Successful green roofs can be considered “low maintenance.” However, they should never be viewed as “no maintenance.” Not having a maintenance program in place will reduce the overall effectiveness of the initial investment made during installation.
When embarking on a sustainable plan that has the potential to transform a campus, why not start with a highly visible bang? Providence College in Providence, R.I., recently seized such an opportunity by installing thin-film building integrated photovoltaics on the roof of the Slavin Center, the college’s student center.
Whether it’s a large commercial project or a single-family residence, one company is poised to help building owners who are looking into solar power. Headquartered in Los Gatos, Calif., Akeena Solar has been designing and installing solar systems since 2001, and Jose Tengco, Director of Communications at Akeena, says the company has been an innovator since its inception.
Sustainability and green design are the largest emerging trends driving change in the roofing industry today. Frequently you will find the terms used separately or synonymously, indicating confusion in true meaning.
Garden roofs are a scenic application that is swiftly gaining popularity globally for commercial buildings in metropolitan areas. They are found on convention centers, college campuses, airports and medical facilities, just to name a few.
Selecting green products for new hospital construction can have a positive impact on patient outcomes and the productivity of its medical staff. Therefore, the owners of the 12,000-square-foot LEED-certified hospital within Washington state's Gateway Medical Center specified the hospital's building envelope with great care, including a durable ENERGY STAR single-ply roofing system from IB Roof Systems.
For most architects, the concept of sustainability is nothing new. Up until recently, the designer was the only member of the building team who understood the general concept and interpreted its guidelines on a job-by-job basis.