Green Roof News - 11.11.2008
Dubai applies 'Green Roofs' initiative on its buildings
Dubai Municipality has embarked on an initiative called 'Green Roofs' during the Green Dubai Forum, which was held recently.
http://www.ameinfo.com/174347.html
Green Roof News - 11.11.2008
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Centre Austin Texas - Green Roof Capabilities Studied
The first study to compare the performance of different types of green roofs has been completed by The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin and suggests that buyers shouldn't assume these roofs are created equal.
http://www.wildflower.org/press/index.php?link=press&id=108
Green Roof News - 07.11.2008
Ushida Findlay’s Undulating Green-Roofed Park Houses
Ushida Findlay Architects (UFA) recently received permission to build this gorgeous eco-friendly, multi-family Park House compound in Preston, UK. The stunning design incorporates sustainable elements such as solar power, extensive use of natural light, and locally-sourced materials, but its defining element is certainly the undulating green roof that links the homes of five branches of a single family.
http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/10/30/park-houses-by-ushida-findlay-architects/
Green Roof News - 06.11.2008
Roof allotments a capital way to feed Olympians, says mayor
Swathes of unused space in London, including flat roofs, are to be converted into vegetable gardens in an initiative that gives a new meaning to the slogan “Dig for Victory”.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5068607.ece
Green Roof News - 06.11.2008
Gardens in the sky
A new scheme aims to turn city rooftops into green spaces. Aida Edemariam finds out how to grow plants and vegetables in the unlikeliest places
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/nov/06/gardens-ethical-living-london-boris
Green Roof News - 06.11.2008
A new on-line resource promoting the UK's green roof sector.
Groundwork Sheffield* is pleased to announce the development of a new on-line resource for the green roof sector called Green Roofs Today.
Green Roofs Today has been developed through discussion with industry professionals and in response to the upwards of 1000 enquiries Groundwork receives every year for information on green roof services, products, legislation and training. It aims to make information on green roofs more accessible, encourage the uptake of green roof technology across the UK and promote the activities of the sector as a whole.
Green Roofs Today will incorporate Green Roof News, a sector specific e-newsletter and will also feature a comprehensive Green Roof Register of UK green roof and related industry professionals - from architects to installers, seed producers to substrate suppliers.
The website and register will go live early November.
*Groundwork Sheffield is a founding partner of the Green Roof Centre, a research and development hub at the University of Sheffield. Groundwork Sheffield is committed to sustainable development within the build environment.
Green Roof News - 29.10.2008
Unicorn Green Roof Grocery Manchester - ‘greenroof cam’
http://greenroof.viewnetcam.com/CgiStart?page=Single&Language=0
The Unicorn Grocery roof was one of the first roofs in the UK to feature a natural wetlands pond area, and was installed as part of the ‘Make Room for Black Redstarts’ project. After only a few months, the roof established itself to such an extent that over 36 species of birds and insects were monitored. Users can pan the new camera around and zoom in and out.
Local Authorities such as Manchester City Council are leading the way in biodiversity projects and are developing strategies in an attempt to halt and reverse the decline of species and habitats within their area. The biodiverse or ‘brown’ roof on top of the Unicorn Grocery is an excellent example of this and has attracted considerable interest since its installation in 2007. A ‘Green Roof Cam’ monitors the roof 24/7 to allow anyone to view it and watch for wildlife. Green roof expert and founder of livingroofs.org, Dusty Gedge said; ‘’This project will help promote the merits of biodiverse roofs with living proof that success in attracting a whole host of species of fauna and flora can be achieved in a short space of time. There is now a greater interest for this type of living roof and I am sure that other building owners and developers will be keen to make this a requirement for their future projects.”
The materials for the roof were supplied by Permanite Engineered Roofing Systems, sponsors of the Green Roof Campaign which aims to increase awareness of green roofs in the UK . The IKOgreen roof was installed by Paragon Roofing & Asphalt Ltd of Bradford and the project was completed in four weeks. Tim Wood of Permanite Engineered Roofing Systems explains the implications for the surrounding area; ‘Biodiverse roofs recreate natural habitats for a variety of species and indigenous flora and fauna and are a key part of the biodiversity action plan for Greater Manchester. The Unicorn Grocery roof will bring a green space to a community which is relatively built up and I am positive the wildlife inhabiting the roof will continue to thrive. Local authorities are increasingly requesting brown roofs to encourage biodiversity in their area and the North West Development Agency is very keen to see more. It has been suggested that all new schools in the area will have green roofs.’’
