REPORT FOR GREEN ROOF PROFESSIONALS

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Garden Roof® Planning Guide App Now Available on All Major Platforms CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (July 27, 2015) American Hydrotech’s free, interactive Garden Roof® Planning Guide app is now available on all major mobile platforms. Visit ​ www.hydrotechusa.com/GRPG to​ download the Garden Roof® Planning Guide app from either the Apple Store, the Google Play Store, or the Windows Store.

Any mobile device user can immediately download the app for a comprehensive guide to vegetative roofs, from concept to completion. Users can also learn about the American Hydrotech Garden Roof® Assembly and its benefits, including economic incentives and environmental factors like stormwater management.

The app features pinch­to­zoom product photography, video animations, photo galleries showing Garden Roof® Assemblies in real­world applications, and design considerations. In addition to the new app, readers can send an email to guide@hydrotechusa.com or visit the American Hydrotech Resource Center at www.hydrotechusa.com/GRPG to​ request a published version of the Garden Roof® Planning Guide.

Hydrotech GR App ­ All Mobile Platforms.pdf ​

Hydrotech Vegetated Roof on New Chicago Bulls Practice Facility

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (October 3, 2014) Professional sports teams across the nation are continuing to establish arena districts for convenience of athletes and fans, complete with restaurants and bars to provide a destination for an enhanced entertainment experience. In September 2014, the Chicago Bulls constructed the Advocate Center – a $25 million 16,000 SF practice facility and front­office headquarters on Madison Avenue across the street from the United Center, the team’s home court since 1994.

The Advocate Center, considered a “basketball palace” by some league officials, features state of the art weight training and other amenities for athletes while delivering eye­catching architecture and further development of the city’s gentrifying West Loop Corridor. The west side of the facility has a "saw­toothed façade" while the north side features glass walls to allow Bulls fans to view six NBA championship banners that hang from the building's rafters.

The second floor of the Advocate Center features an 11,000 SF green roof, boasting American Hydrotech Garden Roof and Ultimate Assembly technology. More than 1,800 SF of Hanover Architectural pavers and regional media were used to deliver sustainable benefits and on the amenity deck.

For photos of the project, courtesy of American Hydrotech, please visit http://www.hydrotechusa.com/projects/advocate­center­chicago­bulls­train...

Chicago Bulls Training Center ­ Press Release.pdf

Can green roofs bloom into cost savings for building owners?

Green roofs seem to be sprouting up all over the place.

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In fact, some high profile green roof projects have been garnering major media attention lately. ​ Facebook’s new office building​ in Menlo Park, CA, features a nine­acre green roof with a walking path and more than 400 trees. A defunct Silicon Valley retail space, the ​ Vallco Shopping Mall​ in Cupertino, CA, is also in the news with its plans for a $3 billion makeover, at the center of which is a 30­acre green roof — which will be the largest green roof in the world. Designed as a community park, the roof will include an orchard, vineyard, almost four miles of trails.

Attorney John­Patrick Curran — of Sive, Paget & Riesel P.C. in New York City, who advises major developers about a wide variety of environmental issues, including regulations around green roofs — told Construction Dive the concept is really nothing new. In fact, he said, Washington, DC, has been using green roofs on public and commercial buildings for nearly a century.

"Some of the buildings have green roofs that haven’t been replaced since the 1930s," Curran said.

Green roof elements So what is a green roof exactly? There are two basic types of green roofs— intensive and extensive. An extensive green roof system uses low­lying plants, creates a light roof load and requires less maintenance than its high­profile counterpart, the intensive green roof, which can include trees, shrubs and heavier architectural features. Both types are most easily installed on flat roofs.

Once a standard roof is in place, up to the waterproof membrane, according to Michael Whitfield, owner of Green Roof Outfitters (GRO) in Charleston, SC, then the green roof installation can begin via a traditional or modular system. Traditional systems require an experienced installer to stack a drainage mat, root layer, soil, and, finally, the plants on the existing roof. Modular systems, however, like GRO's, come in self­contained trays, fully planted, and ready to place anywhere.

A modular system, Whitfield told Construction Dive, allows a faster, neater install and is much easier to remove in cases of redesign or if someone needs to get at the underlying roof structure for repairs; but either system will provide the benefits.

As for licensing or building codes, neither Curran nor Whitfield have encountered any special requirements for green roofs, since the structural elements are already in place before the green roof installation.

"There are no real specific codes associated with those things," Curran said, "other than, of course, the general need to have them not fly off the roof."

In addition, the extensive green roof — the most common version — Whitfield said, features low­profile plants installed in such a way that make them a permanent feature of the building, no more likely to get airborne during a storm than grass or plants on the ground.

Growing popularity Aesthetics are obviously a big factor in deciding to install a green roof, but what else makes them so popular?

According to Whitfield, a green roof will last 200%­400% longer than a standard roof. And, Curran said, owners can see energy and stormwater control savings that pay for the cost of the roof in as little as five to six years.

Green roof buildings can generate energy cost savings of 25%­50%, according to Whitfield, and can reduce wear and tear on roof­placed equipment, which benefits from the cooling effect from the plants.

But the biggest payoffs are the tax and fee incentives that many cities, including Austin, TX, Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, offer because of a green roof's ability to control stormwater runoff.

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Whitfield said the average green roof absorbs 50%­65% of average rainfall in most places, and this can save a city millions in stormwater improvements.

"They have tax incentives that help pay for it," Whitfield said, "so that’s why they do millions of square feet [of green roofs] in those cities."

What's holding them back?

With all of these benefits, why aren’t more building owners taking advantage of green roofs? Both Curran and Whitfield agreed that a lack of education about green roofs is preventing a wider implementation of the concept.

"It sounds to many like a headache," Curran said. "And I think there’s been some negative information out there about the difficulty of maintaining, the cost of maintaining, and the cost of installing them."

As for cost, Whitfield said, a typical extensive green roof system, which makes up 80% or more of all green roofs, costs between $12­$20 per square foot, including installation.

The reality, though, Curran said, is that while green roofs might cost more initially, the cost savings from energy and tax incentives can minimize that extra expense.

Whitfield said the key to wider use is getting the real data about cost, maintenance, and green roofs' effect on stormwater runoff and energy consumption into the hands of the true decision makers — architects, landscape architects, engineers and municipal officials — so that green roofs can be more regularly included in building design.

Whitfield, however, would like people to learn about the intangibles that go hand­in­hand with a green roof as well.

"It increases worker productivity, and it’s a quality of life issue for hospital patients. They might need less pain meds and get out of the hospital faster. There are all these other side benefits," he said. "Endangered bee and butterfly populations — this helps create habitat for them. There are just a lot of benefits people don’t even think about."

It’s easy being green: New research supports green roof advancement in the U.S. Richard Hawke, Associate Scientist and Plant Evaluation Manager, Chicago Botanic Garden Imagine looking down on a major cityscape and seeing a sea of lush greens dotted with vibrant blues, yellows and Mother Nature’s other favorite hues. Normally, that type of scenery can only be found in the Midwest, over expansive prairies or western plains. However, in the future, metropolises could become “Emerald Cities,” distinguished by the green roofs crowning their skyscrapers and buildings.

Green roofs, also known as living roofs, are partially or completely covered with vegetation and have numerous social, economic and environmental benefits – from lessening storm water runoff and filtering pollutants, to adding aesthetic appeal, reducing energy costs, and more. However, to fully reap the benefits of green roofs, the plants must be right.As such, in 2009 I began research atop the green roof of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center​ . The goal of my research was to help fill the significant void that exists in understanding green roofs. Through the various Related articles and information

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plant trials that my team and I conducted on the roof, I hoped to increase the scientific and gardening communities’ knowledge about the best plants for green roof culture.

Over the course of five years, a diverse group of 216 herbaceous and woody taxa were evaluated in the extensive (growing depth of three to six inches) to semi­intensive (growing depth of six to eight inches) green roof garden. My team and I watched, documented and analyzed data collected from the green roof, keeping five criteria top of mind when considering each plant’s sustainability, including adaptability, pests/diseases, winter hardiness, non­weediness and ornamental beauty.

Throughout the study I was surprised by how well many of the plants were performing, which made me optimistic at what we might conclude. Ultimately, the study exceeded my expectations. Among our ​ findings​ , we were able to compile a list of the top performing plants for green roofs, which I’m proud to say is the most extensive list of best plants for green roofs in ​ Plant Hardiness Zone 5​ to­date. The top performers includes: 1. Pussytoes (Antennaria dioica) 2. Dwarf calamint (Calamintha nepeta nepeta) 3. Juniper ‘Viridis’ (Juniperus chinensis sargentii‘Viridis’) 4. Creeping phlox ‘Emerald Blue’ (Phlox subulata ‘Emerald Blue’) 5. Creeping phlox ‘Apple Blossom’ (Phlox subulata ‘Apple Blossom’) 6. Creeping phlox ‘Snowflake’ (Phlox subulata ‘Snowflake’) 7. Aromatic sumac ‘Gro­Low’ (Rhus aromatica ‘Gro­Low’) 8. Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) 9. Prairie dropseed ‘Tara’ (Sporobolus heterolepis ‘Tara’) As more cities offer incentives to reach sustainability goals – for example, the ​ Green Roof Rebate​ program in Washington, D.C., which provides base funding of $10 per square foot in targeted subwatersheds – I believe research like my teams’ is essential. It is a significant step towards maximizing the benefits and improving the longevity of green roofs, which is critical to making “Emerald Cities” a reality here in the U.S. Looking forward, my team and I plan to expand our study. Our goal is to compile a broad list of proven plants so that everyone across the country – from businesses and architects to governmental groups and residential homeowners – has the information they need to grow a green roof.

Richard Hawke is an Associate Scientist and Plant Evaluation Manager at Chicago Botanic Garden About Chicago Botanic Garden: The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the world’s great living museums and conservation science centers. In 2014, more than one million people visited the Garden’s 26 gardens and four natural areas, uniquely situated on 385 acres on and around nine islands, with six miles of lake shoreline. Within the nine laboratories of the Garden’s ​ Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center​ , scientists and graduate students conduct a wide array of plant research. The Garden is one of only 17 public gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. Its Lenhardt Library contains 110,000 volumes — including one of the nation’s best collections of rare botanical books.

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Bioroof Systems receives FM Approval for Modular Vegetative Roof System.

Bioroof Systems is very pleased to receive approval for their Bio­Module Green Roof Modules from FM Global Group according to the FM Standard 4477. FM Global is a global leader in engineering­based loss prevention analysis and the FM Standard 4477 specifically tests vegetative roof systems.

Tests related to combustibility, water leakage resistance, and foot traffic resistance were conducted on the Bio­Module. The Approvals process also considered the vegetative roof system in the context of the larger roof assembly and required proven compatibility between Bioroof System components and FM Approved roof cover components. Bioroof Systems’ FM Approval applies both to Canada and the US.

Through their certification and testing process, FM Approvals develops internationally recognized and respected standards for products and services throughout the building process. For more information on FM Approval standards, visit their website ​ HERE​ .

About Bioroof:

Established in 2006, Bioroof Systems Inc. is a Canadian green roof systems manufacturer. Backed by over 25 years of horticultural expertise and 13 years of green roof systems expertise, Bioroof’s systems are designed for quality and performance and go above and beyond the standard green roof. Bioroof offers a range of solutions to fit all your needs: high performance, easy­to­install, or low maintenance green roofs.

This complete line of green roof systems achieve remarkable storm water retention results and support the habitat required for wildlife and pollinators, while still reducing urban heat island effect and energy consumption. Bioroof is a truly North American solution for the green roof marketplace, carrying the ideals of a robust environmental philosophy throughout our green roof solution.

Bioroof Systems celebrates Certified Installer's Award of Excellence.

Snips Landscape & Nursery wins the 2012 Landscape Ontario Award of Excellence for construction of the Lock 3 Museum in St. Catharines. The roof was completed in November of 2009 and Snips has been responsible for maintenance for the last couple years. The 1,325 square foot roof sits on the second story of the museum and is open to the public during museum hours of operations.

The roof has a Bioroof 6” depth Eco­System, planted with a sedum mix for ground cover and various species of ornamental grasses and perennials. Upon its opening, the museum rooftop garden was described as an “eye­catching garden that doubles as a roof with benefits beyond being just a building topper.”

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Bioroof is proud to work with certified installers like Snips Landscape & Nursery that are committed to the vision of a quality green roof. Snips Landscape & Nursery is featured in the August 2013 issue of Landscape Ontario’s magazine.

About Bioroof:

Established in 2006, Bioroof Systems Inc. is a Canadian green roof systems manufacturer. Backed by over 25 years of horticultural expertise and 13 years of green roof systems expertise, Bioroof’s systems are designed for quality and performance and go above and beyond the standard green roof. Bioroof offers a range of solutions to fit all your needs: high performance, easy­to­install, or low maintenance green roofs.

This complete line of green roof systems achieve remarkable storm water retention results and support the habitat required for wildlife and pollinators, while still reducing urban heat island effect and energy consumption. Bioroof is a truly North American solution for the green roof marketplace, carrying the ideals of a robust environmental philosophy throughout our green roof solution.

Judge Rules in Favor of Bison Products Patent A California federal judge has entered a default judgment against a company facing allegations that it infringed a patent for a device used to secure exterior building tiles, finding that it knowingly spoiled evidence, regularly missed deadlines and dragged out responses in the case…. Judge Real ruled against Tile Tech on unfair competition violations of the Lanham Act and on claims of patent infringement, contributory patent infringement and induced patent infringement. The judge ordered that the company stop infringing the patent, turn in any relevant molds and pay an unspecified amount of damages, costs and attorneys’ fees to Bison.”

How do Bison Deck Tiles Weather Over Time? | Weathered Ipe Deck Tiles Bison Ipe Deck Tiles​ , when left untreated, generally take 6 months to a year to fully weather to a silver gray patina. To maintain the natural reddish brown hues of the original deck tiles you will need to maintain and regularly seal your deck.

The​ Denver Botanic Garden​ is a project that shows the way ​ Bison Deck Tiles​ weather over time. The Denver Botanic Garden’s​ green roof was the first publicly accessible green roof in Denver using ​ Bison Ipe Deck Tiles​ and ​ Bison adjustable pedestals​ and uses over 100 species of native and drought tolerant plants.

The installation was completed over 6 years ago and the ipe deck tiles by Bison have fully weathered to a rich gray patina, complementing the arid plants and cacti surrounding the rooftop deck.

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Ipe stands the test of time and holds up well to the elements when fully weathered. A tropical hardwood, ipe is 5 times harder than yellow pressure treated pine. The ​ Denver Botanic Garden​ s weathered ipe rooftop deck will stay well­manicured, providing scenic views of the surrounding gardens for years to come

Thank You For Voting Us Number 1!

Elmich has been voted a Category Winner for ‘’Landscaping & Outdoor’ in this years’ Architecture & Design Top 100 Trusted Brands survey conducted in Australia recently.

Among the notably recognised names that were placed in the Top 20 together with Elmich were household names such as Blum Australia, Dulux Australia and Caroma.

