Fall 2006 Sep 20.qxp - Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

Green Roofs
Meet Minneapolis
April 29th, 30th
May 1st, 2007
Chicago’s Green Roof
Infrastructure Leadership
2006 Green Roof Awards of
Excellence Winners
ASLA Headquarters
Goes Green on Top
Green Roof Tree
of Knowledge
www.greenroofs.org
Fall 2006 / Volume 8, No. 2

The Green Roof
Infrastructure Monitor TM
Publisher
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, North America Inc.,
a 501 (c)(6), not-for-profit industry association.
Editor
Steven W. Peck
speck@greenroofs.org
Managing Editor
Alex Johnston
ajohnston@greenroofs.org
Contributors
Dr. Nigel Dunnett, Department of Landscape,
University of Sheffield; Hazel Farley, Director,
Training and Accreditation, GRHC; Michael F.
Gibbons, P.E., FCSI, Architectural Systems, Inc.; Alex
Johnston, Managing Editor, GRHC; Kevin M. Laberge,
P.E., Chicago Department of Environment; Peter
Lowitt, Director, Devens Enterprise Commission; Dr.
Karen Liu, British Columbia Institute of Technology,
Centre for the Advancement of Green Roof
Technology; Sandra McCullough, GreenGrid®; Steven
Peck, Founder and President, GRHC; Dr. Brad Rowe,
Michigan State University; Marco Schmidt,
Technische Universitaet Berlin, Institute of
Architecture, Department of Building Technology
and Design; Steve Skinner, Garden Roof Product
Manager, American Hydrotech; Nancy C. Somerville,
Executive Vice President/CEO, American Society of
Landscape Architects; Jennifer Sprout, Director,
Local Market Development, GRHC; Dr. Ray Tomalty,
principal, Co-operative Research and Policy Services.
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
- North America, Inc.
177 Danforth Ave., Suite 304
Toronto CANADA M4K 1N2
Members of the Board
Peter Lowitt, Chair, Devens Enterprise Commission
Steve Skinner, Vice Chair, American Hydrotech, Inc.
Dan Slone, Secretary, McGuire Woods LLP
Monica Kuhn, Treasurer, Architect
Leslie Hoffman, Earth Pledge Foundation
Jeffrey Bruce, Jeffrey L. Bruce & Co. LLC
Our members share an interest in developing the
green roof industry and work together to generate
training courses for professional accreditation,
organize our Conference, Awards and Trade Show,
promote improved research and advocate for
supportive green roof public policies and
investment. Information on Green Roofs for
Healthy Cities is available at: www.greenroofs.org
Cover Photo
2006 Green Roof Awards of Excellence Winner:
Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center (PEEC),
Minneapolis; The Kestrel Design Group, Inc. Photo
by Hannah Loope
Contents are copyrighted and may not be
reproduced without written consent.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the
information presented is accurate. The reader
must evaluate the information in light of the
unique circumstances of any particular situation
and independently determine its applicability.
Explosive Growth for Green
Roof Industry
Steven Peck, Founder and
President, GRHC
PAGE 3
‘Green Roof Tree of Knowledge’
Dr. Ray Tomalty, Co-operative
Research and Policy Services
PAGE 10
A Tribute to Malcolm Wells
Peter Lowitt, AICP, Devens
Enterprise Commission
PAGE 14
ASTM International’s Green Roof
Activities - An Update
Michael F. Gibbons, FCSI,
Architectural Systems, Inc.
PAGE 19
Profiles of Our 2006 Green Roof
Awards of Excellence
PAGE 24
New Products Section
PAGE 30
Committee Updates
PAGE 34
ASLA’s New Green Roof for
Washington, D.C.
Nancy C. Somerville, ASLA
PAGE 36
BCIT’s Green Roof Activities: An Update
Dr. Karen Liu, BCIT, Centre for the
Advancement of Green Roof Technology
PAGE 41
First Annual Green Roof Industry
Survey Highlights
Alex Johnston, GRHC
PAGE 43
Welcome New Members
PAGE 45
I n s i d e
Becoming the Greenest City in
America
Kevin M. Laberge, P.E., Chicago
Department of Environment
PAGE 6
The Media is the Message
Sandra McCullough, GreenGrid®
PAGE 12
The Evapotranspiration of Green
Roofs and Walls
Marco Schmidt, Technische
Universitaet Berlin
PAGE 16
Biggest Green Roof Conference
Yet in Boston
Jennifer Sprout, GRHC
PAGE 21
Green Roofs Meet Minneapolis
Jennifer Sprout, GRHC
PAGE 23
Green Roofs in the News
PAGE 28
Green Roof Events
PAGE 33
Local Market Development Highlights
Jennifer Sprout, GRHC
PAGE 35
Green Roof Training Update
Hazel Farley, GRHC
PAGE 40
Board Member Profile: Daniel K.
Slone, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP
Joy B. King, McGuire Woods LLP
PAGE 42
Green Roofs For Biodiversity:
Reconciling Aesthetics With Ecology
Dr. Nigel Dunnett, University of
Sheffield
PAGE 44
If you would like to receive the Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor TM , subscriptions are included in
Individual and Corporate Memberships. Individual Memberships are complimentary for registrants at
Green Roof Design 101 Introductory Training Courses, Design and Implementation 201 and Local
Market Development Symposia.
To submit an article to the Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor TM please contact Alex Johnston at 416-
971-4494 or ajohnston@greenroofs.org.
The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor TM is published semi-annually in the spring and fall and has a
distribution of 6,000 printed copies and an estimated electronic distribution of 20,000.
For advertising rates, please see www.greenroofs.org (under “Monitor”). To advertise, please contact
Ernestine Man (eman@greenroofs.org or 416-971-4494)
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The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

Explosive Growth for Green Roofs Industry
Steven Peck, Founder and President, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Green Roof Goat Habitat, A Profitable Tourist
Attraction, “The Old Country Market”, Coombs, B.C.
Three Billy goats once peered across a river and saw
that the grass was indeed greener on the other side. So
they crossed the river, well prepared for the troll’s
negative response and enjoyed a fine feast. Early
industry leaders, like the Billy goats in the childhood
fable, have invested time and money into the green roof
industry and the time to reap significant rewards is fast
approaching! Others like Norwegian born entrepreneur
Larry Geekie, have been reaping the rewards for some
time. The goats pictured to the left, belong to Mr.
Geekie, who built a fresh produce store in 1973,
complete with live-in goats on a green roof. The goats
have generated so much notoriety that they are an
official tourist attraction, and a marketing ploy that
has enabled Mr. Geekie to expand his business many
times over.
This year has seen incredible growth and development
in the green roof industry. Our first Corporate
Members’ Green Roof Industry Survey has revealed 2.5
million square feet installed in 2005, up by over 80%
from 2004. Don’t be surprised to see triple digit growth
in 2006 when we complete our next survey. We’ve
welcomed over 16 new Corporate Members since the
last Monitor, (see pages 45-47) and more than 1,200
Individual Members in 2006. As our membership grows,
so does our ability to provide products and services that
will build the industry for everyone.
Building on the modular design of our new website, we
launched an online searchable database of members.
Since its introduction, our new website has been more successful than ever. Imagine our excitement when we
learned that our website had exceeded one million hits per month in April and May! We are continuing to
develop new systems that will build on the site - including an exciting new product – The Green Roof Tree of
Knowledge. This will be a searchable database containing summaries of all of the green roof research on
products, building systems, and socio-economic and bio-physical benefits (see page 10). The Green Roof Tree
of Knowledge will help designers make the case for the many proven green roof benefits, allow manufacturers
to focus their research and development efforts and make it easier for policy makers and researchers to plan
incentives and new research projects.
We’ve invited makers of ‘Green Wall’ systems to join us in response to feedback from our Members.
Our Corporate Members Committee is meeting to develop projects on stormwater, energy benefits and life cycle
costing that will benefit the entire industry and provide additional member services.
With support from the American Planning Association and Infrastructure Canada, we are fine-tuning a half-day
policy workshop that is designed to introduce government and non-government stakeholders to a wide range of
policy options in support of green roof infrastructure. We will be delivering this workshop in more that 12 cities
across North America in 2007.
The Training Committee has completed Design and Installation 201, the newest full day course and a key
component of our “Green Roof Professional” Training and Accreditation Program. The development of this
course has broken new ground in areas such as planting approaches, roles and responsibilities and best practices
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org 3

elated to avoiding common problems that may crop up
during installation. We have also updated the Design 101
Course in order to provide a greater level of technical
detail on benefits and standards. The recently formed
Waterproofing and Drainage Training Committee is
chaired by Stephen Teal of Flynn, and involves other
industry experts. They are developing a third course –
Green Roof Infrastructure Waterproofing and Drainage
301 which we expect will be ready early next year. For
the first time on this committee, we are working cooperatively
with representatives of other industry
associations, such as the CRCA, NRCA and RCI to develop
this course. Members of the committee include:
Peter J. D’Antonio, Sarnafil US;
Doug Fishburn, Fishburn Sciences Group;
Harry Hakomaki, Representing the Sealant
Waterproofing and Restoration Institute;
Dave Honza, Honza Group Inc.;
Samir Ibrahim, Carlisle Syntec;
Ed Jarger and Steve Skinner, American Hydrotech;
Peter Kalinger, Canadian Roofing Contractors
Association;
Jean Guy Levaquem, Representing the Roofing
Consultants Institute;
Robert Venasse, Soprema Inc.;
Randy Walden, Roof Greening Systems Inc.; and
Jim Kirby, Representing the National Roofing
Contractors Association
One of our most valued Association Partners, the ASLA
has completed a green roof that will serve to help
educate and provide much needed research in
Washington, D.C. See ASLA’s new green roof project
on page 36.
On the home front, we worked through the Mayor’s
Environmental Round Table to help establish a
comprehensive set of green roof policies in Toronto:
Making Green Roofs Happen” - see
www.toronto.ca/greenroofs.
Thank you for your support in our ongoing efforts to
rapidly develop the green roof industry this past year.
While there is still much to do, together we have gone
a long way to ‘sorting out the troll’ and are now well
on our way to having a fine time on the other side.
Sincerely Yours,
Founder and President
Boston, despite the driving rain and flooding, was our
biggest and best conference to date with over 850
participants. Summaries of several of the many
papers are provided in this Monitor and the full CD is
available for purchase on our web site. Plans are
already underway, including the Call for Papers, to
make Minneapolis next April 29 – May 1, 2007 even
better. Conference committees will be meeting
throughout October to select paper submissions and
provide peer reviews prior to the conference. The
co-host City of Minneapolis has recently selected a
fantastic green roof design for its City Hall building
and has initiated public policy support for
implementation. For highlights of Boston and a
snapshot of Minneapolis see pages 21-23.
Congratulations to all of our Green Roof Awards of
Excellence Winners, and to Dr. David Beattie in
particular, who won the first Green Roof Research
Award of Excellence (page 26).
Our local market development program continues to
grow, particularly in California, with Symposia
completed in Oakland, CA; San Jose, CA; Los Angeles, CA
and Markham, ON. These events allow us to showcase
our Corporate Members and develop Action Plans for
local market research and development. Chicago’s
ongoing efforts to remain the leader in green roof policy
development are profiled in this issue (page 6).
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The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

Becoming the
Greenest
City in
America
Chicago’s Green Roof Infrastructure
Leadership
Kevin M. Laberge, P.E., Chicago Department of
Environment
The City of Chicago is a leader in the development of
policies and programs that support the greening of the
City. Since the 1990’s, Mayor Richard M. Daley has publicly
stated his dream to make Chicago “The Greenest City in
America”. Since then, numerous efforts, ranging from
procurement policies to huge projects like Millennium Park
have been completed to help realize this dream. Chicago
has earned a reputation for innovation and in particular,
for its efforts to develop green roof infrastructure.
Green roof thinking in Chicago originally centered around
the need to reduce the urban heat island, following a
disastrous heat wave in the nineties. On September 20,
2000, Mayor Daley installed the first plants on top of the
City of Chicago’s City Hall Building. This green roof was a
key component in the City’s new Urban Heat Island
Initiative. The project was designed to conduct research
on plant survival, energy efficiency, biodiversity and
The Chicago Cultural Center with the Millennium Park
Project in the background
(Courtesy Chicago Department of Environment)
Six years ago: September of 2000, Mayor Richard
Daley and former environment commissioner William
F. Abolt plant the first plants atop Chicago City Hall
(G.R.I.M. Volume 2, Number 3)
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The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

provide a high profile demonstration of the technology
in the downtown core of the City. Since then, a
number of cities have followed this ‘leading by
example’ including Toronto, Atlanta, Waterloo,
Washington and Seattle to name a few. The City also
established an Urban Heat Island Grant program that
provided much needed financial support to
demonstration projects, including the 2004 Green Roof
Award winning Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital.
Co-Hosting the First Green Roof Conference
Acknowledging Chicago for its leadership, Green Roofs
for Healthy Cities held its first Greening Rooftops for
Sustainable Communities, Conference, Awards and
Trade Show, in partnership with the City of Chicago in
May 2003. At the conference, Mayor Daley was
presented with the first Green Roof Civic Awards of
Excellence for his leadership in supporting the
development of the industry locally and nationally.
That same year, the City developed a research
program to investigate energy and water related
benefits from a variety of different green roof systems
at the Chicago Center for Green Technology.
In June 2004, the Building Green/Green Roof Policy
was formally introduced which requires that green
roofs and other sustainable technologies be included
in the design, construction and maintenance of both
public and private projects that are receiving
assistance from the City. In 2005, the Department of
Construction and Permits introduced a Green Permit
Program that provides developers and owners with an
incentive to build green by streamlining the permitting
process timeline in exchange for investing in green
building elements. Depending on the size of the
project this can mean between $5,000 to $50,000 in
savings 1 .
The City has continued to develop a suite of different
initiatives, including a residential and small building
grant program, all of which are aimed at increasing
the coverage of green roofs and promoting green
building practice.
A New Green Roof on the Chicago Cultural Center
On Saturday, September 9, 2006, Mayor Richard M.
Daley unveiled the City’s newest green roof atop the
Chicago Cultural Center. Designated a Chicago
Landmark and listed on the National Register of
Historic Places, the 109-year-old building is the ninth
City building to get a green roof.
The Cultural Center, located at 77 E. Randolph Street
in Chicago’s central business district, or Loop, was
originally home to the Chicago Public Library. It is
widely known for its two stained glass domes that
grace this architectural showplace for the lively and
visual arts. With the addition of the green roof, the
Cultural Center’s formerly drab and barren rooftop is
now visually appealing to occupants in the surrounding
buildings, including the newly constructed Heritage at
Millennium condominiums. Further, the green roof
extends the aesthetic impact of green space from
Millennium Park across Michigan Avenue.
“Chicago has become nationally known for its
leadership in the environment,” Mayor Daley said at
the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Cultural Center.
“We're a leader when it comes to conserving energy,
protecting the Great Lakes, reducing water use,
redeveloping brownfields and planting trees - to name
just a few of our many activities”.
“We do this not because it's fashionable, but because
it makes sense. It improves public health; it beautifies
the city; it enhances the quality of life; it saves
money; and it leaves a legacy for future generations”.
A Timeline of Chicago’s
Green Roof Programs
City Hall Commissioning/Design 1999
Implementation of City Hall Green Roof 2000
Urban Heat Island Grant Program 2002
Co-Host First Green Roof Conference 2003
Research on Green Roof Systems 2003
Green Building/
Green Roof Policy Matrix 2004
Millennium Park Opens 2004
DCAP Green Permit Program 2005
Green Roof Residential Grant Program 2005
Green Roof Web Site 2005/2006
Tax Incentive Financing in LOOP 2006
Renewed Residential Grant Program 2006
“We're especially well-known for green roofs. When
we planted our first rooftop garden on City Hall in
2000, it started a movement that is still going strong,
six years later.”
In terms of project details, construction of the green
roof required the removal of the existing waterproof
membrane and reinforcement of the building’s
supporting roof trusses before the new waterproofing
and green roof could be installed in early June.
Installation was completed by August 1, 2006. The
green roof covers 20,370 square feet, approximately
46% of the total roof area, and contains more than 950
shrubs and nearly 12,000 perennial plants. Irrigation,
when necessary, is provided by a buried drip system.
Four beehives, similar to those on top of City Hall,
have been installed. The honey will be sold to benefit
the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts.
see ‘Chicago’, continued on page 8
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
7

