Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2009 - (Page 7) 2008 conference on green infrastructure, convened by the EPA, included representation from at least eight federal agencies and 10 nongovernmental organizations (ngos). The science underlying the importance of green infrastructure is also becoming better understood. Beyond just a more pleasant aesthetic, green infrastructure restores some of the capacity of small-area water cycles to dissipate thermal energy from the surface of heavily urbanized areas. At the recent World Water Congress in Vienna, the evaporation of water from vegetative surfaces in urban areas was identified as perhaps the single most effective means of combating climate change and the urban heat island effect. For its part, the gif has recruited a talented board of directors from across the country, including leaders in low-impact development, municipal policymaking, industrial ecology, housing and transportation policy and the green roof industry. The group met in Toronto late last year to formulate a strategic game plan for 2009 and beyond that builds on the work funded by the Home Depot Foundation grant and the work of other entities to expand the network of policymakers, practitioners and researchers in the field. Over the coming months, the Foundation will be digging deeper into the questions of how green infrastructure can affect asset management of infrastructure systems, support local food production systems and impact patterns of energy use and stormwater management in urban areas. The new group will also be making connections to other initiatives and adding its efforts to the growing movement for a new and greener kind of infrastructure. D Michael Krause is principal with Kandiyohi Development Partners, LLC based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a member of GRHC’s Board of Directors and chair of the Green Infrastructure Foundation. For more information contact Michael at (612) 455-2177 or michaelk@kandiyo.com or visit www.greeninfrastructurefoundation.org. LEARN MORE The Contribution of Rainwater Harvesting Against Global Warming by Marco Schmidt, chair Building Technology and Design, Working Group Applied Hydrology, Technische Universität Berlin, A59, Institute of Architecture Straße des 17. Juni 152, 10623 Berlin, Germany www.iwahq.org ARE YOU READY? The inaugural Class of 2009 will be writing the Green Roof Professional (grp) accreditation exam in Atlanta on June 5. Participate in our courses throughout North America or buy your course manuals now online at: www.greeninfrastructurestore.com http://www.greeninfrastructurefoundation.org http://www.greeninfrastructurestore.com http://www.iwahq.org http://www.stancills.com http://www.stancills.com
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