Apr 28 2006
The world through green colored glasses
Roof domination is in sight for greens. As the date for the annual conference approaches, green roofs enter the news and emails. I received three emails today with links to an AP story on green roofs. Posted on CNN (‘Green Roofs’ growing more popular) and MSN(Landscape architects tend to a green roof), the article announces the opening of an intensive green roof on the headquarters of the American Society of Landscape Architects in Washington, DC (check out the roofcam). The story also highlights greening efforts in North America and abroad.
While the country most known for green roofs is Germany, green roofs are popping up in North America (80% increase in greened area with Chicago as the big US leader), New Zealand, Australia, and China. A project in Beijing designed by Stephen Holl is a self-contained city with green on every rooftop. China launched an initiative last month to build energy efficient buildings to address rising energy costs.
When the environmental benefits to greenhouse gases, stormwater, and the urban heat island are properly quantified, it’s only a matter time before green becomes the new black.