Green Roofs
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21stcentur...@gmail.com
Apr 18, 2009, 11:29:44 AM4/18/09
to 21st Century Plowshare
I wanted to go ahead and start a discussion about the Green Roofs
idea.
Again, the project is in its infancy, but I think that's great,
because it's going to be more successful if residents are involved
from the get-go.
The goal is to get green roofs installed on every house over a whole
block or two or three, and then collect data about what the green
roofs do for the community--everything from individual utility bills
to more qualitative things like the relative sensation of coolness or
heat in the summertime could be recorded. Bed Stuy has been chosen for
this project because of its architecture and its strong neighborhood
organization. It would be relatively easy to get many roofs done in a
block of similar row houses, and it's easier to get everyone on board
if your block has a strong block association.
Here's more information about green roofs and why your block might
want them:
http://newyorkcitygreenroof.com/content/pages/whybuild.html
So let's start a discussion about implementing this. What are the
benefits? What are the pitfalls? How to best organize?
idea.
Again, the project is in its infancy, but I think that's great,
because it's going to be more successful if residents are involved
from the get-go.
The goal is to get green roofs installed on every house over a whole
block or two or three, and then collect data about what the green
roofs do for the community--everything from individual utility bills
to more qualitative things like the relative sensation of coolness or
heat in the summertime could be recorded. Bed Stuy has been chosen for
this project because of its architecture and its strong neighborhood
organization. It would be relatively easy to get many roofs done in a
block of similar row houses, and it's easier to get everyone on board
if your block has a strong block association.
Here's more information about green roofs and why your block might
want them:
http://newyorkcitygreenroof.com/content/pages/whybuild.html
So let's start a discussion about implementing this. What are the
benefits? What are the pitfalls? How to best organize?
Laurie
Apr 19, 2009, 12:07:26 PM4/19/09
to 21st Century Plowshare
The key to cost efficiency will be to select roofs that need replacing
and flat or minimal slopes with fairly easy access.
From a visual benefit, try to select roofs that can be viewed from
neighbors, higher offices etc to get noticed.
Is it possible to identify areas in which storm water is a serious
issue because it puddles creating perfect breeding grounds for
mosquitos.
The measurements need to be (as you stated) are:
Temperature of air around the roof
savings of air conditioning
plus;
storm water collection
mental health, physical health and crime statistics such as
vandaliism, robbery and attacks (the social is a s importmant but few
studies have done to quantify this issue (average student success on
tests)
By getting a baseline now, you can calculate the benefits over a few
years
Are there schools in this neighborhood to involve as part of the
environmental science curriculum?
Also consider some urban farming.. Living walls with vegetables.
Green Living Technologies and an Urban Farming organization are
looking for neighborhoods to implement and study
and flat or minimal slopes with fairly easy access.
From a visual benefit, try to select roofs that can be viewed from
neighbors, higher offices etc to get noticed.
Is it possible to identify areas in which storm water is a serious
issue because it puddles creating perfect breeding grounds for
mosquitos.
The measurements need to be (as you stated) are:
Temperature of air around the roof
savings of air conditioning
plus;
storm water collection
mental health, physical health and crime statistics such as
vandaliism, robbery and attacks (the social is a s importmant but few
studies have done to quantify this issue (average student success on
tests)
By getting a baseline now, you can calculate the benefits over a few
years
Are there schools in this neighborhood to involve as part of the
environmental science curriculum?
Also consider some urban farming.. Living walls with vegetables.
Green Living Technologies and an Urban Farming organization are
looking for neighborhoods to implement and study
Liza McConnell
Apr 19, 2009, 1:36:16 PM4/19/09
to 21st Century Plowshare
I think the roof of my building would be great, except that it is
owned
by Orthodox Jews and I doubt they would be receptive to the idea, (but
they complain about high utility costs every time they try to raise
our rent)
Also, our building is supposed to be "commercial" but all the tenants
live there
(so it may be a problem for a project that receives any outside
funding or publicity.)
