Next Generation of Sustainable Buildings

 

Baltimore, MD / Hershey, PA --- The Sustainable Roofing and Waterproofing Alliance (SRWA) hosted its fifth annual fall conference from October 8-11, 2013 in Hershey, PA. The event brought together a global audience of architects, roof consultants, green roof experts, building design professionals, contracting firms, and building owners. This unique program featured in-depth educational courses and hands-on demonstrations designed to inform and advocate for advanced green building practices.

Enhanced moisture control of super insulated, high performance buildings envelopes in each climate zone on Earth is the key for long-lasting, low-impact and healthy buildings. Proper solutions will maximize the payback of investments for building owners and drastically reduce the environmental footprint of building structures at the same time.

The speakers at the SWRA Conference paired common sense with decades of scientific research and developed best management practices for any building envelope application.

“With over 200 attendees from 19 countries around the world the fifth SWRA conference set a new milestone for building professionals”, said Jorg Breuning, Green Roof Service LLC – Green Roof Technology, “vegetation on top of buildings are the ultimate transition from manmade structures to the natural environment.”

Effective, economic design and maintenance principals of modern Green Roof Technology was presented and discussed by Jorg Breuning. With over 34 years of experience, Jorg Breuning demonstrated that thinking outside the box or a ridged modular grid will separate the wheat from the chaff.

The SRWA team led by Samir Ibrahim, Director of Design Services at Carlisle did a phenomenal job to make this conference happen. 

 Green Roof Innovation

 

 Green Roof Technology Reveals Latest Study about Mineral Wool on Living

 

Green Roof of the Year 2014 – 30 Years and Counting

The second oldest Green Roof Association* in the world, FBB (Fachvereinigung für Bauwerksbegrünung), awarded a prize for Green Roof of the Year 2014 to a 30 year old Green Roof on the Allianz Insurance Company in Stuttgart, Germany. Oldest Green Roof Association DDV (Deutscher Dachgärtner Verband).

The roof is one of the first projects where Jörg Breuning, CEO at Green Roof Service LLC / Green Roof Technology was substantially involved in the realization. Allianz Insurance Company decided in 1981 to build their local headquarters in the heart of Stuttgart. At that time the office building was already a big step forward for urban development in many regards. Along with very advanced, environmentally friendly technologies it was also one of the first buildings to achieve the split between living green working space and luxurious living in downtown of a large City. 

The Green Roof is generally assembled around the building and on different levels. Most people in the offices have a view into the green spaces.  Some areas of the Green Roof are accessible for coffee breaks and, on the highest floors there is usable garden space for the Condominium owners. The top floor even offers extensive lawn areas as playgrounds for kids.

All Green Roofs together measure over 21,000 sf. This inner city oasis utilized an advanced Optigreen Green Roof Systems with fully automatic high tide and low tide irrigation system in the mineral drainage layer. The plants “decide” when they need irrigation; no drop of water is wasted or can evaporate before reaching a plant. Neither a person nor electricity is needed to operate this fully mechanical system and it leaves enough room for precipitation to fill up the water storage under the plants. This green roof represents a smart combination of Blue Roof and Green Roof as Green Roof Service LLC / Green Roof Technology is still doing it on projects today. It is a foremost and 100% accurate irrigation system far beyond most irrigation systems that are operated by sensors, electricity, Apps, tubes, pipes or other highly vulnerable and expensive equipment  we see every day on projects in North America or around the world.  

The entire depth of this highly efficient Green Roof technology is approximately 18 inch and has allowed lawn, perennials, shrubs and small trees to grow for over 30 year without replacement or  changing out the growing media. 

Green Roof Service LLC / Green Roof Technology is proud of this Award and we are pleased to offer more information about it. We offer Green Roof tours for anyone interested in this kind of technology.

This has been a landmark project for more than 3 decades and we congratulate all who are part of this Award!

*Note: Oldest Green Roof Association in the world: DDV (Deutscher Dachgärtner Verband).

  

 

 Picture 2013 Optigreen

 

WASHINGTON, June 18, 2014 -- The final water supply forecast for this year shows the West divided into a wet north and dry south while snowpack has already melted in much of the region, according to data from the USDA National Water and Climate Center (NWCC).

