The document provides an overview of Green Roof Technology's publication "Green Instance", which highlights living infrastructure projects and technologies.
It begins by introducing the 'Sun-Root' living roof system, a new green roof technology that combines solar photovoltaic panels and modern green roofing. It then discusses Celebrity Cruises' award-winning "Lawn Club" onboard lawns and the David Kemp Hall green roof at Swarthmore College.
The document emphasizes the importance of integrating living systems into built environments in a way that seamlessly combines form and function. It highlights projects that best mimic natural ecosystems while serving their intended purposes efficiently.
2. GREEN INSTANCE
The International Review of Living Infrastructure
CONTENT
SUN-ROOTS
WE KNOW FORM AND FUNCTION
COVER PHOTO
Swarthmore College, David Kemp Hall
by Green Roof Technology
GREEN INSTANCE
The International Review of Living Infrastructure
Page 3-4
The ‘Sun-Root’ Living Roof System
GREEN WALLS
Publisher:
Green Roof Service LLC
3646 Roland Ave.
Baltimore, Maryland 21211
Phone
Fax
E-mail
Web
443 345 1578
443 345 1533
info@greenrooftechnology.com
www.greenrooftechnology.com
Edition:
2
; year 2
Senior Editor
Jörg Breuning
Green Roof Service LLC
Page 5-8
Climbing in All Directions
AN A-LIST EVENT
Layout:
Green Roof Service LLC
Page 9-10
Celebrity Cruises’ Lawn Club
TELLUS 360
Page 11-12
Old Roof New Story
TECH TALK
1
Page 13-18
3. EDITORIAL
The Beauty of Form and Function
Welcome to Green Roof Technology.
Spring is here and this time of year is always an especially good time
to celebrate the incredible wonders of nature’s design. We spend the
best part of our lives trying to harness nature’s beauty and utilize its
nourishing potential to better our built environments. Our commitment
to living infrastructure drives us to continue encouraging all architects,
developers, city officials, and all alike to continue integrating living
systems into their designs. The most beautiful designs in our built
environments originate from that sweet spot where form and function
meet seamlessly. In the world of living infrastructure, the beauty of form
and function resides in the systems that best mimic natural ecosystems
while carrying out their intended purpose effectively and efficiently.
In our second edition of Green Instance, we highlight products, projects,
and methodologies that exemplify this philosophy. We believe the future
of living infrastructure resides in its ability to be seamlessly integrated
with existing technologies. The combination of solar photovoltaic
elements and modern green roof technology is one such opportunity.
The ‘Sun-Root’ Living Roof System harnesses these principals and is the
newest green roof technology to reach the American shores.
Over the last five years, Green Roof Technology has had the pleasure
working with Celebrity Cruises to develop and install their award winning
Lawn Clubs. These ground-remote natural turf lawns are one-of-a-kind
and have forever transformed the landscape of seafaring habitation.
Green roofs are our passion, and no issue of Green Instance will pass
without a highlight of one of our favorite projects and a word of wisdom
about their application.
Once again thank you for your support and we look forward to continuing
our conversation.
Jörg Breuning
4. The ‘Sun Roots’ Living Roof System
A n d r e w Ya n d e r s
Heat is the enemy of energy production.
It has a negative impact on voltage,
which affects power production. When
atmospheric temperatures on a roof begin
to rise, PV elements lose their efficiency
and can shut down if temperatures rise too
high. Green roofs reduce roof top ambient
temperatures through evaporation and
evapotranspiration, dramatically increasing
PV efficiency.
BENEFITS OF THE ‘Sun-Root’ LIVING ROOF SYSTEM
• Each ‘Sun-Root’ is 7.5’ x 4’ and produces approximately 350 Watts.
• Does not penetrate roof membrane.
• First solar mounting system optimized for green roofs.
• 30° attachment angle for maximum power yield.
• PV panel inclines are adjustable for irregular roof pitch (2-5%).
• Compatible with most photovoltaic panels.
