Staples opts out of ‘living roof’
total recycling
Lydia Mulvany 21.FEB.08
The Bulletin Newspapers
Some neighbors not happy with reasons
After evaluating the possibility of building a living roof-one that is
covered with plantings-on top of the new Staples planned for Roslindale
Square, Staples has decided on another roof that uses more skylights to
save on lighting, which the Boston Redevelopment Authority said was more
energy-efficient. This has left some of Roslindale's green-inclined
residents feeling betrayed.
A BRA spokesperson said that Staples does not need to do the living roof,
and because they are not considered a "large" project, they do not need to
comply with green standards at all. Staples' goal is to achieve a silver
rating according to the national consensus-based green rating system LEED,
which is a score between 33 and 38 points out a possible of 69. Based on
current plans and a number of other green elements, Staples' score is 37.
In addition to the roof with skylights, the building is going to have
environmentally safe carpet, HVAC ventilation, and four parking spots set
aside for high efficiency vehicles. The company's goal is to reduce their
carbon emissions by seven percent by 2010 from where they were in 2001,
including the fact that Staples is constantly building new stores, said Black.
Staples has been working closely with Colleen Soden at the Green Round
Table, who is advising Staples on the LEED system.
"There are several design options being evaluated." said Ralph Cappola, an
architect for the Staples building. "Early on living roofs were evaluated,
but there are other designs that seem to have a more direct impact."
"We looked at a lot of different roof options, and the roof we're going
with is the best option to reduce carbon emissions," said Mike Black, a
spokesperson for Staples. "The building will be more 24 percent more
efficient than our other Staples stores."
"What Staples is doing now is above and beyond what they need to do," said
a BRA spokesperson.
Letting in sunlight would allow them to keep light bulbs off four to six
hours a day.
But residents say that you can't count kilowatts with the living roof.
"A living roof does not preclude having as much energy efficiency as may be
desired," said one abutter, who thought that those involved might not be
aware of the technology. "Living roofs are about more than energy
efficiency. They represent a commitment to a healthier and more beautiful
community."
Karen Weber of Earth Our Only Home, Inc. (EOOH), a Roslindale-based green
roof consultancy, and the new Roslindale-based non-profit Foundation for a
Green Future, was approached by residents who wanted Staples to lead the
community by installing the first living roof in Roslindale. She said she
hopes Staples will change its mind.
"People are unaware of the full impacts. They are focused on saving energy,
which is important, but they don't realize there are solutions that not
just save energy, but have other vital impacts," said Weber. "We're
thrilled they thought to make it a LEED building, but we didn't ask for
that. The community knows how important the green roof is, and the one
thing we asked for is could they put a green roof on, and they were
originally amenable to that."
Weber said that a building the size of Staples-which will be around 19,000
square feet-gets the greatest energy impact. A conventional roof heats up
to between 150 and 200 degrees on a hot summer day. A green roof stays
between 77 and 90 degrees throughout the summer. This helps the building
keep cooler, and allows the building not to have to utilize energy to cool
itself off.
"When you start looking at effects on neighborhoods, the more green roofs
we get, you start to see a cumulative effect," said Weber. "That can bring
the ambient temperature down overall, and that decreases energy across the
board by 15 percent, so that's for the whole neighborhood."
Green roofs are costly-Staples was quoted at between eight and nine dollars
per square foot, which is economical considering they can run up to 17; but
they last between 50 and 100 years, said Weber.
"It's a long-term investment, and you can see the benefits come back
rapidly. In seven to ten years, they'll see their payback," she said.
Another factor is storm water runoff. Green roofs are like sponges and
retain the water. It also muffles noise, and has public health benefits
like reducing allergens and asthma.
"Boston is up on the charts for asthma. Look at the cost it takes to run
those hospitals and make the medicine. We're so shortsighted we stop just
at the first point," said Weber. "On Washington Street there's almost
nothing green. If you put 19,000 square feet of green roof, that's very
close to the 23,000 square feet which absorbs a ton of CO2 during the
roof's lifetime."
Another important aspect is biodiversity. Coastal waters are supposed to
warm up, and Weber warns that the first marine life to move into warmer
waters are jelly fish.
"When they invade a fishery, they destroy it completely," said Weber. "When
we shift that differential by greening Boston and the coast of
Massachusetts, we have the opportunity to restore nature's balance and
start to cool down our coastal waters again, and we will see an impact on
the fisheries. Each person in their place making their small decision
doesn't necessarily see that the impact weighs really heavily."
Earth Our Only Home was recognized last summer by the Boston City Council
through a resolution by City Councilor Rob Consalvo for "tireless
commitment to the building of green roofs throughout the city of Boston in
an effort to aid in the reduction of global warming not only in our city
but across the globe."
According to EOOH, most green roofs have several layers. On the bottom is a
waterproof membrane, on top of which is a root barrier to prevent roots
from growing into the roof. Then there is a water retention and drainage
layer, a planting medium, and finally, plants. The planting medium should
be engineered from regional soil, organic material, and porous rocks like
shale or pumice. The Staples building would be planted with a flowering
perennial common to green roofs, the sedum.
The technology is lightweight and economical, and proven to work. Ten
percent of Germany's cities are green roofed, said Weber.
Other green roofs planned in Boston include the WGBH roof, and green roofs
already exist on the World Trade Center, the Four Seasons Hotel and
Massachusetts General Hospital.