This has truly been a remarkable year for Elmich. Not only did we celebrate our 30th Anniversary; we won Top Honours for the Green Technology Award in Singapore Sustainability Awards competition, the UP Awards (Gold Award for the Best Larger Booth Category) and Friend of Architecture Award.

By being voted among the Top 100 brands in this Australian survey, it has surely emphasised that we have created a strong brand that our customers trust.

Thank you for voting Elmich and we will strive on this recognition bestowed upon us to deliver our promises of product quality, excellent customer experience and continuous innovation.

About ​ Architecture & Design Trusted Brand Survey​ : Architecture & Design represents one of Australia’s most widely circulated and best known magazine and website for the architecture, building, construction and design sectors. In order to recognise the businesses that have influenced Australian skylines ­ Architecture & Design conducts an annual survey of industry professionals to rank the country's most trusted brands. The survey names the top 100 Trusted Brands which are recognised by the public as preferred brands. The poll aims to rank the trustworthiness of brands and showcase them within the industry

E­Deck @ Ng Teng Fong General Hospital The Ng Teng Fong General Hospital which is located in Jurong and catering to residents in western Singapore, give a totally new perception to patient stay in hospitals. Moving away from traditional hospital design, the wards feature an innovative herringbone concept where 'every patient has a window’. This is not only for aesthetics but it lowers the chances of cross­infection while allowing generous spaces for clinical bedside care.

Greenery has been strategically planted outside every window by each bed. Hence, each window offers soothing views of lush greenery, thereby creating a conducive healing environment for patients.

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To further enhance this green, healing environment, E­Decks with water feature were built outside some levels of the wards so patients, visitors and loved ones may seek solace on the terraces where outdoor tables and chairs have been placed amongst the landscape. These E­Decks made up of composite wood decking and metal bearers were supported by Elmich VersiJack® pedestals.

VersiJack® is a height and slope­adjustable pedestal engineered to reduce material, construction and lifecycle costs and is manufactured from recycled materials which meet RoHS requirements and supports green label certification.

Elmich is proud that VersiJack®​ ​ pedestals at the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital have contributed to the project clinching the Building Construction Authority‘s Green Mark Platinum Award in recognition of the building’s effort to incorporate environmentally sustainable design in the built environment.

SC TAN PRESENTS IES REPORT AT WFEO EVENT DURING COP21 IN PARIS The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) has turned roundtable discussions from the World Engineers Summit on Climate Change, held in Singapore in July 2015, into a new report showcasing the industry’s best practices and possible solutions for building climate change resilience.

Seng Chuan (SC) Tan, Ramboll Environ’s Regional Managing Director for the Asia Pacific region, presented an overview of the report at a World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) event during COP21 in Paris. SC Tan is also vice president of WFEO, which represents 20 million engineers across all disciplines in more than 90 countries.

The report can be viewed as a business sector contribution to the ongoing UN climate negotiations.

According to the report, an important, practical and overdue step that can be taken to address climate change is to have more female engineers, in both the profession and on the front lines of implementing actual carbon reduction technologies.

These issues are discussed in an article from Ramboll Environ, one of the world’s leading environmental consultants, ​ here​ .

RAMBOLL EIGHTH IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANCY GLOBAL RANKINGS Environment Analyst has ranked Ramboll eighth amongst the world's environmental consultancies in relation to size, geographical diversity and global ambitions.

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Ramboll has been ranked eighth amongst the world’s environmental consultancies in relation to size, geographical diversity and global ambitions in a report published by Environment Analyst (EA), a leading international journal for the environmental services sector. The report also reveals that Ramboll has a 1.7% share of the worldwide environmental services market.

Based upon the combined revenues of the Ramboll Environment and Health, Water and Energy businesses, the ranking reflects well on the December 2014 acquisition of ENVIRON by Ramboll. The #8 rank is a 10­position jump from ENVIRON’s ranking last year, and this is the first year that Ramboll has been included among the field of representative global companies evaluated for the study.

Top 10 in ENR rankings Earlier this year, Engineering News Record (ENR) reaffirmed this position, by ranking Ramboll as the tenth largest firm by revenue in the “Engineering / Design” category of its ‘Top 200 Environmental Firms’ report.

Tom Vetrano​ , Managing Director for Ramboll Environment & Health, says, “The Environment Analyst andENR rankings are highly regarded and widely read across the world, and we are proud of this independent recognition of our strong global position and brand in the field of environmental services. It demonstrates how the complementary services and geographical footprints of Ramboll and ENVIRON have resulted in an organisation that is greater than the sum of its parts with the ability to create additional value for our clients.”

Important project wins The strong rankings follow a number of significant project wins for Ramboll, including a study for the Asian Development Bank to provide an overview of investment options for increasing resilience and reducing carbon emissions in large cities in the Asia­Pacific region. The multidisciplinary project team comprises experts from Ramboll’s Environment & Health, Water, Energy, Transport and Management Consulting market areas.

And in the US state of Wisconsin, Ramboll Environment & Health is performing an investigation to help evaluate the feasibility of various remediation and habitat restoration solutions at the 17­acre Portage Canal Site.

Firestone Building Products Wins Innovation Award for its Revolutionary Metal Roofing Underlayment INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 15, 2015) – Firestone Building Products Company, LLC, a leading manufacturer and supplier of a comprehensive “Roots to Rooftops” product portfolio, has received a 2015 Products Innovation Award from Architectural Products magazine for its newly launched CLAD­GARD™ SA­FR with CoreGard™ Technology.

The Product Innovation Awards determine and honor innovation in the development and refinement of buildings­related products that range from cladding systems to interior finishes. Judged by a group of 35 independent industry professionals, the program represents a mechanism to impartially review products and present readers with items deemed innovative and worth investigating.

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First introduced in April 2015, the Firestone Building Products CLAD­GARD SA­FR with CoreGard Technology is the only self­adhered, waterproof, UL Class A underlayment available on the market today.

By offering the fire protection of UL Class A roofing materials in a single­layer underlayment, it reduces installation time, labor costs and the overall number of necessary materials for commercial roofing projects.

“At Firestone Building Products, we are committed to innovating solutions that lead to superior building performance and we are honored to be among those recognized by Architectural Products for following through on that mission,” said Joe Marzahl, product manager with Firestone Building Products. “Our CoreGard™ Technology is truly revolutionizing the design process throughout the metal roofing industry. It has been strategically engineered to not only protect metal roofing systems from fire, but streamline the installation process.”

Primer is not required for CLAD­GARD SA FR with CoreGard Technology in temperatures that exceed 40 degrees Fahrenheit, making for a quick and easy installation that provides superior waterproofing protection.

It may be covered by the Firestone Building Products Red Shield™ Warranty.

The underlayment will be featured in the November issue of Architectural Products along with the year’s most innovative product introductions.

“Building on the success of last year’s program, our fifth edition of the awards proves commercial building manufacturers are committed to, and are working arduously toward, delivering more sustainable products, as well as products that deliver better performance, life and affordability,” said Jim Crockett, editorial director for Architectural Products.

For more information on the CLAD­GARD SA­FR with CoreGard Technology, visit:​ http://firestonebpco.com/roofing/metal­roofing­systems/clad­gard­metal­roofing­underlayment/clad­gard­ sa­fr­coregard/

Firestone Building Products Releases 2014 Sustainability Report INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 27, 2015) – Firestone Building Products Company, LLC today released its 2014 Sustainability Report. The annual report provides a comprehensive review of the company’s many ongoing sustainable manufacturing and business processes, as well as the environmental implications of its product portfolio, demonstrating year­over­year leadership and progress toward the company’s commitment to operate responsibly.

“At Firestone Building Products, we are working continuously to ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations from ‘Roots to Rooftops’, and this report reflects our progress and efforts against that goal,” said Timothy Dunn, President, Firestone Building Products. “We are proud of the progress we have made, and look forward to continuing to ingrain our culture of environmental stewardship in everything we do, from responsible manufacturing to improving the sustainability of the communities where we work and live.”

The report details Firestone’s progress, activities and achievements through two scopes: social and governance, and environmental. Aligned with parent company Bridgestone Corporation’s One Team, One Planet sustainability platform, the 2014 report describes the company’s overarching program and focuses on three major environmental objectives: being in harmony with nature, valuing natural resources and reducing CO2 emissions.

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Firestone teammates are the foundation of the company’s innovation and accomplishments. With a committed focus on diversity, health, safety and emergency preparedness, Firestone guides employees to realize corporate goals. This empowers employees to improve communities, revitalize local environments and support and grow local economies through financial contributions and volunteerism.

The 2014 Sustainability Report is now available for download: ​ http://firestonebpco.com/about­us/​ .

Facade of the Year 2015 – International Award for Facade Engineering Excellence What an honour! On December 3rd, Michael Roche and Tyler Koshurba proudly accepted “Façade of The Year 2015 – International Award for Façade Engineering Excellence” during the Society of Façade Engineering­ Glass Supper event held at The Sky Garden in London, UK. The award was for the Ryerson Student Learning Centre located in downtown Toronto! There were many submissions – some as far away as Japan. We are incredibly honored to have received this recognition in the company of so many other amazing projects! Great job to all involved

Flynn Lands on Cover of Roofing Canada Magazine After Winning 2015 CRCA Top Award Have you seen the latest edition of Roofing Canada Magazine? We made the cover with an article inside on page 12 called “Hats off to Flynn Canada for the green roof on Bow Valley College.” We are very proud to share this project earned the CRCA’s top award for 2015. Thanks for this recognition!

PRESS RELEASE: WHITE PAPER Furbish, an innovative living systems company specializing in green roofs, today announced its release of Mineral Wool In Green Roofs, an extensive study on the efficacy of mineral wool in a green roof profile to manage stormwater.

The paper highlights various phases of Furbish’s R & D for technology currently being used in over 500,000 sf. of green roofs between Delaware and Virginia. It documents what has led to its current stormwater runoff solution: EcoCline.

The Eastern United States averages 3 ft. of rainfall a year. Although we need the rain, mismanaged runoff strains municipal drain systems, causes soil erosion, pollutes water bodies, and ultimately costs billions of dollars. Green roofs are an effective and increasingly common tool in storm water management.

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For decades, mineral wool has been used to insulate buildings, but Furbish, known for its unorthodox approach to living systems engineering, has another use for it: highly efficient green roofs. Mineral wool is extremely stable. It’s lightweight and environmentally safe. It’s extraordinarily absorbent­ holding up to 94% of its own volume in water. There are highly functioning green roof installations using mineral wool over 30 years old, still performing as designed with no evidence of deterioration.

There are two essential functions in a green roof: holding rainfall and growing plants. EcoCline separates the two functions using dedicated materials for each. An ordinary 8­inch thick green roof weighing almost 60 lbs. per SF can hold two inches of rainfall. Furbish EcoCline is less than four inches thick and has documented equivalent rainfall capacity in less than 30 lbs. per SF. EcoCline is engineered to maximize stormwater capacity and minimize waste. It’s low maintenance and resolves concerns of overbearing we​ ight on roofs on lightweight structures like warehouses, vastly increasing the potential market for installations. Read the full report at www.mineralwoolingreenroofs.com. For more information about Furbish products and services, visit www.furbishco.com.

Furbish is a living systems company based in Baltimore, Maryland that researches, engineers and manufactures systems for green roofs, walls and retaining walls. Furbish services commercial building owners, architects and developers throughout the eastern U.S. region. The company has three brands: EcoCline, BioWall and SmartSlope.

Mineral Wool In Green Roofs Increasingly, North American stormwater regulations require rainfall to be managed within the property lines of any given development. In the urban setting, where virtually the entire site is consumed with structure, the rooftop is often the only available place to manage stormwater. Therefore, maximizing retention capacity of green roofs is paramount and relying on aggregate media to perform that function is – to be blunt – inefficient. Water retention within the green roof profile can be greatly enhanced with alternative materials that complement aggregate media. The aim of this paper is to provide compelling evidence that validates mineral wool in green roofs utilizing case studies and test protocols designed to simulate green roof conditions. This paper also includes some guidelines for best practices in the use of mineral wool in green roofs.

Mineral wool is a renewable resource with qualities that are highly desirable in green roofs, including high water retention, low weight, durability, dimensional stability, and excellent horticultural properties.

Mineral wool has been successfully used in German green roofs for the past three decades and continues to be used in green roofs today throughout Europe and China. Despite mineral wool’s long and successful history overseas, it remains underutilized in North America. Many green roof specifiers are unfamiliar with its use or cautious about its perceived novelty. Naturally, the change to emergent technologies has the potential to upset established market forces and trigger fear, uncertainty, and doubt. With deeper appreciation of its history and use, these concerns should shift to comfort.

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Riverlite® Lightweight Aggregate is a Big Hit in Michigan Improved product availability, stricter energy codes, and a growing demand for lightweight block alternatives pushes more project owners and builders to use Trinity’s Riverlite in Michigan As stricter energy codes are introduced across the country, contractors and project owners in many states are facing an especially steep uphill battle. In Michigan, for example, the climate makes it difficult for users of single wythe masonry to comply with the new regulations. To overcome this obstacle, architects and engineers are specifying lightweight units with insulation applied during the construction process. “They also spec second­generation integral water repellant admixtures that work very well in conjunction with lightweight block,” said Jeff Speck of Trinity Lightweight.

As the lightest structural aggregate in North America, Riverlite® is used by companies in the construction, concrete, geotechnical engineering, and filtration industries. Now available in Michigan for concrete masonry production, Riverlite serves as a viable replacement for the slag that the state’s block producers have been using over the last few years. With slag in short supply and getting more expensive, producers are looking for more affordable options and finding what they’re looking for in Riverlite offered by Garick Corporation, the exclusive Riverlite distributor for Trinity Lightweight in the region.

Jamie Middleton, Garick Sales Representative, says the fact that Riverlite can be cost­effectively transported to Michigan via rail makes the aggregate even more attractive for users. “We’d already been working on this arrangement when the issues with the slag began to surface, so Riverlite truly was in the right place and at the right time,” said Middleton. “Add the new energy codes and the lightweight nature of the product to the equation and it becomes a no­brainer for masonry contractors and project owners.”

Middleton said he’s working closely with users who relied on medium­weight block, but who are now open to testing out lighter­weight options made possible with Riverlite. “Now that this product is available in Michigan, it provides a much better option for builders who are unhappy with the way slag prices and availability are trending,” said Middleton, whose company is maintaining a healthy inventory of Riverlite in stock. “With the competitive pricing – made possible by the fact that you need less of this product versus heavier­weight options – we see real potential for the lightweight masonry unit across Michigan and throughout other areas of the country.”

Riverlite® Lightweight Aggregate is a Big Hit in Michigan Garick understands the importance of safety at a public playground or at home in the backyard. That's why we carry the Kids Karpet® Playground Mulch, which is certified with the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association and the American Society for Testing and Materials.

