Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - 3
ON THE ROOF WITH...
BRANDON
RIETHEIMER,
FOUNDER OF
DENVER GREEN
ROOF INITIATIVE T
BRANDON RIETHEIMER AND
KATHERINE ROBBINS OF THE
DENVER GREEN ROOF INITIATIVE
INTERVIEW BY STEVEN PECK, GRP, HONORARY ASLA
Frustrated with the lack of local
progress on climate change in Denver,
Colorado, Brandon Rietheimer
decided to get involved. He began
searching the internet for something
that would accelerate progress and
found green roofs and Toronto's
Green Roof By-Law. After months of
approaching politicians and Denver
city staff about establishing a similar
program, he got nowhere.
LIVINGARCHITECTUREMONITOR.COM
Photo courtesy of B. Rietheimer
ON THE ROOF WITH...
hat's when he, and more than 60 citizen volunteers
made history by collecting thousands of signatures
to put a mandatory green roof or solar requirement
for new and existing buildings on the ballot for the
November 2017 election. Despite being outspent by a factor of 12:1 by the opponents of the initiative, I-300 passed
with more than 54% in support. If it is fully implemented,
I-300 will transform Denver's rooftops in the decades to
come, helping to reduce their terrible urban heat island
effect, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and spur urban
agricultural opportunities. Brandon's success gives hope
to many. At a time when many hard-won federal environmental victories are being rolled back, his achievement is a
testament to the power of citizen-led activism.
SWP: Hi Brandon. Congratulations! Why did you decide to
get involved, rather than stay on the sidelines? You aren't in
the green roof or solar business so what motivated you?
BR: Thanks. I was highly motived from Bernie Sanders'
message of "get active at the local level". When Trump
was elected president I knew that that message was more
important than ever before for our environment. To me
climate change is the biggest issue that we face.
SWP: Why did you choose to advocate for green roofs and
solar panels, rather than say parks or recycling?
BR: I began researching ways that I could affect policy
in Denver and I stumbled across green roofs. The more
LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR / WINTER 2017 / 3
http://www.LIVINGARCHITECTUREMONITOR.COM
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - IP
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - Cover1
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - C
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - TOC
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - D
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - 1
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Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - M1
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - A1
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