‘Chicago’, continued from page 7
The project was not only about a green roof however.
It also included the installation of 18 solar thermal
panels, which use the sun's rays to heat the building's
water. This solar thermal system is expected to lower
the building’s energy use for heating hot water by 70%.
The City is also moving ahead with the installation of
a green wall system to train vines, planted in the
Gertrude Bernstein Memorial Garden, a green roof
previously installed in the building’s central courtyard,
to grow upwards to the main green roof. Additional
vine treatments are planned for installation around
the building’s central chimney.
But the Cultural Center isn’t the only exciting green
roof application happening in Chicago. Mayor Daley
unveiled several other green roof initiatives during
Saturday’s press conference.
The Launch of a Chicago Green Roof Website
Chicago is pleased to now have a new website,
www.chicagogreenroofs.org, which will serve as an online
guide for building green roofs in Chicago. The
website is the first in a series of collaborations
between the City and the School of the Art Institute of
Chicago to
promote public
awareness of
sustainable
activities. The
green roof
website features
an aerial map
identifying the
www.chicagogreenroofs.org (Courtesy
Chicago Department of Environment)
location and
approximate
size of more
than 250 green
roofs, covering
more than 2.5 million square feet, that have either
been constructed, or are planned for construction, in
the City. The website also features a frequently asked
questions page, featured projects, and links to other
green roof websites and organizations. The City hopes
that public access to the website will help spur
interest in green roofs in Chicago.
Building on the success of the last year’s Green Roof
Grants Program: Residential and Small Commercial,
Mayor Daley has announced an expanded 2006
program. Double the grants will be on offer to help
residents and small business owners build green roofs.
The program defines “small commercial” as a building
with a footprint of less than 10,000 square feet.
Grants of up to $5000 for each selected project will be
made. Last year’s program helped realize more than
20 green roof projects throughout Chicago.
Applications for the 2006 program are now open and
will close on Friday, November 3, 2006 at 4:00
pm. Application forms are available online at
www.cityofchicago.org/ environment. Questions
about the program can be answered by calling
(312) 744-7606.
A New Chicago Green Roof Improvement Fund
Another recently announced initiative is the City’s
Green Roof Improvement Fund or GRIF. The program is
being funded with $500,000 from the Central Loop Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) district. TIF is a program
administered by the City of Chicago’s Department of
Planning and Development to assist certain
redevelopment projects located within designated
areas of the City called TIF Districts. TIF funds are
made available to property owners and businesses
located within TIF Districts for certain improvements
using the increased property tax revenue that these
improvements generate.
The GRIF is a pilot grant program that helps downtown
owners of existing buildings fund the creation of green
roofs. The goal of the GRIF is to spur the development
of green roofs in Chicago’s central business district, or
Loop. Each grant is limited to 50% of the cost of the
green roof or $100,000.00, whichever is less. In
addition, the green roof must cover at least 50% of the
building’s net roof area. The application deadline is
November 1, 2006 and applications are available
online at www.cityofchicago.org/dpd.
Expanded Green Roof Test Plots Research
The Department of Environment has expanded the
Green Roof Test Plots research work being performed
at the Chicago Center for Green Technology. Originally
implemented in 2003, the research compared thermal
performance and stormwater retention data between
six different extensive green roof systems to that of
three conventional roofs: a black, modified bitumen
system; a 0.25 albedo ballasted roof; and a 0.65
albedo white, reflective roof. Initial results, which
were presented at the 3rd Annual Greening Rooftops
for Sustainable Communities Conference in
Washington, DC in 2005, demonstrated that the green
roofs were consistently cooler (up to 28° C cooler)
than the conventional roofs during hot, sunny days.
Additionally, the storm water runoff measurements
reveal that for individual or cumulative storms less
than one inch, the six green roofs retained between
76% and 100% of the runoff (mean 94%). However, for
storm events greater than one inch, the results were
much more variable: the green roofs retained between
5% and 95% of the runoff (mean 43%).
The Department of Environment’s expanded scope of
research includes the creation of a larger, 96 square
foot test plot, outfitted with a 4” Green Grid extensive
green roof, to more effectively monitor natural rain
8
The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

Chicago’s Green Roof Test Plot Program
(Courtesy Chicago Department of the Environment)
events. Data collected from this plot is being
compared to the 36 square foot plots to better
understand potential biases observed on the smaller
plots. Two of its smaller green roof systems have also
been replaced with Green Grid 2” and 4” extensive
systems to allow comparisons between the growing
media as well as to provide new soils in which to
monitor water quality for stormwater runoff. To
overcome volume limitations inherent in the previous
stormwater collection system, a new, flow through
orifice restriction device is being utilized to
continuously collect data regardless of the cumulative
volume of rainfall over the two-week data collection
period. Finally, a new rainmaker device will be
utilized to model three storm events on up to six of
the test plots. Results are expected in late December.
Another Green Roof on the Horizon
For the past several months, the Department of
Environment has worked with the Chicago Department
of Water Management to assist with plans for
incorporating a green roof on the Jardine Water
Filtration Plant administration building. Visible from
nearby Navy Pier, the proposed extensive green roof
will occupy approximately 67,000 square feet. Design
documents are currently 90% complete and plans call
for the installation of four low-profile wind turbines to
demonstrate energy generation. The City intends to
construct the green roof within the next year.
These and other initiatives have earned Chicago a
reputation for being an innovator and a green roof
leader. Collectively, they have resulted in over 200
green roof projects and have made a significant and
lasting contribution towards realizing Mayor Daley’s
goal of our becoming the greenest city in America.
1. Berkshire, Michael (2006) “Fast track permitting and incentives
for residential green roofs in Chicago”, presented at 4th Annual
Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards
and Trade Show.

‘Green Roof Tree of Knowledge’ to Link Benefits of Green Roofs to Policy Development
Ray Tomalty, principal, Co-operative Research and Policy Services (CORPS), and adjunct professor at McGill
University’s School of Urban Planning.
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A sample cross-section of the structure of the ‘Green Roof Tree of Knowledge’ database (GRHC)
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) is leading a
major research effort to develop the “Green Roof Tree
of Knowledge”, an online searchable database that
will contain summaries of a wide range of green roof
studies. The database is part of a larger project,made
possible through a financial contribution by
Infrastructure Canada, which includes the
development of a practical green roof policy resource
manual and green roof policy workshops.
Over the past five years, Green Roofs for Healthy
Cities, has developed the green roof industry with
many public and private research organizations and
policy makers. GRHC has organized Local Market
Development Symposia with a variety of partners to
stimulate research and policy developments. Symposia
in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton,
Oakland, Vancouver, Washington, Boston, Minneapolis,
Los Angeles and Halifax have successfully introduced
many policy makers to the benefits of widespread
green roof implementation.
What is needed now is a single resource that
aggregates existing knowledge on the benefits of
green roofs and a mechanism for presenting that
information to policy makers. “The Green Roof Tree of
Knowledge”, manual and workshops are clearly the
next steps in moving from research and policy talk, to
policy action.
In response to this need, GRHC is carrying out a major
research effort in collaboration with researchers in
Toronto and Montreal. The research will result in a
searchable online database with summaries on
biophysical benefits research, socio-economic, and
policy developments. The research will also result in a
practical Green Roof Policy Resource Manual with
information on:
the full range of the social and biophysical benefits
at the building and community scales from green roof
implementation;
private and public economic benefits resulting from
the social and biophysical benefits and;
innovative policy tools used to support green roof
implementation from North America and Europe.
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The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

This project will be the first of its kind to pull together
research on the numerous economic, social and
biophysical benefits of green roof implementation and
innovative policy measures. The Resource Manual will
benchmark the current status of green roof research
and policy development, exposing gaps and
shortcomings while sharing the work that has been
accomplished with a broader audience.
To date the research team has identified almost 500
scientific studies and policy papers from around the
world that will be summarized and entered into the
“Green Roof Tree of Knowledge”. A process will be
established that allows for the continued growth of
the database after its initial launch. The database will
be available in the spring of 2007.
The database will be developed over the next six
months by a team of researchers including Professor
Hitesh Doshi, in the Department of Architectural
Science at Ryerson University, and Dr. Brad Bass, the
leader of Environment Canada’s Environmental
Adaptation Research Group, at the University of
Toronto. Doshi and Bass collaborated on a report on
the benefits and costs of green roofs, prepared for the
City of Toronto in 2005. Flavia Bertram of GRHC and
Alexandra Jozsa of CORPS will also be involved in this
research undertaking. I will lead the research effort
from my office in Montreal with ongoing input from
members of GRHC’s Policy, Research and Corporate
Members’ Committees.
Policy options, including incentives, public-private
partnerships, demonstration and pilot projects,
regulatory changes, and educational campaigns;
Case studies on best practices, and;
Future directions.
The results of this project will build upon GRHC’s
efforts over the last six years to develop multidisciplinary
communities of interest around green roof
infrastructure across North America.
Green roof research and development demands an
integrated approach to development and
redevelopment and calls for new ways of thinking
about our roof spaces and the underutilized potential
they have to deliver public benefits. This project will
map out the ever-expanding research on the many
benefits of green roofs and bring it together in a userfriendly
database that highlights the synergies
involved. In addition, the innovative approaches to
policy formulation and implementation that will be
emphasized in the policy workshops will provide
assistance to government officials that are looking for
tangible and measurable approaches to implementing
sustainable practices.
The second phase of this project will involve a Green
Roof Policy Workshop Program. This series of one-day
policy workshops will draw on the Green Roof Policy
Resource Manual and be delivered in ten cities. The
workshops will be aimed at local policy makers at all
levels of government, including elected officials,
planners, public works officials, urban designers, park
managers, landscape architects, and other key
stakeholders.
The workshops are designed to promote understanding
of the policy issues involved and the adoption of costeffective
policies based on solid research results.
Participants will explore methods to determine whether
public investments in green roofs can be justified based
on the anticipated cost savings.
The workshops will include:
An overview of green roofs and how they fit into the
wider vision of a sustainable city;
A summary of the research on the economic, social
and biophysical benefits of green roofs;
Procedures for estimating cost/benefit tradeoffs of
proposed policy measures at the local level;
Barriers to green roofs and the role of governments
and other stakeholders in addressing those barriers;
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
11

The Media is the Message
Sandra McCullough is a LEED Accredited Professional
working with GreenGrid® green roofing systems, a
business of Weston Solutions®, Inc.
There are scores of articles written on the benefits
and features of green roofing systems. As further
studies are conducted, we can expect even more
reports to come out detailing the
many pluses of green roofs.
The growing media or ‘engineered
soil’ used on a green roof is also a
hot topic. The plants selected—
usually sedums, grasses, perennials,
some native plants, and other
succulents—are always a major
consideration when installing a
green roof because climate
conditions can vary so markedly. The
plants chosen invariably must be
hearty, drought-tolerant, and lowmaintenance,
requiring little or no
irrigation.
“Low growing sedum species have
proven to be the most tolerant plants,
especially in shallow soils that are not
irrigated. Even with extreme
fluctuations in temperature, they
survive and grow very well on the
roof,” says Grace Koehler, sales manager with the
nursery Midwest Groundcovers, in St. Charles, IL.
However, much less is discussed of the growing media
used for green roofing systems. And remarkably, it is
the new technologies and advances in engineered soil
that have made green roofs, as well as other forms of
urban landscaping, so successful. Indeed, without
proper growing media selection, it might be difficult
for a green roof — and the Green Roofing Industry — to
be flourishing as it is today.
Engineered Soil
Many cities in California are famous for their palmtree-lined
thoroughfares. Chicago’s Michigan Avenue
and surrounding street areas have also become wellknown
for their ample urban landscaping.
However, historically, many of these trees and plants
— usually transplanted from nurseries — fail to thrive
in their new environments, and many die in a
relatively short time. In fact, for years in California,
determining if a newly planted palm tree would
survive more than a few years was almost like tossing
dice, even after employing the best fertilizers,
irrigation systems and care.
These plant failures could be costly and often
damaged relations between landscapers and their
customers. Eventually, a closer examination of the
problem revealed that one of the keys to plant health
and increased life expectancy, especially in urban
settings, had a great deal to do with the soil used.
Successful plant transplanting requires rapid root
growth, and the development of engineered soil — soil
that helps optimize the interaction of roots with air,
water, and soil nutrients — has helped accomplish this.
Midwest Trading’s computerized system for mixing the growth media
(Courtesy Midwest Trading)
A similar soil challenge has confronted segments of the
Green Roof Industry. According to Koehler, “The soil
used for green roofs is very important. For instance,
it is crucial to make sure there is enough air space in
the soil so water and oxygen can move through the
growth media.”
In addition, the soil must contain all the nutrients for
the plant to not only survive but also thrive in most
types of climates and conditions. Here again,
engineered soil helps address these issues.
What is the proper mix of materials for engineered soil?
“In the United States, there really are no standards or
guidelines as to how to formulate engineered soil for
extensive green roof systems,” says Robert Cenar, of
Midwest Trading Horticultural Supplies, Inc. in Virgil, IL.
“About the only thing that comes close are the FLL
standards developed in Germany. These include specific
characteristics, both physical and chemical, that a green
roof soil should include and are often used as a basis or a
guide in the US.”
According to Cenar, much of the engineered growing
media now produced at Midwest Trading for green
roofing systems was developed with proper pH
balance, air space, nutrients, drainage, and several
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other components in mind. All help to maximize root
development; improve plant growth, quality, and
survival; and reduce costs for the end customer.
In fact, the company has devised one of the most
sophisticated mixing centers in the United States and
serves the GreenGrid® Green Roof System projects in
the Midwest, among other system providers. The
computer-controlled system brings a level of precision
to the growing media mixing process that is found at
few other locations in the country.
Because the growing media is so important, it is
essential that professionals in the industry have a good
overall knowledge of its characteristics. “The growth
media is literally the foundation of a green roof
system, and for its success, a basic understanding of
the engineered soil’s characteristics are necessary,”
adds Cenar.
Engineered Soil Components
With a modular green roof system, as with all extensive
green roofs, the growing media must anchor the plants
and provide the chemicals and nutrients
necessary for plant growth. The growing media
must also provide a healthy setting for the plant
while remaining lightweight, water-permeable,
and resistant to rot.
Natural soils may be too heavy for use in a
green roof system, lack necessary plant growth
nutrients, or have a tendency to become
compacted when moved or transported.
Instead, a blend of nutrients, organic and
mineral materials of varying sizes, grains, and
compost should be employed, along with pore
space to allow air and water movement into
the soil.
In addition to carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen,
plants need several different essential
elements in relatively large amounts for
survival and optimum growth. Some of these
are referred to as macronutrients and include:
1. Nitrogen
2. Phosphorous
3. Potassium
4. Calcium
5. Magnesium
6. Sulfur
Plants also need several other elements, called
micronutrients, such as sulfur, iron, manganese,
copper, boron, and zinc. These are needed in only
very small quantities but are every bit as essential as
macronutrients to normal plant growth. Often the
compost initially used in the growth media will provide
all of these nutrients, though it may be necessary to
augment it with fertilizers later on to keep nutrient
levels high.
The organic materials used in the compost will be the
initial source of nutrients for plant growth and should
have a fairly low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. They also
help bond the soil structure and make the soil more
easily pulverized. However, Koehler advises using less
organic matter and more aggregate pieces—clusters or
crumbs of soil particles stuck together. “This is
because organic materials break down quickly,” she
says, “and engineered soils are designed for long life.”
It is the mineral material that most distinguishes green
roof growth media from natural soils. Synthetically
produced slate, clay, and/or shale are often used.
Naturally occurring materials, such as pumice and
scoria, may also be found in growing media
Weight is an important consideration with mineral
materials. For example, some inexpensive mineral
components, such as sand, may be heavier than
comparable materials. The added weight could pose
installation problems, limiting where the green roof
can be installed.
GreenGrid Pre-growing bed (courtesy GreenGrid)
As the interest in green roofs grows and they become
more commonplace, green roof manufacturers and soil
and nursery professionals will likely continue to reevaluate
the growing media used, looking for more
ways to promote healthy, optimum plant growth in
even more varied climates and settings. And as these
are introduced, it is essential that landscape
professionals, architects, and others in the industry
stay attuned to the latest developments and
technologies. Engineered soils, those already available
as well as new ones that will likely be developed, can
often determine the success or failure of a green roof
installation.
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
13