Kids Karpet® Playground Mulch is perfect for any types of playgrounds and the material is certified to ensure the safety of all children. Kids Karpet® Playground Mulch is natural and decorative, so not only will it look great, but it will be safe!

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To find out more about our Kids Karpet® Playground Mulch please visit:​ http://kidskarpet.com/

Green Roof Project Of The Week Located just four miles north of downtown in Charleston’s Upper Peninsula, a long blighted area of post­industrial brownfields known as “The Neck” is now a booming site of revitalization and a mecca for creative businesses. One shining example of this rebirth is the 1600 Meeting Street Development by Flyway Development with a newly renovated set of three buildings rehabilitated by The Middleton Group Architecture. All called 1600 Meeting Street, they are actually located at 1630 Meeting Street after an address error was discovered. The two smaller out buildings measure 950 square feet and 3,000 square feet, and the larger three­story, stately columned historic brick building with wrap­around porches contains 11,200 square feet. Installed in June, 2014, the green roof sits atop the first of the two out buildings at 1630 Meeting Street.

The redevelopment of this brownfield site, formerly owned and occupied by Exxon Oil (Esso) since 1926, started with the renovation of the three existing buildings. The 89­year­old buildings offer up approximately 20,000 square feet of floor space, and had laid vacant for over two decades. Flyway’s goal for the property was to create a hub for creative people to come together, connect, and work. They also aspired to renovate the buildings sustainably by using reclaimed materials, eco­efficient lighting, and a green roof which sits above the shared offices of Lowcountry Local First and Local Works.

Formerly used a garage by its previous owner, 1630­2 Meeting Street is now the home of Lowcountry Local First, a non­profit advocate and promoter of local small businesses and farmers. Local Works is an initiative of Lowcountry Local First and was created using its buy­local approach by sourcing local craftsmen and materials to develop the facility. They are working to create jobs and grow the Lowcountry economy by empowering local makers, growers and service providers.

The building has many sustainable features inside, including locally crafted wood furnishings made from locally reclaimed lumber and other reclaimed materials. Outside, the building features a 2,300­square foot green roof. “When viewed from the upper piazzas of the main building, the roof makes an interesting juxtaposition with the oil tanks in the distance,” (The Post and Courier, 2014).

Designed using the GROWVista™ modular green roof system from Green Roof Outfitters, the green roof covers a majority of the building’s roof surface and features both extensive and intensive plantings. The green roof was installed over the course of a day. The extensive portions of the green roof, which make up the majority of the green roof, were planted using Sedum Mats.

Pre­grown modules planted with Sedums, Delosperma, Prickly Pear, and Allium were used around the HV/AC units. A small intensive section of the green roof features native coastal perennials and grasses. The green roof can easily be observed from the third floor balcony of the adjacent building and is often the highlight of building tours. In the future, the second out building housing an interior decorating shop may have a green roof, as well as the main three­story structure.

“Local Works fills a much­needed niche in Charleston’s burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem. More and more entrepreneurs are breaking free from their home offices and coffee shops to seek professional, collaborative, yet still affordable environments that foster interaction with other professionals…’We are Related articles and information

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putting entrepreneurs together and giving them a space to thrive and collaborate,’ says Local Works Marketing and Communications Director, Misty Lister,” (Silicon Harbor Magazine, 2014).

Green Roofs Backgrounder for Landscape Contractors Landscape professionals may want to see if the growing interest in green roofs can offer new opportunities for them. After all, many green roof manufacturers contract with landscaping companies to actually build the green roof on an existing roof.

Your best bet is to contact the major manufacturers of green roofing systems and find out how they handle their installations and outsource contracting. A listing of green roof corporate members is available at ​ www.greenroofs.org​ . Do your homework and make sure the company you're looking to partner with is reputable and well­established.

You also want to do your homework on green roofs in general. This article should help you get a good head start.

TYPES OF GREEN ROOFS. To put it simply, green roofs are vegetated roof covers. Growing plants take the place of shingles and tiles. While the number of layers and layer placement vary from system to system and green roof type, all green roofs include a single to multi­ply waterproofing layer, drainage, growing media, and plants that cover the entire roof deck surface.

There are two main types of green roofs: extensive and intensive. However, a green roof is often designed with features of both, and are then referred to as semi­extensive or semi­intensive.

A growing trend is to install a modular green roof. With the modular system, soil and vegetation are pre­planted into recyclable modules of varying sizes at a local nursery, usually by landscaping professionals contracted with the manufacturer. They are then simply laid out, one after another, on top of the existing roof, which makes for quick and easy installation.

However, before jumping on the green roof bandwagon, landscape professionals should learn a bit more about the soil and vegetation used for a green roof system, along with the basic principles of green roof maintenance. For without making the proper selections with an understanding of the roof's care, the green roof may not survive.

PLANT SELECTION. The vegetation used for a green roof is usually referred to as plant media. The plants selected are typically sedums, grasses, perennials, native plants and other succulents. Plants native to the area are generally the best choice.

Additionally, the plant media must be hearty, able to withstand most weather conditions, as well as be drought­tolerant. They should also be low­maintenance plants requiring little or no irrigation. In most cases, green roofs are designed to just be "patrolled" on a regular basis. (See "Maintenance and care" later.)

"Sedum has proven to be the most tolerant plant media, especially in shallow soils," says Grace Koehler, sales manager for Midwest Groundcovers, a nursery in St. Charles, IL. "Even with extreme fluctuations in climate, it usually survives, if not thrives."

SOIL SELECTION. In many ways, the soil, or growth media, selected for a green roof is even more important than the plant media. This is because the growth media is the foundation of the green Related articles and information

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roof. Not only does it anchor the plants, but without the proper nutrients and other components, no matter what plants are selected, they may have a difficult time surviving.

"For instance, it is important that there is enough air space in the soil so that water and oxygen can move through the growth media," says Koehler. "In addition, it must include all the nutrients for the plants to survive the initial installation, as well as thrive."

This is why many green roof systems use engineered soil. This soil is specially prepared to include, among other components, a blend of macronutrients, which are organic nutrients that also have mineral materials.

Among these macronutrients are: ● Nitrogen ● Phosphorus ● Potassium ● Calcium ● Magnesium ● Sulfur Along with the macronutrients, the engineered soil will also include micronutrients, such as iron, manganese, copper, boron and zinc. Although these are needed in just small amounts, Koehler says they are every bit as essential as the macronutrients for normal plant growth.

MAINTENANCE AND CARE. Unfortunately for landscape professionals, the contracting opportunities may begin to dwindle once the green roof has been installed. Although the first 30 days after installation require irrigation on a regular basis, the core duties beyond the first month primarily involve weeding as necessary, removing debris, and replacing plant media that did not survive. For this reason alone, every green roof needs to be checked periodically.

Greenroofs.com Company of the Week Greenrise Technologies is a full­service green infrastructure firm that delivers innovative, reliable and precise engineered turnkey systems in Greenroofs, Stormwater Management, Growing Medium, Componentry and Maintenance.

Greenrise Technologies offers a full spectrum of products and services which include the highest quality components, technologically advanced installation methods, an extremely safe and knowledgeable crew, as well as superior maintenance capabilities to ensure long­term viability.

Successful living architecture—or thriving architecture, as Greenrise Technologies puts it—is about more than the convenience of a single­source supplier. It's also about depth of expertise, from the way they custom­blend a soil mix to meet load­bearing requirements to the way they select plants that are as hardworking as they are beautiful. With Greenrise, a complete turnkey system means proven performance, and ultimately, complete peace of mind.

Greenroofs are better for the environment by preserving water and energy, sustaining microhabitats, reducing pollutants and mitigating the urban heat­island effect. But in addition to the many economic and environmental benefits of greenroofs, Greenrise Technologies honors the human tendency to interact or be Related articles and information

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closely associated with nature, also known as Biophilia. Increasing evidence suggests that this desired connection does have measurably positive effects, psychologically and physically.

Good Earth Plants in the Spotlight on San Diego 6 Good Earth Plant Company had the opportunity this week to appear on San Diego 6 Morning News with anchor Heather Myers to talk about toxins lurking in the air in our indoor environments, and how adding plants can help clean the air and improve both your physical and mental health.

Those few minutes on TV are precious and we don’t want to waste a second of it. For every interview like mine you see, there is a ton of preparation. First of all, when you see us at 7:30 a.m. waving to the camera, we had been up and working since 6 a.m. Thanks to help from Celso on the Good Earth Plant Company staff, we filled one of our trucks with a large and varied selection of plants that thrive indoors, all types and all sizes, and took them just a few blocks to the station which is really our neighbor in Kearny Mesa.

We learned when we arrived we would get to conduct the interview in the station’s outdoor patio area, since it wasn’t raining as expected earlier. We got to work using our best design skills to put up a display that gave viewers at home a good look at all of the different plant types.

The orchid was a last minute addition, and I’m so glad we brought it because it ended up playing a starring role.

So our set looked great (but I’d love to get your feedback when you watch the video). Now I needed to focus and make sure I communicated all of the important information I had to share in just three minutes! It really is a challenge. The San Diego 6 team makes it easy, they are welcoming and friendly. Heather was great – she was smart and checking the Good Earth Plants logo on one of our new company shirts I was wearing to make sure she got it right. She did!

Like so many situations in life, you feel like you wait forever – and then it’s all over. Thanks to everyone on our team, the visual elements got an A­plus, and I managed to make pretty good sense. Did you notice that I mentioned the fern plant? Using the word “Fern” was a code word for a friend, a fun little part of the interview.

San Diego Downtown News: ‘Living Walls bring life to the city A recent article by Delle Willett in the San Diego Downtown News showcases several of our living wall projects in Downtown San Diego. It’s terrific to see how developers and building owners are integrating nature into the urban environment. Living walls are now featured in (or on) upper­end hotels and restaurants, designer retail stores, chic spas, exclusive clubs — basically any place looking for distinction, something that makes them stand out from their competitors. Good Earth Plant Company and GreenScaped Buildings is happy to help them stand out!

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Included in the article are our walls for the law firm of Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP; the Westgate Hotel; the newly opened Urbana rental flats in East Village; and the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, which we built in 2011 and is still the biggest living wall in San Diego.

The California Drought and Green Facades By now, everyone is probably aware of the significant grip that drought has on the California economy and landscape. In January, Governor Jerry Brown issued a​ state of emergency​ in California and in April, based upon state water officials reports that reservoirs, rainfall totals and the snowpack remain critically low, Governor Brown doubled down with an ​ executive order​ to strengthen the state’s ability to manage water and habitat effectively in drought conditions and called on all Californians to redouble their efforts to conserve water.

One of the most important things we can do is educate ourselves by seeking out resources that are available in order to make us better informed stewards of our natural resources. Obviously, the internet is a great place to start and just by conducting a couple of general searches, we can begin to further understand the role that our landscapes can play in water conservation. Water influences the landscape in two ways; how it is applied and what it is applied to.

What plants that irrigation is applied to is also very important. One excellent resource that greenscreen® uses regularly is the book,Landscape Plants for California Gardens by Robert Perry. Bob has been a licensed landscape architect since 1972 and has actively participated in many professional projects where his expertise on California native plants and landscapes for water conservation have been applied. While there is a lot of technical information available in this book, the basis is established in two easy to understand concepts. The first is to understand the types of watering requirements for specific plants and the second is to place plants with similar watering requirements in the same place (hydrozones), so that the irrigation can be efficiently designed and applied.

Most common vines used for greenscreen® installations in California are listed in the book as having Moderate watering requirements and here are some that might show great potential with Moderate/Low watering requirements and reduced summer water needs: ● Bougainvillea glabra – Bougainvillea ● Bougainvillea spectabilis and cultivars – Bougainvillea ● Hardenbergia violaceae and cultivars – Lilac Vine ● Jasminum humile – Italian Jasmine ● Tecomaria capensis – Cape Honeysuckle If you are looking for a great plant resource for California in addition to some of the other ones available, such as the Sunset Western Garden Book, this one should be on your shelf. Also, greenscreen® provides specific ​ guidelines​ on what else should be taken into consideration when designing, installing and maintaining your green facade projects Another important thing that we can do is to be on the lookout for water conservation opportunities around our own homes, workplaces, schools and communities. For example, in the greenscreen® parking lot we have a number of planters with trellis panels that are used for experimentation and to basically help make the parking area, well, less of a parking area. We have installed two rather large (600 gallon) rainwater Related articles and information

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harvesting tanks that collect free rainwater off of the roof and that water is then used to irrigate the planters that help make our environment a little nicer. greenscreen® also has dual flush toilets throughout our office that use 1.28 gallons per flush instead of the current federal standard of 1.6 gallons per flush. According to the EPA, if all old inefficient toilets in the United States were replaced with WaterSense® labeled models, we could save 520 billion gallons of water per year or the amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls in about 12 days.

It doesn’t appear that the drought in California is going away any time soon and it may get worse before it gets better. As a company based out of Los Angeles, we at greenscreen® are aware of the concerns and considerations that we face today and may have to face down the road. We are hopeful that if everybody pulls together and does whatever they can in their own little corner regarding water conservation, the spigot won’t go dry.

AIA 2015 – Atlanta Wrap Up For us here at greenscreen®, spring time means the AIA Conference and Expo. The 2015 AIA Conference is a great opportunity to meet with architects from all over the world and find out what projects and questions that they have regarding green facade technology. In 2015, the AIA Expo was held at the World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. We haven’t been to Atlanta for a while to do a show, so we were looking forward to meeting designers that we may have not had a chance to meet before. We were even more excited since greenscreen® just completed our third party verified ​ Health Product Declaration (HPD​ ) and the architectural profession has been largely responsible for driving the product transparency movement.

Typically, for all conferences and expos, we roll into town a couple of days early to set up our booth and take the opportunity to get out and document local projects. The booth usually takes between 4­6 hours to set up depending on the configuration and it is truly a labor of love. We are very fortunate that we can actually construct the booth out of greenscreen® panels and then use them to display the great projects that designers and contractors have completed. We often get designers stopping by to see if their projects are hanging on display and we always add a few with local flavor.

After a day of booth set up, we set out to see some of the local Atlanta projects that had been installed since the last time that we were in town and to check up on some of our older favorites. Our first stop was up in Marietta, GA to see one of our Whole Foods installations. We have been included in a number of Whole Foods stores including their flagship in Chicago and the home store in Austin, TX. The Marietta Whole Foods is one of our favorites because the design features custom, oversized column treatments in the curbside café entrance area and wall mounted infill panels surrounded by a structural steel frame.

The curved column­like design has been very successful and has even been extended to other entrances for retailers. There are also wall mounted installations that help to disguise the functional necessity of trash dumpsters located in the parking lot.

As luck would have it, we struck up a conversation with a representative of the project development/management team from ​ EDENS​ . They have been very satisfied with the look of the greenscreen® panels and were looking for information on how to maintain their investment and to get some recommendations on adding additional plant material. After our chance meeting, we have shared with them

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copies of our ​ greenscreen® Guidelines for Green Facade Plant Selection​ and the ​ greenscreen® Guidelines for Green Facade Maintenance​ to pass along to their landscape contractors and clients.