Washington, most of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and the northern parts of Colorado and Utah are expected to have near normal or above normal water supplies through the rest of summer, according to the forecasts. Far below normal streamflows are expected for the southern parts of Oregon and Utah, southwestern Idaho, California, Arizona, New Mexico and western Nevada.

Many of these areas are in the nearly 500 counties across the country experiencing drought, 57 of them in California alone, according to USDA disaster designations.

This year saw near-record low snowfall in parts of Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico and the southern parts of Utah and Oregon. Even with some May precipitation, those areas remain dry.  The biggest change this season was in the Washington Cascades. At the beginning of February the snowpack was about half of normal, but it recovered and most of Washington will have a near normal water supply from snowmelt, according to the Center. 

Spring snowmelt is well underway, according to NWCC hydrologist Cara McCarthy. “A lot of our SNOTEL sites have already melted out, especially those in the southern half of the West,” McCarthy said.

Colorado had mixed weather during May. “They had winter and summer all in one month: snowmelt, snowfall, snowmelt,” said McCarthy. Heavy precipitation combined with snowmelt, causing flooding in parts of the state.

Forecasters monitor conditions all year, but June is the final forecast of the season. “These are snow-based water supply forecasts,” McCarthy said. “Typically by July there won't be enough snow left on the ground (to measure).”

In Western states where snowmelt accounts for the majority of seasonal water supply, information about snowpack serves as an indicator of future water availability. Streamflow in the West consists largely of accumulated mountain snow that melts and flows into streams as temperatures warm into spring and summer. USDA scientists analyze the snowpack, air temperature, soil moisture and other measurements taken from remote sites to develop the water supply forecasts.

The NWCC water supply forecast is part of several USDA efforts to improve public awareness and mitigate the impacts of climate change, including drought and other extreme weather events. Through the creation of the National Drought Resilience Partnership, launched as part of the President’s Climate Action Plan, federal agencies are working closely with states, tribes and local government to develop a coordinated response to drought.

Since 1939, USDA has conducted snow surveys and issued regular water supply forecasts. View information by state.

Source: USDA

In dry years most Therophytes like Asteriscus aquaticus are able to flower as very small plants and produce seeds that are able to survive evon more unfavourable seasons.

Germany breaks 3 solar power records in 2 weeks

  

More about the German record breaking Solar News at Treehugger

Since 5 years Green Roof Service LLC / Green Roof Technology is desperately trying to convince North Americans of the combination Solar and Green Roof.

Whether it is the world’s famous Universities, the world’s biggest corporations, the National Roofing Association or the Green Roof Association of North America, none of them seems the future of combined modern technologies.

Short term profits, ignorance and greed semm to blind North America - it isn't the sun blinding. These egoistic behaviors are reasons why North America is losing more and more ground in the technology sector, respect in the world and last but not least Millions of jobs.

I hope there is an App for it …. Well, without power it might not help.

 

 

By: Samantha Yurek

On April 7th, 2014, the City of Sydney, Australia approved a Green Roofs and Walls Policy. The Policy will be carried out by the Strategic Planning and Urban Design Committee of Sydney. A three year plan, its main goal is to raise awareness of the importance of green space in urban areas as well as promote the implementation of potential green roofs and walls.

                                   Pinpointing Green Roofs in the City of Sydney

Sydney is already in the lead of the green revolution, with a total of 83 green roofs and walls throughout the city. In addition, 50-70 likely projects have been approved to construction and should be underway soon.The Green Roof Meadow at the Prince Alfred Park Pool is one of the largest in Sydney. Complete with 2,000 square meters of green space, including over 35,000 seasonal and native grasses.

                            The Green Roof Meadow at the Prince Alfred Park Pool

The city is also home to One Central Park residential towers, featuring the world's tallest vertical garden at 33 stories. These gardens consist of 190 native Australian plants as well as 160 exotic species. Although it may not be the tallest for long - Shri Lanka is now in the running with plans to build a 46 story residential building, with multiple vertical gardens, proposed to be completed by the end of 2016.