A Tribute to Malcolm Wells
Peter Lowitt, Director, Devens Enterprise Commission, and Chair, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Malcolm
Wells,
Architect
I first met Malcolm Wells over twenty-five years ago. I was the
managing editor of a start-up alternative energy magazine,
Living Alternatives, and had arranged to interview the
acknowledged earth sheltered housing expert. Flash forward
to Spring 2006 in Boston and John Todd dedicating his talk at
the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Banquet to his gentle,
humorous and inspirational friend, Malcolm Wells. Malcolm’s
architectural vision has been broad enough to encompass both
earth sheltered architecture and green roofs. To quote Mac, as
he is known to his friends, "...A building should consume its
own waste, maintain itself, match nature's pace, provide
wildlife habitat, moderate climate and weather and be
beautiful. That's a series of pass/ fail evaluation criteria...."
Two different approaches to
buildings, one that leaves scars
and one that tries to heal them
He was born in 1926, became an architect in 1953 and began
to design underground homes in 1964. Mac retired from
offering architectural services in 2004. In his life, Mac has
worked as an architect, writer, illustrator, draftsman, lecturer,
cartoonist, columnist, and solar consultant. As well as having
written several books (including Recovering America, referred
to in GRHC’s Design 101 course), he has written for The Futurist
magazine, High Country News, The Cape Cod Times ("Notes
from the Underground" columnist), and other magazines, as
well as illustrating children’s books.
Passive Solar at the Locust Hill
Multi-purpose Building
I entered this
field in part
due to Mac’s
influence. As a senior in college I visited the New Alchemy
Institute in Falmouth, Massachusetts and saw the Ark (a
bioshelter project) which he helped design. Mac, thanks for the
inspiration! For those of you wanting to learn more about Mac
and his work, I recommend www.malcolmwells.com.
All images are copyright Malcolm Wells, derived from
www.malcolmwells.com. Several of Mr. Wells’ books are also
available for order from this site. For more information on the
New Alchemy Institute’s Ark projects, please see
www.vsb.cape.com/~nature/greencenter/newalchemy.html
“Here is an idea Mac has for converting flimsy
gas stations to functional greenspaces”
With his characteristic sense of humor, ‘Mac’
illustrates his theories of underground
architecture
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The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

greenscreen. . . .
It's not all about aesthetics.
Shade and evapotranspiration
can mitigate heat absorption and
urban heat island effects. On
warm days a ten degree
reduction in the temperature
outside a building surface can
reduce the energy required by air
conditioning by 50 -70%. In cold
winters, deciduous climbers can
allow solar radiation to warm the
building surface and broadleaf
evergreen climbers can provide
protection and reduce wind chill.
These examples are from studies
around the globe and the
research is growing.... living WALLS
green SCREENS
living FENCES
WALLMOUNTED
ROOFTOP
800.450.3494
www.greenscreen.com
the POSSIBILITIES are ENDLESS...
FREESTANDING

The Evapotranspiration of
Green Roofs and Walls
A summary of the paper presented by
Marco Schmidt, Technische
Universitaet Berlin, Institute of
Architecture, Department of Building
Technology and Design at the 4th
Annual Greening Rooftops for
Sustainable Communities Conference.
In the natural landscape most of the
precipitation is evaporated or
transpired (evapotranspiration [ETP]),
whereas in urban areas rainwater
disappears rapidly into the sewer
system. For example, in the natural
watersheds of the rivers Spree and
Havel, in Germany, approximately 80%
of the precipitation is subject to ETP
by plants and the surrounding soil (see
“meadow” columns, Fig. 1).
Retained rainwater within green roofs has to be
evapotranspirated and the ETP of green roofs and
green walls has the potential to significantly reduce
the urban heat island effect. Additionally, the
retention of stormwater dramatically reduces the
peak rainwater run-off load into combined sewer
systems and prevents combined sewage release into
surface waters.
The precipitation runoff ratio depends on local
climate, vegetation and the type of green roof, which
is mainly defined by the field capacity of the growing
media and is related to its storage capacity for
rainwater. Figure 1 shows the mean annual
evapotranspiration rates of different surfaces, three
of which are different green roof types. These values
have been measured at our institute in Berlin-
Wilmersdorf. A meadow on a loamy soil shows
evapotranspiration rates of 87% and 89%, depending on
the groundwater level. In addition, the table shows
the surface runoff, evapotranspiration and
groundwater recharge of semi-permeable surfaces.
Generally, semi-permeable surfaces permit more
groundwater recharge compared to the natural
landscape. The table also shows the natural landscape
(see "Porous Asphalt", Grass Paver", Fig. 1)
Several environmental changes in urban areas are
caused by reduced evapotranspiration of
precipitation. An increase in thermal radiation can be
observed due to higher surface temperatures and the
capacity of many materials, such as concrete, to store
heat. Urban surfaces convert up to 95% of the net
incoming solar radiation into heat 1 .
Fig. 1: Hydrology of different surfaces (inches/a and %), 1/1/2001 –
12/31/2004 - TU Berlin Dahlem
As a result, air temperatures inside buildings rise and
lead to discomfort or increased energy consumption
for indoor climate control. An effective solution to
lower temperatures inside and outside of buildings is
to apply roof and wall greening systems, thereby
dissipating thermal energy by ETP.
Fig. 2 (facing page) shows the change of the weight of
one 0.15 m² (1.6 ft2) lysimeter system of the
University Neubrandenburg, resulting from
precipitation and ETP. “Zero” in Fig. 2 was set to an
assumed value of a low water content. The daily
precipitation is included in this figure.
ETP is the most important factor for the environmental
benefit of green roofs and green walls in urban areas.
It influences the urban hydrology, reduces the surface
temperatures and is essential for stormwater
retention. Calculating the real ETP value is necessary
to estimate the saturation of the roof substrate for the
stormwater retention. Long term simulations need to
include real precipitation and real potential
evapotranspiration (PET) data.
Another more demanding project is the building of the
Institute of Physics in Berlin-Adlershof, a project
designed by the architects Augustin and Frank (Berlin).
This venture is a research and office building that
features a combination of sustainable water
management techniques, including the use of
rainwater to cool the building. One of several
measures of sustainable architecture applied is the
reduction of energy consumption through a green wall.
The plants provide shade during summer, while in
winter time, when the plants lose their foliage, the
sun’s radiation is able to pass through the glass-front
of the building. The project includes permanent
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Fig. 2 Soil water content in variation of the evapotranspiration and precipitation
monitoring of water consumption from different plant
species and the cooling effect of ETP that influences
the energy balance of the building. In this project the
irrigation of various wall greening systems is controlled
and monitored by a computer system, which is also
connected to the internet (for more detailed
information, see www.gebaeudekuehlung.de).
A major objective of the wall greening system in Berlin-
Adlershof is to utilize ETP to improve the microclimate
inside and around the building. Continuous monitoring has
been carried out at this site since 2004.
There are 150 experimental troughs and these troughs
are organized in such a way that the water content is
maintained at a constant level. ETP has an immediate
feedback to the water consumption.
ETP is determined by measuring the
water supplied to the trough
throughout the day. Figure 3 shows the
mean daily ETP of this wall greening
system. The water consumption has a
direct relation to the real ETP.
Compared to the PET the real ETP is
extremely high. The plants have an
optimized water supply and the
surface of the trough is small
compared to the surface of the plants.
the natural landscape due to higher
temperatures caused by the urban
heat island effect and a lower
humidity of urban areas, as well as a
high global radiation and high wind
speeds on rooftops.
The experimental data from Adlershof
and other projects has been used in
conjunction with historical 5-minute
precipitation data of the past twenty
to thirty years to provide long-term
simulations and predictions. Daily PET
data should also be included in this
model. In order to predict stormwater,
the model would also require information regarding
the green roof area, the optional drainage area, the
roof slope and the roof substrate parameters.
Currently, we have not been able to create a general
mathematical model to verify and transpose
stormwater retention measurements, as our
calculations for a mixture of non-saturated and
saturated Darcy flow for different slopes have not yet
been successful. The long-term simulation of
precipitation, PET and real ETP will be an important
step to allow the transposition of real measurements
to different climatic conditions and to determine the
potential for stormwater retention function and
cooling rate of green roofs and walls.
The mean ETP between July and
August for the south face of the Fig. 3 Real evapotranspiration of a wall greening system, trough measurements
building was between 0.2 and 0.44
1. (Schmidt, M.: “Energy saving strategies through the greening of
inches per day (5.4 - 11.3 millimeters) depending on
buildings.” Proc. Rio3, World energy and climate event. Rio de
which floor of the building the troughs were located. Janeiro, Brasil 2003. www.rio3.com)
This rate of ETP represents a mean cooling value of
157 kW/h per day.
For the full text of this paper, including greater detail
Conclusions
on methodology, see our CD-ROM of the proceedings
of the 4th Annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable
Greening a building’s roof and walls results in Communities Conference available at
significant additional ETP, which has a high potential www.greenroofs.org
to reduce the building’s surface temperatures and to
improve the climate inside and around the building.
Both the PET and the real ETP are high compared to
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
17

ASTM International’s Green Roof
Activities - An Update as of September 06
Michael F. Gibbons, P.E., FCSI, Architectural Systems, Inc.
We started our efforts in 2000 as a task group
(E06.71.07 – Green Roof Systems) operating under
Subcommittee E06 – Building Sustainability. Our Task
Group has approximately twenty-five members
including architects, scientists, landscapers,
manufacturers, roofing contractors and academics
from throughout the USA and Canada. While meeting
twice annually, we have been able to write and publish
five ASTM standards for green roofing.
ASTM is a consensus organization, so all of these
standards have been voted on multiple times at the
Task Group level followed by votes at subcommittee
and finally at the main committee level. Every valid
objection has been addressed and adjudicated before
the acceptance and publication of each standard.
The following is a listing of the standards that have
been published by ASTM International to date. They
are available for purchase on the ASTM web site:
1) E2396-05 Standard Test Method for Saturated
Water Permeability of Granular Drainage Media
[Falling-Head Method] for Green Roof Systems
Status: Current
2) E2397-05 Standard Practice for
Determination of Dead Loads and Live Loads
associated with Green Roof Systems
Status: Current
3) E2398-05 Standard Test Method for Water
Capture and Media Retention of
Geocomposite Drain Layers for Green Roof
Systems
Status: Current
4) E2399-05 Standard Test Method for
Maximum Media Density for Dead Load
Analysis of Green Roof Systems
Status: Current
5) E2400-06 Standard Guide for Selection,
Installation, and Maintenance of Plants for
Green Roof Systems
Status: Current
WK4237 Standard Test Method for Water Capture
and Media Retention of Geocomposite Drain Layers for
Green Roofs (Technical Contact: Michael Gibbons)
WK4239 Standard Test Method for Saturated Water
Permeability of Granular Drainage Media [Falling-Head
Method] for Green Roofs (Technical Contact: Michael
Gibbons)
WK7319 Standard Guide for Use of Expanded Shale,
Clay or Slate (ESCS) as a Mineral Component in
Growing Media for Green Roof Systems (Technical
Contact: Michael Gibbons) Ballot E06 (06-01) Item 019
To date, our approach has been to select individual
components of green roof systems, try to create a
consensus in our group and then submit them through
ASTM’s approval process. The lists above show that we
have made some substantial progress on components.
It is our objective to continue working on the
standards under development, hopefully
concentrating on the main “Assessment of Green
Roofs”, to have it submitted to ASTM by the end
of 2007.
The ASTM website is www.astm.org. On left side, click
on standards and then enter the search criteria “green
roof”. All five of these standards will appear as
available for purchase (cost is US $29.00 each).
Proposed standards under development:
WK575 Practice for Assessment of Green
Roofs (Technical Contact: Michael Gibbons)
WK4235 Standard Guide for Selection,
Installation, and Maintenance of Plants for
Green Roofs (Technical Contact: Michael
Gibbons)
WK4236 Standard Practice for
Determination of Dead Loads and Live Loads
associated with Green Roof Systems (Technical
Contact: Michael Gibbons)
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
19

Green Roof Industry Meets in Boston for Biggest Green Roof Conference Yet!
Jennifer Sprout, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Director, Local Market Development
The 4th Annual Greening
Rooftops for Sustainable
Communities Conference,
Awards and Trade Show,
held in Boston this past May
was co-hosted by the City of
Boston and was the most
successful green roof
conference to date! More
than 850 people participated
in the conference sessions,
trade show exhibition, training
courses and tours. This
constituted a growth rate of 25% over last year’s event in
Washington, D.C.!
Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino opened the conference
with a Welcoming Reception for all delegates on the
trade show floor, and used the opportunity to
announce that members of his administration staff had
been directed to review new and existing municipal
buildings for the incorporation of green roofs. City
agencies will develop an environmental monitoring
system to document the benefits of green roofs on
storm water, air quality and urban heat island effects.
During the course of two busy days, participants had
the opportunity to listen to more than 50 speakers
addressing such topics as green walls, selecting plants
for peak performance and functionality; and the
optimization of energy performance. One of the
speaker highlights included the Banquet presentation
by keynote speaker Dr. John Todd. Dr. Todd spoke
about his living machines, or ecological engines, for
the treatment of wastes, and the production of foods.
Opening Plenary of Boston Conference
A new award recognizing Excellence in Research was
established this year to honor pioneers in the green
roof industry. The first Research Award of Excellence
was presented, with a standing ovation, to Dr. David
Beattie, Pennsylvania State University. David is the
Founder and Director of the Penn State Center for
Green Roof Research. Established in 2000, the
Center’s mission is to promote green roof research,
education and technology transfer in the northeastern
United States.
The trade show exhibition hours were altered this year
to allow exhibitors the opportunity to enjoy all
conference sessions. Specified trade show hours with
no competing sessions ensured that everyone could
network on the trade show floor and see many of the
products and services newly launched at the
conference without missing any speakers.
A highlight of the conference was our Green Roof
Awards of Excellence Luncheon. Established in 2003 to
recognize green roof projects that exhibit
extraordinary leadership in integrated design and
implementation, the projects honored this year
exemplified this mission. Seven awards were
presented to residential, institutional and commercial
projects for both intensive and extensive gardens. The
award winning projects are featured in the centerspread
of this issue of the Monitor (pages 24-26).
Dr. David Beattie accepts the first Green Roof Research Award
of Excellence, flanked by Nancy Somerville, Executive Vice
President / CEO, American Society of Landscape Architects and
Steven Peck, Founder and President, GRHC
Bookending the conference were several new courses
that are now part of our burgeoning Green Roof
Professional Accreditation Program: the ever-popular
Design 101 – Introduction to Green Roof Design and
the advanced Design and Implementation 201 had its
inaugural debut to an enthusiastic response. Half-day
workshops were also presented on Biodiversity, ASTM
and FLL Standards and Policy Development.
Committee Chairs hosted meetings for members on
Corporate Membership; Research and Policy. All
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
21