Heading south back towards Atlanta, we stopped at our newest installation at the Buckhead Marta station.

The Buckhead station was constructed by Archer Western, a member of the ​ Walsh Group​ , and features an alternating combination of freestanding fence components with freestanding column punctuations. The planting combination of native Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) and Confederate Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) was filling in very nicely and made the short walk from the station to the adjacent parking area just that more pleasant on a sunny, spring day!

Once back in the downtown Atlanta area, we checked on a couple older projects to see their progress. One of our goals during these site visits is to capture the projects as they get more mature so that we can document the “living” component of the greenscreen®system. Within walking distance of Olympic Park are the ​ Residences at W​ that has custom shaped “boxes” at the front sidewalk separating the drop off area from the street. The “boxes” help to separate the two areas and provides a nice entry detail to the high end condo lifestyle.

Located on Olympic Park and adjacent to the Coca­Cola Museum is the Georgia Aquarium. The aquarium is renowned as the largest in the world with over 8 million gallons of fresh and marine water and more than 100,000 animals representing 500 species from around the globe! A large, freestanding greenscreen® installation helps to define the northern end of Olympic Park and create a transition from park to urban environment.

All in all, the 2015 AIA Expo was a great opportunity to meet with almost 17,000 architects and those within the architecture profession! The southern collard greens, BBQ, Atlanta Hawks playoff basketball and the chance to see some greenscreen® projects were an additional bonus. We are looking forward to 2016 in Philadelphia!

®​ Henry​ Restoration System (HRS) featuring silicone – a cost­effective alternative to re­roofing

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., April 3, 2015 – A Henry® Restoration System (HRS) – featuring Pro­Grade® Elite silicone coatings – provides durable, weatherproofing protection on flat roofs, barrel roofs or low­sloped roofs. The silicone roof restoration system from Henry is easy to apply and features a self­flashing, silicone membrane material that provides a seamless, long­lasting, low­maintenance solution.

“The Henry Restoration System benefits all those involved – reducing application time for the contractor and delivering years of durable and sustainable protection for the building owner,” said Ed Buczek, product manager, Henry Company. “Additionally, the system is good for the environment, as it helps to reduce landfill waste by restoring – not replacing – a roof.”

Henry’s silicone roof restoration system – featuring Pro­Grade® Elite silicone coatings and sealants – complies with cool roof reflectivity and environmental requirements, enabling energy savings due to lower internal building temperatures and improved effectiveness of HVAC units. Additionally, the complete line of Related articles and information

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Pro­Grade® Elite silicone coatings and sealants offers adhesion properties that help minimize the need for adhesion primer coats. A fast cure time (approximately 1 hour) eliminates the threat of wash offs between rainy days, and the ability to use in cooler and hotter temperatures provides an increased application window.

The complete line of Pro­Grade® Elite silicone coatings and sealants consists of ​ 988HS Silicone Roof Coating​ (available in white and gray), ​ 600 Butter Grade Silicone Roof Sealer​ , ​ 700 Silicone Roof Sealant​ , 750 Pitch Pocket and Self Leveling Sealer​ , and ​ 211 Primer​ .

For more information about Henry products, including Henry® Restoration Systems and Pro­Grade Elite silicone coatings and sealants, visit www.henry.com or call 1­800­486­1278.

Henry Company is a leader in Building Envelope Systems®, managing the flow of water, vapor, air and energy from foundation to roof. Henry professionals offer designers, contractors and building owners a combination of technical experience, a belief in sustainability and a commitment to provide quality products.

Henry Company’s headquarters are in El Segundo, California, with offices and manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

®​ Henry​ Company Board names Frank Ready as CEO

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Nov. 19, 2014 – Henry Company announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Frank Ready as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors effective immediately.

“Frank brings exceptional building products industry experience, strong leadership and a track record of career success and accomplishment. In his role, Frank will lead the Company forward in executing on its strategic plans for growth and value enhancement, and will serve as a member of the Henry Board,” said Robert Newbold, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Henry Company, Ready was Executive Vice President of Armstrong Worldwide and CEO of Armstrong Floor Products Worldwide. He was with Armstrong for 30 years and served successfully in a variety of senior leadership roles in the organization throughout his career. “I am very excited about the opportunity to use my background in building products to lead the Company in this period of growth,” said Ready. “While Henry is already the market leader in many of its key addressable markets, I intend to focus the talent and passion of the Company not only to enhance its market position but also to meet or exceed our customer’s expectations.”

The Board also extends its sincere thanks to Mike Kenny for serving as the interim CEO of the Company for the last several months. Mike’s commitment to Henry and his leadership of the Company over these last seven months was essential to the continued strong progress being achieved during our CEO search.

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Headquartered in El Segundo, California, Henry Company is a leader in Building Envelope Systems®.

Henry products control the flow of water, vapor, air, and energy through the entire building envelope, from foundation to roof. Henry understands the principles of integrating air and vapor barrier, roofing, and waterproofing systems to ensure superior building performance. Henry professionals offer designers, contractors, and building owners a combination of technical experience and a commitment to provide quality products. For more than 75 years, Henry has been the trusted source for a variety of building solutions.

INTERNATIONAL LEAK DETECTION AND PROGEO MONITORING LAUNCH SMARTEX® IN NORTH AMERICA Toronto, Canada (October 5, 2015)… International Leak Detection (ILD) and PROGEO Monitoring GmbH today announced their strategic alliance to deliver the Smartex® MX system to the North American roofing and waterproofing market.

Smartex® is an intelligent flat roof monitoring system that tracks the integrity of waterproofing systems 24 hours a day. When a rupture occurs, Smartex® immediately detects it and issues an alert. The system also pinpoints the location of the leak, eliminating the need for a search and allowing for quick repair.

“With the demand for smart buildings, the roofing and waterproofing market has been searching for a system that can truly provide 24­hour, on­demand access to their roofing and waterproofing assets,” says Chris Eichhorn, President & CEO of ILD. “Smartex® is the system we’ve been waiting for.”

Developed by PROGEO Monitoring in Berlin, Germany, Smartex® is the only product of its kind on the market. Robust and durable sensors, designed to meet the demands of the construction environment, are combined with high­performance cloud solutions to produce secure and reliable information. Clients can easily access this information using a PC, tablet or smart phone.

Smartex® also has the benefit of monitoring in all weather conditions. In the case of an extreme weather event, clients no longer have to worry about whether or not the integrity of their flat roof was compromised.

Smartex® will provide instant, up­to­date information.

“Smartex® can reduce long­term flat roof maintenance costs by up to 70 percent,” says Andreas Rödel, founder and CEO of PROGEO Monitoring GmhB. “It is a well­known fact that flat roofs will leak at some point. PROGEO’s intelligent monitoring technology will detect issues large or small and allow you to respond. It puts the control in your hands.”

Applications for Smartex® include: ● Flat roofs, exposed membrane or ballasted ● Vegetated/green roofs ● Parking decks ● Underground garages ● Sprinkler tanks ● Swimming pools ● Bathroom and kitchen floors Related articles and information

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● ● ● ●

Wooden constructions Waterproofing systems against ground water Special constructions Hospitals, data centers, art galleries, museums and any building where moisture intrusion could impact critical operations or valuable assets Smartex® is available through ILD in the USA and Canada beginning October 1, 2015. ILD has created a technical service department to install Smartex® and service existing PROGEO Monitoring systems using its trained technicians.

“PROGEO is the leader in the research and development of membrane monitoring systems. We are proud to be aligned with them. Our clients now have the choice of our standard EFVM® integrity testing or the state­of­the­art Smartex® system for their roof or waterproofing assets,” says Eichhorn.

“This partnership teams up the monitoring market leader in Europe with the leak detection market leader in North America. Both ILD and PROGEO have a reputation for customer­centric business activities and trustworthiness. We are pleased to be working with ILD to deliver Smartex® in the United States and Canada,” says Rödel.

Green Roof Options ­ Renovating Ideas Replacing your roof could be one of the most expensive upgrades you make as a homeowner. So it makes sense to consider the sustainability and environmental impact of the material you choose. “The best way to make all roofing options environmentally friendly: Pick a product that will have a long service life and have it installed properly, so it has to be repaired or replaced as infrequently as possible,” says Travis Nelson, the owner of Brown Roofing Company in Dalles, Oregon, and a member of the National Roofing Contractors Association. It is also important to think about the carbon footprint associated with shipping these materials; if possible, ask your contractor to use a product sourced nearby. Here, four options to consider.

Metal Panels__ These systems layer over your existing roof, keeping your former roof out of the landfill. Once installed, a metal roof can have up to triple or quadruple the life span of traditional shingles, and it’s 100 percent recyclable, says David Taylor, production manager at Treadlite Roofing in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Some metal roofing is even made with recycled materials. There are a few drawbacks, however, to keep in mind, including the intensive not­so­eco­friendly manufacturing process (which often involves mining, melting, painting, and shipping from factory to factory), says Nelson. __ Wood Shake Shingles__ Topping homes for centuries, wood shake shingles, like cedar, are certainly time tested. The pros: Trees are renewable and wood is biodegradable, plus the shingles are often manufactured at a location near where they are installed. The main drawback to this sustainable option is that it’s flammable, which means some areas restrict its use. Your contractor should know if wood shake shingles are allowed in your neighborhood.

Slate Shingles

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Slate or composite­slate shingles are pricy, but they wear well, lasting decades. Composite slate (it looks just like the real thing) comes with a 50­year manufacturer warranty, says Taylor. While the composite slate is 100 percent recyclable, true slate takes less energy to make—the shingles don’t need to be heavily processed like other materials. __ Living Roofs__ The greenest option of all: living roofs, made of a medium that can foster plantlife. Like gardens, living roofs need tending to, and installation can be expensive. But Kathryn Blatt Ancaya, accredited professional and cofounder of Living Roofs Inc. in Asheville, North Carolina, says they pay off. Just a few of the many benefits of going with greenery include an improvement in air quality, a reduction in home cooling costs, a mitigation of stormwater, and reductions in energy consumption.

Private Residence, Lake Toxaway, NC Description: The roof of this residential project has a 3:12 slope, requiring special measures to eliminate the potential for sliding, water loss, and soil erosion. A grid system was bolted to fastened­aluminum edging and filled with soil. The extensive, pre­vegetated roof was selected to both instantly green a highly visible roof and reduce overall weight.

Landscape Soils Management The soil you let slide through your fingers, lift with your shovel and water with your hose is alive, teaming with microscopic creatures, nutrients and needing the right combinations of sunlight and moisture, like most living things on this planet.

Meta Levin, The Landscape Contractor The soil you let slide through your fingers, lift with your shovel and water with your hose is alive, teaming with microscopic creatures, nutrients and needing the right combinations of sunlight and moisture, like most living things on this planet.

Treat it well and it will reward you with beautiful, healthy plants. "Not all soil is created equal," says Ryan Wagner, sales representative for Midwest Trading Horticultural Supplies, Inc., who went through the basics of Landscape Soils Management in his Summer Field Day presentation. "It's not an ingredient sitting on a shelf that you can just pull off and use."

In fact, one cup of healthy soil is estimated to contain five to eight billion microorganisms. Probably the best known by the general population is something called the water bear or tardigrade, which has proved resistant to boiling, freezing, radiation and even the vacuum of space. Resilient little creatures.

A mixture of landscape contractors and architects, as well as those from nurseries and greenhouses listened and asked questions during Wagner's presentation. "I hope that they now look at soil differently than they used to," he says.

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Healthy soil supports healthy plant growth, resists compaction, provides storm water infiltration, prevents erosion, reduces summer water needs, filters out pollutants and reduces the need for landscape chemicals.

That's a tall order, which is the reason that Wagner is a proponent of soil testing before planning and planting.

"The number one thing I try to get landscape contractors or homeowners to do is a basic soil test," says Wagner. In the scheme of things, rudimentary soil tests are relatively reasonably priced, depending on what and where it is done costs range from $18 to $50. They can be more complex and more expensive, but usually basic is all that is needed. "It's inexpensive insurance. I'd much rather do that than come back a couple of months after planting to find that something's wrong."

Ideally soil is composed of 25 percent air, 45 percent mineral particles, 25 percent water and 5 percent organic matter, including 80 percent humus, 10 percent roots and 10 percent organisms.

It's the organic piece of the pie that will tell whether and what kind of soil amendments may be needed. Too much organic material can be just as detrimental as too little. Anything more than 10 percent organic material in a soil sample is too rich, but, says Wagner, your soil sample is more likely to have too little than too much.

Soil pH affects the solubility of minerals or nutrients, with most being more soluble or available in acidic than in neutral or alkaline soils. "Knowing the soil's pH is important, because it determines which nutrients will be readily available to plants," says Wagner.

A soil's pH measures its acidity or alkalinity. Measurement goes on a scale from 0 to 14, with pH7 as the neutral point. Anything from pH 0 to 7 is acidic and from pH 7 to 14 it is more alkaline or basic. Soil can be measured using either a pH meter or using dyes or indicators that change color at various pH levels. The pH can change from one spot on a lawn to another, so it's normally recommended to combine several samples and test them together.

Soil texture is just as crucial as composition. Using a soil texture pyramid compiled by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Wagner went through the various possible components and amounts of different types of clay, sand and silt that may make up a soil sample. Percentages of each will tell you a lot about the porosity and permeability of the soil.

Let's pause a moment to make the definitions clear: porosity is determined by the size, texture and structure of the particles, as well as the type and distribution of organic matter, while permeability is the ability for water to move through the soil and how fast (or slow). Permeability is affcted by porosity. Fine texture holds more water, coarse texture holds less and medium textured soils can do both.

In other words, porosity means the volume of open spaces or pores between grains of soil. Properly interpreted it can tell you how much water can be held in a given amount of soil.

Permeability, on the other hand, is why and how well pore spaces allow water to flow through the soil. Water flows easily through soil with large pores that have good connectivity between them, while small pores with the same degree of connectivity between them have lower permeability, because water flows through them at a slower rate.

Zero permeability is possible. In this case the soil has high porosity, i.e. the pores are not connected or very small. This can occur in clay.

Once you know a soil's composition, i.e. percentages of clay, silt, loam, you can estimate its porosity and permeability, but these is a quick test you can do to give you a better idea or confirm your estimate.

Testing a soil's permeability can be quick and easy if all you want is a basic understanding of conditions.

Wagner suggests using a large, empty can, such as a coffee can or its equivalent that is open at both ends.

You also will need a ruler, a timer and water.

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1. Drive the can into the soil so that there is at least 3 inches below and above ground 2. Tamp the area down around the can to make a seal 3. Saturate the soil area first to ensure you are seeing infiltration vs. going into dry soil 4. Measure how far the water level drops in one, two and three hours 5. Estimate inches per hour of infiltration "You want a happy medium, not moving through too fast or all locked up," says Wagner.

