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The Green Roof Monitor

Please go to the Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor web site where all issues are now published in PDF format.



THE GREEN ROOF INFRASTRUCTURE MONITOR - Vol. 2, No. 2, Summer 2000
Welcome to Vol. 2, No. 2 of the Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor, a quarterly report on current and emerging green roof events and opportunities.

CONTENTS:

1. GREEN ROOFS FOR HEALTHY CITIES NEWS
About Green Roof Infrastructure & Our Business Coalition Toronto Green Roof Demonstration Projects - Implementation Has Begun First Workshop Held on Establishing Common Protocols for Building and Aggregate Level Green Roof Benefits Research Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Launches Researchers' Corner

2. LOCAL NEWS
City of Toronto Endorses Green Roofs in Planning Report Toronto Atmospheric Fund and Public Health Plan Heat Island Conference New Condo Green Roof Installed in Toronto Seneca College Research Update

3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Update on Chicago City Hall Green Roof Demonstration Chicago Funds Green Roofs to Reduce the Urban Heat Island Portland 'EcoRoof' Reaches First Year of Maturity

4. OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS
Singapore Delegation Coming to Toronto - October 16-17 Toronto Green Roof Demonstration Launch Planned for Late October

GREEN ROOFS FOR HEALTHY CITIES NEWS

About Green Roof Infrastructure & Our Business Coalition
Green roof infrastructure provides a wide range of public and private benefits. These extend from improved stormwater management and smog reduction to energy efficiency, cost savings and new amenity space for building occupants. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is a business coalition founded in March 1999 to foster the development of a market for green roof infrastructure. Green roof development involves the creation of 'contained' green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space can be below, at, or above grade, but in all cases the plants are not planted in the 'ground'. A green roof is an extension of the existing roof, which involves a special root repelling membrane, a drainage system, a lightweight growing medium and plants. The members of the Coalition are Kaaren Pearce, De Boer Environmental Concepts; Doug Flynn and John McManus, Flynn Canada Ltd.; William Bean and Brian Lambert, Garland Canada; Al Duwyn, IRC Buildings Sciences Group Inc.; Bill Stensson and Manuel Sobrinho, Sheridan Nurseries; and George Challies and Colin Donaldson, Soprema Inc. Please visit our website at: www.peck.ca/grhcc/main.htm for information about these firms and e-mail Steven Peck, Executive Director, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities at speck@peck.ca for membership information.

Toronto Green Roof Demonstration Projects - Implementation Has Begun
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' members and City of Toronto staff are moving forward with the implementation of both sites of the Green Roof Infrastructure Demonstration Project: the Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre and a portion of the Podium Roof at Toronto City Hall. This summer, City Council approved bringing $165,000 from the 2004 Capital Works budget in support of the project and the Toronto Atmospheric Fund also approved $30,000 in funding. The members of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities have contributed over $100,000 in materials and labour towards the project. We are awaiting the final decision on funding from the Federal Government's Technology for Early Action Measures program which will allow the National Research Council's Institute for Research in Construction and Environment Canada to conduct much needed detailed site and aggregate technical research on green roof benefits.

The planting of the 7,000 square foot extensive green roof at Eastview will be conducted in the Spring of 2001 in order to maximize plant survivability and facilitate the implementation of monitoring equipment. The Podium Roof at City Hall will be completed this fall. The Podium green roof will include eight separate plots which demonstrate a range of intensive, semi-intensive and extensive green roof applications. itate the sharing of information among green roof researchers and profile new and ongoing research projects. Lnks to current and planned green roof infrastructure projects and contact information for green roof researchers in North America is currently online. The second addition is our City of Toronto Demonstration Project Updates. This information will be online October 15, 2000 and will include detailed project descriptions and photos of the two green roof demonstration sites in the City of Toronto: the Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre and the Podium Roof at Toronto City Hall. The project updates will include information such as site location, technical specifications, proposed research and research findings. If you would like to make changes to your research project description or contact information, or submit information about a new green roof research project, please contact Stephanie Tencer, tel: (416) 971-4484 or email: stencer@peck.ca.

LOCAL NEWS

City of Toronto Endorses Green Roofs in Planning Report
Toronto at the Crossroads: Shaping Our Future sets out the directions for the new Official Plan. It is the result of over a year of consultations and contains descriptions of five proposed campaigns that are designed to unite vision, policy and action. Under the Campaign to Green Toronto the report states, "One of the greatest opportunities for greening the City is the promotion of 'green roofs' which involves layering contained soil and planting gardens on the flat roofs dominating the landscape of many districts in Toronto. Green roofs do much more than improve the view from downtown skyscrapers. They also: absorb stormwater and reduce off-site flows; absorb carbon dioxide and work against the greenhouse effect; conserve energy for the building below them; and, can be made into beautiful flower gardens or bountiful food gardens for occupants. The City is leading by example by creating green roofs on civic buildings. We also need to encourage the construction of green roofs in new flat-topped buildings undergoing development review." To download Toronto at the Crossroads: Shaping Our Future in PDF file format, visit: www.city.toronto.on.ca/torontoplan/crossroads_change.htm.

Toronto Atmospheric Fund and Public Health Plan Heat Island Conference
In order to develop strategies to reduce health risk from severe summer heat, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund and Toronto Public Health have obtained funding from Natural Resources Canada and the Climate Change Action Fund to hold a major conference on this subject in Toronto in the Fall of 2001. The $122,000 grant includes funding to conduct research on heat and health issues in Toronto and to develop long term adaptation strategies. Green roofs hold significant potential as an adaptation strategy for reducing the urban heat island effect. For more information please contact Phil Jessup, (416) 392 0253 or email: taf@city.toronto.on.ca.