• Uses high-quality recycled HDPE with UV inhibitors for durability and extended life.
• Much lower environmental impact comparing to metal racking systems.
• Rigid ‘root’ design for maximum strength.
• Light-weight and easy to install.
Bottom:
Right:
‘Sun-Roots’ during installation
Photo - Optigrun
Lower Left:
Right:
13
3
Field of ‘Sun-Roots’
Photo - Optigrun
Sun-Root Construction - Optigrun
Field of Sun-Roots - Optigrun
6. GREEN WALLS
Climbing in All Directions
Kat Harrold
Where square footage is at a premium the
demand for green space has become one
of the hottest commodities. In a high rise
apartment building one might consider the
options quite scarce. Try thinking outside
the box, literally, and imagine all the vertical
space available. Where horizontal space is
limited, vertical gardens offer a green oasis
in a concrete jungle.
With the right plant selection outdoor green
walls make wonderful neighbors. A green
wall composed of hardy vines can provide
seasonal interest with an array of colorful
leaves and fragrant blossoms. Plant selection
can also attract birds and pollinating insects.
In spite of their good looks, climbing green
walls can be low maintenance requiring only
occasional pruning and irrigation. Steel
cables and wire-mesh grids can be used to
support and train climbing vegetation.
Green walls can play an important role in
energy savings. By shading the building
during the summer and providing insulation
in the winter, green walls reduce seasonal
stresses of heating and cooling. The ideal
location for a green wall to reduce summer
cooling costs is the south facing side of the
building. The southern exposure receives
the most sun light which can also be very
beneficial to the vines.
Left:
Top Right:
Green wall, Support mesh ~ Green Roof Technology
Green Wall Apartment Building - Goldtex
Mid Right:
Jasmine nudiflorum ~ usda.org
Parthenocissus quinquefolia ~ wildflower.org
5
Balcony Green Walls
Green Root Technology
Hydrangea petiolaris ~ Green Roof Technology
7. “Steel cables and wiremesh grids can be used to
support and guide climbing
8. AN A-LIST EVENT
Celebrity Cruises’ The Lawn Club
Kat Harrold
Over the last three years, Celebrity Cruises
has introduced a whole new class of ships
to its fleet. Characterized by its chic and
elegant design, the Solstice Class is also
the world’s most environmentally friendly
cruise ship line.
In 2008, Green Roof
Technology was commissioned to design
and manage the installation of the world’s
first seafaring turf lawn. The Lawn Club has
become synonymous with the level of luxury
Celebrity Cruises offers to its passengers.
The wonderful reception of the Celebrity
Solstice Lawn Club has led to three more
Solstice Class ships equipped with their own
Lawn Clubs.
To meet the ship’s design challenge, Green
Roof Technology utilized modern green roof
technology to successfully reduce the profile
of the vegetation support system by several
inches in order to meet center-of-gravity
weight restrictions. If it were not for the
engineering ingenuity of the firm, The Lawn
Club would not have been realized. The
beauty of the lawn is derived from its form.
The application of good engineering has led
to a beautiful product.
Typically lawn systems supporting lush turf
grass require a soil depth of at least twelve
inches. In order to meet weight restrictions,
a 5 inch modified green roof system with
subsurface irrigation was designed.
A
surface irrigation system is used to flush
excess salts from the lawn. All runoff from
the lawn is collected and treated on the ship.
Green Roof Technology will be embarking
again to northern Germany in the fall to
manage the installation of another Lawn
Club.
Project Name:
Year:
Owner:
Location:
Building Type:
Type:
System:
Size:
Slope:
Access:
7
Lawn keeper - Photos: Green Roof Technology
The Lawn Club
2008 - 2012
Celebrity Cruises
Worldwide
Lawn
Intensive
Single Source Provider
22,000 - 20,000 sq. ft.
0%
Accessible, Private
11. CELEBRITY LAWN CLUB
Lush turf grass sets the stage for that perfect summer day. Nothing makes a relaxing
afternoon or picnic more enjoyable than the feel of grass between your toes.