Once you have a good understanding of a soil's composition, you can determine whether and what types of amendments it needs. Soil amendments can serve to support organisms, buffer pH toward an optimal 6.3 ­ 6.8 pH level, reduce bulk density (compaction), improve water holding capactiy, improve soil structure and increase nutrient storage and avilability (CEC ­ soil cation exchange capacity).

"Amendments are ingredients going into improving the soil," says Wagner. "They unlock the nutrients, making them more available to the plants." If you do not plan to amend the soil, Wagner suggests choosing plants that will do well in the type of soil available.

While testing can be inexpensive, soil amendments can cost a little more, so selling your customer on their importance is crucial. Wagner suggests speaking in terms of better erosion control, easier planting, healthier plants, with fewer losses and call backs, not to mention easier maintenance) fewer weeds, less need for water, fertilizer and pesticides), easier soil preparation and planting and regulatory compliance.

In the case of new construction, Wagner suggests paying attention to retaining, protecting and restoring native topsoil and vegetation, particularly trees. "Minimize the construction footprint," he says. "Store and reuse topsoil from the site and retain buffer vegetation along waterways."

If you are going to restore disturbed soils, you can till 2 inches to 4 inches of compost into the upper 8 inches to 12 inches of soil, ripping to loosen compacted layers.

When working with existing landscapes, he recommends retrofitting soils with tilled­in compost, mulching beds with organic mulches (bark and/or leaf mulch, as well as compost amendments) and top dressing turf with compost, avoiding overuse of chemicals and building soil­foundations for success.

Mulching provides several services to the soil: ● It can minimize evaporation by keeping sunlight from reaching the soil ● As an organic mulch breaks down it will release nutrients that plants can use ● Weed seeds that would germinate when exposed to light will stay dormant beneath the mulch "Make soil a priority on every landscape project," says Wagner. "And test, test, test!"

Project of the month June: Expo Milan 2015 – colorful Belarusian pavilion with Sempergreen Sedum herb blanket The Expo Milan is in full swing. Until 31 October 2015, this 1.1 million m2​ ​ area located in the Rho­Pero district in north­western Milan forms the scenic background for thousands of events, such as debates, seminars and culinary activities. 145 countries will showcase their areas of expertise, based on the theme: 'Feeding the Planet. Energy for life.’ ​ The Belarusian pavilion​ , with its 'Wheel of Life' concept, stands out from most others Related articles and information

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due to its enormous wooden wheel structure, which rises high above a green hill. The hill features an exuberantly flowering 1,000m2 Sempergreen ​ Sedum herb blanket Type T​ .

Wheel of Life With its 'Wheel of Life' theme, Belarus showcases its contribution as a link in the global food chain. Belarus is known for its production of milk products, meat, vegetables and potatoes for the global market. The pavilion​ demonstrates the efforts made by the country in its quest to reduce famine, improve water quality, preserve nature and promote biodiversity. The wooden wheel seems to 'slice' through the hill, and is symbolic for the availability of natural energy sources and the importance of preserving them.

Sedum herb blanket Type T for sloping surfaces As decoration for the steep hill, Belarus opted for the ​ Sempergreen Sedum herb blanket Type T​ . This highly biodiverse vegetation blanket contains six varieties of Sedum and twenty­five different herbs. The plants grow on a coconut fibre mat with plastic reinforcements at the top and bottom, making the blanket highly suitable for use on (very) steep surfaces. Each Sedum herb blanket is covered for at least 95% when delivered. This way, the ​ ground cover ​ transitioning into a sloping ​ green roof​ immediately obtains a lush and colourful appearance.

Feeding the Planet. Energy for Life.

The 34st edition of the world expo has ‘Feeding the Planet. Energy for Life.' as its ​ main theme​ . With this theme, the organisation provides an effective incentive for people to philosophize and discuss solutions and technologies aimed at finding an answer to one vital question: how to provide everyone with healthy, safe and sufficient food whilst preserving our planet. The organisation expects 20 million visitors, or approximately 200,000 per day, all of whom can turn to the 145 country pavilions for information and inspiration on this theme.

Inhabitable green roof for HUB, Pennsylvania State University The ​ Hetzel Union Building (HUB)​ is the center of student activity at the Penn State University Park campus, serving more than 45,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The HUB is situated in the heart of the campus core and was last renovated in 1998 when the Robeson Cultural Center was incorporated into the building. Responding to a significant increase in usage and student space needs, the project expands and enhances variety of student­related activity and service areas, including a 7,000 sq ft ​ green roof​ .

Sempergreen USA has supplied the​ Sedummix vegetation blankets ​ for this project in close cooperation with landscape architect ​ Chris Mendel​ of ​ Andropogon​ as well as ​ American Hydrotech​ .

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Informal social areas The complex infill project re­purposes an underutilized alleyway and includes a 55,000 square­foot addition and 52,000 square feet of renovation. The unifying feature to ​ GUND Partnership’s design ​ is a large sky­lit commons with informal social and dining areas that offers a dynamic gathering area for student life. A range of multipurpose meeting rooms are located around the gathering space and offer greater visibility to the student leadership group activities on the upper levels.

Inhabitable green roof The university's first inhabitable ​ green roof ​ sits above a new mezzanine level in the Penn State Bookstore.

The green roof will include space for seating and is envisioned as a space to accommodate gatherings serving the new multipurpose flex theater that will be added near the HUB parking deck entrance.

Sustainability goals of Penn State Designed to ​ Penn State​ ’s rigorous performance standards and sustainability goals, the project incorporates high performance glazing, LED lighting, green roof, in addition to upgrading existing mechanical systems.

The project also improves pedestrian circulation and accessibility through and around the facility and enhances the visual character of the eastern side of the building.

NATS LiveRoof Tops Splatsin Community Centre NATS LiveRoof helps Splatsin’s new community centre in Enderby, B.C. reflect a traditional winter shelter (pit house) and provide stewardship for the earth.

This summer NATS LiveRoof topped the new Splatsin Community Centre with a 24,200 square­foot lightweight planted roof. Fulfilling a long­held dream of creating a new community centre, Splatsin carefully crafted a new three­story, 33,581 square­foot building to reflect its history and focus on the future by caring for the land.

The new Splatsin Community Centre was designed to serve multiple functions. The centre provides space for meetings, banquets, weddings, reunions, and concerts. The facility will also have a high school regulation basketball court as well as running track on the mezzanine and will provide many opportunities for community members to access physical activities.

Education outreach is another key focus planned for the new site.

The unique dome­shaped green roof was designed to represent a traditional winter shelter used by Splatsin ancestors. The site design allows stormwater and below­grade drainage to be captured and used to irrigate the vegetated roof as well as ground­level native landscapes around the building and in the area to provide low maintenance and water conservation.

“Incorporating a living, green roof on the community centre was the best way to represent a traditional shelter,” according to Shawn Wiebe, Director of Housing, Infrastructure& Lands for the Splatsin Community.

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“The planted roof also provides sustainability and longevity for the centre, and provides us with an important water recovery and reuse feature.”

The vegetated roof was grown by NATS Nursery of Langley, BC using a unique evergreen sedum mix with native accent plants, including: Festuca saximontana, Bouteloua gracilis, and Festuca rubra. As the B.C. LiveRoof licensed grower, green roof experts at NATS Nursery worked closely with the design team and Splatsin leadership to develop this plant palette that reflected the site’s unique design elements.

“Our nursery shares with the Splatsin community a love of the earth, as well as responsibility for its nurturing and care,” said Rod Nataros, Principal, NATS Nursery. “We were honoured to work with representatives of the Splatsin community to help create this beautiful community centre, helping them establish new roots sprouted from their history and tradition.”Encan Construction and Laing Roofing Ltd. were responsible for the construction and installation of the living roof.

Green roofs provide nature function and beauty. A patented, subterranean modular system unites the soil and plants creating a naturally beautiful meadow­like aesthetic. The roofs provide aesthetic, environmental and social benefits. Financial benefits can also be achieved from a vegetative roof including: extension of roof life, energy conservation, enhanced public relations, and conservation of municipal septic systems.

Please contact: Ron Jacobson, Business Development Manager, NATS Nursery, 604­652­4110 for more information.

About NATS Nursery The NATS Nursery team supplies the arms for a landscape revolution. We grow the lungs of the world. The unique and highly skilled team at NATS is committed to providing the best quality Pacific Northwest plants possible to the global market for restoration, reclamation, reforestation, sustainable gardening, construction and more. We strive to help our customers find the right plant for the right place, and to share our personal passion for plants, and for improving the world in which we live. The NATS Nursery team is happily committed to leading the landscape revolution and pleased to be the grower and supplier of the LiveRoof® Hybrid System in British Columbia.

About Splatsin First Nation The Splatsin are the most southern tribe of the Shuswap Nation, the largest Interior Salish speaking First Nation in Canada whose aboriginal territory stretches from the BC/Alberta border near the Yellowhead Pass to the plateau west of the Fraser River, southeast to the Arrow Lakes and to the upper reaches of the Columbia River. The Splatsin people reside on Indian reserve lands adjacent to the City of Enderby to the south and across the Shuswap River to the east. http://www.splatsin.ca

Agriculture Day – PlantSomethingBC give­away NATS was pleased to donate some Fragaria chilioensis (Beach Strawberry) and Vaccinium ovatum (Evergreen Huckleberry) starter plants to BCLNA to be given to the MLA’s and government officials at Agriculture Day at the BC Legislature.

The BCLNA will be presenting the PlantSomething BC program which encourages BC residents to … plant something.

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FOUR FRIENDS FIND A NEW HOME "​ Four Friends find a New Home" ­ is the title of a recently published Children's book by Optigreen.

Lilly the butterfly, Marie the ladybird, Tom the snail and Nils the grasshopper have a happy life in a flowering meadow. But one day, their living space is destroyed and they have to search for a new home...

The book is about a group of animals, that are driven out of their habitat due to construction work and have to start looking for somewhere else to live. After wandering around they end up in a seemingly inhospitable city... where they find unexpected shelter and a new home.

The book has 36 pages and is not only meant for children but also for any young at heart adults.

MESSE GALABAU 09/17 ­ 09/20/2014 IN NUREMBERG Optigrün international AG will be present at Messe GaLaBau 2014 with its own booth and will present the newest innovations. The following topics and system solutions will be presented: Usable roof landscape, living space roof terrace, roof garden The roof terrace is easily usable as an additional relaxation and living space using the railing SkyGard which is secured by superimposed load and does not penetrate the roof membrane. Using the Optigreen Plant Containers Type Alu many design ideas may be realized.

Industrial green roofs with multiple uses Industrial roofs should not only be greened because of the building control requirements, but also because they can achieve a variety of positive effects: ecological compensation, protection of the roof membrane and rain water management; the Optigreen Retention Roof offers these advantages and many more.

Pitched Roofs ­ safe and affordable The Optigreen Anti­Slip System Type P using the Drainage Board FKD 58 SD is suitable for roofs with a roof pitch of up to 35°. The new system solution offers easy installation and affordable material price so that pitched green roofs become a more affordable option.

Consultants will be available for specific object details and general information during the fair; they support planers and contractors to achieve a professional and permanently functional green roof and/or wall garden.

Each visitor will receive a free copy of the technical brochure and the children's book "Four Friends find a new Home".

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Lafrance Hospitality Wins State Award For Rosebrook Hotel BOSTON, MA — November 25, 2015 — The Lafrance Hospitality Company Tuesday received a Massachusetts Economic Impact Award for its development of a TownePlace Suites by Marriott and Rosebrook Events Center in Wareham.

The hotel and conference center anchor the A.D. Makepeace Company’s Rosebrook Place development on Route 28 at I­195/I­495. The A.D. Makepeace Company nominated Lafrance for the prestigious award.

The awards are issued annually by MassEcon, a private organization whose mission is to advance economic development across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

President Richard Lafrance accepted the award on behalf of the Westport­based company. He was joined at the awards luncheon at the Boston Renaissance Waterfront Hotel by Renee Dufour, director of corporate and employee relations; Wareham Town Administrator Derek Sullivan; A.D. Makepeace Company President and CEO Michael P. Hogan; Robert Karam, vice chairman of the A.D. Makepeace Company Board of Directors; and Linda Burke, the ADM vice president of marketing and communication.

Gov. Charlie Baker was the keynote speaker, telling the 18 award winners and some 400 other attendees, “Thank you so much for aspiring to do great things, and thank you for investing in the Commonwealth.”

The Lafrance Hospitality Company won the silver award in the Southeastern Massachusetts category. Gold went to clothing manufacturer Joseph Abboud of New Bedford, and the bronze award in the region went to South Shore Millwork of Norton.

Presenting the award to Mr. Lafrance, master of ceremonies Lisa Hughes, a WBZ­TV anchor, said the Wareham hotel created 33 new jobs and invested $12 million in the community. She noted that the company is a major sponsor of the Wareham Oyster Festival and also supports numerous other local organizations and initiatives.

Redbrook Wins Coveted Gold Builder Industry Awards Boston, MA — October 16, 2015 — Redbrook, the A.D. Makepeace Company’s new village in south Plymouth, took home five awards from the prestigious Prism Awards recognizing achievement in building and design.

The awards, given out annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston, “recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements” in the region’s homebuilding industry. Awards were presented at a ceremony in Boston on October 9.

“We are gratified at the recognition we have received from our peers in the industry,” said Michael P. Hogan, president and CEO of the A.D. Makepeace Company. “Redbrook is a unique community, and I was delighted to receive the award for ‘best land planning.’”

Redbrook received the gold award in that category. In addition, the new community won gold awards for best detached home under 2,500 square feet, best showroom or sales center (for the Meeting House), and best website, and a silver award for best attached home under 1,800 square feet.

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The first two neighborhoods at Redbrook are nearing completion, and construction has begun on a third.

When complete, Redbrook will feature a dozen or more distinct neighborhoods, all connected to a village center by a network of walking trails designed by the Appalachian Mountain Club and hundreds of acres of shared open space. A total of nearly 2,000 acres of land will be protected as part of the development.

The award­winning website can be found at redbrookplymouth.com.

The A.D. Makepeace Company, located in Wareham, is the world’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible land development and stewardship.

FROM THE ROOFTOPS: GREEN CITY GROWERS IS RAISING BOSTON’S FOOD PROFILE – FROM THE TOP DOWN When it came to baseball, the Red Sox didn’t give us much to cheer for this season. The team’s local food production, on the other hand, was trophy­worthy. Incredibly, by season’s end, a large new container farm on a previously barren rooftop at Fenway Park will have yielded more than 4,000 pounds of fresh food—from pea shoots to peppers—carefully tended to by urban farmers from Green City Growers.

The farm is now a stop on most ballpark tours, which welcome as many as 10,000 tourists a week. As a guide leads a tour past the farm, he motions at Green City Growers founder Jessie Banhazl. “That’s one of our new left­handed relievers,” he jokes.

Banhazl looks out over the rows and rows of fragrant herbs, dark greens and perfectly red tomatoes her farmers now tend inside Boston’s cathedral of sport. She’s almost giddy.

“I feel really grateful,” she says. “Sometimes I come here when I’m feeling really stressed out or bogged down in the day to day. It feels like an unbelievable privilege to be here.”