New Condo Green Roof Installed in Toronto
High atop the 12th floor rooftop of the former Sears building a garden is growing. The newly renovated Merchandise lofts needed a green space and there was nowhere to go but up. Landscape designer Terry McGlade's plan includes a 150' prairie meadow of perennials and a wetland garden with walkways and decking areas leading throughout. McGlade's company Perennial Gardens has planted over 8,000 plants of 45 different varieties, including roses, native grasses, dogwoods, and birch trees. Working with Soprema's 'Sopraflor' as the growing medium and installing an in-ground irrigation system ensured a hospitable environment on an otherwise windy and barren area. This is the first large scale 'Greenroof' designed specifically for a condo development in Canada. Residents will be able to enjoy the view of the lake and Toronto skyline while swimming and sunning in one of the city's most exclusive and unusual gardens.

Seneca College Research Update
Seneca College has partnered with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, York University, Greenland International and Sustainable Development and Monitoring Inc. to develop a 'comprehensive' green roof system. This system will include a planted rooftop garden, a rooftop greenhouse, a rooftop catchment area, a rooftop control area, and an internal living wall system. The expected benefits from this system, which will be monitored include: runoff volume reduction, improved water quality, increased energy efficiency and improved indoor and outdoor air quality. Initial funding for the project has been secured and preliminary design is currently underway. It is proposed to implement this system at Seneca College as a component of the SuperBuild renovations which are currently being developed. Construction is scheduled for 2001-2003. This green roof system will function as a living lab for research and educational purposes. For more information, contact Christine Doody-Hamilton at Seneca College (416) 491-5050.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Update on Chicago City Hall Green Roof Demonstration
On September 19th, the City of Chicago will begin planting on top of their City Hall building. The 38,000 square foot green roof demonstration project will include a range of intensive and extensive green roof applications with soils as much as 18 inches deep in some locations. Over 20,000 herbaceous plants will be planted and technical research conducted on air quality, water, and biodiversity benefits. For more detailed information please visit the Researchers' Corner on the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities web site: www.peck.ca/grhcc/main.htm.

Chicago Funds Green Roofs to Reduce the Urban Heat Island
The City of Chicago Department of Environment will be issuing green roof grants under its 1999 Urban Heat Island Reduction Initiative. The mission of the Initiative is to utilize, develop and expand upon 'green' technologies that will mitigate the urban heat island effect, beautify Chicago and educate the public. The goal of the program is to provide an opportunity for Chicagoans to reduce urban air temperatures, lower electricity usage, reduce air pollution, and increase green space. Specifically, the initiative will include projects such as installing green roofs, painting or installing light coloured roofs and breaking up asphalt parking lots through the use of plants and alternative planting. For more information about grant eligibility, please visit: w4.ci.chi.il.us./env/AirToxPollution/UrbanIslands.html or contact: John Beaudry, (312) 744 5917.

Portland 'EcoRoof' Reaches First Year of Maturity
The Hamilton Apartment Building 'ecoroof' in Portland, Oregon has reached its first year of maturity and has weathered Portland's dry summer months successfully. The ecoroof has been irrigated to assure vegetation establishment during the first year. Garland Company, Housing Authority of Portland, and City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services representatives met recently to address any issues pertaining to the ecoroof. A few minor corrections were identified and the Garland Company is once again responding in a timely and professional manner. The city has installed flow metres and a rain gauge to measure stormwater flows and precipitation. The ecoroof has been visited by hundreds of people: architects, landscape architects, developers, city officials, and out-of-state and international guests. Almost everyone enjoys the beauty and appreciates the functions the green roofscape has to offer. At least four other projects are currently being designed, including a 20,000 square foot portion of the Oregon Convention Center expansion. For more information, contact Tom Liptan at: toml@bes.ci.portland.or.us.

OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS

Singapore Delegation Coming - October 16-17
On October 16th and 17th, the City of Toronto will be hosting a delegation of senior officials from the Government of Singapore. The officials are coming to Toronto for two days to learn about the City's efforts to implement green roof infrastructure. They will be visiting several sites and meeting with City officials and representatives of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, the University of Toronto and the Rooftop Gardens Resource Group. For more information, please contact Sean Cosgrove, tel: (416) 392-1107 email: scosgrov@city.toronto.on.ca.

Toronto Green Roof Demonstration Launch Planned for Late October
A launch is being planned for the Toronto Green Roof Demonstration Projects for late October at the City of Toronto. Details will be available online in late September.

This issue of the Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor was prepared by Steven Peck and Stephanie Tencer with contributions from John Beaudry, City of Chicago; Christine Doody-Hamilton, Seneca College; Tom Liptan, City of Portland; and, Candy Venning, Perennial Gardens. Please forward green roof industry developments to the attention of Stephanie Tencer, stencer@peck.ca. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is organized and administered by the Cardinal Group Inc.

Stephanie Tencer, Associate, The Cardinal Group Inc.
P&A-Green Roofs for Healthy Cities-Canadian Eco-Industrial Network "economic solutions for sustainability"
Toronto Office: (416) 971-4484 Fax (416) 971-9844
Web Site www.peck.ca
Please visit our electronic journal on urban sustainability, the New Urban Agenda, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and other free information products on our web site!