Green Roof News - 28.10.2008
Wallbarn launches Modular Green Roof System
Wallbarn launched a modular version of its Green Roof system at Interbuild this week. The company said it wanted to take green roofing to the mass market by making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to install sedum or grass roof coverings. http://www.gleebirmingham.com/page.cfm/action=Archive/ArchiveID=2/EntryID=694
Green Roof News - 22.10.2008
Singapore’s Ecological EDITT Tower
Currently pending construction in Singapore, the EDITT Tower will be a paragon of “Ecological Design In The Tropics”. Designed by TR Hamzah & Yeang and sponsored by the National University of Singapore, the 26-story high-rise will boast photovoltaic panels, natural ventilation, and a biogas generation plant all wrapped within an insulating living wall that covers half of its surface area. The verdant skyscraper was designed to increase its location’s bio-diversity and rehabilitate the local ecosystem in Singapore’s ‘zeroculture’ metropolis.
http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/10/15/editt-tower-by-trhamzah-and-yeang/
Green Roof News - 22.10.2008
'Gardens in the Sky' Schools project - Monday, 20th October - Friday 24th October
Free food-growing and composting classes for schools
Croydon Council is offering a limited number of FREE classes and tours of ‘Croydon’s Garden in the Sky’ as part of the Eco-Exp taking place between Monday 20th – Friday 24th October.
http://www.croydonecoexpo.com/gardens.htm
Green Roof News - 20.10.2008
Croydon's Garden in the sky
‘Croydon’s Garden in the Sky’ opened today on top of the Q-Park car-park in Surrey Street . It’s a temporary garden which has been installed as part of Croydon’s Eco-Expo.
The garden has already been visited by over 70 people – so do pop up if you get chance for a tour of the organic 4-rote growing system on display.
Opening hours:
11am-4pm Mon, Tues and Fri / 11am-3pm Wed and Sat
Green Roof News - 30.08.2008
"Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, launches his secret plan to combat climate change - the roof garden"
Article in The Guardian Newspaper - online here
Green Roof News - 07.08.2008
'Living roofs bring a piece of the country to the city's skyline'
Article on This is Exeter website about local green roofs. Read in full here.
Green Roof News - 02.08.2008
Research in Texas favours native plants over sedums in reducing air conditioning needs and in retaining stormwater.
Article in Energy Efficiency News
Green Roof News - 31.07.2008
"Grass ceiling: How corporate culture is going green"
Article in The Independent about the increase in sustainability now pervading the office design & construction sector.
See article here.
Green Roof News - 27.07.2008
Times Article on the Grass Roof Company
Up on the roof
"John Little has a very bucolic dream: to create gardens in the sky atop the buildings of Britain. Lydia Slater visits his Essex home to discover a wildflower oasis 20ft up..."
Full article here.
Green Roof News - 21.07.2008
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Green Roof Installation
The second largest green roof in the USA has been installed on the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at 17,000m2 is a "counterpoint between technology and nature". The roofs have been planted with indigenous plants... more
Green Roof News - 18.07.2008
Dont Let Green Roofs Be A Victim of the Credit Crunch
Phil Clark, Building Design discusses the positives of green roofs.
Full article here
Green Roof News - 09.07.2008
IKO Green Donates A Green Roof To School In Oldham, England, Filmed By The BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7495772.stm
Green Roof News - 01.07.2008
An innovative project to help black redstarts in Birmingham UK has been installed and with funding from Biffaward.
A roof camera beams images of the roof into the main reception area at BVSC. This gives more people the opportunity to view a green roof in the centre of Birmingham giving a great boost to staff and visitors alike. www.bvsc.org/greenroof/
Green Roof News - 01.07.2008
An innovative green roof project at the Unicorn grocery store in Manchester has set up a webcam for viewers.
Designed by the Green Roof Consultancy and supplied by Ruberoid the project was funded by SITA NATURE ENHANCED funding.
Direct webcam link.
Green Roof News - 19.06.2008
London Leaders celebrate success
The London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC) announced today that London Leader, Dusty Gedge, the pioneering urban naturalist and co-founder of Living Roofs (www.livingroofs.org) has just achieved a significant milestone in his pledge to convince three London companies to retrofit a living roof onto their buildings. Dusty has signed up one of the UK’s leading consumer magazine publishers, the So-Ho based National Magazine Company, to retrofit a wildflower meadow onto one of their roofs. The planting design has been chosen by Country Living Magazine and the company hopes other flat spaces on their building at 72 Broadwick St will be similarly transformed, with individual magazines adopting a terrace.
Full Press Release Here
Green Roof News - 21.05.2008
The Annual Scandinavian Green Roof Conference
The Scandinavian Green Roof Association announces the annual meeting at Augustenborg, Malmö, on the 12th of June 10.30 - 12.00. After the meeting, there will be the award ceremony for the Scandinavian Green Roof Award, 12.00 - 15.00.
www.greenroof.se
Green Roof News - 18.05.2008
News Release - Building Green make the UK’s first green roof workshop a success
Brighton community group ‘Building Green’ ran the UK’s first DIY green roof workshop at Stanmer Park on Saturday 17 May.
The event was a great success, and saw 25 people build and take home their own mini-green roofs.