A privilege indeed, but one even Banhazl admits Green City Growers has earned. Since she started the Somerville­based for­profit more than five years ago, the company has proven sustainable agriculture can be profitable, and in the process launched a rooftop farming revolution.

Getting Started Banhazl was 24 and living with her parents in Wayland when a friend told her about companies on the West Coast helping would­be backyard farmers grow their own food. Burned out professionally from a couple of years working in reality television production in New York City, the Smith College graduate and daughter of entrepreneurs had recently been inspired by The Omnivore’s Dilemma to “give people the tools they need to be able to source food hyper­locally.” She set out to do something about it.

With zero assets and nary a credit card to her name, Banhazl found securing loans for her new business to be difficult. There was also the challenge of getting lenders to buy into a concept—a business that could be profitable planting and maintaining organic gardens for other people—that hadn’t yet been proven in Boston.

Even so, Green City Growers’ first gardens were planted in 2009, mostly in residential backyards. Soon, Banhazl began getting calls from companies interested in launching gardens as part of corporate wellness programs, as well as clients exploring rooftop farming. Green City Growers’ first foray into roofs was a soil­filled kiddie pool atop a Brookline b.good restaurant later that year—which Banhazl credits as being an early adopter and “wonderful partner.”

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In just a few years, there has been a “sea change” in Greater Boston with regards to urban agriculture, she says, and rooftop farming in particular. The square footage Green City Growers farms has exploded, from 2,054 square feet at 48 sites in 2009 to nearly 28,000 square feet of crops at 161 locations today (farmed by just six people)—including 12 Boston­area b.goods, eateries like Abigail’s, The Sinclair and Ester, plus hospitals, schools, and office complexes throughout the region.

Oh, and just the largest rooftop farm in New England. No big deal.

Whole Foods Market, Lynnfield At 17,000 square feet, the rooftop farm at Whole Foods in Lynnfield is not only Green City Growers’ most ambitious project—it is the region’s biggest rooftop farm. It’s history­making as well, being the country’s first soil­based, open­air rooftop farm on a supermarket, creating the shortest food­to­shelf distance of any grocery store.

In 2012, Green City Growers bid on and won the project with Somerville­based Recover Green Roofs—which handled the farm’s design and installation. (The two companies have since worked on numerous projects together, including Fenway Farms.) All of the 7,000 pounds of food grown on the half­acre farm is picked when ripe and sold downstairs in the store, “basically 100 feet from where it is being grown,” Banhazl says, maximizing the food’s nutrient density because “there’s no transportation involved.”

Bill Ford, team leader at the Lynnfield Whole Foods Market, says Green City Growers’ shared enthusiasm for and commitment to the rooftop farm has made for an ideal working relationship since the completion of the farm in 2013. Shoppers appear to love it, too, he says.

“The produce, flowers and herbs sell as quickly as they are harvested,” Ford says. “After all, it doesn’t get any more fresh and locally grown than when it comes right from our own roof.”

The Brandeis Rooftop Community Farm, Brandeis University When students at Brandeis University in Waltham returned to school for the Fall 2015 term, they were greeted by a new, 1,500 square foot farm on what is known on campus as the Gerstenzang red square.

Completed in May, the Brandeis Rooftop Community Farm could yield 3,500 pounds of fresh food this year and will provide boxes of food for more than a dozen Brandeis faculty, staff and students through a community supported agriculture (CSA) program. Plans are in the works to bring academic classes into the farm to supplement their learning—think biology students at the farm studying the evolution of domesticated plants, or health classes conducting soil tests.

The best part? All of it—from the idea to the campus approvals to the fundraising—was orchestrated by 18­ and 19­year­olds.

The plan was hatched in Professor Lori Goldin’s class, “Greening the Ivory Tower: Improving Environmental Sustainability of Brandeis and Community.” After reading Michael Pollan’s work and studying examples of urban agriculture around the country, one student group set out to improve the campus’ food system through a rooftop farm that would feed and teach the campus community.

Early on, the students realized their plan had become much more than a class project, so they started a campus­wide Farmers Club, created an executive board, and started to test the feasibility of their idea. The students reached out first to Green City Growers, who walked them through the questions they’d need to ask. A local structural engineering firm—Simpson Gumpertz and Heger—donated its services to make sure the roof could withstand the rows and rows of soil­filled milk crates. It could.

The students then took their idea to administrators, and even applied for a $30,000 sustainability grant through the school. It wasn’t an easy sell.

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“We convinced them that this is a big sustainability issue—food justice—that affects the students, the staff, and the community, and that [the farm] would be a beneficial part of the school,” says junior Jay Feinstein, who is president of the Farmers Club and helped spearhead the rooftop farm campaign. “We’re so lucky they agreed. They couldn’t be more supportive now.”

The campus community has already shown its support for the initiative. More than 500 people attended an on­campus farmers market in April, and 100 students, faculty and staff volunteered to help install the farm in May—during Finals Week. Feinstein says the farm is producing enough food to fill 12 CSA shares this summer, and hopes to add a social justice component in the fall by donating shares to people in need.

Green City Growers helped maintain the farm over the summer and runs the CSA, with the help of several students and faculty, and Banhazl says the club was able to recoup the maintenance costs with money made through the CSA. At the end of the day, though, the farm, for Feinstein and his fellow food activists, isn’t about making money, but impacting the Brandeis community’s food culture by showing that delicious, fresh food can be grown anywhere—even a roof.

Fenway Farms, Fenway Park Fenway Farms is, to date, the most ambitious ballpark farm anywhere, bucking the stereotype that the game experience is solely about feasting on the unhealthy. And for Green City Growers’ urban farmers, Fenway Park may be the only place where the list of occupational hazards includes getting thumped by a foul ball while harvesting broccoli rabe.

Linda Pizzuti Henry, philanthropist and wife of Red Sox co­owner John Henry, has for years been passionate about food systems and greening up Fenway. So when Green City Growers and Recover Green Roofs stepped forward and pitched a plan to design, build and maintain a ballpark farm, she was sold.

So was Banhazl. Where a project of this magnitude—a farm visible to millions of ballpark visitors annually—might have intimidated the founder and CEO a few years earlier, she says she had no doubt that Green City Growers was the right pick for the job.

“From pitching this to being here, I’ve been completely and utterly confident that we can give them what we wanted,” she says.

Fenway Farms is a modular farm, planted in milk crates and able to be moved if needed. Post­harvest, most of the produce from the farm (which sits atop the front office behind the third base side of the EMC Level) is walked 25 feet to the EMC Club’s kitchen, where it is served to fans alongside gourmet offerings like New Bedford scallops, grass­fed filet mignon, and Semolina gnocchi. Some of the food grown in the park is also sold at a healthy concession stand on Yawkee Way. Banhazl says Fenway Farms is a prototype for the kind of large­scale rooftop projects she wants Green City Growers to take on moving forward—“individual projects being able to reach more people at one location.”

“Those are the kinds of projects where you start to see a change in mentality and a natural impact on Greater Boston.”

Could Boston’s Green Revolution Be Top­Down?

The work of Green City Growers, Recover Green Roofs, and so many other companies and nonprofits is definitely impacting Bostonians’ mentality toward urban agriculture, the food system, and rooftop farms in particular. But with Boston’s and other local cities’ high priority on the construction of new housing on most available land, Banhazl believes rooftops may hold the most promise for increasing urban agriculture yields.

There just needs to be a tipping point where developers and the public buy into the previously foreign concept.

If Green City Growers’ success is any indication, that tipping point has arrived, and the potential is sky­high.

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Ask These Questions Before Growing Food On Your Roof Brendan Shea, director of field operations with Recover Green Roofs, shares his process for discovering whether a building is a good fit for rooftop agriculture.

Can my roof hold the weight? Your roof should be able to support the weight of your garden, with soil and vegetables, usually in the ballpark of 50 pounds per square foot above the snow load. Hire a structural engineer to test your roof before planting anything.

Is my roof completely waterproof? Along with weight­bearing capacity, the quality of your roof’s waterproofing membrane is a crucial component to any successful rooftop farming project. “Roofs that leak, no matter how beautiful and productive a garden is, will lead to failure,” Shea says.

Is my roof safe? A rooftop must have adequate railing and a level walking surface to keep you and other gardeners safe. If these don’t exist, they can be some of the bigger expenses for a rooftop agriculture project.

Assembly Row Office Building Awarded LEED Gold Certificate Federal Realty Investment Trust announced today that its office building at 450 Artisan Way in the Assembly Row district has achieved LEED Gold status, the first office building to ever achieve that status in Somerville.

450 Artisan Way, a 100,000 square foot office building that is part of the completed first phase of the Assembly Row development, was awarded a LEED Gold certificate by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for certifying environmentally efficient design, construction and operation practices for buildings.

“Assembly Row highlights some of the very best sustainability practices of new developments ­ high­density, mixed­use, transit­oriented and focused on bettering the community and enhancing the quality of life for residents, employees and visitors,” said Chris Brown, Sustainability Director at Federal Realty. “450 Artisan Way builds upon those core sustainable attributes to provide a better workplace environment.”

The 450 Artisan Way office building achieved LEED Gold Core & Shell Development certification by incorporating sustainable construction techniques that include: ● Roofing integrated both with a landscaped area and white EPDM(Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) roofing, which reduces “heat island effect” (built up areas that are hotter than nearby areas). The roof was installed by a local Somerville company, ReCover Green Roofs, which cut down on worker’s travel and supported local business. ● Optimizing the exterior façade design by providing increased insulation and high performance glazing, balancing access to daylight and exterior views with energy performance. The building has achieved energy savings 16% above the LEED baseline and meets the Somerville Stretch Energy Code. ● Using recycled and regionally sourced materials including certified wood used when possible to build the office building. ● Providing bicyclists with easy access to the building by providing an in­building, secure bike room and an adjacent shower and changing area.

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● Using “Green power” that is generated from offsite renewable energy sources.

Responsibly built office buildings have been widely reported to increase productivity and access to natural light can help energize the building’s occupants to support a happier work environment – an important, and measured, Somerville quality of life metric.

“Providing the most efficient, productive and enjoyable work space for employees is a top priority for SmartBear,” said Doug McNary, CEO of SmartBear.

Originally a brownfield site, Assembly Row is an excellent model of responsible design and planning.

Several of the Assembly Row retailers have also been recognized for their sustainable retail build outs, achieving LEED Gold. Nike, also on Artisan Way, achieved a LEED Platinum certification.

“We often focus on the transit, economic, and job or housing creation benefits of Assembly Row, but it is important to remember that new development done with an eye toward sustainability can benefit our city in so many other ways from the new green space or transit access it can bring to energy efficient buildings,” said Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.

Greening Philadelphia: The City’s First Elevated Park Philadelphia’s first elevated park, Cira Green on top of Cira Centre South in University City, is now ​ open​ !

The 1.25 acre park, which sits 95 feet above street level, overlooks Center City, University City and the Schuylkill River, and has a unique water storage system beneath the pavers on the roof, which can route storm water to the green roof areas. It’s sure to be a popular and dynamic green space in the city!

We are thrilled to have a part in creating this exciting urban space in Philadelphia. Cira Green consists of different green roof areas, including large lawn areas and planters with trees and colorful perennials – our rooflite®​ ​ growing media, engineered specifically for the different types of green roofs included in this project, was used to build this unique urban park.

Because of the location of this project, logistics were a particular challenge. We had to solve a number of issues in order to deliver our media to the project: ● Requirement of 2000 cubic yards of green roof media ● No staging area to store the material near the construction site ● Delivery had to occur on a road underneath the construction project with limited space ● Because of those space limitations, media delivery had to be just in time for installation ● Delivery had to happen in January in cold temperatures with a blower truck installation So how did we get over these logistical challenges? As a start, we changed the type of truck we delivered our material in to accommodate the space limitations, and we developed a schedule to deliver the media right when it was needed instead of ahead of time, which is our normal process.

The larger issue was the January timeframe for delivery. Because of cold temperatures and the moisture contained within green roof media, winter can be a tricky time to install media. Fortunately, we are set up with the infrastructure to provide media at any time of the year, even if in cold weather. Our local blender has four acres of concrete, dry storage buildings where dry material can be stockpiled. This means that we can provide our green roof media, capable of being blown onto a rooftop, even in the coldest of months, for projects like CIRA Green.

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It’s gratifying to see our hard work pay off with the opening of Cira Green. And you know what? The weather in Philadelphia is so mild this December that it’s a perfect time to check out this exciting new green spot in Philadelphia!

ASLA 2015 is Here!

Just a reminder that ​ ASLA 2015​ in Chicago starts today! You can find us at Booth 2243 at the EXPO on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Stop by to learn more about our new product ​ Terramenta​ : a multi­layer engineered soil for planters for professionals who design, specify, or install container gardens or larger planters.

'Twas the Night Before Winter ‘Twas the night before winter and all through sedum quarters, Not a worker was stirring, not even the orders.

The dishes were washed and the files put away, In hopes that Lori would start early the next day.

The Magdas were all nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sedums and ideas danced in their heads.

And Margie in her pj’s and Tuggy on Ed’s lap, Had just settled down for a long winters nap.

When out on the farm there arose such a clatter, Greg sprung from his bed to see what was the matter.

He stumbled to the window and pressed his nose to the glass, He yelled, “What’s going on out there, who’s being such an A..?”

The moon shone so bright on the new­fallen snow Greg had slept in, he’s behind, Oh No! It’s 5:00 AM and he’s an hour behind I think he forgot, that it is winter time.

He rubs his eyes and quickly looks to the field, Jumps in his truck and the tires make a peel.

He dashes to the field faster than ever, Have you ever seen Greg run? Nope, nah, never!

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He gets to the farm and sneaks to the sedum bed, He new in moment, “He’s busted!” he said.

As fast as a rabbit, and the size of one too, Ahh it’s just Rob, the head of my crew.

He watched Rob work row after row, Scratching his head and moving so slow.

He was mumbling to himself, “ this is not a fun game!”

And he shook and he shouted and called them by name: “Now Robert! Now Phillip!

On George and on Denny!

On Steve and on Carl!

On hardworking Frankie!

To the top of the hill To the top of the row The sedums are covered Now shovel that snow!

And then in a twinkling, Greg heard in the sedum bed, A snore thats so loud, he knew it’s not Ed. He’s sees Rob asleep, on the sedum covered in snow.

He was sleepwalking at work, a safety hazard you know.

Greg awakens Rob and tells him he’s dreaming, “The guys are back home” as he’s joyfully beaming.

Come back to the office and lets warm up a bit, Before you take off like a lickity split.

We’ll have some hot chocolate and reminisce on the season, Then go back home and don’t come back without a reason.

They walked to the office in the new fallen snow, Thinking of new sedums they will definitely need to grow.

He spoke not a word and went straight to his chair, Both startled by a bump and whisk of cold air, And laying a finger aside of her nose, Lori stumbles through the door, “I just about froze!”

Greg and Rob were so shocked and very aware, Finally “He” was able to answer his prayer.