Corporate and Individual Members were invited to
participate and discuss potential research projects,
policy development in municipalities throughout North
America and overall industry development.
The culmination of this event was the result of hours
of work and support from so many individuals on
different committees volunteering their time and
expertise for the past year. While too many to name
individually, I would like to recognize the committees:
Boston Local Host Committee (Co-Chaired by Peter
Lowitt, Devens Enterprise Commission and Bryan
Glascock, City of Boston, Department of the
Environment); 2006 Awards of Excellence Judges
(Jeffrey L. Bruce, FASLA, Jeffrey L. Bruce & Company
(Awards of Excellence Winner 2004); Paul Farmer, AICP,
President, American Planning Association; Michael
Gibbons, P.E., FCSI, CCPR, President, Architectural
Systems Inc., Chair, ASTM Green Roof Task Group;
Monica Kuhn, BES, B. Arch, OAA - Architect and GRHC
Board Member; Ed Snodgrass, Green Roof Plants;
Nancy Somerville, Executive Vice President/CEO,
American Society of Landscape Architects); Speaker
Selection Committee; GRHC Policy Committee; GRHC
Research Committee; GRHC Corporate Members
Committee; GRHC Training Committee; and GRHC
Training Peer Reviewers. Thank you! Your commitment
is really appreciated.
Of course, our Corporate Sponsors were critical in
ensuring the successful presentation of the
conference, and recognition must also be given to The
City of Boston; American Society of Landscape
Architects; Camp, Dresser and McKee (CDM); Skanska;
American Hydrotech; Colbond; Eco-Structure;
Environment Canada; Environmental Design and
Construction; McGuire Woods; rooflite; Sarnafil;
Soprema; and the US General Services Administration
(GSA). Our partnerships with more than 30 varied
associations – national, regional and local – ensured
that we got the word out to you and their on-going
support of our programs is most appreciated.
Corporate Membership
Benefits (USD)
Manufacturers: $4,800
Distributors & Suppliers: $3,500
Government: $950
Non-Profit: $500
Green Walls $750
Professional: $1,500
- Utilities /Researchers
- Developers
- Engineers
- Landscape Architects
- Architects
- Nurseries
- Green Roof Consultants
Join the Green Roof Family!
Extensive corporate recognition through our website (logo and hotlink to
your site; website has recorded more than 1 million hits per month); at our
training courses - more than 35 courses presented per year (product samples &
contact listing in manuals); at our Local Market Development Symposia -
5 symposia presented per year (exhibition space; time on the agenda; in the
registration kit); at our Annual International Conference (signage; listing in
Conference Program); in relevant media releases (usually regionally based)
Access to green roof professionals for marketing: our current individual
membership database totals 2500+ individuals; additional delegate lists from
symposia and the conference are distributed to members post event - you can
easily anticipate more than 3000 real leads from us in 2006
Participation on our Corporate Members Committee which appoints a
member to sit on our Board of Directors (currently Steve Skinner, American
Hydrotech), and which helps guide the association in supporting and setting
policy in relation to corporate members and their requirements
Project profiling of members' projects on our website and at symposia and
in the bi-annual magazine Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor tm
Discounted fees for association materials and events, including 50% discount
on trade show exhibition at symposia; 50% discount on conference CD Roms;
25% discount on advertising space in our Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor
Additional individual memberships - five free individual memberships for
distribution to employees at discretion of corporate members
For Corporate Membership
information, please contact Steven Peck (speck@greenroofs.org or 416-971-4494)
Individual Membership Benefits
$125 US
$25 discount on purchase of one of our four Conference
Proceedings CD-Roms
Contact information and products and services
profile on our new searchable online membership
database.
Opportunity to participate on Committees
Receive the Bi-monthly electronic newsletter on
the latest green roof developments
Membership listing in our Members’ Directory
distributed at the Greening Rooftops for Sustainable
Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show.
Mailed subscription to the semi-annual Green
Roof Infrastructure Monitor tm
22
The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

Green Roofs Meet
Minneapolis
April 29th - May 1st, 2007
Jennifer Sprout, Green Roofs for
Healthy Cities, Director, Local
Market Development
Already recognized for its
world-class parks and miles of
bike and recreation trails, the City of Minneapolis was
recently named one of America’s top 10 green cities by
The Green Guide. In this publication of the Green
Guide Institute, the City of Minneapolis was praised for
dedicating 15 percent of city land to parks and
preserves. It was also recognized for its high water and
air quality, integrated public transportation system
and bike-friendly status.
On April 29th, 30th and May 1st, 2007, the City of
Minneapolis will host the 5th Annual Greening Rooftops
for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and
Trade Show. “Minneapolis is ideally suited to host this
conference with its recent increase in green roof activity
ranging from policy, training and regulatory support to a
growing local industry and an increasing number of
green roofs being incorporated into new buildings,” said
7th Ward Minneapolis City Council Member and Honorary
Conference Co-Chair Lisa Goodman.
The City Hall and Courthouse project will add a new
green space to the downtown area with a 5,800
square-foot demonstration green roof in the building’s
interior courtyard. It will also include a solar panel
demonstration project and will be open to visitors and
available for public events. The green roof project
Minneapolis Skyline with River Foliage (courtesy Greater
Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association)
began in August 2006 and will be featured during the
conference next spring.
The schedule of the 5th Annual Conference has been
adjusted to allow delegates more time in their “City of
Lakes”. Beginning on Saturday, April 28 guided local
green roof tours and city hot spots will be featured.
Sunday sessions include Committee Meetings
(Research, Policy and Corporate), training courses and
the Official Opening Plenary at 6:30 p.m. Concurrent
presentations in the Design, Policy and Research Tracks
will commence at 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 30 and run
all day Monday and Tuesday. The City of Minneapolis is
graciously hosting a Delegate Reception on Monday
evening prior to the keynote address and dinner.
Green Roof tours and training courses will be offered
again on Wednesday, May 2.
Delegate and exhibitor registration, and a complete
conference agenda, are available on the conference
website at www.greenroofs.org.
Conference Sponsorship Opportunities – Still Available …
Sponsorship of the 5th Annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and
Trade Show is the perfect vehicle to distinguish your organization by showcasing your ongoing commitment to
responsible and environmentally innovative practices in the high performance buildings industry. Don’t miss
Sponsorship Packages
Platinum $15,000
Gold $10,000
Silver $ 7,500
Bronze $ 5,000
Copper $ 2,500
Awards of Excellence $15,000
Official Meeting Bag $10,000
Badge Holders $ 5,000
Badge Lanyards $ 5,000
Presentation Theatre $ 5,000
Bookstore Lounge $ 3,000
Cyber Café $ 3,000
Refreshment Breaks $ 2,500
Registration Kit Inserts $ 1,000
Academic Sponsorship $ 750
this opportunity to become a strategic partner in the pre-eminent
global conference on green roof technology.
Sponsorship in this event will provide opportunities to:
Impact a targeted and rapidly growing segment of the sustainable
buildings industry
Position your organization as a leader in the green roof industry
Benefit from an extensive North American media campaign
showcasing your firm’s logo through newspaper, magazine, electronic
and print media
Influence and win the loyalty of public and private decision-makers
and stakeholders
Reinforce your status as an enlightened and visionary corporate
citizen
For more information, please contact Jennifer Sprout: 416-971-
4494 or jsprout@greenroofs.org
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
23

Green Roof Awards of Excellence
2006 Winner Profiles
Category: Extensive Residential
Award Recipient: Eco Housing Corporation
Eastern Village, Silver Spring, Maryland
The Eastern Village Condominiums (EVC) structure is an adaptive
reuse of an office building constructed in 1957 in Silver Spring,
Maryland. Abandoned for several years, it is now transformed into
56 condominium units housing a thriving urban community. EVC
received USGBC LEED® Silver-level Certification in September 2005,
making it the first LEED-certified co-housing structure. Of the
12,330 square-foot roof, approximately 8,000 square feet is planted
at roughly $36 per square foot. The lightweight growing medium is
5” deep. Irrigation was unnecessary and maintenance requirements
are minimal, consisting of weeding and fertilizing annually with a
slow-release fertilizer. Adaptive reuse of the existing structure and use of recycled materials played an
important role in the design, which includes reuse of the existing concrete roof deck. The green roof provides
much needed, aesthetically-pleasing outdoor space for the EVC community amid the plantings.
Category: Extensive Institutional
Award Recipient: American Hydrotech
Ballard Library, Seattle, Washington
A key design objective of this green roof was to generate
community interest in green design by making this facility a
teaching tool. The gently curving roof is visible from the
periscope and observation deck and invites visitors to engage
in the green roof’s ecology above the street. The green roof
occupies approximately 20,500 square feet of the roof at $20
per sq. ft. The water retention/drainage/aeration element is
comprised of lightweight panels of 100% recycled
polyethylene, molded into retention cups and drainage
channels, allowing for the free drainage of excess water,
while simultaneously promoting irrigation through capillary action and evaporation into the growing
media/vegetation level. The roof top planting is a mix of self-sustaining, drought tolerant, indigenous grasses
and sedums planted in a pattern that mimics a windborne casting of seeds.
Category: Extensive Industrial / Commercial
Award Recipient: The Kestrel Design Group, Inc.
Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center (PEEC), Minneapolis, Minnesota
The PEEC’s 4,000 sq.ft. extensive green roof provides the opportunity
to both demonstrate and research the benefits of green roofs
including effects of the green roof on stormwater runoff, lifespan of
roofing membrane, and temperature directly above the roof. The
project also monitors the establishment and survival of 18 native and
11 European green roof species in a Minnesota extensive green roof
environment. The green roof’s deck and seating area, constructed
from recycled plastic, provide open space accessible to employees
and visitors as well as drawing public attention from the adjacent
elevated light rail transit line. A local native plant community with
growing conditions similar to green roofs, the Minnesota Bedrock
Bluff Prairie, was used as a template to inform planting design. Like extensive green roofs, bedrock bluff prairies
have shallow soil profiles and are exposed to considerable heat, drought, and wind.
2007 Awards of Excellence submissions being accepted from now through Feb. 15, 2007.
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Green Roof Awards of Excellence
2006 Winner Profiles
Category: Intensive Residential
Award Recipient: Jeffrey L. Bruce & Company
Seapointe Village Deck Restoration, Wildwood Crest, New Jersey
Seapointe Village is an oceanfront resort community in New Jersey.
Three condominium towers and 5.5 acres of recreational amenities
over a parking structure were constructed between 1986 and 1992.
Following completion, the original 70,000 sq. ft. green roof began to
leak damaging the structures and vehicles below. Ten years of
unsuccessful repairs followed by a lawsuit, showed an accelerating rate
of deterioration. The reconstruction plan retained the original 1986
Peridian landscape design while complying with new codes and
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The primary
objective was the installation of a new waterproofing membrane for
the plaza deck and parking structure. This required the removal and reconstruction of all roof top amenities.
Opportunities for construction defects were greatly minimized by reducing slab penetrations and incorporating
redundancy in most system functions, even installing a second membrane under water features and landscaped areas.
Category: Intensive Institutional
Award Recipient: Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Mashantucket, Connecticut
The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center was built on the
southern edge of the Great Cedar Swamp, on a north-facing slope of the
Mashantucket Pequot Reservation in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The Tribe
wanted a seamless transition between the museum roof and the adjacent
swamp, a 500-acre wetland of significant historical and cultural importance to
the Mashantucket Pequot community. The green roof is approximately 65,000
sq. ft. and covers all of the permanent museum exhibits. The approximate cost
of the green roof was $25.00 per sq. ft. Several “ethnobotany” terrace gardens
have been used to educate students about cultural traditions of native people
and how different plants are used for food, medicine, and materials. A root,
herb, and berry garden are being developed on the green roof, that will supply
the kitchen with periodic and seasonal foods harvested locally and that will also
be reflective of a traditional Native American harvest.
Category: Intensive Industrial/Commercial
Award Recipient: Sasaki Associates, Inc.
601 Congress Street, Seaport District, Boston,
Massachusetts
The 601 Congress Street Roof Garden is housed on a 14-
storey building that is stepped at the 12th floor, leaving an
open roof area with direct access from adjacent offices and
visibility from the floors above. One of the building design
goals was to achieve LEED Certification and Sasaki took this
opportunity to create a terrace and garden that would be
an amenity for the occupants as well as another sustainable
design component of the project. The green roof portion of
the 12th floor terrace is approximately 11,000 sq. ft. The
planting scheme is composed primarily of natural grass masses that vary in height from one to two feet,
punctuated by drifts of taller ornamental Miscanthus grass. Beds of low-growing flowering Sedums provide
additional interest, color and contrast in the green roof’s foreground.
For more information on these and past award winners, please see our website: www.greenroofs.org
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
25

Green Roof Awards of Excellence
2006 Winner Profiles
Category: Special Recognition
Award Recipient: Koch Landscape Architecture
10th @ Hoyt Apartments, Portland, Oregon
Located in a dense area of new development near downtown Portland, the 10th @
Hoyt Apartments courtyard provides semi-private respite for occupants and passersby.
This 8,500 sq. ft. enclosed courtyard green roof, open to the street on the west
side, was designed to capture, convey, and creatively display the stormwater roof
runoff. Water features are integrated with plant material in raised and at-grade
planters, and sand-set paving, which captures and filters additional rainwater. Many
engineered solutions have been identified and implemented to satisfy stormwater
mitigation regulations, but visual display and celebration of this resource have
seldom been fully investigated. The stormwater detention elements in this project,
in conjunction with other lighting systems create a restful ambiance that
exemplifies the many intrinsic auditory, visual and tactile qualities of water. The
courtyard roof design is enhanced by numerous trees, shrubs, potted plants, and
ground covers rooted in 10 to 30 inches of growing medium.
Civic Award of Excellence
Award Winner: Councillor Joe Pantalone, Deputy Mayor, City of Toronto
Councillor Joe Pantalone is a political veteran with a compelling track record in
serving the City of Toronto. He is well known for his dedication to a beautiful and
safe city, efforts in greening the city, and service to constituents. As Chair of the
Board of Governors for Exhibition Place, Joe has worked tirelessly to make the site
an environmental, heritage and festival showcase. Besides pioneering the position
of the City’s Tree Advocate, which plants tens of thousands of new trees in Toronto
each year, Joe, as Chair of the Roundtable on the Environment, is leading Toronto’s
efforts to become North America’s leader in the environmental field. Joe
Pantalone played a central role in the City of Toronto’s adoption of the first
comprehensive set of green roof policies in North America (see
www.toronto.ca/greenroofs). This extensive set of policies will set the stage for
public-private partnerships that will result in significant improvements to the
quality of life in Toronto. Joe Pantalone is recognized for his unfailing resolve to
keep green roofs at the forefront of Toronto’s Environmental Plan.
Research Award of Excellence
Award Winner: Dr. David Beattie, Associate Professor of Ornamental
Horticulture, Pennsylvania State University, Direct of the Penn State Center
for Green Roof Research
Dr. David Beattie is the Founder and Director of the Penn State Center for Green
Roof Research at Pennsylvania State University and an Associate Professor of
Ornamental Horticulture. During his career, Dr. David Beattie’s work has been
extensively published in several academic journals, research papers and books. His
research interests include green roofs, perennial plant growth, their development
and use as flowering pot plants, and root growth and control in pots. Dr. Beattie
has played a significant role in shaping and informing the green roof industry. In
2000, he founded the highly regarded Penn State Center for Green Roof Research
with a mission to promote green roof research, education and technology transfer
in the northeastern United States. He assembled a team of scientists from
Horticultural and Agricultural Engineering backgrounds who collaborate on research
projects. Under David’s direction, the Center has produced some of the most
complete and comprehensive green roof research in North America (for more
information see http://hortweb.cas.psu.edu/research/greenroofcenter/).
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The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

