GREENROOFS from rooftops to green acres

traditional roof garden, planting is done in freestanding containers and planters, located on accessible roof terrace or deck

green roof green space created by adding layers of growing medium and plants on top of a traditional roofing system

green roofs and vernacular architecture

industrial box green surface In Germany Stuttgart requires green roofs on all new flat-roofed industrial buildings

layers of a green roof system the plants, often specially selected for particular applications an engineered growing medium, which may not include soil, a landscape or filter cloth contain the roots and the growing medium, while allowing for water penetration, a specialized drainage layer, sometimes with built-in water reservoirs, the waterproofing / roofing membrane, with an integral root repellent the roof structure, with traditional insulation either above or below.

Intensive often accessible diverse plant communities several layers of materials depth from 20–60 cm (8-24"), with a saturated weight increase of between kg/m2 ( lbs/sf) Extensive often not accessible simple plant communities less layers of materials depth between 5-15 cm (2-6") weight increase of between kg / m2 (16-35 lbs/sf) when fully saturated

EXPERIMENT York University EFFICIENCY solar panels in Europe EDUCATION plots at Toronto City Hall

Tests show that 12 cm (5") of growing medium can reduce sound by 40 db. School boards can integrate curricula and provide added green space for students – outdoor rooftop classrooms Effluent produced by a factory is treated in an on-site sewage pond at grade and then filtered through the green roof Greenroofs absorb and/or deflect solar radiation Green roofs can be designed for exceptional storm water retention capability Green roofs can be designed as acceptable alternative habitats for some species, as the rocky alvars of Manitoulin Island and and to birds species that only nest on the ground.

ARCHITECTURE Tokio URBAN DESIGN

Current Examples of Green Roofs Chicago City Hall –Began April 2000 –Experimental study on green roofs –Both intensive and extensive green roofing

Current Examples of Green Roofs Ford Rouge River Plant, Dearborn Michigan –Part of Ford’s redevelopment of their plant; “sustainable manufacturing.” –454,000 square feet of green roofing; largest in the U.S.A. –Other environmental initiatives such as porous paving, green screens, and the planting of 1,500 trees.

Current Examples of Green Roofs Rockefeller Center, NYC ESL Company, Germany Gegenbaur Golf Course, Berlin

GREENING TORONTO’S ROOFS Toronto has several Green Roof initiatives –Toronto City Hall –Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre –Sears Merchandising Lofts Building –Mountain Equipment Co-op –Manulife Centre –Roundhouse Park – Metro Convention Centre

TORONTO CITY HALL 100 Queen Street West 7,000 square feet

EASTVIEW COMMUNITY CENTRE & SEARS LOFTS BUILDING Neighbourhood Community Centre 5,230 square feet 155 Dalhousie Street 10,000 square feet

MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO- OP 400 King Street West 9,700 square feet

Manulife Centre 55 Bloor Street West

ROUND HOUSE PARK Metro Toronto Convention Centre Parking Garage Bremner Boulevard 4.7 hectares

IMPLICATIONS FOR TORONTO’S ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY Toronto is on the right track. The number of green roofs are a sign of good things to come (hopefully). What is needed is the kind of incentive found in places like Germany, where local governments have created incentives through tax levies and density bonuses. The support of all three levels of governments. More studies and research; quantification of benefits to make green roods attractive to private companies & the general public. Awareness and education regarding the benefits of green roofs.

YES OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE GREEN ROOFS?