Greg sprang to the clock and looked once to thrice, You decided to come in early today, how very nice!

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“I knew you would miss me”, Lori said with smirk.

“But I came in to grab my stuff not related to work.

Back home I will go, with my mug all in tow Don’t you realize its winter? I see snow you know!”

She sprung to the door, and gave her guys a big wave, And away she flew off to hibernate inside of her cave.

But she heard Greg exclaim as she made her getaway clean, “ The sedums are sleeping see you in two thousand and sixteen!”

2015 season is slowly coming to an end...slowly We had a great season this year and a very busy one with the support of an increase of production crew to make our shipments of green roof products more efficient. With the dedication of this crew and their hard work, we were able to meet strict demands and yet still put out our great array of quality sedum green roof products. Thank you to our guys, Phillip, Frankie, Robert, George, Carl, Denroy, Steve, Jeffrey, Kishon, Teron, Andrew, Clive, Jason, Crhistian, Ismael, and Eliseo.

We did it!

Rob Lebrow put in a full season this year with Sedum Master and has brought on a strong delivery of sales and continues to make solid relationships with customers. Rob started in the green roof business back when Sedum Master was just a thought. It's great to have him back with us and being able to bring his computer IT knowledge with him has been such an asset with programming Sedum Master to flow and record and organize to an all new level for future growth!

Marg and Ed Magda, well they have been busy keeping everyone inline! For a "retired" couple I think they are busy more now than they ever thought they would be. They take such joy and pride in watching their sons succeed and making a difference not only in their livelihood but in the community and a personal level as well. Whenever a helping hand is needed, or an equation or two needs a second eye, we can definitely count on them!

Ray Magda has definitely kept his work boots dirty this year. He runs a very successful ginseng operation but on his down times (if he finds some) he is always helping the crew meet their deadlines, organizing the task at hand, fixing machinery when needed and does it all with a smile! Always so patient and ready to lend a helping hand...maybe he knows snowmobile season is around the corner! Ray has been officially married for a year now to the beautiful Melissa "Liss" and is looking to new adventures with Liss.

Tuggy, well Tuggy had a bit of an adjustment this year! His "daddy" got a new truck and he was not impressed! It took everything Ed could do to get him in the new truck but he was content with the older one and doesn't like change. But this furry little guy has had the time of his life this season running around

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making sure the crew was working, licking up some ice cream cones, catching chipmunks and all in a hard day work to crash at home on his favourite spot on the couch!

Greg, well he has had lots of changes this year! He had moved into his new custom home early in 2015 and has found a space where he can just relax and lose the days stress away in. There has been some positive business changes to help with the growth of Sedum Master (which will be noted in due time) and has broaden the Sedum Master products in the USA for a more efficient delivery timeline and cost. Very positive changes are happening, but don't worry we won't leave you in the dark for too much longer....

Myself, Lori Davey has been busy updating our social platforms as well as designing new marketing material, organizing and running the office and outgoing shipments. In an atmosphere that we have here at Sedum Master it sure has days full of not only hard work but fun, laughter and a great sense of camaraderie.

All­in­all we have great group here that works together in order to get the job completed and in making sure that our customers/clients receive top quality sedum products, not only to enjoy their finished project, but in the long run to help them boost their business as well.

I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you have worked with us this year in making us have a prosperous season, we couldn’t have done it without you and we look forward to working with you again in the 2016 season!

Project of the month June: Expo Milan 2015 – colorful Belarusian pavilion with Sempergreen Sedum herb blanket The Expo Milan is in full swing. Until 31 October 2015, this 1.1 million m2​ ​ area located in the Rho­Pero district in north­western Milan forms the scenic background for thousands of events, such as debates, seminars and culinary activities. 145 countries will showcase their areas of expertise, based on the theme: 'Feeding the Planet. Energy for life.’ ​ The Belarusian pavilion​ , with its 'Wheel of Life' concept, stands out from most others due to its enormous wooden wheel structure, which rises high above a green hill. The hill features an exuberantly flowering 1,000m2 Sempergreen ​ Sedum herb blanket Type T​ .

Wheel of Life With its 'Wheel of Life' theme, Belarus showcases its contribution as a link in the global food chain. Belarus is known for its production of milk products, meat, vegetables and potatoes for the global market. The pavilion​ demonstrates the efforts made by the country in its quest to reduce famine, improve water quality, preserve nature and promote biodiversity. The wooden wheel seems to 'slice' through the hill, and is symbolic for the availability of natural energy sources and the importance of preserving them.

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Sedum herb blanket Type T for sloping surfaces As decoration for the steep hill, Belarus opted for the ​ Sempergreen Sedum herb blanket Type T​ . This highly biodiverse vegetation blanket contains six varieties of Sedum and twenty­five different herbs. The plants grow on a coconut fibre mat with plastic reinforcements at the top and bottom, making the blanket highly suitable for use on (very) steep surfaces. Each Sedum herb blanket is covered for at least 95% when delivered. This way, the ​ ground cover ​ transitioning into a sloping ​ green roof​ immediately obtains a lush and colourful appearance.

Feeding the Planet. Energy for Life.

The 34st edition of the world expo has ‘Feeding the Planet. Energy for Life.' as its ​ main theme​ . With this theme, the organisation provides an effective incentive for people to philosophize and discuss solutions and technologies aimed at finding an answer to one vital question: how to provide everyone with healthy, safe and sufficient food whilst preserving our planet. The organisation expects 20 million visitors, or approximately 200,000 per day, all of whom can turn to the 145 country pavilions for information and inspiration on this theme.

Inhabitable green roof for HUB, Pennsylvania State University The ​ Hetzel Union Building (HUB)​ is the center of student activity at the Penn State University Park campus, serving more than 45,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The HUB is situated in the heart of the campus core and was last renovated in 1998 when the Robeson Cultural Center was incorporated into the building. Responding to a significant increase in usage and student space needs, the project expands and enhances variety of student­related activity and service areas, including a 7,000 sq ft ​ green roof​ .

Sempergreen USA has supplied the​ Sedummix vegetation blankets ​ for this project in close cooperation with landscape architect ​ Chris Mendel​ of ​ Andropogon​ as well as ​ American Hydrotech​ .

Informal social areas The complex infill project re­purposes an underutilized alleyway and includes a 55,000 square­foot addition and 52,000 square feet of renovation. The unifying feature to ​ GUND Partnership’s design ​ is a large sky­lit commons with informal social and dining areas that offers a dynamic gathering area for student life. A range of multipurpose meeting rooms are located around the gathering space and offer greater visibility to the student leadership group activities on the upper levels.

Inhabitable green roof The university's first inhabitable ​ green roof ​ sits above a new mezzanine level in the Penn State Bookstore.

The green roof will include space for seating and is envisioned as a space to accommodate gatherings serving the new multipurpose flex theater that will be added near the HUB parking deck entrance.

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Sustainability goals of Penn State Designed to ​ Penn State​ ’s rigorous performance standards and sustainability goals, the project incorporates high performance glazing, LED lighting, green roof, in addition to upgrading existing mechanical systems.

The project also improves pedestrian circulation and accessibility through and around the facility and enhances the visual character of the eastern side of the building.

Mitchell Joins Alliance Board Of Trustees BEACHWOOD, Ohio (December 2, 2015) – Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance is proud to announce that Paul Mitchell (RRC, RRO, CDT), who manages the company’s strategic initiatives and alliances, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees for the Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress (The Alliance). Mitchell is filling an open trustee position; his term runs until May 31, 2017.

Mitchell has been involved with The Alliance for years, an active participant in a number of their programs designed to move the roofing industry forward on a number of fronts. Known for his commitment to the industry, Mitchell previously served on the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing board of directors, where he was involved in the launch of RoofPointTM​ ​, a voluntary, consensus­based green rating system.

“It’s an honor to be named to The Alliance’s Board of Trustees,” said Mitchell. “I’m looking forward to working with my fellow trustees to enhance The Alliance’s visibility and its goal of creating a stronger and ever­more philanthropic roofing industry.”

Roof Winterizing Checklist Winter is quickly approaching. With it comes snow and ice that will pile up on your roof. Come spring, it will melt, which can cause significant damage to your building.

Urbanscape Green Roof Project on the Front Page of new Knauf Insulation Sustainability Report 2015 Solutions include Kventi, a revolutionary system that halves the time it takes to install a new, fully insulated roof; JetSpray, a blowing wool that efficiently insulates hard­to­reach areas such as crawl spaces or basements and Mineral Plus, a flexible lightweight alternative to Rock Mineral Wool, that cuts easily and fits comfortably into awkward cavity spaces.

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“Simply manufacturing products is no longer enough. The industry wants fully integrated solutions — solutions that save time, save energy and deliver high performance,” says Knauf Insulation CEO Tony Robson.

The report also highlights the company’s sustainability achievements since its baseline year of 2010: cutting energy use by 15.3%; reducing waste to landfill by 48.8%; lost time accidents by 24% and CO2 emissions by 13.7%.

“Our new report reveals how sustainability and innovation are fundamental to everything we do at Knauf Insulation, but it also showcases how we can unlock money for renovation, the challenge of climate change as well as how energy efficiency can create jobs and growth,” says Tony Robson.

Urbanscape Green Solutions, together with Knauf, at Building Green in Denmark Building Green presents products that can help to reduce energy consumption. It represents a unique opportunity to gain insight into both existing products and new technology that can help to reduce energy consumption in Danish buildings, through both, minimizing of energy consumption and production of renewable energy.

It is therefore evident why Building Green Expo was the place to launch Urbanscape Green Roof System to Danish market. Benefits it brings to investors are evident: Green roofs help to reduce energy consumption by 25% for heating and 75% for cooling, they reduce urban heat island effect and storm water run­off, prevent contaminants and toxins from reaching streams and waterways, reduce the amount of CO² in the air and much more. All for the benefit of you, the economy and the environment!

Vegetal i.D. Partners with Local Organizations to Pilot New Stormwater Management Solution Milwaukee, Wisconsin – July, 2014 – Vegetal i.D. has announced a collaboration between the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), Fund For Lake Michigan, The Water Council, UW­Milwaukee, and UW­Whitewater to closely monitor the performance of a new stormwater management solution. The technology being tested is an advanced system combining a blue roof with a green roof that is poised to bring green roof based stormwater management performance to a whole new level.

Green and blue roofs are a component of a new form of low­cost high­impact stormwater management known as green infrastructure. The goal of green infrastructure programs is to mimic natural systems in order to manage stormwater on­site and minimize problems such as polluted runoff and basement backups.

The alternative solution involves the expansion and maintenance of traditional grey infrastructure systems, which can be extremely expensive and often does not completely solve the problem. This is why cities are turning to green infrastructure systems such as green roofs to deal with rainwater at the source, and minimize taxpayer expenses.

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In Greater Milwaukee Area of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District has spearheaded the green infrastructure movement for over 10 years. The goal, known as Fresh Coast 740 is to capture 740 million gallons of water every time it rains. To achieve this goal the program invests in high impact green infrastructure such as rainwater harvesting, porous pavement, and bio­swales and by obtaining key pieces of land to remediate into greenways and wetlands that manage great amounts of stormwater naturally and increases resistance to flooding.

Green roofs are a part of the green infrastructure solution. They absorb and retain water on the roof and use it to grow plants that cool cities, clean water, add biodiversity to urban areas, and improve property values.

"Green roofs are like sponges and absorb lots of water, but when the soil is fully saturated from previous rainfall, it doesn't have much effect," according to Gaëlle Bergès, of Vegetal i.D. This is why Vegetal i.D. is launching a new stormwater management compliment to green roof systems known as ​ Hydroactive Smart Roof​ .

Hydroactive Smart Roof​ is a reservoir below the green roof that adds 2 inches of rainwater capacity to a traditional green roof, passively irrigates the plants, and controls the way in which water is released from the roof. Imagine decentralized living systems with the reliability of a machine. The system irrigates itself with the water it captures during rainfall while the excess water retained in the reservoir of ​ Hydroactive Smart Roof​ is released to the sewer system at a slow and constant rate to make it easier for the city to manage while it is simultaneously preparing it for the next rain event.

This month Vegetal i.D. is launching a pilot project to demonstrate the performance of ​ Hydroactive Smart Roof​ . The project will compare stormwater management performance of 2 versions of ​ Hydroactive Smart Roof​ , a typical extensive green roof, and a standard roof. They will also measure performance metrics such as the productivity of the plants and their ability to cool the roof.

The Largest Green Roof in Quebec On January 6, 2014, the STM building (Société de transport de Montréal) opened to about 111 bus drivers and maintenance employees to the new Stinson bus garage in Quebec. This giant, two­story building has the capacity for up to 300 buses, including 100 articulated (double) buses. The building has also been fitted to eventually house electric buses.

Lemay Associés Architecture Firm designed the 165 million dollar building according to the principles of sustainable development. Everything possible has been attempted to ensure a LEED gold certification by creating a low impact development (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), to meet some of the highest industry standards. LEED certification recognizes the design, construction, and performance of high­performance green buildings.

A large part of the sustainable design of this building, a very large part in fact, comes from STM's massive green roof. In October 2013 green roofing company, Toits Vertige, installed over 80,000 square feet of HYDROPACK to make the STM building the largest green roof in Quebec, Canada.

Though the project was initially split between two different green roof organizations, upon realization of the logistic supremacy and ease of installing HYDROPACK, the project was quickly converted to use Vegetal i.D.'s "Green Pavers" for the entire project.

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A press release describing the building project mention that, "Its unique feature is the immense roof, conceived essentially as a fifth façade and composed of strips of green space and enormous skylights in the form of trusses that echo the mesh of roads in the neighborhood below. It stretches the length of seven football fields. To limit the noise and the sight of such a high concentration of buses, the new building was designed as a fully enclosed structure, covered by a 35,000 square meter (37,6736 ft2) roof."

In addition to the green roof, the building uses enormous ventilation skylights to naturally light the interior of the building during the day. Another noteworthy sustainable innovation of this building is a vehicle heat reuse system that recycles about 85% of the heat generated by the vehicles to the heating and air conditioning systems. Lemay Associés Architecture Firm complimented the larger sustainable innovation features by implementing sustainable design into every detail of the building.

Greening Philadelphia: The City’s First Elevated Park Philadelphia’s first elevated park, Cira Green on top of Cira Centre South in University City, is now ​ open​ !

The 1.25 acre park, which sits 95 feet above street level, overlooks Center City, University City and the Schuylkill River, and has a unique water storage system beneath the pavers on the roof, which can route storm water to the green roof areas. It’s sure to be a popular and dynamic green space in the city!

We are thrilled to have a part in creating this exciting urban space in Philadelphia. Cira Green consists of different green roof areas, including large lawn areas and planters with trees and colorful perennials – our rooflite®​ ​ growing media, engineered specifically for the different types of green roofs included in this project, was used to build this unique urban park.

