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December 2008
In This Issue
Greenroofs.com News
Industry News
NewsLinks
Upcoming Events
Exclusives
Greenroofs.com News

As 2008 comes to a close, we would like to take a moment to thank you for your readership and support in the greenroof industry, market, and more importantly, our growing community.  As always, we value your feedback.  Please feel free to contact us at [email protected].

On behalf of all of us here on the Greenroofs.com team, we wish you and your family a happy holiday season and a healthy, prosperous 2009!

New for 2009: Sky Gardens WebTV Series: We're very excited to be premiering our brand new series in the New Year on Greenroofs.TV! We'll let you know the airdates for our new series of videos highlighting living roofs.  Join us to hear and learn from the specific designers, owners and other professional stakeholders on each project, hosted by Linda Velazquez.

Greenroofs Wallpapers from Desktop Nexus: Now you can download gorgeous vegetated rooftops for your desktop, laptop, iPhone, PSP, and others. We're working on growing our library of beautiful greenroofs for you to enjoy every day from our Greenroofs of the World Calendar™ collection.
 
 
2009 Greenroofs of the World CalendarSpeaking of which, our widely popular 2009 Greenroofs of the World 12-Month Wall Calendar is available for purchase at only $12.95 each, including S&H, (less for quantity purchases)!

Our 11" x 18" full-color glossy 2009 Calendar is full of beautiful living roof projects from Spain, Canada, Germany and across the U.S., plus green building events from all over the world.
 
Added Feature on our E-Newsletter:
New Advertiser Press Releases are posted monthly! You can always find them on the Home Page, and now we're including the latest ones here, too. If you're already an advertiser, send us yours, and if not, here's another great reason to get listed in The Greenroof Directory!
Get Listed in the Greenroof Directory 
 
Greenroof Directory Ad OfferLooking for more great reasons for advertising with Greenroofs.com? We're offering a very attractive offer that will expire on Dec. 31st, 2008.

It's been a tough year financially for almost everyone, so what better way to end 2008 than with getting extra bang for your bucks?

2008 Greenroofs Calendar
The 2008 Greenroofs of the World 12-Month Wall Calendar: December features "ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall" in Fukuoka, Japan.

Designed by Emilio Ambasz and Associates, the huge park in the city center is transposed onto 15 stepped terraces of the ACROS, "Asian Crossroads Over the Sea," Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall. Each terrace floor contains an array of gardens for meditation, relaxation, and escape from the congestion of the city, while the top terrace becomes a grand belvedere, providing an incomparable view of the bay of Fukuoka and the surrounding mountains.
Industry News

National Roofing Contractors Association: In 2009, the NRCA will present five one-day conferences specifically designed for roofing contractors and those who are interested in properly designing, installing and maintaining vegetative roof systems.  Vegetative Roof Systems for Roofing Contractors: Your Rewards, Responsibilities and Risks will discuss the economic and environmental benefits of vegetative roof systems, essential waterproofing requirements, construction details, growing media and vegetation, and building code compliance.

New York City: New York City released its PlaNYC Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan on December 16.  The sixth initiative under PlaNYC's Water Quality goal calls for an Interagency Best Management Practices (BMP) Task Force to coordinate stormwater planning issues. They will be releasing their draft rules for NYC's green roof tax abatement in the near future.

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities: Registration for their 2009 education program is now open; become an accredited Green Roof Professional at the Seventh Annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards, and Trade Show in Atlanta on June 3-5, 2009; and GRHC released its Living Architecture Monitor magazine in a digital format.
NewsLinks

U.S.
LEED Offers More Options for Your Growing Business
Chris Howe from Lawn & Landscape discusses how LEED and environmental certification programs are promoting greenroofs, rain gardens and vegetated walls - all new territory to both plant and maintain. [12.22.08]

Washington, D.C.