But that said, it has a large (approx 50' by 200') very shallowly
pitched roof that leaks in heavy rains.
(I know because it leaks into my apartment.)
The utilities are paid in total for the whole building by the
landlord, so energy savings
would be very straightforward to calculate, and I imagine considerable
thermal benefits for
top floor tenants like myself.
The roof is accessible by two staircases on either end of the
building. There are
several "lower rooftops" on the backside of the building that could
also be done.
There are two taller loft-style buildings nearby that would have views
to the roof.
The Walworth St side of the block has a number of mysterious, lower-
roofed commercial buildings as well
and it would be great to see the whole block done. One of the
buildings is a newly
renovated alcohol treatment center with views to the rooftops in
question... I bet
the people there would benefit from some green views and be willing to
comment
on it over time.
Anyway, my building is on Spencer St. between Myrtle and Willoughby.
The backside
with lower rooftops faces the very crusty Walworth street. For
reference, this is right near
the Bed-Stuy Home Depot.
Curious if the two inital caveats are as critical as I imagine they
are... your thoughts?
owned
by Orthodox Jews and I doubt they would be receptive to the idea, (but
they complain about high utility costs every time they try to raise
our rent)
Also, our building is supposed to be "commercial" but all the tenants
live there
(so it may be a problem for a project that receives any outside
funding or publicity.)
But that said, it has a large (approx 50' by 200') very shallowly
pitched roof that leaks in heavy rains.
(I know because it leaks into my apartment.)
The utilities are paid in total for the whole building by the
landlord, so energy savings
would be very straightforward to calculate, and I imagine considerable
thermal benefits for
top floor tenants like myself.
The roof is accessible by two staircases on either end of the
building. There are
several "lower rooftops" on the backside of the building that could
also be done.
There are two taller loft-style buildings nearby that would have views
to the roof.
The Walworth St side of the block has a number of mysterious, lower-
roofed commercial buildings as well
and it would be great to see the whole block done. One of the
buildings is a newly
renovated alcohol treatment center with views to the rooftops in
question... I bet
the people there would benefit from some green views and be willing to
comment
on it over time.
Anyway, my building is on Spencer St. between Myrtle and Willoughby.
The backside
with lower rooftops faces the very crusty Walworth street. For
reference, this is right near
the Bed-Stuy Home Depot.
Curious if the two inital caveats are as critical as I imagine they
are... your thoughts?
21stcentur...@gmail.com
Apr 20, 2009, 8:55:22 AM4/20/09
to 21st Century Plowshare
Laurie,
Thanks for your insight! I particularly appreciate the idea of
starting with a baseline, and think that the idea of involving schools
is great. I used to work for a vendor to the public schools called the
Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment, they recently closed shop
I'm afraid. I wonder if there are other similar programs.
Anyone with kids, or other specific relationships to neighborhood
schools? Joanna?
Can you give a link or two re: Urban Farming organizations? This
sounds like a great way to scale this idea up and maybe move it into
other neighborhoods!
Thanks for your insight! I particularly appreciate the idea of
starting with a baseline, and think that the idea of involving schools
is great. I used to work for a vendor to the public schools called the
Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment, they recently closed shop
I'm afraid. I wonder if there are other similar programs.
Anyone with kids, or other specific relationships to neighborhood
schools? Joanna?
Can you give a link or two re: Urban Farming organizations? This
sounds like a great way to scale this idea up and maybe move it into
other neighborhoods!
21stcentur...@gmail.com
Apr 20, 2009, 9:00:43 AM4/20/09
to 21st Century Plowshare
Hey Liza,
I don't know whether the caveats are important. I am guessing so, I
think that this has to be a more-legal-than-not-legal project, and
getting into C of O issues sounds like a potential project killer.
Maybe Matt or Cody, who are the real momentum behind this project, can
answer that question. And maybe it's worth investigating how
commercial your commercial building is. On Freeman street, we were
zoned M1-R6, and it was legal to live there, it was technically a
mixed-use building... but I am no expert.
No doubt that the benefits to the tenants and landlord (lower
utilities, no leaks, cooler summer) would be serious.
