Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Background T o increase the awareness of the economic, social and environmental benefits of living architecture through

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1 Introduction to Living Architecture & Biodiversity Canadian Business & Biodiversity Council National Workshop Guelph, Ontario December 5, 2012 Steven W. Peck, GRP, Honorary ASLA Founder & President Green Roofs Healthy Cities

2 Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Background T o increase the awareness of the economic, social and environmental benefits of living architecture through education, advocacy, professional development and celebrations o f excellence. Big S ur Residential Green Roof, Source: Fred Ballerini 2009 Award of Excellence Winner (Extensive Residential) San Francisco Living Wall-Green Wall, Source: Steven Peck

3 Specialized Leading Edge Training Courses f or Continuing Education and Advantage

4 Green Roof System Basics

5 Green Roof Systems Basics Modular Systems Source: Green Grid Source: Green Roof Blocks Source: Eco-Roofs Source: Mule-Hide Products

6 Green Roof Systems Basics Loose Laid Systems Source: Rooflite Source: Stancils Source: American Landscape

7 Green Roof Wall Basics Living Walls & Interior Bio-Walls Source: nedlaw

8 G reen Roof Wall Basics - Facades Source: greenscreen

9 Why Invest in Green Roofs and Green Walls?

10 Remove or R EDUCE NEGATIVE IMPACT retrofit TRADITIONAL black/grey ROOFING! roofs that: OF Represent 5-30% of the land area of a city!!! Cause s tormwater problems (flooding, CSOs) Contaminate Eyesore for Waste energy water/collect onlookers and water water used (West to make Nile it Virus) Contribute landfill waste (10-15 y r replacement) Contribute to urban Are sterile/lifeless heat island environments effect

11 Green roofs Improve Reduce Improve Air TO CREATE OPPORTUNTIES FOR MULTIPLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS! are able to: Stormwater the Urban Quality Improve Energy Improved Management Heat Savings Island and Livability/Education Improved Aesthetics/Active Membrane Durability and Effect Reduce Recreation Noise Waste Diversion New Uses - Food Security/ Biophilic Support/Enhance Biodiversity and Benefits more

12 Improved Stormwater Management Source: National Research Council, Institute for Research in Construction

13 R educe the Urban Heat Island Effect U HI is the temperature increase in urban areas associated with the replacement of n atural vegetation with pavements, buildings, and other structures necessary to a ccommodate growing populations. Urban Heat Island Around Lake Ontario Source: Remote Sensing Advanced Technology UHI effect impacts: Greater energy use for AC Greater water use to produce energy (it takes water to produce electricity) Greater water use for landscaping Negative impact on human health Negative impact on tourism Greater stress on energy infrastructure

14 Air Quality Improvement Plants remove fine particulate matter Plants (NOX) metabolize pollutants Cooler Cities Means Smog Formation Less A 1 degree C reduction in UHI can result in a 4% reduction in peak load demand. (DOE, 2005)

15 Energy Benefits from Evapotranspiration, Shading, Thermal Mass Transfer, Insulation Energy Efficiency/Solar Integration/Cool Can reduce summertime demand by 70-90% (NRC) Google Green Roof Energy Calculator AC Intake Air Source: National Research Council, Institute for Research in Construction

16 Noise and Sound Benefits Noise Reduction Green roofs loss. outperform conventional roofs in transmission I m prove property values Noise depreciation index. Produce Nice ( Biophilic) Wind through grasses or Sounds babbling water features S ource: L iving Architecture Monitor, Fall 2008, British Columbia Institute of Technology, M. Connelly

17 Less Waste and Longer Life Span Due Increased Membrane Durability G reen roof r educes t he i mpact that harsh rooftop e nvironments have on a membrane (radiation, thermal stress) Saves replacement costs & reduces landfill waste Source: National Research Council, Institute for Research in Construction

18 Economic Benefits of Green Roofs P roperties with accessible green roofs are subject 11% property value premium Higher property values generate higher tax to a revenues 2011 Award Winning Biodiverse R esidential Green Roof, Washington Source: Hadj Design

19 Aesthetic/Economic Benefits Higher Property Values for Adjacent Properties Less Office Worker Sick Days/Faster Patient Healing M illenium V illage, Vancouver, 2011 A ward of Excellence Winner (Intensive Residential) : Courtesy Xero Flor

20 Leverage Private and Public Resources for Local Employment and Investment A Natural Public-Private Partnership G ovt s can use direct investment/grants to leverage private resources: Precious good urban spaces turn to public and private Additional capital expended on roofs to stimulate l ocal/regional employment green jobs Ongoing maintenance jobs for urban youth New uses of roof space, like farms that generate even more intense employment Community infrastructure and new local and regional businesses Green Jobs

