Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - 4

research I did on them, the more I understood the enormous
amounts of benefits they offered. With Denver growing as rapidly as it is, it only made sense that we mitigated that footprint
with green infrastructure.
SWP: What made you decide to launch the ballot initiative,
which seems like a long shot way to change the status quo?
BR: I tried to get active in local environmental groups but felt
that they weren't taking aggressive action. I spoke to the city to
try and incentivize or mandate this policy but they didn't take
me seriously. Climate change can't wait and I knew that a ballot initiative was a way for a citizen to make changes to policy
and get something done immediately.
SWP: I know you were worried about collecting 7,000 signatures in time! How many volunteers were involved in collecting signatures and is this really a first?
BR: We collected almost 8,000 signatures through the help of
60 volunteers. We didn't pay one single person. We have been
told this is the first ballot initiative to pass without paying a
paid petitioner. I think it truly shows the times that we live in.
SWP: What does the mandatory requirement ask of building
owners and developers?
BR: This would require any building over 25,000 square feet
of floor space to dedicate a portion of their roof, 20 to 60
per cent, to green roofs or solar. This does apply to existing
buildings or for normal roof replacement. It creates a technical
advisory board so that it will always remain current. It also
creates technical standards to ensure rooftops are being built
properly.
SWP: Many existing buildings may not be able to hold the extra
weight, what happens with them?
BR: Because no other city has mandated this on existing buildings, we wanted to make sure that if a building is unable to
handle the load that they can seek an exemption.
SWP: Are there developers in Denver that support this initiative?
BR: Our biggest supporter from the development community is
Zeppelin Development. They are already incorporating green
roofs into their design without a mandate.
SWP: Did the cost-benefit study produced by Green Roofs for
Healthy Cities and the Green Infrastructure Foundation help
to secure the yes vote?
BR: The study provided played a pivotal role in helping us

CLIMATE CHANGE
CAN'T WAIT AND I
KNEW THAT A BALLOT
INITIATIVE WAS A WAY
FOR A CITIZEN TO MAKE
CHANGES TO POLICY
AND GET SOMETHING
DONE IMMEDIATELY.
- BRANDON RIETHEIMER
showcase the facts and benefits, winning the vote of some
nay-sayers. The report will
have an even bigger role in
the stages to come.
SWP: What is next? I read that
council can overturn the election results!
BR: To overturn this, city
council would need a 2/3 vote
and we do not foresee that
happening. The mayor himself
has said that the people have
spoken and they will begin the
implementation process. We
have heard rumors that our

opposition may challenge us
in court saying that this is too
restrictive on design. There
remains much more to do to
secure this initial victory.

FIND OUT MORE
Denver Green Roof Initiative
www.denvergreenroof.org
GRHC Cost Benefit Study
www.livingarchitecturemonitor.
com/denver

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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
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - 2
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - 3
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - 4
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - 5
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - 6
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - 7
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Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - 36
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - M1
Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2017 - A1
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2020Winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2020Fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2020Summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2020Spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2019Winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2019Fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2019Summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2019Spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2018winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2018Fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2018summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2017winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2017summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2017Spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2016winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2016summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2015Winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2014winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2013winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2013summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2012summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2012winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2011summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2011winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2010summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2010spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2009summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2009spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2009winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2008fall
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com