Grow Your Green Roof Library!
Now available to order: 2003 Chicago, 2004 Portland, 2005 Washington, and 2006 Boston
Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference Proceedings
The most comprehensive compilation of green roof information available!
Order on-line at www.greenroofs.org
2006 Boston Proceedings Include:
Making Green Roofs Happen in Toronto, Councillor Joe Pantalone, Deputy Mayor,
City of Toronto, and Liora Zion Burton, City of Toronto; “The Stick and The Carrot”
- An Effective Approach to Green Roof Policy, Paul Chellsen, City of Minneapolis
Public Works, & Kristina Robertson, Minneapolis Public Schools; Fast Track Permitting
and Incentives for Residential Green Roofs in Chicago, Michael Berkshire, City of
Chicago; Learning From Millennium Park, Chicago, Terry Guen, Terry Guen Design
Associates; Green Roofs of the United States Government, Lance Davis, U.S.
General Services Administration; A New Green Roof Water Recycling System –
GROW, Chris Shirley-Smith Director, Water Works UK Ltd.; Living Wall Systems – A
View Back and Some Visions, Dr. Manfred Köhler, University of Applied Sciences
Neubrandenburg; Green Walls and Green Towers, Randy Sharp, Sharp & Diamond
Landscape Architecture & Planning; Assessment of Substrate Depth and
Composition on Green Roof Plant Performance, Dr. Bradley Rowe, Dept. of
Horticulture, Michigan State University, Clayton L. Rugh, Dept. of Crop and Soil
Sciences, Michigan State University and Angela K. Durhman, Dept. of Horticulture,
Michigan State University, Green Roofs for Biodiversity: Reconciling Aesthetics with
Ecology, Dr. Nigel Dunnett, University of Sheffield; Plant Responses to Drought on
Extensive Green Roofs: The Effects of Temperature, Substrate Type, and Substrate
Depth, Ayako Nagase, University of Sheffield, and Christine Thuring, Penn State
University; Optimizing the Building Envelopes with Green Roofs: A Discussion of Architectural and Energy Performance
Requirements, Joseph Hagerman, 2005 Rafael Viñoly Research Fellow and Masters Candidate, Columbia University, and David Hodge,
Rafael Viñoly Architects; The Evapotranspiration of Greened Roofs and Facades, Marco Schmidt, University of Technology Berlin,
Germany - and more! $75 Non-members ; $50 Members
2005 Washington Proceedings Include:
Overview of North American Policy Developments and the Policy Development Process, Steven Peck, President, Green
Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC); Zeroing in on the Decision Makers: Knowing the Potential Green Roof Client, Jennifer
Strauss Hendricks, University of Illinois; The Viridian Project: Green Roofs and Affordable and Supportive Housing, Colin
Cheney, Project Director, Earth Pledge Foundation; Waterloo Green Roof Feasibility Study - A Summary, Karen Moyer,
Environmental Services Department, City of Waterloo, Ontario; An Eye for the Green Top: An Independent Voice for Green
Roofs in the UK, Dusty Gedge, Livingroofs.org and Matthew Frith, Landscape Regeneration Manager, Peabody Trust, London;
Green Roofs and the LEED Green Building System, Richard Kula, Principal, Sustainable Solutions, Inc.; Introduction to
German FLL Guidelines for Green Roof Planning, Execution and Upkeep, Peter Philippi, Green Roof Services; 100
Extensive Green Roofs: Lessons Learned, Ed Snodgrass, Green Roof Plants; 10 Years of Extensive Green Roof Experience
in Mexico, Ulrike Grau, Institute for Agrarian- and Urban- Ecological Projects at Humboldt-University, Berlin; - and more!
$50 Non-members ; $25 Members
2004 Portland Proceedings Include:
Green Roofs and Implementing the Goals of Smart Growth, Angela Loder and Steven Peck, Green Roofs for Heatlhy Cities;
New York’s Green Roofs Policy Task Force, Colin Cheney, Earth Pledge; Creating a Marketplace for Green Roofs in Chicago,
Lois Vitt Sale, Wight & Company; Lessons from the City of Atlanta’s Green Roof Project, Ben Taube, City of Atlanta;
Portland’s Experience with Land Use Tools to Promote Green Roofs, Marie Johnson, City of Portland; Tokyo’s Green Roof
Regulations, Yuko Nishida, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Environment; Life Cycle Cost Analysis, Allen Lee,
Quantec; Planting Options for Extensive and Semi-Extensive Green Roofs, Nigel Dunnett, University of Sheffield & Noel
Kingsbury; Plants as Design Elements, Ed Snodgrass, Green Roof Plants; Formulation of Effective Performance Specifications
for Green Roofs, Charlie Miller, Roofscapes, Inc.; Design Criteria for a Green Roof Medium, Dr. David Beattie and Robert
Berghage, Penn State University; Stormwater Performance of a Green Roof in Toronto; Glen MacMillan, Toronto Region
Conservation Authority;Bugs, Bees and Spiders: Green roof design for rare invertebrates, Dusty Gedge, Royal Holloway
College & Gyongyver Kadas, London Biodiversity Partnership; A Green Roof Comparison Project: The Illinois EPA-CDF green
roof, Bruce Dvorak, Conservation Design Forum - and more! $50 Non-members ; $25 Members
2003 Chicago Proceedings Include:
Key Steps to Developing Local Green roof Markets, Steven Peck & Ireen Wieditz, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities; Moisture
Management in Green Roofs, Charlie Miller, Roofscapes Inc.; Modeling the Urban Heat Island Benefits of Green Roofs in
Toronto, Dr. Brad Bass, Environment Canada; Green Roof Development in Sweden, Violette Lindhqvist, International Green
Roof Institute; Plant Survival, Biodiversity and Stormwater Among Extensive Green Roofs in Berlin and Neubrandenburg,
Dr. Manfred Kohler, University of Applied Sciences, Germany; Green Roofs and the LEED System, USGBC: Chicago’s Green
Initiatives, Kimberly Worthington, City of Chicago; Toronto’s Green Roof Demonstration Project, Jim Kamstra, City of
Toronto; Native and Ornamental Plant Survival Research, Dr. David Beattie, Penn State University; The Influence of Green
Roof Slope, Substrate Depth and Vegetation on Runoff, Dr. Bradley Rowe, Michigan State University; Stormwater Monitoring
of Two Green Roofs in Portland, Oregon, Ryan Retzlaff, City of Portland and more! $50 Non-members ; $25 Members
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org 27

Green Roofs in the News
Green Roof Plants - A Resource And Planting Guide - by Edmund C. Snodgrass and Lucie L. Snodgrass
Long time GRHC member Ed Snodgrass (Green Roof Plants) has a new book coming out.
“Despite the high level of interest in green roofs, until now there has been no
reliable reference devoted exclusively to the various species of drought-tolerant
plants that are suitable for use on extensive green roofs. Green Roof Plants: A
Resource and Planting Guide fills that void. The book contains photographs and
cultural information for more than 220 species and cultivars of plants. Although
many of the plants might be expected to tolerate rooftop conditions, such as the
low-growing sedums, others will come as a pleasant surprise, such as dwarf alliums
and campanulas.
“Concise, accurate, and easy to use, Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting
Guide is destined to become an indispensable practical reference guide, not just
for architects, landscape designers, engineers, and environmentalists, but also for
environmentally conscious home gardeners.” (quoted from promotional flyer)
For more information or to order, see Ed’s site at www.greenroofplants.com;
publisher Timber Press’ site at www.timberpress.com or www.amazon.com
The Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (STEP)
STEP is a multi-agency program, led by the Toronto and Region Conservation
Authority. The program was developed to provide the data and analytical
tools necessary to support broader implementation of sustainable
technologies and practices within a Canadian context (www.trca.on.ca)
Three-year water study of an extensive green roof completed
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has completed a threeyear
study of an extensive green roof on York University’s Computer
Science and Engineering Building. The study was initiated to address the
growing need for research on the stormwater management and
biodiversity benefits of green roof technology in cold weather climates.
Monitoring of surface runoff quality and quantity, rainfall, air
temperature, relative humidity, soil temperature and soil moisture was
conducted at the site from 2003 to 2005. Water quality analyses were supplemented by chemical analyses
of several commercially available green roof growing media to evaluate how they affected garden runoff
quality.
The detailed study and results, entitled “Evaluation of an Extensive Greenroof – York University, Toronto,
Ontario”, is now available for download on the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (STEP) website
at www.sustainabletechnologies.ca. (courtesy Lisa Rocha, Toronto and Region Conservation)
Finance and Commerce Newspaper Recognizes CEO Tim Leonard
New GRHC Corporate member Prairie Technologies Inc. saw their CEO honored as ‘Innovator of the Year’ by
Finance and Commerce newspaper, a daily business publication serving the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St.
Paul community.
"Our green roof helps home and business owners save energy costs and helps the environment," said Leonard.
"Our goal is to always be a leader in our industry, so it's great being acknowledged for it."
To learn more about the "Innovator of the Year" program, visit Finance and Commerce's website at
www.finance-commerce.com.
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Green Roofs in the News
Canadian Urban Institute Honors Steven Peck
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is proud to announce that Steven Peck, GRHC's Founder and President, has
been honored with a Canadian Urban Institute Urban Leadership Award, presented June 5, 2006 at the Royal
York Hotel in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Peck won in the category of City Liveability for his leadership in developing
the green roof industry.
To learn more about the Canadian Urban Institute and the Urban Leadership Awards, please see www.canurb.com.
Demonstration Green Roof in New York
Pittsburgh Corning Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA) and Rafael Vinoly Architects (New York, NY) have partnered
to demonstrate a new, innovative green roof design focusing on improving the long-term performance and
maintenance of building envelopes. This unique, inverted membrane green roof will address issues such as:
decreasing the construction time involved with modular layers; simplifying installation and maintenance
details; and improving design flexibility all while insuring the long-term, thermal performance of the building
envelope. For more information, contact Rob Henne at Rob_Henne@pghcorning.com
Toronto's Green Roof Pilot Incentive Program
In July, the City of Toronto made applications available for it’s Green Roof Pilot Incentive Program. If a green roof
project is approved for the program, it qualifies for a grant of $10 (CAD) per square metre, to a maximum of $20,000
(CAD). For more details or to download an application, please see www.toronto.ca/greenroofs/incentiveprogram.htm
Green Roofs Part of Draft Development Guidelines
In July, Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development released a draft of the Seattle Green Factor program,
which involves landscape requirements for new development in neighborhood commercial areas. Current
requirements dictate a certain percentage of open space on a development site, but this space does not have to be
green or sustainable. If approved, Green Factor would require that a component of a development site be vegetated
– with the amount determined by a variable, based on the type of vegetation. Included in the options available to
achieve this coverage were green roofs and living walls. (see http://www.seattle.gov/dclu/news/20060623a.asp)
Chicago Invests Further In Green Roofs
This past summer, the City of Chicago launched two new programs to encourage green roof construction:
- Building on the success of last year’s program, a renewed and expanded “Green Roof Grants Program:
Residential and Small Commercial”
- A Green Roof Improvement Fund (or GRIF); a pilot grant program that helps downtown owners of existing
buildings fund the creation of green roofs.
To learn more about these new grants, see our article about recent green roof events in Chicago (page 6 this issue)
Green Roof at University of Houston
In spring 2005 a green roof mock-up was built by students with help from the
construction community and a green roof supplier with plants indigenous from
the Texas Gulf Coast. Though buffeted by severe drought and deluge the
myriad of the plants are thriving - all, except for the preferred sedum of green
roofs in the northern USA and Europe. The goal, among all the healthy
attributes a green roof can give, is to find a community of native and adapted
native plants able to withstand and flourish in the extreme environment of the
Houston and Gulf Coast climate.
For more information on the Keeland Green Roof project see:
http://www.advancement.uh.edu/magazine/fall06/pages/ingenuity.htm
For an interview with the Architect, Geoffrey Brune, in the fall 2006 issue of the U of H Magazine:
http://greenteamhouston.blogspot.com/ …and follow the link to the Green Team Website for additional info
on plants, etc.
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
29

Green Roof Product Announcements
Ongoing product development is key to reducing green roof costs and improving performance. Although GRHC does
not endorse any particular product, this new advertising section profiles innovations by our Corporate Members.
Living Walls Taking Root In A City Near You
(text and image from ELT press release)
Elevated Landscape Technologies Inc. (ELT) has developed an exciting new modular
living wall panel that allows building owners to instantly cover a wall with growing
plants. “The living wall panels are our most exciting offering to date” says ELT’s
President Greg Garner. With the ever increasing price of land in cities, gardening on
the vertical surfaces is a great opportunity for these under-utilized spaces.
ELT Easy Green Living Wall panels can also be used as a part of a complete indoor
plant display. Combining the living wall panels with lighting, water, and sound can
create a very interesting interior wall that will be the envy of all passers-by. With a
complete lack of land area and a plethora of walls to choose from, it only makes
logical sense to grow vegetables and herbs on the walls. The ELT Easy Green Living Wall system can make
urban agriculture a more viable option in many areas.
The ELT Easy Green Living Wall system is available in both empty panels for those who would like to plant
their own wall and custom pre-grown with a selection of hardy plants. We offer a full range of accessories to
help attach the panels to almost any surface. For more information about the Living Wall product visit:
www.eltlivingwalls.com
Chicago's GreenGrid Introduces Do-It-Yourself Green Roofing System For Homeowners
(text and image from GreenGrid® press release)
Chicago's GreenGrid®, a business of Weston Solutions, Inc., has introduced an all-new "do-it-yourself" Green
Roofing system perfect for homes and smaller buildings. Called The GreenGrid® DIY Kit, all components are
delivered directly to the home/building owner along with easy-to-follow installation instructions.
The kit includes:
Two-by-two-foot-by-four-inch deep modules
GreenGrid's specially formulated light weight soil media
Hearty, low-maintenance, and drought-resistant sedum plants
The "do-it-yourselfer" assembles by placing the soil media and plants into the
modules. The modules are then placed directly on top of the existing roof.
Although surprisingly light, the roof's structural integrity may need to be tested to
make sure it can support the added weight. Often, the entire project can be
completed on a Sunday afternoon.
For more information on the DYI Kit, contact Sandra McCullough at 312-424-3319,
or visit www.greengridroofs.com.
GRHC Member Launches New Growing Media
(text from GreenGrid® press release)
The growth media engineered for Green roof systems must provide the nutrients necessary for the vegetation
to survive and thrive in all types of climates and conditions.
To accomplish this, Weston Solutions® , manufacturer of the GreenGrid® modular Green roofing systems, has
developed a proprietary mixture of organic and inorganic growth media.
Formulated after years of research and field-testing, the growth media used in GreenGrid modular systems
has the proper pH balance, air space, nutrients, and drainage to help maximize root development and
improve plant growth, quality, and survival. And it helps reduce costs for the end customer. For more
information on GreenGrid’s proprietary mixture of organic and inorganic growth media, contact visit
www.greengridroofs.com.
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Green Roof Paks
(text and image from Green Roof Blocks press release)
Introducing Green Paks the green roof revolution by Green Roof Blocks. Green
Paks are 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.
Each Green Paks module covers 5.2 square feet of roof area and can be
installed over any geo-textile or proprietary drainage product. Modules come
42 per pallet for convenient shipping and storing. Forget about dump truck
loads of growth media, pump trucks, and raking. Green Paks can be unloaded
at loading docks using standard freight handling equipment. The modules can
be roof loaded using a variety of hoisting methods and can even be transported in freight elevators. Green Paks
are filled with a pre-measured amount of growth media to achieve uniform soil depth without raking or double
handling of materials. Install Green Paks any time of year and wait to plant until conditions are optimal. Growth
media remains sealed in the knitted polyethylene module eliminating concerns about soil loss through erosion
and wind scouring. Green Paks modules remain remarkably stable, even on sloped roofs. Let Green Roof Paks do
the installation and planting or do it yourself; either way Green Paks are fast, easy, and affordable. Call today
for information or visit us on the web at www.greenpaks.com.
Green Roof Partnership Announced by Skyland and Garick
(text from Skyland / Garick press release)
Skyland USA, LLC and The Garick Company have rolled out details of their joint efforts to make available for
the first time in the United States a "certified" and brand name green roof media, rooflite( TM ), which can be
produced and delivered on a national basis. rooflite( TM ) will meet the growing needs of the green roof
industry to have access to a standardized and "certified" soil media that can be part of any green roof system
regardless of its location or design aspects.
The perfect blend of technical and logistics expertise with a combined fifty years of experience in the green
roof market place, the partnership of Skyland and Garick melds the production and technical know- how that
Skyland brings to the table with the logistics and customer service strengths of the Garick company.
Additionally, with the creation of this partnership, all rooflite( TM ) green roof products will now have as its
major light weight mineral component HydRocks( TM ) lightweight aggregate.
"We have been using rooflite(TM) green roof media products since their inception and have been very satisfied
with the results," says Mark Gaulin, who is the current president of the National Roofing Contractors
Association, as well as a board member of Tecta America Corporation and president of MAGCO, a Baltimore,
Maryland-based green roof installing company.
Available on a nationwide basis, rooflite( TM ) products streamline and simplify the process of insuring a
standardized roof top media for your green roof projects.
Aquamat Jardin
(text from www.soprema.ca)
AQUAMAT JARDIN is a capillary mat specially designed for green roof irrigation and water retention in green
roof assemblies. AQUAMAT JARDIN is a lamination of four materials that perform specific functions as follows:
The top surface anti-root barrier prevents root penetration and allows the passage of water into the
growing medium through capillary uptake
The integrated irrigation system provides watering with lines spaced at 2 feet (60 cm)
The non-woven geotextile acts as a reservoir that retains and distributes moisture constantly and evenly
throughout the entire area
The bottom layer is a watertight 6-mil black, UV treated polyethylene film, which forms a capillary break
at every 10 feet (3.05 meters).
Aquamat Jardin uses less than 60% of the water required by conventional overhead irrigation. It supplies
water to the plants constantly and evenly, resulting in accelerated growth and stronger root systems.
Additionally, it reduces plant water stress.
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
31

Product Announcements Continued
Colbond Rolls Out Another Green Roof Product
(text from Colbond press release)
EnkaRetain & Drain is a new product developed by Colbond Inc. that
combines a super absorbent, nonwoven filter fabric bonded to a threedimensional
Enkadrain 3000R series drainage core for use primarily in green
roof / roof garden applications. This unique building product contributes to
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) points.
The Enkadrain drainage core is made of environmentally friendly, postindustrial,
recycled polypropylene molded into a square, waffle pattern
which allows water to flow from all directions. Bonded to the upper surface and replacing traditional filter
fabric, is a water retention fabric that holds 10 times its weight in water. Its function is to absorb and retain
water so plant roots will have a continuous source of moisture while allowing excess water to filter through
and drain. In addition to helping the plants stay healthy and reducing watering /maintenance costs, there
are other benefits to using this one-step composite. Both products are inertly compatible, available from a
single source, and will require less labor to install than single subsurface drainage and water retention
components. Several major green roof membrane manufactures will be incorporating EnkaRetain & Drain into
their complete green roof systems.
“Several major waterproofing membrane manufacturers are highly interested in this new product,” says Allan
Wingfield, AIA, Building Product Architect.
Colbond is a leading producer of high-quality synthetic nonwovens for flooring, automotive, and construction
applications and three-dimensional polymeric mats and composites for civil engineering, building and
industrial applications. Visit www.colbond-usa.com for more information about these and other products
manufactured and marketed by Colbond Inc.
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The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