21 New Business - New Uses of Roof Space Food Production: Brooklyn Grange - Leases Roof Space from Building Owner & Produces Fresh Food B rooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm, 2011 Award of Excellence Winner (Intensive Commercial): Courtesy Brooklyn Grange

22 New Community Rooftop Resources Children Get A Lesson on Collecting Seeds at Glide Community Church Rooftop Garden, San Francisco Combat Nature Deficit Disorder Educate about urban ecology and biodiversity Glide Community Church, Rooftop Vegetable Garden: Courtesy Steven Peck

23 Biodiversity B iodiversity corridors in urban areas for insects/birds N otion of stepping stone approaches areas. R econcilation not restoration ecology. l ike corridors and islands, large Green roofs have been shown to support sizable invertebrate populations, provide safe places for endangered plants, resting places birds for Presence of water, growing media depth and composition are key that determine species diversity factors

24 Biodiversity - Research G. K ada and S. B renneisen, Switzerland the early pioneers, along with P. K ephart, J. L undholm, R. Coffman in North America. GRHC Developed a Biodiversity Research Protocol for Green Roofs with input from scientists and consultants in / s Green Roof Tree of Knowledge is a searchable database of research which includes biodiversity Scott M acivor s, PhD Candidates, York University, Packer Lab- Pollinator Research on Green Roofs Photo Courtesy: Steven Peck

25 Biodiversity - Research D esign for biodiversity also improves stormwater performance Very little research on green walls. resiliency of plants, thermal and Insects collected from green roof on Wellesley College Treatment Building. Courtesy B racha Y. Schindler

26 Biodiversity - Projects A ugust, 2012 The US National Wildlife Federation Certifies Green Roof as Wildlife Habitat Certification requires provision of: food, water, cover and places to raise young C hristian Reform Church Grand Rapids Michigan Source: Advanced Green Roofs

27 Green Roof Industry Growth Source: GRHC Industry Survey.

28 Potential for Green Roofs Technical potential is estimated to be 48 billion square feet Over the last decade we built approximately 100 million square feet in NA

29 G ovt s can Exercise Quality Control & Maximize Regional Benefits use public policy to: Develop minimum construction/maintenance standards to help avoid common failures and reflect regional climate/weather Examples: GRP required on projects, minimum growing medium depth, maintenance requirements, roof inspection requirements etc. S witzerland must design for biodiversity Adapt green roof benefits by designing policies that reflect local social, economic & environmental priorities Examples: focus on new and/or retrofit, areas requiring new development, areas where there are CSO issues, need for jobs, air quality challenges, need for additional green space etc.

30 Toronto Green Roof at City Hall Green Roof Bylaw and Eco-Roof Incentive Toronto Green R oof Bylaw came into effect J anuary 31, 2010 All City Owned Facilities Must Install Green Roofs unless technically unable (structural) Applies to all new construction over 2,000 sq. m GFA (except low- rise residential and industrial) Toronto City Hall Award Winning A ccesable Green Roof: Courtesy Steven Peck

31 Toronto Green Roof Bylaw (Cont d.) C overage requirement based on building size bigger buildings more coverage Available roof space does not include HVAC, Solar Panels etc Builders can opt out with cash-in- lieu process ($20/square foot) Gross Floor Area (Size of Building) Coverage of Available Roof Space (Size of Green Roof) Money goes towards Eco-Roof Incentive 2,000 4,999 m2 20% 5,000-9,999 m2 30% Eco- Roof Incentive gives $50/square m, up to $100k per project B ylaw has generated 2 million s q. feet of green roofs resulting in more than 200 FTE jobs thus far 10,000-14,999 m2 40% 15,000-19,999 m2 50% 20,000 m2 or greater 60%

32 Governs all Toronto Green Roof Bylaw Contains Construction Standard green roof construction A Designed to improve practice, enhance plant stormwater, urban heat island benefits survival and maximize Establishes minimum growing media depths Requires maintenance plans and leak detection City about to release design for bio- diversity guidelines! Google City of Toronto Green Roof By- Law

33 Conclusion Green Roofs and Walls Provide Many Benefits A Natural Public Private Partnership The Business Case for Public Policy is Compelling You Can Turn Your Roofs into an Community Asset

34 Conclusion When you have champions - lead by example Conduct research to understand regional and set quality control standards issues L ots of potential to support biodiversity researched or integrated into policy - YET! not well

35 Conclusion We ve barely started to realize the full potential of living architecture! Thank you!