Full press release available in pdf format.
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| Building Green - UK’s first green roof workshop |
Green Roof News - 13.05.2008
Appraisals of Extensive Green Roofs
A questionnaire, particularly targeting those with the required knowledge of design and making cost decisions with trade-offs between different construction products for a project (assumed to be architects, quantity surveyors, investors/developers etc) is available online and open to all that wish to participate. See link below for full details and questionnaire itself.
http://www.survey.ljmu.ac.uk/greenroofs/
Green Roof News - 10.04.2008
Plaid Cymru Green Roof Election Pledge
Plaid Cymru has promised that green roofs will be an important element within their environmental policy if voted in to the Welsh Assembly. Full Story
Green Roof News - 31.03.2008
Awards for Best Designs
Wigantoday.net, England. "...The Grand Arcade shopping centre has been shortlisted under both the commercial and sustainability categories, in a year which the North West also received more entrants than ever before. The shopping venue, in the heart of Wigan's town centre, is a carbon-neutral building built with sustainability in mind. Developers Modus plan to introduce a wind turbine, solar panels and green roofing to the centre in..." Full article here.
Council's green advice to staff: Go vegetarian
"...Councillors will vote on the proposal at the end of May after examining a report setting out a raft of measures designed to reduce the borough's environmental impact." This is London Article
Cities Around The World Go Green
Radio podcast on how cities around the world are going green.
Green Roof News - 27.03.2008
"Firm’s design for wildlife puts green roof into medical practice"
Article at icWales.co.uk on new greenroof installation on building in Exeter. Full report here
Green Roof News - 23.03.2008
"Fight climate change by turning roof green"
International Herald Tribune news item on green roofs
Green Roof News - 07.03.2008
Renewable Energy in the Urban Environment, Berlin
This 5-day seminar in Berlin will explore the role of renewable energy in the urban and semi-urban environment. Germany is the world's renewable energy leader - 5% of its exports are in the field of energy technology. The seminar will include numerous visits to renewable energy installations in Berlin - PV systems, solar thermal systems, heat pumps, bioenergy plants, low-energy and passive solar buildings.
The seminar is designed for those in the business, non-profit, public and academic sectors who wish to get a comprehensive introduction to renewable energy technologies, especially those which can be used in urban and semi-urban environments.
The emphasis will be on how things work and what it is practicable to do. On completion of the seminar participants should be able to do initial designs for renewable energy systems.
This is an EU Sustainable Energy Europe event.
The seminar language is English.
Dates: 19-23 May 2008
Information on other courses can be found at
http://www.greendragonenergy.co.uk/courses.htm
Green Roof News - 01.03.2008
New Website for a Greener Brighton
Today sees the launch of Brighton & Hove Building Green’s new website at www.building-green.org.uk.
The site helps people find out about the use of green roofs and green walls in our city, and will be launched at Green Architecture Day by Dusty Gedge, star of Channel 4’s ‘Wild Thing I Love You’.
Green Architecture Day is organised by the Brighton Permaculture Trust, and runs all day at the Sallis Benney Theatre, Brighton.
Green Roof News - 29.02.2008
Publication of Technical Report On Living Roofs And Walls
The Mayor of London and Design for London have published a technical report on Living Roofs and Walls, supporting the new London Plan policy. The report was launched 28th February 2008 at the Ecobuild conference by Design for London and Alumasc Exterior Building Products, sponsors of the research which led to the report. The report was written by Dusty Gedge, John Newton, Karl Craddick et al.
The report can be downloaded at the www.london.gov.uk website
Green Roof News - 20.02.2008
Today sees the launch of the new London Plan.
Livingroofs.org campaigned vigorously to ensure that there was a strong policy statement within the new plan.
http://www.london.gov.uk/thelondonplan/thelondonplan.jsp
and the relevant section states
Policy 4A.11 Living Roofs and Walls
The Mayor will, and boroughs should, expect major developments to incorporate living roofs and walls where feasible and reflect this principle in DPD policies. It is expected that this will include roof and wall planting that delivers as many of these objectives as possible:
• accessible roof space
• adapting to and mitigating climate change
• sustainable urban drainage
• enhancing biodiversity
• improved appearance.
Green Roof News - 07.02.2008
'Show preview: Innovations for the Built Environment'
Article in Contract Journal covering Green Roofs. Online version here.
Green Roof News - 04.02.2008
The co-founder of Livingroofs.org, Dusty Gedge, has just been elected as President of the European Federation of Green Roof Associations [EFB] for a three year term during which the Federation will support UNI [the Italian Standards Institute], as it develops a CEN, the European Standard for Green Roofs.
Green Roof News - 29.01.2008
Big green ideas for the workplace
"If you are an eco-warrior at heart and really want to make a difference, then in many ways the workplace is actually your best chance." Article on Guardian website includes section on green roofs.
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