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Greenroofs.com News
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It's been a busy summer! We've been adding profiles to The
Greenroof Projects Database,
and we're now up to 939 Projects equaling 20,059,403 ft² - now, we know
that's just a drop in the living roofs bucket. Is your project included? If not then send
us your project info to projects@greenroofs.com.
We're finalizing our third installment of the Greenroofs of the World Calendar,
and 2010 is looking good, and will be ready for purchase by late September.
So what's up with our new WebTV series " Sky Gardens?" Our
inaugural Sky Gardens episode premiered at the Boston GreenFest 2009
on Saturday, August 22, 2009, and you'll soon be able to see it on Greenroofs.TV and the GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube.
 We're adding two new categories in The Greenroof Directory, under
Professionals: Industry Designations, one for the new Green Roof Professional
(GRP) designees and one for LEED AP's. If you are currently listed with us and
hold either or both, tell us and we'll add you or your associates to these
categories for free! If you're not listed yet, now's your chance to take
advantage of our new special campaign. Get 10% Off & 3 Months FREE if you Get listed before 9/30/09! For more information about advertising with us, please visit our website.
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Greenroofs of the World Calendar
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 2010 Greenroofs of the World 12-Month Wall Calendar will be available soon! Our 11" x 18" full-color glossy 2010 Calendar will be full of beautiful living roof projects from all over the world once again.
In the 2009 Greenroofs of the World 12-Month Wall Calendar:
July features an Extensive Greenroof in the " U.S. Social Security Administration Southeast Payment Processing" building in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
This SSA world-class
greenroof project was designed to achieve LEED® Silver certification and
enhance the city's revitalization efforts. Currently one of the largest
greenroofs in the U.S.,
it's alive with 160,000 Sedum plants covering two acres. Birmingham's
average summer highs soar above 90 degrees with unpredictable rainfall; the
sedums were especially grown by Saul Nurseries, plant growers with extensive
experience in the greenroof industry.
August features the " American Society of Landscape Architects HQ" with an Extensive Greenroof in Washington, DC, USA. The ASLA headquarters green roof serves as a
demonstration project for the environmental benefits of green roofs and
showcases what landscape architects contribute to this project type. The design
includes two elevated "waves" that raise the plants to eye level as well as
hide the HVAC system, and an innovative aluminum grating system. For more information click here. September features the " Expo Zaragoza 2008" Roof Garden Intensive Commercial Greenroof in Zaragoza, Spain.
The Expo Zaragoza 2008
utilized over 765,000 sf of ZinCo green roof systems representing an imposing
environmental responsibility for stormwater management. The various types of
water distribution in nature are displayed by different climatic zones along a
river through the 11,000 sf "Agua Compartida" (Shared Water) Pavilion.
The 754,000 sf of ZinCo's 'Perennial
Garden' are intensively
used as recreational area in daily life. Do you want your project included in future Greenroofs of the World Wall Calendars? Click here for more information. |
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Industry News
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New York City Buildings Department: Read about new required
items for greenroofs and solar electric generating systems in their property
tax abatement program. [8.26.09]
State of Illinois: The Energy Department
approved an Illinois proposal for $101M in green grant funds that would use
federal stimulus money to jump-start manufacturing of wind turbine components
and create other green energy businesses. The state plans a two-track
application process. Short-term projects, such as green roofs and
energy-efficiency retrofits, will have 45 days to file applications, with
awards expected by early November. [8.14.09]
American Hydrotech:
They're offering a free waterproofing and roofing resource handbook for all
architects and design community professionals. Topics include sustainable
design, waterproof product specification, and proper installation techniques
for use by building professionals in designing and waterproofing roof decks,
plazas, vertical foundations, reflecting pools, and green roof applications. [8.11.09]
Groundwork Sheffield:
After successfully delivering their 'Introduction to Green Roofs' course to
hundreds, they are expanding its greenroof training repertoire. Among other
practitioners, reigning greenroof champion Dusty Gedge from Livingroofs.org
delivers an in-depth workshop focusing on biodiversity, and how planning
requirements can be met through the incorporation of ecological design
principles. [6.26.09]
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities: Work towards your Green Roof Professional (GRP) designation by attending GRHC training courses. To register, visit www.greenroofs.org/education. Always check their website, as course dates are subject to change. Green Roof Boot Camps - Intensive 4-day events for GRP candidates (courses can be taken separately or combined). Register no later than two weeks in advance for a 10% early bird discount on boot camp courses only. Learn more in Upcoming Events.
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NewsLinks
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Moscow, Russia
Green green grass of Arbat
Moscow News, by Nathan Toohey
Novy Arbat has gone green with its own grassroots movement - a green-roof renovation. The Novy Arbat building that houses the Novoarbatsky Shopping Centre has had its rooftop covered in lawn grass. The total turf area consists of more than 2,700 square metres. The new 'field' comes with an automatic watering system incorporated into the layer of soil. At fixed intervals the control system releases the water via a spray system. [8.31.09]
U.S.