I don't know whether the caveats are important. I am guessing so, I
think that this has to be a more-legal-than-not-legal project, and
getting into C of O issues sounds like a potential project killer.
Maybe Matt or Cody, who are the real momentum behind this project, can
answer that question. And maybe it's worth investigating how
commercial your commercial building is. On Freeman street, we were
zoned M1-R6, and it was legal to live there, it was technically a
mixed-use building... but I am no expert.
No doubt that the benefits to the tenants and landlord (lower
utilities, no leaks, cooler summer) would be serious.
21stcentur...@gmail.com
Apr 20, 2009, 9:04:36 AM4/20/09
to 21st Century Plowshare
I do think it's good to think about this in terms of tenants and
landlords working together generally.
And I am also reminded of the conversation Erica and Jennifer
Steverson and Sara and Tom and I got involved in at the afterparty,
about getting landlords to think in terms of other upgrades, like new
windows, better refrigerators, insulation.
Rental units are often thought about in terms of low cost and not in
terms of efficiency, and this thinking tends to shoot both landlords
and tenants in the foot!
landlords working together generally.
And I am also reminded of the conversation Erica and Jennifer
Steverson and Sara and Tom and I got involved in at the afterparty,
about getting landlords to think in terms of other upgrades, like new
windows, better refrigerators, insulation.
Rental units are often thought about in terms of low cost and not in
terms of efficiency, and this thinking tends to shoot both landlords
and tenants in the foot!
Run For Cover!
Apr 20, 2009, 4:57:08 PM4/20/09
to 21stcentur...@googlegroups.com
>Laurie,
>
>Thanks for your insight! I particularly appreciate the idea of
>starting with a baseline, and think that the idea of involving schools
>is great. I used to work for a vendor to the public schools called the
>Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment, they recently closed shop
>I'm afraid. I wonder if there are other similar programs.
>
>Thanks for your insight! I particularly appreciate the idea of
>starting with a baseline, and think that the idea of involving schools
>is great. I used to work for a vendor to the public schools called the
>Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment, they recently closed shop
>I'm afraid. I wonder if there are other similar programs.
BCUE is closed? I haven't heard of anything else.
>
>Anyone with kids, or other specific relationships to neighborhood
>schools? Joanna?
I know that there hs at times been discussion about a green roof for
the building that BNS and BCS (the affiliated 6-12 school) occupies.
I don't think it's gone anywhere, but I could try to find out.
>
>Can you give a link or two re: Urban Farming organizations? This
>sounds like a great way to scale this idea up and maybe move it into
>other neighborhoods!
There's the East New York Farm near New Lots and the one in Red Hook.
Joanna
--
Joanna Wissinger & Paul Mann
Run for Cover!
587A Lexington Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11221 USA
http://www.runforcoverbooks.com
laurie broccolo
Apr 20, 2009, 8:11:15 PM4/20/09
to Run For Cover!, 21stcentur...@googlegroups.com
Mike Travis is the contact for Urban Farming. He is the executive director out of Detroit and was at the Go Green Expo this past weekend in NYC
MikeT...@urbanfarming.org 248-388-4740
Laurie Broccolo, CEO
Certified Nursery Professional
Broccolo Tree & Lawn Care
2059 Brighton-Henrietta TL Rd.
Rochester, NY 14623
585-424-4476 fax 585-292-0995
www.broccologroup.com
> Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:57:08 -0400
> From: ord...@runforcoverbooks.com
> Subject: Re: Green Roofs
> To: 21stcentur...@googlegroups.com
MikeT...@urbanfarming.org 248-388-4740
Laurie Broccolo, CEO
Certified Nursery Professional
Broccolo Tree & Lawn Care
2059 Brighton-Henrietta TL Rd.
Rochester, NY 14623
585-424-4476 fax 585-292-0995
www.broccologroup.com
> Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:57:08 -0400
> From: ord...@runforcoverbooks.com
> Subject: Re: Green Roofs
> To: 21stcentur...@googlegroups.com
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