Green Roof and Related Events
2006 Design-Build Expo: Harmony and Rhythm in Project Delivery
October 18-20, 2006 in Nashville, TN
As the largest annual design-build event in the world, this expo and
conference brings together architects, engineers, owners,
developers, general (and specialty) contractors, and financiers to
become further acquainted with integrated project delivery. An
estimated one-third of all non-residential construction projects in
North America are design-build, and the conference sessions provide
effective strategies, tools, and tactics to assist industry professionals
in successful project implementation. Nearly 200 exhibitors,
representing a wide variety of building products and materials, as
well as information technology, will be present. For more
information, visit www.designbuildexpo.com or call 202-686-6614.
Houses that Work
October 26, 2006 in Des Moines, IA
Offered in collaboration with the Energy & Environmental Building
Association, Houses That Work is a concise look at the house-as-asystem
and the re-engineering process for improved building
performance. Learn from the thousands of homes successfully
built using Building America practices and view case studies that
demonstrate improved performance and efficiency by as much as
50% more energy efficiency with minimal increase in cost. Regional
examples and case studies will provide you with concepts and
applications that you can immediately apply to your business. For
more information, visit www.eeba.org.
Building Envelope Technology 2006 Symposium, presented by
RCI, Incorporated
October 30-31, 2006 in Washington, DC
The Symposium on Building Envelope Technology is a two-day
educational program offering cutting-edge information regarding
design, construction, maintenance and repair of modern and/or
aging older building envelopes. The event’s open, inclusive
environment encourages attendees to ask questions and stimulates
dialogue. Speakers offer relevant solutions by referencing realworld
examples and specific case histories. For more information,
visit www.rci-online.org/06BES.htm or call 800-828-1902.
Green Building Festival - Transformation via Integration, hosted
by Green Building Alliance
October 31-November 1, 2006 in Toronto, ON
Increasingly, building professionals are realizing the integration in
design, development and financing results in exceptional green
projects. This 2nd Annual Festival will highlight the impact of
integration and its role in transforming the market to higher
efficiency. With various case studies, panel discussions and the
industry-focused trade show, this event will showcase leading edge
practices and developments that are driving the market. For more
information, visit www.greenbuildingfest.com.
Green Industry Conference & Expo, presented by Professional
Landcare Network
November 1-4, 2006 in Columbus, OH
Design/build/installation, interior plantscaping, landscape
management, and lawn care business owners, managers,
supervisors, and employees of all kinds will find something to
spark their interest and improve their knowledge and skill
levels. Highlights include extensive educational tracks and
networking opportunities. Plus, find out what’s hot in the
industry by visiting the vast array of new products, technology,
and services on display at the expo. For more information visit
www.greenindustryconference.com.
International Sustainable Building Congress & Expo
November 1-4, 2006 in Monterrey, Mexico
This congress and trade exhibition is first-of-its-kind in Latin
America. It will focus on sustainable urban planning, and design
GRHC Accreditation and Training Courses
Some dates are tentative. For more details, updates
or to register, please visit www.greenroofs.org.
GRHC Green Roof Design 101 – Introductory Course:
New Jersey – Oct. 13th Vancouver - Oct. 25th
San Francisco – Nov. 1st Pittsburgh – Nov. 28th
Design & Implementation 201:
New York – Oct. 20th Baltimore – Oct. 27th
Vancouver – Oct. 27th Toronto – Nov. 2nd
Boston – Nov. 3rd San Francisco – Nov. 3rd
Ottawa – Nov. 7th Montreal – Nov. 8th
Pittsburgh – Nov. 30th Portland – Dec. 8th
Green Roof Ecological Design Workshop: Green roofs
offer an ideal opportunity to restore biodiversity in an
urban environment. This course focuses on the specific
elements to incorporate into your green roof design and
construction criteria to help recapture and increase
biodiversity and improve quality of life.
San Francisco – Oct. 17th
Los Angeles – Dec. 5th
Green Roof Local Market Development Symposium:
San Diego – Nov. 2nd
and construction of green energy-efficient and low environmental
impact buildings. It will feature a large number of national and
international expert speakers from Mexico, United States, Canada,
Japan, Spain, and England. For more information visit
www.sustainablebuilding.org.mx.
GreenBuild International Conference & Expo
November 15–17, 2006 in Denver, CO
The USGBC presents this conference and trade show in partnership
with the AIA Committee on the Environment, the Construction
Specifications Institute, Urban Land Institute, and others. This
event is the pre-eminent showcase for leading-edge green
technologies in the building industry. Three days of extensive
educational programming, workshops, a vast exhibition floor and
ample networking events give you unrivaled opportunities to learn
about the latest innovations, exchange ideas and develop new
business relationships. Learn about the leading edge of the
building and construction industry, including the latest updates
and expansions of the LEED Green Building Rating System(TM).
Come and visit Green Roofs for Healthy Cities at Table top T-15.
For more information, visit www.greenbuildexpo.org or call 202-
828-7422.
US Composting Council’s 15th Annual Conference and Trade Show
January 21-24, 2007 in Orlando, FL
This is the largest composting conference and exhibition in North
America providing industry professionals with educational,
networking, and career advancement opportunities.
Join hundreds of fellow compost managers, operators, regulators,
researchers, government officials, engineers and consultants from
throughout the country to engage in a focused, three-day series of
workshops, training courses, educational and technical sessions
and seminars covering composting and compost marketing
practices, new technologies and compost applications, policies,
public outreach, program financing, and regulations. For more
information, visit compostingcouncil.org.
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
33

GRHC Committee Reports
GRHC Research Committee Update
Dr. Brad Rowe, Michigan State
University; Chair, GRHC Research
Committee
During the past year, the Research
Committee helped select and
review papers submitted for the
research track of the 2006 GRHC
conference, continued to update
a bibliography of research papers
written in English which is posted
on the GRHC web site, and met in person at the Boston
conference. One topic of discussion in Boston was the need
to make papers presented at GRHC conferences more
accessible. This may involve making them searchable in
standard academic research engines or available for
purchase for a small fee. Also, in regards to publications,
Dr. Jeremy Lundholm is exploring the possibility of finding
a scientific journal that would agree to publish a special
green roof edition from selected papers presented in
Minneapolis. This would involve a rigorous review process
and the likelihood of several papers being rejected, but
would provide credibility to the green roof research that is
being conducted.
In addition, the committee developed criteria for a new
Green Roof Research Award of Excellence. The purpose
of the award is to recognize a person or research team
that has made an outstanding contribution to the field
of green roof research in North America. The first
recipient for this award was the recently retired Dr.
David Beattie from Penn State University.
During the coming months, the committee will select and
review papers to be presented in the research track at the
May 2007 conference in Minneapolis. A conference call to
select abstracts is scheduled for Thursday, October 19.
Authors of abstracts that are chosen to present in
Minneapolis will be notified and papers will be due in early
January 2006. At this time, each paper will be peer
reviewed by two committee members and reviews will be
returned to GRHC and to the authors for editing.
On a final note, Dr. Brad Bass from the University of
Toronto, has agreed to serve as vice-chair of the committee
and will take over as chair after the Minneapolis
conference.
GRHC Policy Committee
Update
Michael Berkshire, City of Chicago; Chair,
GRHC Policy Committee
The Policy Committee met in Boston and
discussed ways of improving the
development of green roof policies. Professor Hitesh Doshi,
Ryerson University has agreed to become the Vice-Chair of
the Policy Committee. This year we had input into a ½ day
policy workshop developed by Green Roofs for Healthy
Cities and the accompanying Policy Resource Manual. We
also struck a sub-committee to adjudicate the Green Roof
Civic Award of Excellence. Over the month of October
members of this committee will be meeting to select
papers for the upcoming conference in Minneapolis April 29-
May 1, 2007. Thanks to Lois Vitt Sale for her leadership as
chair. If you are interested in joining the Policy Committee
please contact Ernestine Man, eman@greenroofs.org
GRHC Corporate Members
Committee Update
Steve Skinner, American
Hydrotech; Chair, GRHC Corporate
Member’s Committee
The Corporate Members' committee
continues to be active on a number of fronts.
A great deal of attention was generated this past April, by
the release of the First Annual Green Roofs Industry Survey
(for more details, see page 43). Response sheets for the
next Corporate Member's Survey will be sent out in January
of 2007.
The Corporate Member's meeting at the Fourth Annual
International Greening Rooftops for Sustainable
Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show in May
was well attended and exciting. The primary topic of
discussion was how the members of the Committee might
come together to support some potential joint research
projects, focusing on topics of mutual interest to Corporate
Members, with the goal of better educating the public and
prospective clients about the benefits of green roofs.
A set of three focus areas arose out of these discussions -
stormwater management, energy code acceptance for
green roofs and life cycle costing analysis of green roofs. On
September 27th there will be a meeting of the Corporate
Members in Toronto, ON to discuss these three areas of
interest, determine which of them have generated enough
interest to form technical committees to pursue them and
strike those committees. The goal will be to have those
committees give their first report to the Corporate
Members committee in November at the US GBC's
Greenbuild conference in Denver, CO. For more information
about the technical committees and/or minutes from the
May 10th meeting, please contact myself
(sskinner@hydrotechusa.com) or Alex Johnston
(ajohnston@greenroofs.org).
The next Corporate Members' Committee meeting will be in
November, 2006 at the US GBC's Greenbuild conference in
Denver, CO (November 14th to 17th). For more information
email sskinner@hydrotechusa.com.
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The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

Local Market Development
Jennifer Sprout, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities,
Director, Local Market Development
This year, the State of California has dominated our
Green Roof Symposia schedule with events occurring
in Oakland, San Jose, Los Angeles and a November 1
date in San Diego! Clearly, there is considerable vision
to green many California rooftops in the near future.
A record number of participants engaged in the Local
Market Development Program in all three symposia to
date. Action plans detailing suggestions to increase
green roof infrastructure were created in each city,
and working committees were struck to continue the
work initiated at the event.
Education and public awareness were deemed to be
the critical issues facing green roof development.
Elected City officials, City staff and the general public
need to be educated about the benefits of green roofs
and their viability in the community. Demonstration
and research projects, instigated by the municipality,
are key to providing local legitimacy, raising
awareness, generating media interest and coverage
and encouraging proposals at the local level.
A review of existing policies from other progressive
green roof cities in the United States and Canada, and
their potential application to the local community, was
determined as an effective and efficient methodology
for fast-tracking incentives and proposals. And finally,
the partnership of core groups in the community -
City government, academic institutions, and local
developers and builders – to help set local policy was
a consistent theme in the symposium discussions.
Each of these California communities has established
strong working committees and is anxious to have
input from their constituencies. If you are interested
in participating on the working committee and
inputting into policy review and renewal, please
contact Jennifer Sprout at jsprout@greenroofs.org for
more information.
Future cities hosting symposia include:
Markham, Ontario September 28, 2006
San Diego, California November 2, 2006
East Gwillimbury, Ontario January 2007
Kansas City, Missouri February 2007
Indianapolis, Indiana late 2006/early 2007
Providence, Rhode Island Spring 2007
If you are interested in having your local city host a
Green Roof Symposium, please contact Jennifer
Sprout at jsprout@greenroofs.org
PROUD
SPONSOR

ASLA’s New Green Roof
for Washington, D.C.
Nancy C. Somerville, Executive Vice President/CEO,
American Society of Landscape Architects
A north/south perspective of the recently installed green
roof at the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Image courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc.
Stewardship of the land, or what is termed “sustainability” today, has been part off the core mission of
the American Society of Landscape Architects since it was founded in 1899. So, in 2004, when faced with
the prospect of replacing the roof on its 12-year-old building in Washington, D.C., the Society chose to build
a green roof.
The ASLA green roof was undertaken to demonstrate the environmental and esthetic benefits of green roofs, to
encourage more widespread use of green roofs locally and nationally, and to showcase the value that landscape
architects bring to this project type. Completed in the spring of this year, ASLA’s green roof was designed by
landscape architecture firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. (MVVA), with consultant landscape
architect Conservation Design Forum. As part of the project, ASLA extended an existing stairway to the roof
level to provide access for viewing and use of the roof space. Funding for the project was provided by ASLA,
with support from sponsors and product donors, as well as grants from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program.
The roof design includes two elevated “waves” covered with a green roof system, including a soil stabilization
layer. The wave forms are constructed from rigid insulation, with a structural steel skeleton that is anchored
to the roof deck and a cladding of galvanized steel decking material. One of the waves, which has four and half
inches of growing media, is planted with sedums and prickly pear cactus. The other wave, with a medium depth
of six inches, is planted with drought-resistant perennials and grasses as well as some sedums. The effect of
36
see ‘ASLA’, continued on page 38
The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

Rendering of the green roof waves
Images courtesy of Michael Van
Valkenburgh Associates, Inc.
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
37

‘ASLA’, continued from page 36
the two waves, which bring the plants up to eye
level, is to create an intimate, semi-enclosed space
on the roof. The waves also serve to completely hide
the HVAC units, which were relocated as part of the
project.
Another signature element of the design is the use of
grating over sedum for the central area and access
path, which not only provides almost total green
coverage for the roof, but also creates an area that
can be used by the building occupants for enjoyment.
Emory Knoll Farms, which donated many of the plants
used on the roof, assisted the design team by
performing tests of plant growth under grating.
ASLA has committed to monitoring the performance
of the roof over time. Michael Van Valkenburg
Associates, Inc., has monitored plant growth over the
first season, using light meters in different areas and
tagging individual plants to gather data on growing
conditions and the success of different plants in the
microclimates created by the waves and other design
features. The biggest surprise so far? All of the plants
under the grating, including some unwanted ones, are
thriving. Apparently the partial shading provided by
the grating has created a very hospitable environment
Green Roof
Infrastructure:
Design &
Installation 201
This much anticipated second course in
the Green Roof Professional Accreditation
Program covers in detail the many
different steps that need to be understood
and incorporated into any
successful green roof design
and implementation including
actors' roles and
responsibilities, construction
contracts and their
administration, warranties,
bidding process etc. This
course is suited to those who
have already taken Green Roof
Design 101 or who already
have a good general
understanding of green roof
design. For information on course location
and times, see page 33 or our website at
www.greenroofs.org
ASLA Green Roof Dedication (by Sam Brown, Sam Brown
Photography, courtesy of ASLA)
for plant growth. A summary of MVVA’s report on plant
growth is in LAND Online on ASLA’s website,
www.asla.org/land/2006/0911/greenroof.html. The
report from MVVA will form the baseline for ongoing
research conducted during each growing season.
Flow meters and rain gauges are in place on the roof
to collect data on stormwater retention. Data
collected to date shows that the roof has retained 100
percent of the water during rains of approximately one
third of an inch. Temperatures on the ASLA roof will
be tracked against temperatures on the roof of a
neighboring building. Finally, rain water collected on
the roof and runoff collected from the roof drains will
be analyzed and compared to determine the effect
that the green roof has on water quality. Water
quality testing, partially supported by the Chesapeake
Bay Foundation, will include analysis of water pH,
temperature, suspended and dissolved solids,
dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, nutrients,
and heavy metals.
ASLA is maintaining information on the project on its
website, which also features a green roof webcam.
And, to increase the value of the roof as a
demonstration project, ASLA is opening the roof for
public tours. Tours are available by appointment on
Tuesdays at 10am and 2pm and Thursdays at 10am
and 2pm by calling 202-898-2444.
The ASLA continues to work closely with Green Roofs
for Healthy Cities. At our Annual Meeting in
Minneapolis, MN this October 6th to 10th, GRHC will
be offering their Green Roof Design 101: Introductory
course and the new Green Roof Design and
Implementation 201 Course.
ASLA is a proud and continuing sponsor of the Annual
Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities
Conference, Awards and Trade Show
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Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
39