Protecting Municipal Green Programs is the Smart Choice, even During the Recession
Red, Green, and Blue, by Amiel Blajchman
As the recession has forced municipal governments all over to tighten their belts, municipally run green initiatives have been some of the programs on the chopping block. Green roof technology is a common urban and rural roofing technique in Europe. While building managers find green roofs to be beneficial due to their insulation and reduced maintenance benefits, municipalities have developed green roof promotion programs to support aging sewer and wastewater infrastructure. [8.31.09]
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Garden goals
Malaysia Star, by Andrew Sia
Concrete + greenery = green oasis? If there is one city in the region that has softened and swathed its urban concrete jungle with lush landscaping, it is Singapore. Singapore is targeting some 50 hectares of skyrise greenery by 2030 and its Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched its LUSH Programme (Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises) in April. This offers financial and planning incentives to developers to provide greenery at the upper levels of highrise buildings. And after green roofs and balconies, even the very vertical walls of buildings may be planted over. [8.30.09]
Nova Scotia, Canada
Dalhousie Offers Industrial Best Practices for Water
EP Magazine, by Staff
Dallhousie University's Eco-Efficiency Centre in partnership with the Salamander Foundation has developed 'Industrial Best Practices for Water Management: A Guide for Industry to Help Reduce Its Water Footprint.' The report covers the current state of water management in Canadian industrial parks and discusses the implications that inefficient water use can have not only on elevated operating costs, but public perceptions of environmental responsibility. Encouraging managers to think of industrial parks as ecosystems, where the outputs of one organization are the inputs of another, the report includes a number of practical suggestions to make better use of water locally, such as through green roofs, stormwater management, and storage. [8.26.09]
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City's green roofs help fight climate change
Xinhua, by Alexander Manda
More buildings in Mexico City are having plants on their roofs to help reduce pollution and lower the city's temperature to improve the environment for its population. Plants reflect less, which means less heat in the atmosphere, said Ramon Perez, who works for the North American Center for Environmental Information and Communication (CICEANA), a non-governmental organization that promotes sustainable development and provides environmental education. It also offers community-based ecological projects including green roofs. [8.25.09]
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| Featured Sponsor
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Simply cover the roof area with Green Paks, insert the plants of your choice,
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Click here for the full page color brochure in The Greenroof Directory
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| 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. |
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| Exclusives |
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Linda S. Velazquez
Editor & Publisher
Publisher:
Read
what I've been blogging about in my latest Sky Gardens posts:
Submit a Guest Post to Sky Gardens ~ Ever want to blog on
Greenroofs.com? Here's your chance, just follow the easy guidelines!
A Momentous Occasion for the Planners of Boston GreenFest - Karen
L. Weber, Coordinator of Boston GreenFest and Executive Director of Foundation
for a Green Future, Inc., and others from the 2nd annual Boston GreenFest 2009 have many ideals regarding their festival, what it
represents, and view it as an ethic to live by.
Boston GreenFest 2009 Boston GreenFest 2009
was held on the steps of City Hall in lovely Boston, Massachusetts.
Bringing together community groups, corporations, small businesses, nonprofits,
government agencies and citizens to share new technologies and ideas that can
immediately change our daily lives and help bring about a more sustainable
future, it was a success this year, too.
Turfed Roofs of Tórshavn, Faroe Islands See some great
photos of sod covered roofs, some over 500 years old, in this remote archipelago
nation in the North Atlantic Ocean halfway between Scotland and Iceland.
Congrats to all the new GRP's! Did you take the test? All
at Green Roofs for Healthy Cities should be commended for their hard work and
dedication to this milestone. Congratulations to the new designees
and so many people involved in the whole process!
Guest Feature Article:
Lars Kronborg Bak, a
Danish Landscape Architect, has spent a few years researching and developing a
fiber matrix for green walls derived from plant fiber technology, his previous
area of expertise. Although he says he has no commercial interest in this application, he does hope
others can be inspired to go further. Read In the Shadow of the Vertical Garden.
Contributing Editors:
Kelly Luckett, The Green Roof Guy, has written a book!
His "Green Roof Construction and Maintenance" (GreenSource
Books), 2009 from The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. is great, full of detailed,
useful information for all of us. It's now available on Amazon.com for
only $40.46.
Ralph Velasquez, the Sustainable Roofing
Technologies Editor, is
looking ahead to a green 2020 in his new Sustainable Roofing Technologies Column. He ponders how his grandchildren's and
his own sustainable
future will look like in a time others would be considering retirement.
Christine Thuring, the Student Editor, also
contributes with her always interesting and newsworthy "Christine's
Ramblings." Visit a few murs végétalisés, or vertical gardens, from famous
botanist-cum-artist, Patrick Blanc, and others in Paris from her summer 2009
visit.
Also
read her Exclusive Report on The 2nd International Green Roof Congress 2009 - Bringing Nature Back to Town in Nürtingen.
George Irwin, the Green Wall Editor, asks How are
companies attracting attention today? What are they doing differently to draw
you in? See George's new Green Walls Column about marketing ploys, "Green Walls as Marketing Trends in 2009."
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Submit your video, article, & project profile to Greenroofs.com!
Do you want to let the world know about your project, product or upcoming event? Are you an expert on a particular greenroof design topic? Submit your content to our Editor and it will be reviewed for publishing on www.greenroofs.com. Just email your information to linda@greenroofs.com.
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