Skool4Kids Facebook
Photo: Elmich
Year: 2018
Owner: Skool4Kidz Pte
Location: Singapore
Building Type: Educational
Greenroof Type: Extensive
System: Single-Source
Size: 30,138 sf
Slope: 3-45%
Access: Inaccessible
Privacy: Public
Credits:
ARCHITECT: FREIGHT ARCHITECTS LLP
GREEN ROOF SYSTEM PROVIDER: ELMICH PTE LTD
GREEN ROOF IMPLEMENTATION: NATURE LANDSCAPES PTE LTD
DESIGN AND BUILD MAIN CONTRACTOR: SANWAH CONSTRUCTION PTE LTD
C&S CONSULTANT: KCL CONSULTANTS PTE LTD
Image: Skool4Kids Facebook
All the Info:
View the Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park project profile to see ALL of the Photos and Additional Information about this particular project in the Greenroofs.com Projects Database.
Photo: Darren Soh, Freight Architects
Featured Project
Watch the Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park Featured Project Video above or see it on our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube.
Did we miss your contribution? Please let us know to add you to the Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park profile.
Would you like one of your projects to be featured on Greenroofs.com? We have to have a profile first! Submit Your Project Profile.
Love the Earth, Plant a Roof or Wall!
By Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA, LEED AP, GRP
Greenroofs.com Publisher & Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summits Host
Quincy, Illinois - Barb Wehmer Has A Suggestion When Space Is Short But Gardening Interest Isn't.
By Deborah Gertz Husar Herald-Whig
August 20, 2018
QUINCY - Barb Wehmer Has A Suggestion When Space Is Short But Gardening Interest Isn't.
Try a vertical garden.
"It makes sense to garden upright," Wehmer said.
The Quincy native worked with vertical farming and an urban green roof in downtown St. Louis designed to grow produce to help feed the poor. After changes in the St. Louis-based company and the death of her husband, Wehmer decided to come back home after 35 years away -- and bring the same ideas to the Quincy area.
"Like anything in life, it's wonderful if you can find a job and something you love and have passion behind," she said. "This kind of thing can change the world. If one kid would learn how to garden and teach his brothers and sisters, it would just take off. But first somebody has got to teach it."
Wehmer works with people in the sustainable, organic and live growing industry and her business, Sustainable Sales, offers products at sustainablesales.net to support that including living walls, essentially a vertical framework that can be planted to flowers, herbs or vegetables in settings including homes, businesses and schools.
"What I really love is teaching children how to garden and farm at school. They can take that knowledge home to their families," she said. "Kids have to learn now everything comes from the grocery store."
Wehmer hopes to tap into an "upsurge" in interest in community gardening efforts in Quincy and beyond and in teaching skills people can use to sustain themselves and their families. Growing your own produce also lessens food safety concerns and the cost of buying food.
"Kids love this sort of thing," which fits into the growing farm to school movement, Wehmer said, and because the living walls are handicapped-accessible, "any child with special needs can wheel up to this unit."
Easy accessibility also benefits senior gardeners. With nursing home residents, Wehmer points to a study that found gardening was one of the things they missed the most. "This unit can be put on casters and can be used inside or outside," she said.
Planted into compost, the living wall "is completely hand water able," she said. "It has an integral drip irrigation line that you can plug in or water by hand just like you water the garden."
The Quincy area -- with its proximity to farmland, support of farmers market and strong base of knowledgeable gardeners -- is a prime location for Wehmer's passion which can find financial support from a variety of sources.
Grants are "available to Head Start, daycare, preschool and grade school up to high school" to cover costs involved, she said. "I just need to get a school to say to me 'show us how to do it.' I've got it ready to go. I've done all the research."
Green Roofs Improve Our Lives. Why Don't We Have More of Them?
Green Roofs Improve Our Lives. Why Don't We Have More of Them?
Jenna Hammerich, Iowa City Climate Advocates Writers Group
Published April 20, 2018
Every day, it seems, a new building appears in our skyline, whether in Iowa City’s downtown or Riverfront Crossings districts, Coralville’s Iowa River Landing, or in Tiffin or North Liberty. Sometimes the new building is LEED certified — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the rating system used by the U.S. Green Building Council to measure a building’s sustainability and resource-efficiency. A few are even beautiful. But almost all of them have dead, black tar and asphalt roofs. Empty, heat-sink roofs. Wasted space.
Imagine seeing a magnolia tree in full bloom on top of an apartment building or prairie grass swaying in the breeze out your bedroom window. Imagine tending a vegetable garden on the roof of a school or strolling through a meadow on the roof of a hotel.
Despite our county’s recent environmental strides — e.g., Iowa City Council’s endorsing federal carbon fee-and-dividend legislation and mandating that multifamily units provide recycling — only a handful of buildings in our area have green roofs.
Green or “living” roofs — those partially or completely covered with soil and vegetation over a waterproof membrane — provide multiple benefits to individuals and communities. By absorbing rainwater, they reduce erosion, prevent flooding, and filter pollutants. They prolong roofing membranes by protecting them from ultraviolet rays. They conserve energy and lower air-conditioning costs by absorbing and reflecting heat. They reduce noise and air pollution, provide wildlife habitat and sequester carbon dioxide. Plus, research continues to show that visual and physical access to nature improves our health. (In one notable study, hospital patients with views of green space recovered faster.)
Green roofs can function as parks, urban farms, playgrounds, outdoor classrooms and peaceful retreats, even in winter. They can be public or private. They can be installed on most roofs (up to a 45-degree pitch), at various levels of cost, access, and maintenance — from shallow, lightweight, perennial grass plantings requiring little to no maintenance to deeper beds with trees and shrubs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, simple green roofs cost about $10 per square foot to install and provide a 220 to 247 percent return on investment.
Given that green roofs improve our vistas, our air, our water, our soil, our moods, our health and our roofs; provide food; reduce community resistance to infill; create jobs; increase buildings’ marketability; pay for themselves; and, I would argue, make an area significantly more attractive to young professionals — why don’t we have more of them?
Two reasons, as I see it: lack of understanding and funding.
The U.S. as a whole lags behind the rest of the world in supporting green roofs. Germany has encouraged the industry since the 1970s via incentives and requirements at multiple levels of government, resulting in 10 million square feet of new green roofs every year. The U.S. installs 7 million.
That said, Chicago, Seattle and Washington, D.C., have robust green-roof industries, thanks to green infrastructure mandates, and San Francisco and Denver recently approved initiatives requiring all new and existing buildings meeting certain thresholds to incorporate green roofs.
I urge every jurisdiction in Iowa to develop green roof policies for all new developments. Cities and counties could also advocate for green-roof tax incentives at the state level, plus more funding for cities’ Stormwater Best Management Practices Grants, which financially assist residents who install stormwater features, including green roofs, on their properties. (Coralville, Iowa City and North Liberty currently provide these grants.)
If you’re a homeowner interested in installing a green roof on an existing building, first contact a structural engineer (most architectural firms have one on staff) to ensure that your roof can withstand the weight. While you can do the installation yourself, I recommend finding a certified contractor like West Branch Roofing, T&K Roofing or Country Landscapes, which work with Roof Top Sedums in Davenport. Visit jcgreenroofs.wordpress.com for a list of local financial resources and certified installers.
In this era of climate change, only cities that invest in green infrastructure will thrive. Iowa has embraced renewable energy. Now let’s take the next step and green up our rooftops.
Jenna Hammerich is a member of Iowa City Climate Advocates and a resident of Iowa City.