Green Roof Training Update
Hazel Farley, GRHC, Director, Training and Accreditation
Our Annual Conference in Boston proved to be the ideal
opportunity to introduce new training opportunities.
Workshops on Biodiversity, ASTM/FLL Standards, and
Policy Development were all very well received. In
fact, those attending the Wednesday morning
Biodiversity Workshop led by Paul Kephart (Rana Creek,
California) and Stephan Brenneisen (University of
Applied Sciences, Wadenswil, Switzerland) were so
enthusiastic that they decided to reconvene in the
evening to continue the discussion! While we plan to
deliver the workshops again at the annual conference
in Minneapolis (April 29th, 30th and May 1st, 2007) the
Biodiversity and Policy Workshops are being further
refined for additional delivery dates in several key
North American markets over the next 6 months
The much anticipated Green Roof Infrastructure:
Design and Implementation 201 course was also
delivered for the first time and a total of 90
professionals, ranging from architects to contractors,
took the course and provided very positive feedback.
This course will be a core requirement in our emerging
Green Roof Professional Accreditation Program, which
moves into the Occupational Analysis/Role Delineation
Phase in early 2007. This process will enable us to
clearly define the body of knowledge required of a
“Green Roof Accredited Professional”. This in turn will
inform the types of future courses required to
complete the Accreditation Program.
Our grateful thanks to the enthusiastic and dedicated
committee of green roof professionals that helped
develop the 201 course:
Jeffrey Bruce, FASLA, LEED, Jeffrey L. Bruce and
Company (Chair)
Steven Peck, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (Vice
Chair)
Chuck Friedrich ASLA, Carolina Stalite Co.
Professor Virginia Russell, FASLA, University of
Cincinnati
Dave Honza, Honza Group Inc Roofing Consultant
Stephen Teal, Partner, Flynn Canada Ltd.
Roger Schickendantz AIA, Associate Partner,
William McDonough & Partners
Douglas Fishburn, President, Fishburn Building
Sciences Group
Stemming from the Green Roof Infrastructure: Design
and Implementation 201 process, we have undertaken
the development of another new course – Green Roof
Infrastructure: Waterproofing and Drainage 301. This
course will aim to familiarize participants with the
special considerations of waterproofing and drainage
in a green roof assembly, as well as equip them with
the language of this highly technical field. The
committee is comprised of key players in the green
roof and waterproofing industry, including industry
association representatives, manufacturers, and
contractors. The course will be launched at our spring
conference in Minneapolis.
See page 33 for our course listings.
Where is Your Ad?
Want low cost, targeted advertising that will reach your
intended audience?
Why not advertise in the Green Roof Infrastructure
Monitor tm ! Entering its 8th year of existence, the Monitor
has a distribution of over 5,000 hard copies
and an estimated 20,000 electronic copies.
Advertising in the Annual Conference
Program is another chance to reach your
market at very affordable prices.
To get rates and more detailed information
contact Ernestine Man:
eman@greenroofs.org or (416-971-4494)
40
The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

British Columbia Institute of Technology’s Green Roof Activities – An Update
Dr. Karen Liu, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Centre for the Advancement of Green Roof Technology
The British Columbia Institute of Technology’s
(BCIT) Centre for the Advancement of Green Roof
Technology (CAGRT) aims to advance green roof
technology through research, education, and
policies and standards. The Centre was established
in 2004 with financial support from the Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council
(NSERC), the green roof industry and various
government departments. Here are some highlights
of CAGRT’s recent activities on these fronts.
Research
Green Roof Research Facility (GRRF): The GRRF
features three independent, fully-instrumented
roof sections. Phase 1 of the research project
(2003-2005) aimed to evaluate the performance of
two extensive green roof systems: sedum mixes in
75 mm and grasses in 150 mm of growing medium.
The green roofs delayed runoff and reduced peak
flow and volume. Because of Vancouver’s long,
continuous rainfall pattern in the winter, sedums in 75
mm of growing medium have similar runoff retention
efficiency as grasses in 150 mm of growing medium due
to saturation of the growing medium. The green roofs
also reduced heat transfer between the building and its
environment through the roof – more so in the
spring/summer (83-85%) than in the fall/winter (40-
44%). For Vancouver’s mild climate, shallow growing
medium such as 75 mm was shown to be effective in
moderating heat gain. The final report of the Phase 1
study will be available in fall 2006. Phase 2 is now
underway to further examine the effect of growing
medium depth on green roof performance.
Roof Evaluation Module (REM): The REM is a
research tool developed by CAGRT to evaluate the
performance of individual green roof systems under
specific climates. It consists of a 2m X 2m fullyinstrumented
roof area to provide real time data on
energy efficiency and stormwater runoff. CAGRT is
currently working with 11 manufacturers to conduct
research using REMs to improve performance of
individual green roof systems. Eight REMs have been
installed and more are planned for 2007.
Regional Infrastructure Network: CAGRT is
monitoring the stormwater mitigation potential of two
in-service extensive green roofs in the Lower
Mainland: the Electronic Arts’ Motion Capture Building
in Burnaby and the White Rock Operations Building.
Plans are also being made to initiate green roof plant
study on the newly built Elevated Research Platform
on BCIT’s Burnaby campus in early 2007.
Policies and Standards
BCIT is working closely with the industry and local
government to develop green roof policies and
Individual green roof systems are being studied on the Roof
Evaluation Modules at British Columbia Institute of Technology.
standards. BCIT has been working with the British
Columbia Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA)
on the development of a green roof landscaping
standard, which will be presented at the CanWest
Conference in September 2006.
On a regional level, the City of Vancouver has a "green
building strategy" regulatory process underway to
apply to higher density areas. For example, current
preliminary concept plans for Southeast False Creek
demonstrate a significant green roof component as per
policy intent for the area. Through CARGT’s Green
Roof Working Group’s Regulation Focus Committee, a
sample BC Green Roof Bylaw was produced as a
resource for municipal staff. It is available through
CARGT’s website.
Education
As Canada’s premier institute of technology, BCIT
recognizes the importance of education in advancing
green roof technology and making it a mainstream
construction practice. BCIT will launch three new
green roof courses in September 2006: an introductory
workshop on green roofs; a credit course for building
professionals who are interested in green roof design,
construction and maintenance; and a technical
elective on green roofs and living walls for BCIT’s
building science students. The courses will be taught
by a team of practicing professionals and faculty from
BCIT and Kwantlen University College. Registration can
be done through BCIT’s web site.
To learn more about BCIT’s green roof activities,
please visit www.greenroof.bcit.ca or contact Ms.
Maureen Connelly (maureen_connelly@bcit.ca) or Dr.
Karen Liu (karen_liu@bcit.ca).
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
41

Board Member Profile: Daniel K. Slone,
Partner, McGuireWoods LLP
Joy B. King, Marketing Communications Coordinator,
McGuire Woods LLP
One of the
founding board
members for
Green Roofs for
Healthy Cities,
Dan Slone is a
partner in the
Richmond, Va.,
office of
McGuireWoods.
In addition to
working with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, he is on
the boards of several nonprofit organizations and
serves as national counsel for the U.S. Green Building
Council (developers of the LEED® green building
rating system), the Congress for the New Urbanism,
the World Green Building Council, and other
organizations.
Dan has extensive experience in the green building
and green roofs industry, counseling developers
interested in green developments and developments
that include green roof components. He represents
developers, green businesses and localities around
the world regarding traditional neighborhood and
conservation development, eco-industrial projects,
distributed generation and business matters.
While many lawyers concentrate on environmental
law, Dan’s unique practice focuses on green and
responsible development, as well as the converged
communication, power and essential services
industries. He assists developers of sustainable new
towns, biomass projects and innovative utility
projects, and localities developing innovative
regulatory approaches to permit new urban
developments and promote sustainable
development. He has helped develop green
programs for new communities, and has facilitated
regional discussions of complex and controversial
environmental issues. He has assisted in brownfields
redevelopment, as well as large-scale historic and
open space preservation and restoration programs.
He is particularly interested in green roofs because
they are one of the cutting-edge techniques to
improve water and air quality, and reduce the heat
island effect in our cities and communities. He has
assisted state agencies and project developers in
conceptualizing and beginning to implement
programs recognizing the contributions of green roofs
to storm water management and improved water
quality in non-point surface water programs. Dan
also works with developers to address ongoing
maintenance questions sometimes raised by localities
with regard to innovative storm water management
techniques such as green roofs or bioretention
infiltration techniques.
Dan advises, “We have proposed breaking down the
‘water management silos’ that require separate
management of storm water, potable water and
waste water. This would allow us to create truly
sustainable programs integrating all forms of water
for maximum efficiency. We also want to explore the
creation of energy as we move water from the tops
of buildings. Although our developer clients are very
interested, these types of programs intimidate many
localities. We continue to look for the innovative
clients who are willing to take bold, audacious steps
toward a sustainable future.”
At McGuireWoods, we have one thing on our minds –
serving clients. That commitment has allowed us to
grow and evolve into one of the most client centric
law firms in the country. Our commitment to service
includes delivering exceptional value, using
technology to provide effective and efficient legal
solutions, and employing a diverse work force to
bring real world and innovative perspectives and
solutions to our clients.
With 750 lawyers and 15 strategically located offices
worldwide, McGuireWoods serves public, private,
government and nonprofit clients from many
industries including Automotive and Manufacturing;
Chemical and Paper; Construction; Energy and
Utilities; Finance and Banking; Government,
Nonprofits and Education; Health Care;
Pharmaceutical; Professional and Business Services;
Real Estate; Retail and Wholesale Distribution;
Technology and Telecommunications; and
Transportation.
To complement our legal services, we offer a number
of solutions outside the legal realm, such as those
provided by our subsidiaries McGuireWoods
Consulting LLC and McGuireWoods Capital Group.
These groups offer a wide range of government and
public relations services, business advisory services,
and other non-legal consulting services.
Whether assisting a Fortune 50 giant or a small startup,
our objective is unwavering – a dedication to
developing relationships that drive results.
ALMATY ATLANTA BALTIMORE BRUSSELS
CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTESVILLE CHICAGO
JACKSONVILLE LOS ANGELES NEW YORK
NORFOLK PITTSBURGH RICHMOND
TYSONS CORNER WASHINGTON, D.C.
(see page 2 for a complete list of Board Members)
42
The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

First Annual Green Roof Industry Survey
Shows Significant Growth in North America
Alex Johnston, GRHC, Managing Editor
In December 2004, the Corporate Members’
Committee decided that there was a clear need to
begin to develop data on the size, composition and
geographic distribution of the green roof industry.
This information is helpful in measuring our progress
each year and communicating the importance of this
new industry to a variety of stakeholder/interested
parties.
Over 2004 and 2005, The First Annual Green Roof
Industry Survey was developed. The Committee’s goal
was to have survey data ready for the 4th Annual
Conference, Awards and Trade Show in Boston, MA,
May 11-12, 2006. Corporate members felt that it was
very important that the information collected be
unbiased, accurate and respect the confidentiality of
its members. Kendon Light, EA, was hired to
administer the results and provide third party
validation.
The survey was developed by Green Roofs for Healthy
Cities’ staff with direction from its Corporate
Members. The Corporate Members Committee is
Chaired by Steve Skinner, American Hydrotech and the
Vice Chair is Dick Gillenwater, Carlisle Syntec.
All of the Corporate Members were sent the survey.
The survey data included questions about the location
of green roof projects, the size of the green roof in
square feet, and the general type of green roof,
extensive; mixed/semi-intensive; or intensive. To
prevent projects from being counted more than once,
the data was sorted by city and size to identify
projects that had identical profiles (i.e. same city,
size, and roof type). When two or more of such
projects were identified, only one of them was
counted.
Twenty-seven completed surveys were received.
Several of our members were unable to complete them
because they did not have ability to collect the data
requested for various reasons. The actual number of
square feet of completed projects in 2004 and 2005 in
North America is therefore higher than what is
reported here, because of two factors: one, not all of
our members’ projects are reflected in the data and
two, our Corporate Members do not currently
represent the entire green roof industry.
Despite these limitations, the data provides an
excellent measure of the growth of the sector as well
as a strong baseline of implemented projects. The
data also gives us a fair representation of the cities
where most of the green roof activity is currently
taking place.
2004 & 2005 Survey Results
Square footage of green roofs completed in 2004 for
North America and USA by General Green Roof Type:
North America Total
USA
Total: 1,327,462 1,186,738
- Extensive*: 916,776 777,052
- Intensive: 405,762 405,762
- Mixed/Semi-intensive: 4,924 3,924
*includes 1 project with no assigned category of green roof type.
Square footage of green roofs completed in 2005 for
North America and USA by General Green Roof Type:
North America Total
USA
Total: 2,471,550 2,149,585
- Extensive*: 1,784,755 1,570,352
- Intensive: 488,109 476,359
- Mixed/Semi-intensive: 198,686 102,874
*Includes 7 projects with no assigned category of green roof type.
Growth in square footage from 2004 to 2005 for North
America and USA by General Green Roof Type:
North America Total
USA
Total**: 72% 81%
- Extensive: 79% 102%
- Intensive: 18% 17%
- Mixed/Semi-intensive***: 3,054% 2,522%
**Based on respondents submitting surveys for both 2004 & 2005.
***Please note that the small sample sizes of Mixed/Semi-intensive
projects means that the growth rate is disproportionately
influenced by three large projects in 2005.
Top five cities, by square footage planted in 2004:
1. Chicago, IL (30 projects) 183,214 s.f.
2. Ottawa, ON (1 project) 120,000
3. Washington, DC (13 projects) 90,137
4. Boston, MA (9 projects) 59,700
5. New Haven, CT (2 projects) 59,000
Top five cities, by square footage planted in 2005:
1. Chicago, IL (38 projects) 295,600 s.f.
2. Washington, DC (20 projects) 206,900
3. Suitland, MD (2 projects) 205,000
4. Ashburn, VA (1 projects) 120,000
5. New York, NY (24 projects) 119,895
A number of these jurisdictions, such as Chicago,
Washington and Virginia have policies and programs in
place which support green roof implementation, hence
their leadership.
The green roof industry is off to a strong start and this
data provides an important baseline from which to
measure future progress. Green Roofs for Healthy
Cities and its member companies will work to improve
the rate of participation in the industry association
and the Annual Green Roof Industry Survey for 2006.
We project much greater increases in industry growth
and coverage in the years ahead, particularly as more
public agencies begin to invest in this important new
infrastructure.
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
43

Green Roofs For Biodiversity:
Reconciling Aesthetics With Ecology
A summary of a paper presented by Dr. Nigel Dunnett,
Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield at
the 4th Annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable
Communities Conference.
The promotion of green roofs for their wider value for
biodiversity has received great attention recently.
Indeed, in a number of European cities, the main
driver for implementation of green roofs is their
habitat value. A particular approach has developed
that has lead to certain types of green roofs being
referred to as ‘biodiversity roofs’. By definition, there
is an implication that other roof types are not
biodiversity roofs, or that they are somehow not as
valuable. The aim of this paper is not to dispute that
roofs which are derived from this process are good for
biodiversity, but rather to refute that other types of
roof are not as valuable. In addition, Environmental
Psychology studies have indicated that site context is
extremely important in determining how acceptable
the public or site users find wild or naturalistic
vegetation. A second aim of this paper is to urge a
greater consideration of aesthetics as well as science
when prescribing green roofs for biodiversity.
For example, the widespread assumption is that native
plants are superior to non-native plants in their
biodiversity benefit 1 , and that green roof vegetation
composed of non-native vegetation has much less
value than native vegetation. Evidence suggests that
native species do indeed have many benefits.
However, in terms of supporting biodiversity, factors
such as substrate qualities, and the spatial and
vertical structure of vegetation is also of importance,
regardless of geographical origin, as is diversity of
content.
If we accept that substrate and vegetation structure
and character are crucial factors, then much effort
should be given to setting up and creating ideal
conditions for the establishment and long-term
persistence of naturalistic vegetations, the content of
which may vary according to context – in effect it is
about ecology and biodiversity as process rather than
lists of names. We should view ecological
communities, and the possibilities for their creation as
continua, rather than absolute and fixed points. In an
urban green roof context, these continua should take
as much account of aesthetics and visual criteria as
they do of scientific ones.
Dunnett and Hitchmough have proposed a framework
or model for the creation and management of urban
naturalistic vegetation for any particular site that
combines two sets of factors 2 :
Sites like these can balance between ecological and
horticultural design, between native and exotic plants.
1. Ecological Factors: How important is nature
conservation at any particular site? In effect, what is
the role and importance of native species and locallycharacteristic
plant communities. For some sites, it
may be obligatory to use native species, or to
encourage particular target plant communities, in
others it may not.
2. Cultural Factors: How acceptable is ‘wild’
vegetation in any particular site? In many locations,
very wild (and predominantly green) vegetation may
be entirely appropriate and acceptable. This is linked
to visibility and accessibility, but can also be made
more acceptable by interpretation and education. In
other locations it may be entirely unacceptable
(because of socio-economic factors, use or history of a
site). In these instances it may be perfectly possible
to establish green roofs and vegetation with high
biodiversity value, but factors such as color, flowering
intensity, or the use of patterns and other design
techniques may come into play.
Far from being seen as a threatening conclusion that
upsets long-held convictions, and somehow opens us
up to a world of anarchy and ‘anything goes’, this
conclusion should be seen as highly liberating, opening
up a limitless range of opportunities for green roof
vegetation that can be seen as promoting biodiversity.
1. Kendle A.D. Rose JE. (2000) “The aliens have landed! What are
the justifications for ‘native only’ policies in landscape plantings”,
Landscape and urban planning 47: 19-31
2. Hitchmough, J. & Dunnett, N. (2004) “Introduction to
naturalistic planting in urban landscapes.” In: Nigel Dunnett and
James Hitchmough (ed.) The Dynamic Landscape: ecology, design
and management of urban naturalistic vegetation, Edited by Spon
Press, London.
For the full text of this paper see our Boston CD-ROM.
For information on our Green Roof Ecological Design
Workshops, please see page 33 or our website at
www.greenroofs.org.
44
The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