Because of the location of this project, logistics were a particular challenge. We had to solve a number of issues in order to deliver our media to the project: ● Requirement of 2000 cubic yards of green roof media ● No staging area to store the material near the construction site ● Delivery had to occur on a road underneath the construction project with limited space ● Because of those space limitations, media delivery had to be just in time for installation ● Delivery had to happen in January in cold temperatures with a blower truck installation So how did we get over these logistical challenges? As a start, we changed the type of truck we delivered our material in to accommodate the space limitations, and we developed a schedule to deliver the media right when it was needed instead of ahead of time, which is our normal process.

The larger issue was the January timeframe for delivery. Because of cold temperatures and the moisture contained within green roof media, winter can be a tricky time to install media. Fortunately, we are set up with the infrastructure to provide media at any time of the year, even if in cold weather. Our local blender has four acres of concrete, dry storage buildings where dry material can be stockpiled. This means that we can provide our green roof media, capable of being blown onto a rooftop, even in the coldest of months, for projects like CIRA Green.

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It’s gratifying to see our hard work pay off with the opening of Cira Green. And you know what? The weather in Philadelphia is so mild this December that it’s a perfect time to check out this exciting new green spot in Philadelphia!

ASLA 2015 is Here!

Just a reminder that ​ ASLA 2015​ in Chicago starts today! You can find us at Booth 2243 at the EXPO on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Stop by to learn more about our new product ​ Terramenta​ : a multi­layer engineered soil for planters for professionals who design, specify, or install container gardens or larger planters.

Connecticut Chapter of ASLA Announces Design Award Winners The Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (CTASLA) has announced the winners of its annual Connecticut Design Awards competition. The Excellence Award went to Robert Olson Associates of Boston for the Community Health Center Roof Garden in Middletown, Conn.

Area: 12,500 sq. ft.

Construction Year: 2012 Architect/ Design: Robert Olson Associates Contractor: Apex Green Roofs System Build­Up: Perennial Garden System, Walkway System

Conception: The Green Roof project at the Community Health Center in Middletown, CT is the epitome of a highly technical Green Roof project executed to perfection from design to implementation. The project incorporated ZinCo Green Roof systems that integrate hardscapes with softscapes, allowing uninterrupted drainage toward the roof drains from all points of the roof. Poured in place concrete curbs with integrated fixed line irrigation were technical complexities that required hundreds of hours of proper system design. The varied plant palette on the project involved several isolated planter boxes constructed on top of the Green Roof system, an innovative exterior green wall system, nearly 40 different plant species planted within 6–12” of intensive growing media, several vegetable producing plant beds, among many other unique design features.

Zorlu Center Istanbul – Green Superlatives In the city of Istanbul, an interface between Europe and Asia, the Zorlu Center exemplifies the new modern environmental and socioeconomic spirit. It is the first mixed­use large­scale project in Turkey that fulfills five Related articles and information

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functions: culture and convention centre ("PAC" Performing Arts Center), luxury hotel "Raffles", shopping mall, extraordinary offices and exclusive living residences. The design is based on four distinctive towers arranged to form a ring, enclosing an approximately 108,000 ft² central plaza and a 130,000 ft² open­air park; this includes a five­story underground parking garage. A total 775,000 ft² of ​ extensive​ and ​ intensive roof gardens​ bring thriving nature and breathing, relaxing places into the architecture of superlatives.

With over 14 million people, Istanbul is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, located on a unique transition across the Bosphorus, the strait between the Mediterranean and the Black Seas. Rapid urbanization dominated Istanbul and requires new imaginative solutions in the use of space – not only in economic, but also in social and environmental considerations.

The Zorlu Center is the collaborative result of two award­winning architectural groups. Emre Arolat Architecture (EAA) and Tabanlıoğlu Architects won the "Zorlu Center Architecture and Urban Development Competition" in 2008 as a joint­venture amongst 117 other applicants. Owned by Zorlu Property Group, this iconic project was created over the years following the competition with a total investment of over $2.5 billion.

Green is gaining importance The landscape architecture at the Zorlu Center was completed by planning office DS Mimarlık, under the direction of Dr. Deniz Aslan. The heart of the endeavor was the ​ creation of valuable human living space​ as well as compensation of green space in what has become, especially in crowded cities like Istanbul, an important marketing argument. The Zorlu Green Roofs filter dust and pollutants from the air and ​ improve the microclimate​ . The Zorlu Center exhibits a stately 1,290,000 ft² of green area. Almost 60 % of the total area (around 775,000 ft²) is located on roofs, most noticeably on the topography of the 485,000 ft² large ring­formed green space which rises from ground level up to 108 ft in height. In the middle, a large main square of 108,000 ft² opens to the city and the Bosphorus. This area is also a roof area: underneath are the basements filled with the diverse attractions of the shopping mall, as well as the five­story underground car park and an underground pedestrian tunnel connecting the Zorlu Center to Metro and Metrobus public transit systems. During the construction of the entire complex around 4,000 people were involved. Only 33 architects, engineers and landscape designers and 350 employees were dedicated to the green areas. 15 people are now working to maintain the garden areas.

Rich range of extensive greening In the course of the project development, it became clear that Istanbul needs most of all a place for artistic and cultural events. The PAC Performing Arts Center thus became the key element of the Zorlu Center, with which the Zorlu Property Group put its social responsibility to the test. This culture and congress centre, with a capacity of 3,070 people, is itself a multifunctional masterpiece for theatre world premieres, musicals or high­profile concerts. An 86,000 ft² roof surface in steel structure spans the performance hall over a length of almost 263 ft. This construction was tailored to the Mediterranean climate with the ZinCo extensive Green Roof system build­up "Sedum Carpet" by the Turkish ZinCo partner company Onduline Avrasya A.S. The construction basis is, like on all rooftops, the presence of a root­resistant bituminous waterproofing. Over this, the Protection Mat SSM 45 was followed by 1 inch high Floradrain® FD 25­E Drainage and Water Storage Elements and the System Filter Sheet SF. The many different Sedum varieties as well as several typical flowering Mediterranean species like Rosemary and Delosperma grow in at least 4in of growing Related articles and information

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media. The design work of all green areas was the responsibility of the experienced horticultural company KARAOĞLU PEYZAJ MİMARLIK MÜH. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.

Secure basis for all diversity Whether Sedum or tree plantations, whether walking surfaces, seating areas or water elements, the entire spectrum of landscape architecture can be realized on roofs with the proper technology. For the gardens of the new main square, as well as all other intensive Green Roofs at Zorlu, the ZinCo system build­up "Roof Garden" was used. The core element here is the 1.6in drainage and water storage element Floradrain® FD 40­E. Like FD 25­E, it has an underside channel system so that excess water can safely flow into roof drains. Through full­surface application, drainage is secured under all flooring surfaces. The troughs on the upper­side of Floradrain® elements are in the case of FD 40­E correspondingly larger and store more water for the desired planting. It is followed by Filter Sheet SF and, in the areas designated for planting, a bed of growing media which was delivered in big bags or as bulk material. The growing media depth and mixtures vary per roof slope and desired planting. An average of approximately 14 to 16 inch of applied growing media depth is composed of a mix of organic and mineral materials poured over a mineral sub­layer.

Islands of greenery dominate the image of the main square, which is reminiscent of a large sun terrace.

Here the element of water is also at home and light beams are reflected by a large central pool and a series of narrow extending waterways. And throughout the space a number of seating options invite visitors to relax and drink a coffee.

Private microcosm As previously mentioned, the Zorlu Center is also home to exclusive residences in panoramic locations, and their roof gardens in turn contain their own microcosm. The ZinCo system build­up with Floradrain® FD 40­E allows residents free design of their private gardens. Depending on the planting, growing media is heaped to about 8 inch in bed height. The larger shrubs that serve as demarcation between these gardens found space in troughs.

Native plants Also in the field of intensive greening, plant types characteristic of Istanbul and the Bosphorus can also be found on the Zorlu Center. These species are adapted to the Mediterranean climate and underline the same cultural references.

In total, there are over 200 different plant species, including 68 tree species. Over 500,000 perennials, 60,000 shrubs and 16,000 indoor plants were used. The height of the plants varies from about 12 to 35 inch, thus ensuring a rich structure. Tree species with shallow roots and a maximum height of 16 to 20 feet were chosen. The site location required specifically that the chosen plants be generally insensitive to wind. Due to wind suction, trees were fitted with special clamp and anchoring systems. Additionally there are large planters with a volume of up to 1,600 ft³ anchored into the steel structure of the building roofs. At the Zorlu Center grow a total of 3750 trees, including 2,500 evergreen and 1,250 deciduous trees. Finally, the facade itself is equipped with evergreen plants in troughs at many levels.

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All roof gardens and green spaces on the ground floor have an automatic irrigation system. Rain water is stored in large greywater tanks and is made available to the plants via drip irrigation and sprinklers.

Great value The green areas of the Zorlu Center represent an immense asset to all the facilities of the Zorlu Center. The huge shopping mall comprised of 180 shops and restaurants and 14 cinemas halls all benefit from their green surroundings.

Equally, all the companies located in the extraordinary offices gain significant value because their employees find a nice working environment in the integrated green space, which increases their fun and productivity.

The green landscape architecture is also a marketing argument of the luxury hotel chain "Raffles". The hotel with its 181 rooms and suites offers its guests beautifully designed open spaces with swimming pools and the quintessential fantastic view of the Bosphorus from their lofty heights.

In the heart of the city the Zorlu Center is a green oasis for all, which makes the location highly attractive. In Turkey, there is no comparable property in terms of scale and complexity. The Zorlu Center, which was incidentally also the venue of the 4th International Green Roof Congress in 2015, has won numerous architectural awards and represents a landmark of Istanbul in the 21st Century: timeless and exciting, unique and ecological, this is Zorlu Center at the crossroads of the European and Asian continents.

The world looks to New York: Successful green project “High Line” It was once a run­down, dilapidated area. Then came the flourishing vegetation that has transformed an entire district. The converted elevated train track, the High Line in New York, has become the main tourist attraction in the city. Since it was opened in 2009, more than 20 million people have visited the High Line, now accessible over a length of 1.5 miles since the third phase was completed in September 2014. The 11 yards to 22 yards wide park wends its way like a catwalk from Gansevoort Street northwards to 34th Street, unfolding its captivating charm on the way. A success story that is emulated the world over.

The New York High Line opened around 1930, the aim being to remove the risks created by on­street freight trains. After the last freight train rolled along the tracks in 1980, the High Line fell into disrepair and with it the surrounding buildings. Friends of the High Line, a not­for­profit organisation set up in 1999, succeeded in turning the elevated train track into an attractive park, with the support of the City of New York and NY Mayor, Michael Bloomberg. The “longest green roof” in the world to date was created in three phases over a period of 8 years (opened in 2009, 2011 and 2014). The organisation contributes 90 % of the financial costs of the High Line and is responsible for administration, care and maintenance and for organising public programmes.

A permanently reliable base The planning team consisted of the landscape architect, James Corner and his company Field Operations, architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and renowned plant specialist, Piet Oudolf. The experienced green roof Related articles and information

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system manufacturer, ZinCo, provided the technical basis for all the design concepts in terms of plants, walkways and leisure areas. Floradrain® drainage elements were installed on the sealed concrete surface.

These profiled drainage elements have troughs on the upper side for retaining precipitation. Excess water is safely drained off through the channel system on the underside. The Floradrain® elements are installed across the entire area, are filled with growing medium Zincoblend M and are then covered with a filter sheet.

This is followed by the vegetation layer. The existing water and electricity supply lines were integrated into the build­up.

Remembrance of things past The planners have been incredibly successful in incorporating the historical origins of the High Line into the new park, as the former tracks can be seen in a number of places. In addition, Field Operations have developed the so­called “planking” system, a walkway made of pre­cast concrete planks, tapered on one side and reminiscent of tracks amid overgrown vegetation.

Hundreds of different plant types were used, including many bushes and trees that are thriving today in a growing media depth of approx. 18 in on average. A drip­line irrigation system was installed for plants with greater water requirements. There is a wide variety here, ranging from very damp, moor­type areas to dry Steppe grasses. The aim here is not “decorative” growth but to reproduce the original character of the natural flora and wilderness that had sprung up over the years. You can experience the history of the freight train even more intensely in the recently­opened section, particularly the Rail Yards, named after the large railway yard that still dominates the area. The surface is reminiscent of railroad ballast and in a number of places the tracks from the former rail yard have been incorporated into the simple walkway asphalt.

Connecting city, nature and culture In the midst of a sea of buildings, and not at all separated from them, the High Line is dynamic and vibrant.

However, people do need a break here and there. Park benches, lounge areas and seats and loungers are provided for this purpose. Here we have a sundeck with water features, over there rolling wooden loungers and a multi­layered seated area. From the “Viewing Box”, an area resembling a theatre, you can traffic watch through large glazed panels. Various viewing points provide a view of the Hudson River, the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty. Temporary exhibitions are often held on the High Line, and musicians and other artists perform there too. A convincing amalgamation of city, nature and culture.

Multiple value­added The High Line attracts not only nature lovers, photographers, performance artists and music groups to south­west Manhattan but also any number of investors. The former industrial wasteland of the Meat Packing District, Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen has been transformed into expensive trendy neighbourhoods to which celebrities and high­earners are flocking.

Haute­couture salons, galleries, cafés and up­market restaurants are shaping the carefully­reclaimed streetscapes. The current most popular hotel in the metropolis of New York, “The Standard”, straddles the High Line, offering spectacular views of the park on stilts. At the southern end of the park, a new home for the Whitney Museum of American Art has been developed by star architect Renzo Piano. Numerous building sites are indicators of new skyscrapers and luxury apartment blocks to come.

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A green park has therefore become the economic engine of an entire district, something that has never existed before. This development is, however, a double­sided sword for many of the long­established residents in the area as many of them can no longer afford the rents here.

A paradigm worldwide Prior to the conversion of the High Line, there were a few examples of how former train tracks can be converted to green areas but nothing as spectacular as the High Line nor with such compelling effect nor in receipt of as many awards. Robert Hammond and Joshua David, founders of “Friends of the High Line”, were awarded the “Jane Jacobs Medal” by the Rockefeller Foundation and the organisation itself was awarded the “Doris C. Freedman Award”. Other awards on the long list include the “International EGHN Award” of the European Garden Heritage Network and the “Green Roof Leadership Award” of the IGRA International Green Roof Association.

Never before has a project been emulated so often: In Chicago, a disused railway track is to be converted into a green area; in Philadelphia an 20 yd high viaduct; in Atlanta a nearly 22 miles green belt (Beltline project) is to be created on a railway ring around the inner city. There are also comparable projects in Paris (Petite Ceinture), Vienna (High Line Park Vienna) and London (Garden Bridge over the Thames). It is not only big cities that have big ideas: Krefeld in Germany is planning a hundred­year project with a 9 miles long promenade.

The level of acceptance and the wave of emulation are a clear indication that the inhabitants of large cities want nature at their doorstep too. This is reason enough to seek out further suitable areas for publicly accessible roof gardens. With well­engineered green roof technology virtually anything is possible.

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