12. SWARTHMORE DAVID KEMP HALL
Reaches Tenure
Kat Harrold
For some, green roofs may seem a novel
addition to a green minded institution but
to Swarthmore College it was an essential
and strategic move. When the college
needed to add a dormitory to accommodate
its growing student body, there were
concerns about the increased run off from
the new construction. Green roofs offered
a solution that minimized the building foot
print making construction of the new dorm
possible.
The green roof was spear headed by a few
brave faculty, dedicated alumni and students,
and Green Roof Technology. To stay on
budget the school chose to invest in a green
roof instead of the costly LEED certificate
while still building to LEED standards. This
dorm was recognized in 2010 with the
American Institute of Architects Housing
Award.
11
Photos by: Green Roof Technology
The 8,600 sf green roof is the home to many
plant species including sedum album murale,
sedum spurieum roseum, delosperma
nubigerum, and some indigenous plantings.
The green roof also features a raised planting
bed for experimental vegetation such as
cacti.
The profile of the green roof is a shallow
extensive system and has a total profile of
3.5 inches with the growing media depth
composed of 2 inches. While Swarthmore
may have a reputation for having the
best maintained green roofs in the area,
the maintenance required on the roof is
blissfully minimal. To maintain its pristine
state Gardener Lars Rasmussen weeds
occasionally as needed and irrigates only
when drought conditions exceed two
weeks. The roof is minimally fertilized and
occasionally cutting back of the overly
aggressive plants takes place to encourage
more diversity on the roof.
Since its installation the green roof has
reduced run off, air pollution, and saved
energy on the top floor of the building by
as much as 25%. While the green roof is
not available for students to congregate it
is open for guided tours and classes and is
visible to all from the third floor.
Project Name:
Year:
Owner:
Location:
Building Type:
Type:
System:
Size:
Slope:
Access:
David Kemp Hall
2008
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA, USA
Academic
Extensive
Single Source Provider
8,600 sq. ft.
0%
Accessible, Private
13. Green roof yoga warrior pose ~ Tellus 360
10
Vegetated swale of grasses flowering herbaceous plants ~ Tellus 360
14. GREEN ROOF IRRIGATION
Environmentally Questionable and
Expensive – Why so Common then?
A n d r e w Ya n d e r s
Here at Green Roof Technology we are
often confronted with a perplexing industry
occurrence. Frequently we visit extensive
green roof sites or monitor extensive green
roof projects that have installed an irrigation
system. It is difficult to justify the necessity
of an irrigation system for extensive green
roofs. Sedums, other low growing succulent
species, many grasses, and herbaceous
plants require no irrigation. The proper
selection of plant species is crucial and
species not suited for extensive green roof
purposes should not be used. An irrigation
system wastes potable water on plants that
do not need it.
This excess water only serves to promote
the growth of unwanted plants from foreign
origins.
Four to five inch extensive green roof
systems are well suited to most regions and
do not require irrigation. (Depending on
when the extensive green roof is installed,
a temporary irrigation program may be
necessary during the establishment phase.)
Weight-saving systems less than 4 inches
are often designed with an irrigation system
to compensate for their inability to retain
sufficient water during periods of drought.
If the purpose of an extensive green roof
is to retain stormwater, then why design a
system that does not retain enough water
to moderate periods without precipitation
and requires the use of additional potable
water? It is again difficult to justify the need
for an irrigation system on extensive green
roofs.
Green Roof Technology has recommended
that local governments establish a clear
consumer-oriented guideline for the bestpractice in extensive green roof construction
in their communities. This document would
clear-up any misunderstandings among
potential green roof investors and serve well
to educate the wider public on the functions
of the various layers involved in green roof
systems.