THE GREEN ROOF INFRASTRUCTURE MONITOR - Vol. 2, No. 1, Spring 2000
Welcome to Vol.2, No. 1 of the Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor, a quarterly report on current and emerging green roof events and opportunities.

CONTENTS:

1. GREEN ROOFS FOR HEALTHY CITIES NEWS
About Green Roof Infrastructure & Our Business Coalition

2. LOCAL NEWS
Toronto's Environmental Task Force Recommends Green Roof Demonstration Project and Assessment of Benefits for City Toronto Green Roof Feasibility Study -Completed by Steering Committee Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre City Hall Demonstration Site Feasibility Project Steering Committee Members European Green Roof Industry Research at Ryerson University York University to Implement Green Roof for New Computer Building

3. NATIONAL NEWS
Green Roof Planned for Edmonton Mall IRC Building Sciences Group Inc. Establishes a National Presence Greenbacks from Green Roofs Report - Now On-line in PDF Format

4. INTERNATIONAL NEWS
City of Chicago Implements $1 Million Green Roof Demonstration Philadelphia Holds First Urban Agriculture Conference in North America Outstanding Growth of the German Green Roof Infrastructure Industry Australia's City of Port Phillip Conducts Study on Green Roof Benefits

5. OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS
Green Roof Presentation In Ottawa - April 14 - Noon!

COALITION NEWS
About Green Roof Infrastructure and our Business Coalition Green roof infrastructure provides a wide range of public and private benefits. These extend from improved stormwater management and smog reduction to energy efficiency, cost savings and new amenity space for building occupants. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is a business coalition founded in March 1999 to foster the development of a market for green roof infrastructure. Green roof development involves the creation of 'contained' green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space can be below, at, or above grade, but in all cases the plants are not planted in the 'ground'. A green roof is an extension of the existing roof, which involves a special root repelling membrane, a drainage system, a lightweight growing medium and plants. The Members of the Coalition are Doug Flynn and John McManus, Flynn Canada Ltd.; William Bean and Brian Lambert, Garland Canada; Al Duwyn, IRC Buildings Sciences Group Inc.; Kaaren Pearce, De Boer Landscape & Maintenance; Bill Stensson and Manuel Sobrinho, Sheridan Nurseries; and Colin Donaldson, Soprema Inc. Please visit our website at www.peck.ca or e-mail Steven Peck, Executive Director, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities at speck@peck.ca for membership information.

LOCAL NEWS
Toronto's Environmental Task Force Recommends Green Roof Demonstration Project and Assessment of Benefits for City In February, the City of Toronto's Environmental Task Force (ETF) completed its proposed Environmental Plan, which is scheduled to be presented to City Council for approval on April 10, 11 and 12, 2000. The Plan, entitled Clean, Green and Healthy: A Plan for an Environmentally Sustainable Toronto, contains recommendations about goals, targets, policies, strategies, structures and processes that will lead Toronto in the direction of environmental sustainability. Among the 63 recommendations is a recommendation that the City report to Council and a proposed Sustainability Roundtable before the end of 2000 on a strategy to encourage green roofs and rooftop gardens. More specifically, the Plan recommends that the strategy should:

a) address the potential for retrofitting green roofs and rooftop gardens on City-owned buildings;
b) address how green roofs and rooftop gardens can be implemented in new developments; and
c) address the environmental benefits that can be derived from green roofs and rooftop gardens (e.g., CO2 reduction, stormwater retention, microclimate improvements, etc.).

In addition, the ETF has recommended that City Council establish an Investment/Reserve Fund to be used to begin implementing the recommendations. Among the list of priority recommendations is the encouragement of green roofs. It is recommended that $30,000 be allocated for a strategy team to analyze the benefits of green roofs in the City and $250,000 be allocated for a City Hall demonstration project. It is also recommended that the Toronto Atmospheric Fund be approached as a possible funding partner for this initiative.

For more information about the ETF and the Environmental Plan, please call (416) 392-3819 or e-mail: etf@city.toronto.on.ca

Toronto Green Roof Feasibility Study -Completed by Steering Committee In June of 1999, Toronto's Adminstrative Services Committee approved of a green roof demonstration project at City Hall in principle, and asked Green Roofs for Healthy Cities to work with Facilities and Real Estate to develop a feasibility study. An interdepartmental committee (see below) has recently completed the study, which recommends proceeding with two demonstration sites, one located on a 6,000 square foot portion of the Podium roof at City Hall and a second site located at the Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre which is scheduled for re-roofing this year. Highlights of each site are presented below.

Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre
The Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre demonstration site is located over a gym and is approximately 5,000 square feet in size. The roof at this site is considered to be typical of a large number of buildings in the Toronto area, with a minimum loading capacity. The demonstration green roof will be inaccessible and extensive. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, in partnership with the National Research Council and Environment Canada has applied for over $300,000 in funding from the Climate Change Action Fund's Technology for Early Action Measures (TEAM) program. The funds will be used to conduct research at this site, develop an interpretive program and model the urban heat island effect in Toronto. The research, to be undertaken over three years, involves installing sensors and monitoring equipment to study benefits such as improved energy efficiency, stormwater retention and quality improvements and the extension of the roof membrane life span. The feasibility of conducting this research will depend on approval of Federal Government funding and approval from the Adminstrative Services Committee. The cost of the green roof at Eastview can be accommodated within the City's existing capital budget.

City Hall Demonstration Site
The City Hall demonstration site is approximately 6,000 square feet in size. The proposed green roof would be accessible to the public. The demonstration would likely be in place for five years, since the Steering Committee has recommended that the entire podium roof be considered as part of the upcoming design competition for City Hall. The site has multiple benefits and would serve as an excellent 'on the ground' educational infrastructure. It will help potential green roof clients and industry representatives to improve their understanding about green roof infrastructure technology. A variety of applications at different soil depths and plants communities have been planned. The University of Toronto is also interested in conducting research on water quality and native plant ecology at the site.

The green roof could also provide valuable amenity space for the occupants of City Hall, surrounding buildings, and the general public. The project will involve replacing a section of the aging roofing system near the flag pole. The entire roof is scheduled to be replaced in 2004. The cost of re-roofing this section of the City Hall roof is $165,000 and the cost of the green roof demonstration portion is $120,000. Before this project can proceed, additional funding will be required. The full Steering Committee report is scheduled to go before Administrative Services Committee on April 25, 2000.

Feasibility Project Steering Committee Members
The Phase I Green Roof Infrastructure Demonstration Project Steering Committee involved a wide number of representatives from different City departments and agencies. The staff and members of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities would like to publicly thank all those who contributed their time to the preparation of this report: Jim Kamstra, Facilities & Real Estate (Co-chair); Alka Lukatela, Urban Design; Arthur Beauregard and David O'hara, Parks & Recreation; Bas Baskaran, Karen Liu and William Lei, National Research Council, Institute for Research in Construction; Bill Macdonald and Pamela Georgopolous, Works & Emergency Services; Brad Bass and Monirul Q. Mirza, Environment Canada, Adaptation & Impacts Research Group; David Stonehouse, Urban Planning & Development Services; George Padanyi and Jamie McFadyen, Facilities & Real Estate; Lisa Salsberg, Healthy Cities Office; Lois Corbett, Toronto Environmental Alliance; Lorne Cappe and Richard Stromberg, Heritage Toronto; Michael McClelland, ERA Architecture; Monica Campbell, Toronto Public Health; Monica Kuhn, Rooftop Garden Resource Group; Monica Tang, Councillor Layton's Office; Richard Morris, Lai Wong, Christine Merhej and Stephanie Salbach, Energy Efficiency Office and Sandra Rodriguez, Strategic and Corporate Policy, CAO's Office;

European Green Roof Industry Research at Ryerson University
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is currently overseeing a research effort with a group of senior Urban and Regional Planning students at Ryerson Polytechnic University. The goal of the research project is to collect information on the development and status of a green roof industry in different European and Oceanic countries. The group is also assembling an annotated archive of information pertaining to the benefits and barriers of urban food production on green roofs. For more information, please contact Dr. Joe Springer, Professor, School of Urban & Regional Planning, (416) 979-5000, ext. 6766.



York University to Implement Green Roof for New Computer Building
Soprema Inc.'s Sopranature green roof system will be installed on the roof of the new Computer Science Building at York University. Flat roofs on different levels will be greened as well as a sloped roof of 10 degrees. Included in the design is a wildflower meadow. The green roofs will mainly be inaccessible. The green roofs were designed by Busby and Associates and Architects Alliance from Toronto. York University decided to include a green roof and use Soprema Inc.'s system for a number of environmental reasons, the primary one being the high stormwater retention capacity of Soprema's system. This will help to reduce the evacuation of stormwater, some of which is being stored in basins on the roof. For more information, please contact Marie-Anne Boivin at: maboivin@sopremacanada.com

NATIONAL NEWS

Green Roof Planned for Edmonton Mall
This spring, Soprema Inc.'s Sopranature system will be used for a garden on the Concourse Courtyard of the Telus Plaza in Edmonton. Architectural and landscaping drawings were done by the Edmonton-based firm, Stantec Architects. The terrace is designed with rectangular sections of low ground cover between spaces of pavers for pedestrians. The centre of the terrace focuses on a big tree and an elevated amount of soil that is also covered by ground cover. IRC Building Sciences Group Inc. Establishes a National Presence IRC Building Sciences Group Inc. is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Calgary, Alberta adding to current office locations in Mississauga, Ottawa and London, Ontario. In an effort to provide a truly cross Canada presence for their national clients, IRC Group has undertaken this new expansion to continue to improve the level of services to existing clients as well as the development of new clients throughout Western Canada.

IRC Building Sciences Group Inc. is an unbiased and independent professional consulting firm specializing in building science engineering, focusing predominantly on building performance, evaluation and rehabilitation of commercial, institutional, industrial and residential facilities. For more information, please call Zen Szewczyk, Director of Marketing & Sales at: (905) 607-7244 or toll free at: 1 (888) 607-5245, or by e-mail: zszewczyk@ircgroup.com

Greenbacks from Green Roofs Report - Now On-line in PDF Format A report prepared for Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation on the barriers and opportunities related to expanding the market for green roofs entitled, Greenbacks from Green Roofs: Forging a New Industry in Canada is now available on-line as a pdf document at: www.peck.ca. Acrobat Reader is required to view the document. To request a hard copy of the report, please contact the Canadian Housing Information Centre by telephone 1 (800) 668-2642 or by e-mail: chic@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

City of Chicago Implements $1 Million Green Roof Demonstration In an effort to explore different ways to reduce the urban heat island effect, the City of Chicago will begin construction of a $1 million green roof demonstration and laboratory on top of its' City Hall building. The purpose of the demonstration project is to demonstrate the air quality benefits of green roofs as well as showcase other benefits such as energy efficiency and improved stormwater management. The City expects to save $4,000 a year from reduced heating and cooling costs. This results from the insulative and cooling properties of the green roof. The roof will allow research to be conducted on the suitability of different plants, specifically species native to the Chicago 'rooftop' climate.

The City will also be working with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to better understand the potential of green roofs in improving air quality by reducing the urban heat island effect - the unnatural overheating of the city. Higher city temperatures in the summer contribute to greater air pollution in the form of smog and particulate matter. Higher temperatures also require the use of more energy for cooling buildings. "There are lots of practical and simple techniques for reducing urban heat islands. Green roofs have the added advantage of making the surroundings more attractive," said William Abolt, Commissioner of Environment for the City of Chicago.

The Chicago City Hall green roof demonstration project will showcase 3 different soil depths and a variety of plants, including oak trees. The design will green more than 50% of the total City Hall roof and incorporates pathways for maintenance and monitoring. Green roofing is scheduled to begin in April 2000. Planting is expected to take place during late spring or early summer. For more information on the City Hall project, please contact John Beaudry at: jbeaudry@CI.CHI.IL.US

Philadelphia Holds First Urban Agriculture Conference in North America
On March 6, 2000, the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society held a conference on urban agriculture in Philadelphia. Conference participants explored avenues to improve the economic viability of significantly increasing urban food production. Lauren Baker, Urban Agriculture Coordinator from Toronto's Food Share presented on the Annex Organics' green roof food production system. In a related development, Toronto's Food Policy Council has released a discussion paper entitled, Feeding the City From the Back Forty, which includes recommendations on piloting different urban agriculture projects including green roof food production projects. For copies of the report, contact Sean Cosgrove at: tfpc@city.toronto.on.ca

Outstanding Growth of the German Green Roof Infrastructure Industry
With direct financial investment and regulations requiring green roofs by over seventy local governments, the market for green roof infrastructure in Germany has grown by an average of 10-15% annually over the past decade. In 1999, there were 50 million square metres of green roof infrastructure installed in Germany. This number represents over 10% of the flat roofed buildings in Germany.

Australia's City of Port Phillip Conducts Study on Green Roof Benefits
Since 1998, the City of Port Phillip has been researching the practical benefits of vegetating urban walls and roofs with funding provided by the State government under an urban design grant. The study, which should be completed in 2000, involves three universities - Monash, Melbourne and Deakin. Various greening strategies will be assessed for their relevance to five broad project objectives: improving indoor and outdoor comfort levels for residents; reducing energy demand for heating and cooling; reducing the quantity and increasing the quality of stormwater run-off; conserving indigenous biodiversity (genetic, species and ecoystems); and encouraging environmentally responsive design strategies in the City. For more information please contact: Terry White, Project Coordinator: terryw@vicnet.net.au.

OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS

Green Roof Presentation In Ottawa - April 14 - Noon!

On Friday April 14, 2000, Steven Peck, Executive Director of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities will give a public presentation entitled, "Green Roofs: Sustainable Development Infrastructure for the 21st Century" at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 700 Montreal Road, Ottawa. Room C1-101 From 12:15 to 1:30.

The presentation will provide an overview of the many public and private benefits of green roof infrastructure - an excellent example of a sustainable development technology. Mr. Peck will also provide participants with an update on the current and planned activities of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.

The Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor was prepared by Steven Peck and Stephanie Tencer with contributions from: Lauren Baker, Field to Table; Marie-Anne Boivin, Soprema Inc.; Sean Cosgrove, Toronto Food Policy Council and Zen Szewczyk, IRC Building Sciences Group Inc.

Stephanie Tencer, Associate, Peck & Associates
"economic solutions for sustainability"
New Toronto Office: (416) 971 4484 - Fax (416) 971 9844
277 Wellington Street West, Suite 701, M5V 3E4 www.peck.ca
Please visit our electronic journal on urban sustainability, the New Urban Agenda, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and other free information products on our web site!

Vol. 1, No. 1 Summer 1999

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Green Roof Monitor, a quarterly report on current and emerging green roof

Stephanie Tencer, Associate, Peck & Associates
E-mail:stencer@peck.ca
"economic solutions for sustainability"
New Toronto Office: (416) 971 4484 - Fax (416) 971 9844
277 Wellington Street West, Suite 701, M5V 3E4
Peck & Associates
Please visit our electronic journal on urban sustainability, the New Urban Agenda, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and other free information products on our web site!

CONTENTS:

  1. GREEN ROOFS FOR HEALTHY CITIES NEWS
  2. LOCAL NEWS
  3. NATIONAL NEWS
  4. INTERNATIONAL NEWS
  5. OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS

COALITION NEWS:

ABOUT GREEN ROOFS AND OUR BUSINESS COALITION

Green roofs provide a wide range of public and private benefits. These range from improved stormwater management and smog reduction to better energy efficiency and new amenity space for building occupants. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is a business coalition founded in March, 1999 to foster the development of a market for green roof products and services. Green roof development involves the creation of 'contained' green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space can be below, at, or above grade, but in all cases the plants are not planted in the 'ground'. A green roof is an extension of the existing roof, which involves a special root repelling membrane, a drainage system, a lightweight growing medium and plants. The Founding Members of the Coalition are Doug Flynn, Flynn Canada Ltd.; William Bean and Brian Lambert, Garland Canada; Al Duwyn, IRC Buildings Sciences Group Inc.; Frank Baxter, Semple-Gooder Roofing; and Colin Donaldson, Soprema Inc. Please visit our website at www.peck.ca or e-mail Steven Peck, Director, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities at speck@peck.ca for more information.

GREEN ROOFS FOR HEALTHY CITIES COALITION LAUNCH EVENT

On June 14th, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities hosted a wine and cheese event to formally launch the Coalition. Held at Toronto City Hall, attendees enjoyed the view of a demonstration green roof from the windows of the Members Lounge while learning about the benefits of green roofs and the products and services offered by Coalition members. The event was well attended by councillors, staff and other interested professionals, and generated significant media attention. Special thanks go to Councillor Brad Duguid, Ward 15, City of Toronto for sponsoring the event.

LOCAL NEWS:

ROOF GREENING AT TORONTO CITY HALL

Efforts are currently underway to generate financial support for a permanent green roof demonstration at Toronto City Hall. Beginning June 9th, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities initiated a one-week green roof demonstration project. The demonstration green roof was 20 by 20 feet in size and highly visible from the Members' Lounge. Soprema and Perennial Gardens Corporation supplied the necessary materials and facilitated the installation.

THE TORONTO HOUSING COMPANY BEING ENCOURAGED TO INVESTIGATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREEN ROOFS

On February 23rd,1999, the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, chaired by Mayor Mel Lastman, recommended that the Board of Directors of the Toronto Housing Company consider preparing a report that investigates the opportunities to establish rooftop and on-site community gardens on residential buildings owned by the Toronto Housing Company, with estimates of costs and possible sources of funding. For more information, contact Monica Tang at (416) 392-4058.

CHANGES RECOMMENDED TO TORONTO'S GREEN PROCUREMENT POLICY

On June 1st, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities made a deputation to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee. The Committee unanimously accepted the following proposed changes to Toronto's green procurement policy:

Given the environmental and economic importance of infrastructure, green procurement principles should be fully applied to construction design, processes, tendering and materials;
Given that many 'green' products and services can produce a variety of tangible benefits, full consideration should be given to the long term and complete costs and benefits of green procurement.
The policy must go to the full Council for final approval. These principles, if adopted by the full Council, will help generate a market for green roofs and other green building technologies.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE SUPPORTS GREEN ROOF DEMONSTRATION

On June 15th, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities made a deputation to the City of Toronto Administrative Services Committee, chaired by Councillor Lorenzo Beradinetti. The Committee reports having:

The Coalition is now working to help implement the recommendations of the Administrative Services Committee.

SEMPLE-GOODER ROOFING GREENS HOSPITAL ROOFS

Semple-Gooder Roofing is working with Mary Jane Lovering of Vertechs Design Inc. to finalize the drawings for the new green roofs at the Trillium Centre in Mississagua, formerly Mississauga Hospital. The design entails installing an intensive green roof system in a highly visible area of the hospital which includes approximately four small roof areas. Two of these areas will have membranes prepared for green roof installation. This project will be completed in approximately three phases and will cover approximately 12,500 square feet of roof area. In addition to aesthetics, energy savings and an extended life span of the roofing membrane, research suggests that having green space in patients' view helps to speed their recovery. For more information, contact Frank Baxter at (416) 743-5370 or Ms. Lovering at (416) 925-6097.

GARLAND INSTALLS CONDO GREEN ROOF IN PORTLAND

Portland Oregon's condominium community is among the first in North America to embrace green roofing. The Garland Company, a manufacturer of waterproofing and green roofing systems, has recently landscaped a condo community's rooftops with plants native to Portland, willowy wildflowers and verdant ground covers. For more information about the ecological, functional and health benefits of this high performance green roof system contact Brian Lambert at blambert@garland.com or call 1-800-321-9336.

SOPREMA INSTALLS A GREEN ROOF FOR A HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECT

La Centrale Hydroelectrique des Chutes-de-la-Chaudiere, promoted by Ennergex, is the first project in North America where an extensive green roof has been incorporated into the overall design. Soprema has recently been working to install a green roof with hardy perennials on 8 inches of growing medium, and shrubs on 12 inches. The central building of the electric dam project is covered by an accessible deck for tourists and pedestrians, who can see the waterfalls from near and view the turbines inside the building from the skylights on the roof. For more information, please contact Marie-Anne Boivin, Soprema, at 1-800-463-2382.

CITY OF TORONTO'S GREEN ROOFS IN DISGUISE

There are a number of green roofs in the city of Toronto. Since many are at street level, most people are unaware that they are green roofs. The new Metro Convention Centre Roundhouse Park (street level) Ryerson University athletic complex (street level) Downtown Sheraton Centre (above grade) Mountain Equipment Co-Op (above grade) Nathan Phillips' Square Peace Garden and flower beds (street level) Royal York Hotel (herb garden, above grade) Manulife Centre (amenity space, above grade)

NATIONAL NEWS:

CMHC PUBLISHES REPORT QUANTIFYING THE BENEFITS OF GREEN ROOFS

CMHC has recently published a report prepared by Steven Peck, Peck & Associates, Monica Kuhn, Architect and Dr. Brad Bass, Environment Canada entitled, Greenbacks from Greenroofs: Forging a New Industry in Canada. The report highlights the quantitative and qualitative benefits of green roof and vertical garden technologies, barriers to the widespread adoption of these technologies as well as a proposed national action plan to overcome existing barriers. To obtain a free copy of the report, please contact the Canadian Housing Information Centre at 1-800-668-2642 or e-mail chic@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

CHICAGO GREENS ROOFS TO COOL CITIES

The City of Chicago's Department of Environment plans to implement green roofs on several city buildings over the summer as a way to help cool cities and reduce smog. The planned projects will demonstrate different garden designs, different kinds of plants that can be used and help to work through a variety of construction challenges for different types of roofs. The City will take advantage of opportunities afforded in different parts of Chicago, such as greening roofs along elevated train tracks where passengers can see and enjoy them. The City of Chicago's Department of the Environment is working with the US EPA and the US Department of Energy to measure the ability of these efforts to help cool cities. For more information about the City of Chicago's Rooftop Gardening Initiative, contact Brendan Daley at (312) 742-0150 or b.daley@bi.chi.il.us

'DACH AND WAND' 99 ROOF AND WALL CONFERENCE IN EUROPE

Frank Baxter, vice-president of Semple-Gooder Roofing, recently visited this major industry show in Stuttgart, Germany and reported that approximately 20% of the trade booths featured green roof or vertical garden products and services. This has grown from less than 2% four years ago. As of 1996, over 10 million square metres of green roofs were installed in Germany, and since then the industry has been enjoying a rapid rate of growth.

OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS:

Mountain Equipment Co-op

In 1997, Mountain Equipment Co-op contracted Soprema and Heinz Vogt of Stone Kohn McQuire Vogt Architects to design a green roof as part of their ongoing commitment to integrating environmental and economic values. Ed Horner, Assistant Manager of the Co-op, indicated that they get a lot of visitors from the hotel adjacent to the building, who look down on it and want to learn more about it. The roof covers 60,000 square feet, contains 6 cm of growing material and is home for a variety of grasses, wildflowers and sedum. Although not designed for recreational use, it is possible to arrange a visit to the green roof. For more information contact Anne Lesperance at (416) 340-2667.

TOUR OF GREEN ROOFTOPS

On the morning of Tuesday, September 28, 1999, the Rooftop Gardens Resource Group will co-host a walking tour of various green roofs in downtown Toronto for members of the Coalition, media and other interested parties. The tour will begin at 9:00 A.M. in front of the Peace Garden in Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West. Please RSVP with Stephanie Tencer, Coalition Coordinator, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, 971-4484, or e-mail stencer@peck.ca

Vol. 1, No. 2, Winter 1999

Welcome to the second issue of the Green Roof Monitor, a quarterly report on current and emerging green roof events and opportunities.

Stephanie Tencer, Associate, Peck & Associates
E-mail:stencer@peck.ca
"economic solutions for sustainability"
New Toronto Office: (416) 971 4484 - Fax (416) 971 9844
277 Wellington Street West, Suite 701, M5V 3E4
Peck & Associates
Please visit our electronic journal on urban sustainability, the New Urban Agenda, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and other free information products on our web site!

CONTENTS:

1. GREEN ROOFS FOR HEALTHY CITIES NEWS

2. LOCAL NEWS

3. NATIONAL NEWS

4. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

COALITION NEWS:

ABOUT GREEN ROOFS AND OUR COALITION

Green roof infrastructure provides a wide range of public and private benefits. These extend from improved stormwater management and smog reduction to energy efficiency, cost savings and new amenity space for building occupants. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is a business coalition founded in March 1999 to foster the development of a market for green roof infrastructure. Green roof development involves the creation of 'contained' green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space can be below, at, or above grade, but in all cases the plants are not planted in the 'ground'. A green roof is an extension of the existing roof. It involves a special root repelling membrane, a drainage system, a lightweight growing medium and plants. The Founding Members of the Coalition are Doug Flynn, Flynn Canada Ltd.; William Bean and Brian Lambert, Garland Canada; Al Duwyn, IRC Buildings Sciences Group Inc.; Frank Baxter, Semple-Gooder Roofing; and Colin Donaldson, Soprema Inc. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is pleased to also welcome Sheridan Nurseries and De Boer Landscape and Maintenance as Coalition members for 2000.

Please visit our website at www.peck.ca or e-mail Steven Peck, Director, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities at speck@peck.ca for membership information. For general information about the Coalition, contact Stephanie Tencer, Coalition Coordinator at stencer@peck.ca.

LOCAL NEWS:

TAF FUNDS ROOF GREENING STUDY FOR TORONTO CITY HALL

The Toronto Atmospheric Fund has granted Green Roofs for Healthy Cities funding in support of Phase I of the Green Roof Infrastructure Demonstration and Monitoring Project. The project involves installing and monitoring the membrane, energy and stormwater benefits of green roofs on 2 city-owned buildings. It has received strong support from a number of City departments, many of which are represented on the Phase I Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is co-chaired by Steven Peck, Peck & Associates and Jim Kamstra, Facilities and Real Estate. Other members include: Bas Baskaran, National Research Council; Brad Bass, Environment Canada; Richard Morris, Office of Energy Efficiency, Works Department; Monica Kuhn, Architect; Pam Georgopolous, Stormwater Management, Works Department; Ted Bowering, Stormwater Management, Works Department; David Stonehouse, Urban Planning and Development Services; Jamie McFadyen, Facilities and Real Estate; Arthur Beauregard, Parks and Recreation; David O'hara, Parks & Recreation; Lisa Salzberg, Healthy Cities Office; Sandra Rodriguez, Strategic & Corporate Policy, Chief Administrator's Office; Lois Corbett, Toronto Environmental Alliance; Monica Tang, Councillor Layton's Office; Monica Campbell, Toronto Public Health and, Richard Stromberg, Heritage Toronto.

POLICY PROGRESS - CHANGES TO TORONTO'S PROCUREMENT POLICY ACHIEVED

In direct response to Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' lobbying efforts, the City of Toronto has revised their Environmentally Responsible Procurement Policy to include the following provisions:

Given the environmental and economic importance of infrastructure, environmentally responsible procurement principles should be applied to construction design, processes, tendering and materials; and Given that many environmentally preferred products and services can produce a variety of tangible benefits, full consideration should be given to the long-term and complete costs and benefits of environmentally responsible procurement.

These changes should help encourage the adoption of products and services, such as green roof infrastructure, which provide a broader range of social, environmental and economic benefits than are traditionally accounted for.

TORONTO PUBLIC HEALTH IDENTIFIES GREEN ROOF INFRASTRUCTURE AS MEANS FOR REDUCING HEAT STRESS

In July 1999, Toronto Public Health proposed a Hot Weather Response Plan to lessen the impact of hot weather on at-risk populations in Toronto. Within their recommendations, they identify the need to analyze the Toronto heat island effect and explore methods, such as the promotion of green roof infrastructure, to mitigate summer heat over the long term. Toronto Public Health is also proposing a major conference in 2000 to facilitate greater understanding of, and ways of adapting to, extreme weather changes. For more information about the Hot Weather Response Plan, contact Kathleen Harte at (416) 392-1560, extension 87062.

GREEN ECONOMY WORKGROUP ADVOCATES FOR GREEN ROOFS

The Green Economy Workgroup of Toronto's Environmental Task Force submitted The Green Economy Plan and presented some key findings at the Environmental Task Force meeting on October 20, 1999. An integral component of the Plan involves supporting green business sectors through community economic development. The workgroup recommends that "the City should recognize food production as a part of economic and environmental reinvestment, expand community gardening, implement rooftop gardens?". The workgroup also recommends that the City "?develop an action plan to implement a minimum of 10 rooftop gardens on their public properties within the next three years. This action plan should include incentives for green roof design and construction, strategies for linking organic waste recovery with rooftop food production, and supports for research and demonstrations on rooftop food production". For more information about the Green Economy Workgroup, e-mail etf@city.toronto.on.ca or contact Fred Hendriks at (416) 392-3819.

GREEN ROOFS IDENTIFIED AS UNEXPLORED POTENTIAL IN SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PLAN FOR TORONTO

In the Sustainable Energy Workgroup report for Toronto's Environmental Task Force's A Sustainable Energy Plan for Toronto, a number of opportunities for advancing a sustainable energy agenda over the next 5 years in the City of Toronto were identified. Among them is the recognition that, "[t]oronto has huge unexplored potential to achieve reduction in cooling load, improved air quality, reduced noise and improve the City's ambience through plantings of backyard and street trees, rooftop gardens and parking lot trees in neighbourhoods and public spaces". For more information about the Sustainable Energy Workgroup, e-mail etf@city.toronto.on.ca or contact Fred Hendriks at (416) 392-3819.



NATIONAL NEWS:

NRC'S INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN CONSTRUCTION PLANS GREEN ROOF RESEARCH

National Research Council's Institute for Research in Construction held a meeting on November 23rd to invite industry participation in a consortium project to quantify the benefits of green roofs. The project involves the use of two identical buildings in Ottawa, with roof areas of about 1, 000 square feet. One building will be fitted with a generic green roof. For more information, please contact Bas Baskaran, tel: (613) 990-3616, e-mail: bas.baskaran@nrc.ca

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

GARLAND AND THE PORTLAND GREENSHIELD PROJECT

Garland has installed a green roof on an 8,500 square foot, 10-story, high rise building owned by the Portland Housing Authority. The building, designed by OTAK Architects, uses Garland's high performance StressPly Plus polymer modified membrane, which incorporates the use of post-consumer recycled tires. The Green Roof system installed uses various layers of drainage mats to filter membranes and a specialized soil formulation. The plants growing are primarily low, ground cover seedlings. For more information about this high performance green roof system, contact Brian Lambert at blambert@garland.com or call 1 (800) 321-9336.

77 CITIES IN GERMANY INVEST IN GREEN ROOF INFRASTRUCTURE

Research conducted by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities reveals that in Germany, 10% of all flat roofs have green roofs. This represents over 55 million square metres of green roof infrastructure in place since 1989. Green roof infrastructure is funded through public-private partnerships in Germany. Almost 50 per cent of German cities (77 cities) have programs in place that support the development and growth of a market for green roof infrastructure. 80% of the green roofs are extensive, involving low costs, growing media and plant diversity.

The German Roof Gardeners Coalition has been successfully advocating for green roofs since 1984. For information (in German) about this coalition, their research and lobbying efforts, visit:
http://www.dachgaertnerverband.de/stadt.htm

CHICAGO PREPARES TO GREEN CITY HALL ROOF

The preparations for Chicago's experimental green roof atop City Hall have begun. The 20,000 square foot roof will accommodate 2 oak trees and more than 21,000 plants and shrubs this spring as part of a five-city pilot project assisted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. In addition to EPA monitoring, infrared satellite photos from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will be used to measure the program's effectiveness. William F. Abolt, Commissioner of Chicago's Department of the Environment, said he expects the City Hall green roof to result in annual savings of $3,000 to $4,000 due to reduced heating and cooling costs.


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Revised December 11, 2000

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Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture
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