Green Roof Resource

Urban Ecology Centre of Montréal obtained funding for Montréal’s first green roof on a residential building. This links to a story in the Montreal Gazette published on August 27, 2005. The roof will be monitored for water retention and air quality. The centre will host workshops to educate the public on the benefits of green roofs as well as write a report after the first year of monitoring is complete.

LEED Rating System for Homes was officially introduced at the beginning of August. Currently, LEED-H is in the pilot stage striving to promote sustainable practices in the home building industry. One of the newest programs in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building rating system.

This week in the NYT, 9 States in Plan to Cut Emissions by Power Plants reports of a proposal for 9 northeastern to freeze current power plant emissions at the current level and reduce emissions by 10% by 2020. The focus pollutant is carbon dioxide. While the Bush administration has refused to join Kyoto, cities and states are considering methods for compliance at the local and regional levels.

News from the New York Times, Report by E.P.A. Offers Heartening News on Summertime Air, reports on improvements to air quality (specifically reductions in ozone levels) in 19 Eastern states. Nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants are attributed with the reduction in ozone. The administration associates this improvement with the cap-and-trade program for NOx.

The New York Times reports on a new 35000 square foot roof on Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, Queens in A Roof Garden? It’s Much More Than That.