MILWAUKEE, WI, Aug. 20, 2013 -- Badger Meter, a specialist in flow measurement and control products, completed a new 10,000 square-foot green roof at their headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis., in November of 2012. The renovation is expected to reduce the annual runoff into the stormwater system (an estimated 249,000 gallons) by as much as 90 percent and delay the remaining 10 percent to a time past peak flows.
For every one inch of rainfall, the green roof collects just under 6,000 gallons of water if it is dry. If it is saturated or frozen, some of the water will run off. By keeping excess water from roofs, parking lots and impervious surfaces out of the sewer system, the company is helping reduce the risk of basement backups and sewer overflows. Green roofs like Badger's also help prevent rain from becoming polluted stormwater runoff, the biggest remaining threat to our rivers and lakes in the United States.
When it was time to replace the roof, Badger Meter thoroughly reviewed available options to find the most effective solution. According to Brian Rogers, the company's facilities manager, after several months of in-depth research, he and his team determined a green roof was the best option. A key benefit of a green roof is water retention. During a rainstorm, green rooftops collect and store water that would otherwise run off into the sewer. "We wanted a solution that would be innovative, efficient and all-around better for the company," says Rogers. "The green roof not only makes sense from an environmental standpoint, it was a sound economic choice."###