Welcome New Corporate Members!
Thanks for Your Support!
Ashland - www.drewindustrial.com
Ashland Inc. is a FORTUNE
500 chemical company
providing products, services
and customer solutions throughout the world. The Drew
Industrial business group of Ashland Specialty Chemical
provides specialized chemicals and consulting services for
the treatment of boiler water, cooling water, steam, fuel
and waste streams. Drew Industrial also supplies process
chemicals and technical services to the pulp and paper,
food and mining industries and additives to manufacturers
of paint and latex. Operations are conducted throughout
North America, Europe and the Far East. Drew Industrial's
SONOXIDE® ultrasonic water treatment system, recipient
of the prestigious Chemical Processing magazine Vaaler
Award, is a unique, non-chemical means of providing
microbiological control in recirculating cooling water
systems and other specialized applications. ENVIROPLUS®
cooling water treatments are designed for high
performance in open recirculating water systems with
minimal impact on the environment. Unlike conventional
water treatment programs, these unique, patented
technologies position Ashland to support the irrigation
requirements of many green roof applications where
cooling water discharge is available. Visit the website at
www.drewindustrial.com to learn more about how Ashland
can apply these and other technologies to help you meet
your performance and environmental goals.
BCIT Centre for the Advancement of Green Roof
Technology - www.greenroof.bcit.ca
BCIT's Centre for the
Advancement of Green Roof
Technology (CAGRT), housed at
the Green Roof Research Facility, is the hub for the local
green roof industry, conducting product performance
testing and providing demonstration roofs. CAGRT relies on
industry, through the Green Roof Working Group, to provide
direction on education, policy mechanisms,
commercialization of the Roofing Evaluation Module (REM),
and for the Regional Infrastructure Network of green roof
projects.
Building Logics, Inc. - www.buildinglogics.com
Building Logics, Inc. is a “green”
technology company providing roofing,
waterproofing and related systems and
services to the building industry. As a
single source supplier, Building Logics, Inc. provides a wide
range of products and services from diagnostics, condition
analysis and maintenance to design, specifying,
contracting, supplying, construction management and
inspection/warranties for residential, industrial and
commercial projects. Our roofing membranes and
waterproofing products including FLL approved green and
cool roofs that can qualify for LEEDs credits, liquid applied
and traditional modified bitumen roofs and pedestrian
deck/parking lot coatings. Our green roof membranes
incorporate patented German technology with built-in root
barrier/water retention/drainage layers. Building Logics
products have been installed throughout the United States,
Germany, Switzerland, Holland, U.K., Central America, as
well as Moscow, Russia. In addition to our specialized
growing media and green roof plants, we offer a patent
pending pre-vegetated pod which eliminates many of the
short comings of the modular green roof approach. This
allows owners the opportunity to realize instant
gratification with a fully mature vegetated roof.
Clearwater Systems Corp.
www.clearwater-dolphin.com
Clearwater's patented Dolphin System is a
most effective, efficient, and
environmentally responsible way to treat
heating, ventilating, and cooling (HVAC) process waters in
green buildings. Plumbed into recirculating pipes, the
chemical-free Dolphin System precludes the discharge of
toxic chemicals into the environment, saves energy and
water, and contributes to enhanced indoor-air quality. Its
blow-down water is environmentally benign and
recyclable, serving irrigational purposes for green roofs.
Dolphin physical water treatment units are installed in over
2,000 major offices, schools, universities, hospitals and
other large facilities throughout the United States and
Canada. The Dolphin has earned Green Building LEED points
on a wide range of LEED-certified projects.
greenscreen® - www.greenscreen.com
greenscreen® is an innovative landscape
trellis system that provides endless
possibilities for vertical landscape elements,
fencing, screening, and enclosures. The
project that launched greenscreen® in 1993 was CityWalk
in Universal City, California. The mixed-use program at
CityWalk called for vertical trellising that would create "an
inhabited bush" atmosphere, without compromising the
waterproof membrane of the building facade. Since that
initial project there are now thousands of greenscreen®
projects installed nationally and internationally where
vertical landscape elements are required.
The main component of greenscreen® is the unique 3-D
wire panel. Rigid, light weight, and incredibly strong,
greenscreen® can span between freestanding structural
members or between floors, wall mount off the building
surface, and stack or join to cover larger surfaces. The
three-dimensional quality creates a "captive growing
space," that allows the plant material to flourish and be
supported within the panel structure. Freestanding and
horizontal applications can provide privacy, shading and
security with a flowering, evergreen or deciduous living
tapestry.
Panels can be cut, notched, trimmed and curved into
custom shapes. greenscreen® , made from recycledcontent
steel and with a palette of factory finishes, comes
with a complete line of mounting hardware and
accessories.
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
45

GAF - www.gaf.com
Since 1886 GAF materials corporation, North
America’s largest roofing manufacturer, has
provided the best and safest choice in roofing
products, systems and designs to both the
residential and commercial markets. Based in Wayne, New
Jersey, GAF offers both extensive and intensive green roof
systems designed specifically for roof garden applications.
All GAF green roofing systems are fully backed by the best
total system guarantees in the market today. GAF also
provides customized design assistance for your individual
green roof constructions. For additional information please
visit our website at www.gaf.com.
LiveRoof - www.premiumplants.net
LiveRoof is the first and only modular
green roof system with patent pending
Soil Elevators and Moisture Portals
to create beautiful, seamless, instantly mature green roof
with the look and function of a conventional "continuous
membrane" green roof, the very day of installation.
Developed by horticulturists in conjunction with green roof
experts, logistics professionals, roofers, architects, and
ergonomic experts, LiveRoof brings substantial benefits to
designers, installers, building owners, and facility
managers. The modules of LiveRoof are "invisible' and
therefore the system looks beautiful the day of
installation, with no ugly containers to detract from the
aesthetic quality of the green roof. LiveRoof saves
maintenance dollars as it is pre-grown and does not require
the intensive maintenance of "conventional" green roof
systems.
LiveRoof also reduces or eliminates the risk associated with
"conventional" green (brown) roofs. Because it is pregrown,
LiveRoof systems are not predisposed to wind and
rain erosion, or weed encroachment. Nor do the plants
need to be grown for several seasons to become mature.
That process has been reduced to a few months in a
nursery environment.
The LiveRoof system is available throughout North America
(U.S., and Canada) and is supplied to local markets by local
growers. Contact LiveRoof at 1-800-875-1392 or
Premiumplants.net.
N.A.T.S. Nursery Ltd - www.natsnursery.com
N.A.T.S. Nursery Ltd. is a specialized
grower and wholesaler of Pacific
Northwest native plants, hardy ferns,
ground covers, green roof and living
wall plants. N.A.T.S. has been a grower
for over 15 years and we are proud of our role as a supplier
to the green roof industry. Our involvement began in 2004,
when we were asked to grow green roof modules for the 2nd
Annual Green Roof Convention in Portland. Since that time,
N.A.T.S. has been conducting trials and marketing crops
suitable for green roof and living wall applications. A
demonstration living roof was installed at our facility in 2005,
providing our growers with a hands-on research and
development module.
N.A.T.S. services an international marketplace, providing a
wide selection of wholesale plants and liners grown in our
modern and spacious propagation facility. We provide
ecological consulting services and contract growing to
meet individual project needs. For more information on our
products and services, please visit us online at
www.natsnursery.com
Pennsylvania State University
http://hortweb.cas.psu.edu/ research/greenroofcenter
The Center for Greenroof
Research at Penn State, founded
in 2000, promotes greenroof
research, education, and technology transfer. It is the only
facility of its type in the US with replicated small buildings
for the study of extensive greenroofs. The center has been
involved in a variety of research projects demonstrating
the potential for green roofs as storm water management
BMPs in North America. The Center has collected
performance data from greenroof structures over the last 6
years which indicates that the greenroofs will retain
approximately 40-50% of the annual precipitation
(Denardo, 2003; Jarrett et al, 2004) and can improve runoff
water quality (Berghage et al. 2005).
The center has also led the way in developing media and
membrane testing protocols based on the German FLL
standards. As a result Penn State in now offering
commercial green roof media testing through the Penn
State Agricultural Services Laboratory
(http://www.aasl.psu.edu/Greenroof.html) and has begun
testing commercial roofing membranes for resistance to
root penetration.
Permaloc Corporation - www.permaloc.com
Permaloc Corporation is the
world’s leading manufacturer of
high-performance landscape
edging and restraint systems.
Quality, ease of installation, and world-class customer
service has made Permaloc the preferred choice of
architects and contractors worldwide. Permaloc systems
are unequalled and proven to be among the world’s finest
products, providing exacting performance and appropriate
solutions.
Using the principles that have made Permaloc's "L"-shaped
products the standard in the landscaping industry, we
developed GeoEdge, a complete line of lightweight
aluminum edge restraint products specifically engineered
for use in the greenroof environment. The sturdy, “L”-
shaped profile provides a stable edge that is effortless to
install, and can be used in a wide variety of rooftop
applications, allowing for water runoff and providing a
finished look.
GeoEdge is a LEED approved product that can be used to
retain planting material, as well as pavers and tiles for
rooftop walkways, whether straight or curvilinear. Wall
heights range from 1” to 4”, and are available with a solid
wall, or a slotted wall to allow for water runoff and
drainage.
In addition to GeoEdge, many of Permaloc's versatile
products have been used for special greenroof
applications. Contact Permaloc at 800.356.9660 for the
best solution to your greenroof needs.
46
The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org Volume 8, No. 1

Prairie Technologies - www.prairie-tech.com
Prairie Technologies specializes in the design
and implementation of sustainable and
renewable building technologies applied to
the roof. Prairie Technologies emphasizes
rooftop utilization as an asset with Prairie
Green Roofs, highly reflective membranes and coatings, and
small-scale rooftop renewable energy resources including
solar and wind. Prairie Technologies utilizes the roof as an
asset to lower energy costs, generate renewable energy and
sustain the environment. These technologies can help
increase NOI (Net Operating Income) and ROI (Return on
Initial Roofing Investment) and prolong the life of the roof.
rooflite - www.rooflite.us
rooflite is a standardized green
roof growing media available for use
on all green roof systems throughout
North America. rooflite meets all American Society for
Testing Materials (ASTM) standards, plus the German FLL-
Green Roof requirements. Precisely designed and
manufactured to meet these stringent standards, rooflite
provides assurance that your green roof vegetation has the
ultimate balance of nutrients, water holding capacity, and
drainage characteristics to create and promote a
sustainable green roof environment.
rooflite is manufactured with strict quality control and
contains HydRocks® calcined clay, STA Certified compost,
and other natural components to enhance and balance the
growing media.
Depending on what type of green roof system is desired,
rooflite is produced in three different forms: rooflite
extensive, rooflite intensive, and rooflite semi-intensive.
rooflite manufacturers promise on-time delivery to difficult
locations and are able to quote installed prices in many
markets. For convenience, all rooflite products are
available in bulk, super sacks, and one cubic foot bags
throughout North America. Grow-on-Us!
Secalflor - www.greencompany.ca
There are many reasons to like the
Secalflor green roof system:
One is it's simplicity: it's modular structure based on 2
panels, 1/2 sq m each, on top of each other, and requiring
only a 2" soil cover, means an ease of application that is
attainable by any normal person, and resulting in cost
savings in handling/ specialized labor/equipment costs,
whether we're talking about a hospital roof, or a carport.
Another is it's light weight : At 35kg/sq m when wet, it's
amongst the lightest extensive green roof systems
anywhere, meaning no structural re-enforcement required
to existing roofs. The light, dry weight of each panel - 1
kg/2.5 lbs - means ease of handling and application.
Perhaps the best reason to think Secalflor, is the high water
retention capacity of the Secalflor green roof system - 30
litres/sq m - which means that the plant cover has a water
supply in between rainfalls, thus becoming self-sustaining
for almost all climates. The same water-retention
capabilities also result in a hard roof fire rated designation,
meaning lower insurance premiums. Finally, it's all natural!
There are no re-cycled, man-made materials used: each
Secalflor growing panel, the key component of the system,
is made from natural grain fibres, and is 100% biodegradable.
Soil Control Lab - www.compostlab.com
*Soil Control Lab: Helping to Make
Our World’s Roofs Green* : Located
in the heart of central California’s
coastal agricultural community, Soil
Control Lab has been performing environmental and
agricultural testing for over half a century. Utilizing state-ofthe-art
technology and testing methods, the lab has
continued to expand it scope of analyses over time. Included
in this expanded scope is green roof growing media. Our
analysts are able to aid in the formulation and research of
green roof growing media by testing structural, chemical,
and nutrient properties. These physical test results are then
compared to plant growth trials. The lab works closely with
a commercial nursery, specializing in native plants, where
year-round growth research trials are conducted. The needs
of a green roof growing medium are unique and therefore
need a unique set of laboratory tests to predict their
performance – Soil Control Lab can aid in this analysis.
Solmers - www.solmers.ca
For nearly 20 years, SOLMERS has been
active in more than thirty countries as a
leader in geosynthetic engineering to
ensure the integrity of hydraulic containment projects.
With a team of over fifty specialists in all disciplines of
environmental management, SOLMERS is able to provide the
most comprehensive range of integrated services in North
America and Europe.
Our track record is unmatched in the industry with over 60
million square feet of geosynthetics inspected. We have all the
resources needed to study, design, coordinate and execute
projects of every size and scope with the very highest
professional quality standards.
Our innovative technology in geoelectrical leak detection
solutions, developed over the years, combined with our quality
insurance programs, ensure maximum hydraulic performance
and an optimal return on investment for our clients.
Tremco
www.tremcoroofing.com & tremcosealants.com
Tremco, an ISO 9001 certified
company, comprises two main
Divisions: Roofing & Building
Maintenance and Commercial Sealants & Waterproofing.
The Roofing & Building Maintenance Division is a leading
manufacturer/supplier of products and systems and
investigative, information based services to solve roofing
and weatherproofing problems.
The Commercial Sealants & Waterproofing Division is a
leading manufacturer/supplier of sealants and
waterproofing products for construction and industrial
applications related to the building envelope.
Both Divisions have been actively involved in the supply
and sale of products and systems to promote and enhance
sustainable building design in general, as well as
specifically, in the areas of Green Roofing and
Waterproofing applications.
Fall 2006 The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor - www.greenroofs.org
47

Fifth Annual International Greening Rooftops for Sustainable
Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show
Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center (PEEC), Minneapolis, MN – The Kestrel Design Group, Inc.
Presented by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the City of Minneapolis
Ballard Library, Seattle, WA – American Hydrotech
Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Mashantucket, CT – submitted by Mashantucket
Pequot Museum and Research Center
601 Congress Street, Seaport District, Boston, MA – Sasaki Associates, Inc.
Photo of "River City Trolley", courtesy
Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association
Presented above: the winners of our 2006 Green Roof Awards of Excellence
Register at
www.greenroofs.org
Seapointe Village Deck Restoration, Wildwood Crest, NJ – Jeffrey L. Bruce & Company
10th @ Hoyt Apartments, Portland, OR – Koch Landscape Architecture
Eastern Village, Silver Spring, MD
– Eco Housing Corporation
Presented by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the City of Minneapolis
Thank you to
our sponsors: