Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Summer 2010 - (Page 1)

FROM THE FOUNDER GREEN ROOF FOR HEALTHY CITIES 2009 ANNUAL INDUSTRY SURVEY: (Square Feet Installed in 2009) TOP TEN GREEN ROOFS CITIES LIST CHICAGO, IL: 562,000 WASHINGTON, DC: 190,377 MINNEAPOLIS, MN: 120,300 BALTIMORE, MD: 86,416 NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA: 67,346 NEW YORK, NY: 66,171 REDMOND, WA: 51,910 MONTREAL, QC: 48,500 QUEBEC CITY, QC: 48,250 MILWAUKEE, WI: 45,565 THE VALUE OF INTEGRATED DESIGN COLLABORATIVE PROCESSES ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS IN THE GREEN ROOF AND WALL INDUSTRY I ntegrative, collaborative, holistic, ecological – there are many terms used to describe the new practice of developing green buildings which centers on the idea that multiple stakeholders, working together, can deliver a better overall result. The widespread adoption of collaborative processes is viewed by many as essential to our ability to make significant and lasting progress towards high performance, regenerative buildings – and this is why we chose to focus this issue around integrative design. Green roof and wall technologies have, by their nature, the ability to act as a catalyst for more collaborative design and installation. In this issue, building code guru David Eisenberg makes sound recommendations for significantly re-tooling the current regulatory system (see page 8). The benefits of green roofs call out to policymakers to recognize that private roof spaces can deliver multiple public functions – including biodiversity and even regional food security. Each year we gather to celebrate the most innovative and integrative projects and people. This year we will honour the great contributions of Cornelia Hahn Oberlander and Theodore Osmundson (see page 7) who have worked over their lifetimes for a better, more sustainable future. Holistic approaches are also major theme at the Vancouver CitiesAlive! conference (see page 28), with special seminars dedicated to exploring the many dimensions of these approaches as they pertain to design, policy and research. Last year, we recorded a drop in the growth of our industry, to a 16 percent increase over 2008. The fundamentals, however, are strong and getting stronger. Our annual industry survey and the growing list of supportive policies indicate that more and more leaders have come to recognize that roofs and walls are in the domain of public infrastructure. Policymakers in these jurisdictions understand there are multiple benefits from green roofs and walls and their efforts are allowing us to tap into the more than four-billion square-feet of rooftop potential which exists each year. The integration of building systems is fundamental to living architecture, and it is a trend which will define those who thrive from those who struggle. Indeed, enhancing our ability to think and work holistically – as builders, designers, researchers and policymakers – will deliver the greatest rewards for us and our planet. Sincerely, Steven W. Peck Founder & president, GRHC LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR SUMMER 2010 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Summer 2010

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Summer 2010
Contents
From the Founder
Strata
On the Roof With...
What is Integrated Design?
How Do We Move the Practice of Integrated Design Forward?
West Coast Integrated Design
Integrated Design for Solar & Green Roofs
Do Green Roofs Improve the Efficiency of PV Panels?
An Invitation to CitiesAlive! in Vancouver this Fall
GHRC Professional Development Calendar
Roof to Plate
Research Showing Early Promises
Advanced Green to Roof Maintenance Course to Launch
New GRPS
New Online Tools
New Corporate Members
Making Government Programs Work Harder

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Summer 2010