                                        One Central Park Towers in Sydney

Lucy Sharman, Sydney's Green Roofs and Walls Senior Project Officer explains, "With higher-density living and a growing population, we need to accommodate people in a healthy way and use urban space as wisely as possible." And it seems that advocating for a greener city is working. "We receive more than one development application each week for a green roof or wall," says Sharman.

                                            One Central Park Towers in Sydney

The Green Roofs and Walls Policy isn't their only attempt to create a cleaner and healthier environment. The city has been working on many movements, such as 202020. Working towards 20% more green spaces in urban places by the year 2020. 

If you're interested in, you may check out the whole Green Roofs and Walls Policy here.

By: Samantha Yurek

 

Many people wouldn't think twice when gathering a lovely bouquet of flowers while out for a hike. But maybe this is a lesson we should all be practicing and passing down generations, when out enjoying the great outdoors. Transporting flowers for your own benefit is erroneous and punishable in certain situations. 

Although the United States doesn't have a specific law protecting wildflowers from being violently up-rooted, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 does cover all of the plants that are slowly vanishing.

Many states have specific laws regarding plants. For example, North Carolina's Plant Protection and Conservation Act states that it is unlawful "to possess any protected plant, or part thereof, which was obtained in violations of this Article or any rule adopted thereunder." If caught, fines can rise as high as $1000.

There are many reasons why you shouldn't pick wildflowers or take plants from the wild. Not only does it reduce the vibrancy of the location, but it also can be damaging to the environment. The USDA explains it perfectly, "We don't often realize it, but wildflowers support entire ecosystems for pollinators, birds, and small animals on a micro scale. Butterflies and other insects, small birds, and animals depend on seeds, nectar, and pollen for their food supply and life support system. In addition, some pollinators are not very mobile or have very small home ranges or depend on just one species of plant and die once their habitat has been destroyed."

In some cases, transporting flowers from the wild can also aid in the spread of invasive species.

 

It may not be your first reaction when someone goes to pick a few flowers, but just keep in mind that they are a living object as well, attempting to survive and reproduce just like the rest of us. And is it really worth picking these plants, only to have them wilt in a matter of hours or days? Especially when you could be enjoying them all spring and summer if you were to simply let them be.

So my advice to you is, instead of pocketing flowers from Mother Nature's garden, it is just as easy to take a short trip to your local nursery. Not only will there be a great selection on plants to choose from, you will directly be supporting your local community.

       Let me reiterate: 

MD HOUSE BILL 207

Today I we received an email by the USGBC requesting to oppose the MD House Bill 207. In the last decades the USGBC grew dramatically. Beside their originally great intention, LEED increased the costs of buildings super proportionally to the benefits for the environment.

In our opinion it is now necessary to naturally develop sustainable practices, solutions and technologies that can be much easier adopted and implemented by environmentally conscious people. With very simple tools (“rain tax”, higher taxes on energy, and responsibility for costs to reduce the negative environmental foot print of buildings etc.) the government now has a great opportunity giving back to builders and building owners the freedom of making their own decisions without the overwhelming pressure and costs from LEED.

Bill 207 helps to increase environmental consciousness of all American individuals and gives them back their freedom and responsibility in making their own decisions.

What is described as a setback by the USGBC is just a desperate reflex and fear of losing revenue and influence. USGBC must learn this lesson and USGBC has to prove that they are still competitive once Bill 207 passed.  

If the USGBC can’t take this as challenge they are worthless to start with.  

We support MD House Bill 207

Going Green Will Save Lancaster in Controlling Storm Water

Release Date: 03/04/2014
Contact Information: David Sternberg, 215-814-5548 sternberg.david@epa.gov

-New EPA Report Documents Savings-

Mayor Rich Gray

 

Lancaster, like hundreds of other cities across the country, has both a combined sewer system (CSS) and a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). While the CSS collects both sewage and stormwater and conveys flows to a wastewater treatment plant, the MS4 collects only stormwater runoff and discharges flow directly to receiving streams.

A copy of the report can be accessed at this link:
http://owpubauthor.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/gi_csnortheast.cfm