New Green Roof Graces Department of the Interior Building
A new greenroof has been planted on the third wing of the Main Interior Building. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne asked, "What more suitable place for a green roof than the headquarters of America's conservation department in Washington, DC?" ENS via NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. [12.17.08]
 
UK
UK Building Clients Push for Recycled Materials
GreenerBuildings reports that the cost savings of greener construction are attracting architects and clients. Software maker Autodesk conducted a survey with the Royal Institute of British Architects and practices expected to grow over the next five years include greenroofs, similar to the AIA joint survey. [12.16.08]

IL.
Legislation Update: Industry Challenges for 2009
The United Union of Roofers, Water Roofers and Allied Workers Local No. 11 have launched a campaign to establish roofers as the primary installers of green roof systems, and the roofers' union apparently feels that any construction that occurs on a roof falls within the domain of a roofer. Lawn & Landscape's Tom Delaney says this position is misguided as various other contractors tradesmen do construction on roofs all the time and are not roofers. [12.09.08]

Toronto, Canada
Building a green skyline
Toronto city council will soon vote on changes to Toronto's Green Standard and if council approves the accompanying Green Roofs bylaw, greenroofs will be mandatory for all new mid-sized and large buildings. Council will also vote on an Eco-roof Initiative Program which would give up to $100,000 to owners of existing buildings installing green or cool roofs in 2009. Paul Gallant writing for Eye Weekly. [11.26.08]
Upcoming Events

Featured Sponsor
Green Paks Green Roof Blocks introduces their newest green roof innovation, Green Paks, the easiest and most affordable way to own a green roof. These knitted polyethylene green roof modules are pre-filled with lightweight engineered soil. Simply cover the roof area with Green Paks, insert the plants of your choice, and start enjoying your green roof. Green Paks are fast, easy, and affordable and carry a twenty year limited warranty.

Click here for the full page color brochure in The Greenroof Directory
Greenroofs.com is the international greenroof industry's resource and online information portal and publisher of The Greenroof Directory of Manufacturers, Suppliers, Professional Services, Organizations, Students & Green Resources; The Greenroof Projects Database; Greenroofs.TV; and the 2009 Greenroofs of the World Calendar.
email: [email protected]
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web: www.greenroofs.com
Exclusives
Linda S. Velazquez
Linda S. Velazquez
Editor & Publisher

If you're still looking for really last-minute gifts or something new to toast to the New Year, read Linda's new post "Holiday Ideas: Top 10 List of Greenroof Gifts" where she counts up to her favorite additions to the aficionado's greenroof library, including new and "classic" offerings.

Contributing Editors:

Kelly Luckett has a new Green Roof Guy column called "Wind Uplift, Fire Resistance, & Maintenance Issues: Winds of Change for the New Year" talking about how he was been working with several agencies to get language concerning wind uplift and fire resistance of green roof design and construction written into the International Building Code. Kelly discusses challenges faced in the form of opposition as well as significant progress.

George Irwin
issued a Green Caution Flag in his latest Sky Gardens blog post, referring to how we need to use common sense prudence with potentially inexperienced upstarts in a down trodden economy.

Also read Christine Thuring's new post on Sky Gardens.  Although currently off trekking through India, she writes now about generalizations and "living in the Motherland of extensive green roof technology" in "Perceptions: Seeing green roofs in Austria."

Guest Feature Article:  Have you read about the awesome 5-star floating luxury greenroof yet?  J�rg Breuning talks about the fantastic Celebrity Cruise's The Lawn Club in "Modern Green Roof Technology Literally Shipped from Germany!"

Advertiser Press Releases:

American Hydrotech - 12.17.08
American Hydrotech, Inc. hires Ray Peters as Technical Services Representative

Alumasc - 12.17.08
Alumasc - Greener by Design at Ecobuild in London, March 3-5, 2009

Sky Vegetables - 12.08.08
Sky Vegetables, Urban Agriculture Company, Hosts First-Ever Building-Integrated Sustainable Agriculture (B-ISA) Summit
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