Spring Break
Facilities invests in green roof technology
Tirza Austin
Issue date: 10/17/08 Section: News
Life has sprouted on the roof of Cumberland Hall.
The completion of the university's first green roof has Residential Facilities and campus officials excited about the prospect of "going green" from the bottom to the top of the university - literally.
After a more than 20-year-old roof began to leak into students' dorm rooms on the eighth floor of Cumberland Hall, Residential Facilities set to work on a replacement for the old roof. In July, the university settled on a $350,000 green roof, which features extra insulation and rows of flowers planted on top. Now students share Cumberland with 15 species of plants growing on soil that covers roughly 65 percent of the whole roof.
The plants and soil help absorb rainwater runoff, insulate the building, reduce pollution, provide a new habitat and cool temperatures in the atmosphere.
"We're trying to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability practices," said Todd Alther, a senior project manager in Residential Facilities who oversaw the project.
Because green roofs diminish problems across the campus, officials are trying to find other ways to incorporate them. They eliminate flooding by reducing rainwater running into the drainage system the university has tried to fix and reduce energy costs of heat and air-conditioning by using extra layers of insulation underneath soil and flowers.
Residential Facilities said the lifespan and environmental benefits made spending roughly 35 percent more on the green roof for Cumberland worth it.
"The additional cost was well justified," said Andrew F. Van Der Stuyf, assistant director for Residential Facilities.
Officials hope the advantages of green roofs can be implemented on other roofs that need to be replaced and have already planned the next green roof on top of the Stamp Student Union. Construction on that roof will begin next week.
The student union project will involve the demolition of the roof of the Atrium and the Prince George's Room, said Stephen Gnadt, associate director of Stamp facilities. The two rooms were originally outdoor courtyards and were enclosed by a roof with skylights. The 35-year-old roofs leak every time it rains because water from higher parts of the building collects in pools.
The completion of the university's first green roof has Residential Facilities and campus officials excited about the prospect of "going green" from the bottom to the top of the university - literally.
After a more than 20-year-old roof began to leak into students' dorm rooms on the eighth floor of Cumberland Hall, Residential Facilities set to work on a replacement for the old roof. In July, the university settled on a $350,000 green roof, which features extra insulation and rows of flowers planted on top. Now students share Cumberland with 15 species of plants growing on soil that covers roughly 65 percent of the whole roof.
The plants and soil help absorb rainwater runoff, insulate the building, reduce pollution, provide a new habitat and cool temperatures in the atmosphere.
"We're trying to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability practices," said Todd Alther, a senior project manager in Residential Facilities who oversaw the project.
Because green roofs diminish problems across the campus, officials are trying to find other ways to incorporate them. They eliminate flooding by reducing rainwater running into the drainage system the university has tried to fix and reduce energy costs of heat and air-conditioning by using extra layers of insulation underneath soil and flowers.
Residential Facilities said the lifespan and environmental benefits made spending roughly 35 percent more on the green roof for Cumberland worth it.
"The additional cost was well justified," said Andrew F. Van Der Stuyf, assistant director for Residential Facilities.
Officials hope the advantages of green roofs can be implemented on other roofs that need to be replaced and have already planned the next green roof on top of the Stamp Student Union. Construction on that roof will begin next week.
The student union project will involve the demolition of the roof of the Atrium and the Prince George's Room, said Stephen Gnadt, associate director of Stamp facilities. The two rooms were originally outdoor courtyards and were enclosed by a roof with skylights. The 35-year-old roofs leak every time it rains because water from higher parts of the building collects in pools.
Submit a letter to the editor or post a comment below.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
aaron
posted 11/13/08 @ 7:45 AM EST
Green roofing certainly gives going green a completely new meaning. Green roofs that incorporate plants and soil have actually been around for quite some time, and are a great way to cut back on energy consumption. (Continued…)
Post a Comment