Upper Right:
Swarthmore College extensive green roof
By Green Roof Technology
Lower Right:
German Residence
By Green Roof Technology
13
Photo - Green Roof Technology
16. FLL REVISITED
The Green Roofing Guideline
A n d r e w Ya n d e r s
The FLL Green Roofing Guideline first
appeared in 1982 as the “Principles of
Green Roofing” and since 1992 has been
reworked many times as “Guideline for the
Planning, Construction and Maintenance of
Green Roofing – Green Roofing Guideline.”
It is recognized as the benchmark set of
regulations for green roofing in Germany.
The FLL Roof Greening Guideline is also
widely accepted abroad and serves in
some neighboring countries as the basis
for developing their own regulations.
Our summary covers the 2008 edition of the
FLL Green Roofing Guideline. The preface
to the FLL guideline clearly states the
importance and relevancy of the Guideline
and the constant diligence taken to adapt
and outline the newest developments in
the green roofing industry. The Guideline is
the result of unpaid technical and scientific
cooperative work and is intended to be a
recognized code of practice or state-ofthe-art; it is a basic tool for the planning,
construction and maintenance of reliable
and high quality performing green roofs.
The Guideline also includes transparent,
consumer oriented testing methods for
the investigation of vegetation, substrates
and aggregate drainage materials and the
investigation of resistance to root penetration
of roof membranes and protective layers.
Three sections of this paper provide a brief
summary of the three major components
of The Green Roofing Guideline: Planning,
Execution, and Maintenance. It is important
to note that the Guideline requires a
fundamental background in horticultural
science and engineering principals. The
Guideline is not an IKEA step-by-step
construction manual designed to enable any
Do-It-Yourself project.
Photos: FLL
To read the complete FLL Green Roofing Guideline summary,
please visit
www.greenrooftechnology.com/case-studies.
15
Upper Right:
Allianz Headquarters in Stuttgart
By Green Roof Technology
Lower Right:
Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, PA
By Green Roof Technology
17. BEFORE
Before Green Roof: Allianz Headquarters Stuttgart Germany
AFTER
After: 20+ Year Old Green Roorf Allianz Headquarters Stuttgart Germany
18. Poor maintenance leads to out of control plant growth.
Inadequate vegetation-free zones and mulching create drainage prob-
GREEN ROOF FORENSICS
Lancaster School District Calls In a Green Roof Doctor
B y A n d r e w Ya n d e r s
During the Fall of 2011, the School District of Lancaster and LIVE Green Lancaster requested Green Roof Technology
to tour and evaluate three green roofs in the district. The general diagnosis of the health of the green roofs was
poor. The obvious neglect of maintenance duties, coupled with a few key structural deficiencies, directly led to
the deterioration of ecosystem.
One of the most prevalent problems was the lack of weeding, which resulted in a siege on the roof by unwanted
plants. Tall weeds reached high above the sedums blocking out the sunlight and stealing water. Extensive green
roofs require a low amount of maintenance over the course of their lifespan, but do require diligent, sometimes
frequent, maintenance during their 2 – 3 year establishment phase. A coordinated maintenance program between
a maintenance team and a green roof professional is a must. Professional oversight should be present to monitor
progress and actively evaluate the health of the green roof ecosystem.
While mulching may work for ground applications, it is a death sentence to a green roof. Mulching around a
drain inlet, instead of providing a vegetation-free zone, promotes unwanted plant growth in and around the
drain. The combined effect of unwanted plant growth and accumulation of organic matter around the drain will
cause clogs and blockages. Drains must be covered with inspection boxes, surrounded by eighteen inches of
vegetation-free zone, and routinely inspected as part of the maintenance program. In this case, the drainage
area must be cleaned and rebuilt by a green roof professional in order to mitigate potential structural issues and
begin the journey back to full health.
17
20. STAMP
SERVICES
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www.greenrooftechnology.com
210 North Hickory Ave.
Bel Air, Maryland 21014
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Web:
443-345-1578
443-345-1533
info@greenrooftechnology.com
www.greenrooftechnology.com
WE KNOW FORM AND FUNCTION