Executive Housekeeping Today - April 2008 - (Page 10)

Green roofs (continued from page 5) reason for the once sluggish acceptance of Green roofing systems in North America. However, a new procedure that uses modules has helped reduce the time and costs typically required in installing a Green roof system. The modular system—which was developed because of challenges encountered when installing built-in-place systems—uses square and rectangular modules of varying depths, made of 100 percent recycled plastic. The growth medium and vegetation are pre-planted in the modules and installed directly on the roof. The factory-line process has helped reduce installation time considerably, as well as labor costs, making it a more economical process. roof will need very little care or irrigation, unless it is located in a very dry or hot climate. But even there, the plants selected should be drought-resistant, allowing them to withstand long periods of little moisture. Usually, after a few months, the roof will need to be inspected to make sure all is going well, and to remove weeds and any debris it may have collected. Roof Top Savings Care and Maintenance One of the most frequent questions about Green roofs pertains to their care and maintenance. Obviously, a facility that already spends an exorbitant amount of money in order to maintain its landscaping may question adding more greenery that will require maintenance. But fortunately, extensive Green roofs need relatively little care and can actually save a facility money. Often, irrigation and some maintenance will be required for the first 30 days after installation of a Green roof system. However, the company that installs the Green roof will often include this care as part of their agreement with the property owner. Often, the agreement package will also entail such things as watering, spot weeding, and applying herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, if necessary. The goal is for the Green roof vegetation to establish proper rooting and appear full, healthy, and uniform as quickly as possible. In most cases, within a few months of installation, the Green In recent years, as more and more studies have been conducted, it appears that Green roofs have three primary economic benefits for property owners: • Energy savings: In the heat of summer, a conventional roof can reach temperatures exceeding 180 degrees Fahrenheit. This heat can be transferred into the building, requiring more energy to cool the facility. A Green roof helps protect the existing roof from the sun’s rays, keeping moderate temperatures year round. This effectively reduces the amount of energy necessary to cool the building in summer and heat it in the winter by as much as 25 to 50 percent. • Stormwater management: After a rainfall, the stormwater that collects on roofs can become runoff, collecting pollutants as it drains. Green roofs help minimize and slow down this runoff so that it can be better managed. Additionally, facilities with Green roofs may not need to install elaborate plumbing systems to handle this runoff, which often translates into construction cost savings. • Extended roof life: Although costs can vary depending on a number of factors, replacing a typical roof atop a commercial property can average $5 per square foot. This means a 50,000-square-foot roof costs $250,000 to replace, and this may need to be repeated every 15 to 20 years. Green roofs can actually double the life expectancy of the existing roof, reducing this expense by half. Although Green roofs are often given little attention, they can play a significant role in helping to reduce a facility’s operating costs, while also providing longterm cost savings. Many facilities not only benefit from Green cost savings, they also gain guests in the process. W Jim Lindell is the GreenGrid Green Roofs National Marketing Manager. GreenGrid is a business of Weston Solutions, Inc. Lindell can be reached at j.lindell@westonsolutions.com. Mark Your Calendar! International Housekeepers Week September 14-20, 2008 0 Executive Housekeeping Today/April 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - April 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - April 2008 Contents Executive Corner Green Certification Issues The Green Benefit from the Roof Down Frugal Housekeeper LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Greening with Mats A Greener Approach to Laundry Feature Article 2008 Candidate Information The Green Scene 2008 Convention Information Get Into the "O-Zone" Product Highlights CEH/REH Members New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside I.E.H.A. What I.E.H.A. Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - April 2008

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