It is estimated that 52 percent of our nation's capital is covered with impervious surfaces such as streets, buildings, and parking lots.
"Serious impairments to local waterways usually begin when these amounts [of impervious surfaces] reach 10 percent," says Doug Curtis with the National Park Service and the Center for Urban Ecology. "[To deal with these problems,] planners are attempting to protect watersheds…and one system that can help but is often overlooked is a Green roof."
This is why the Center for Urban Ecology decided to install a 7,000-square-foot extensive Green roof atop their D.C. headquarters. With a Green roof, storm water is absorbed and cleaned, and what is discharged is released slowly into the environment. Additionally, the Green roof helps the facility conserve energy, prolong roof life, and reduce ambient air temperatures.
However, not any Green roof system would do. A team investigated the different Green roof options and concluded that one system stood out above all others: the GreenGrid® modular Green roof system manufactured by Weston Solutions Inc.
One of the features the team liked most about the GreenGrid system is that it is so lightweight. Additionally, Curtis appreciated the "design simplicity" of the GreenGrid system. Essentially, the soil and plant media are pre-installed in 100 percent recycled plastic modules and then placed on the rooftop. "As managers become more familiar with [Green roofs] and this technology…they will get past any resistance they have to installing Green roofs," he says.
GreenGrid® Green Roof System is a business of Weston Solutions, Inc -- a leading environment and redevelopment firm delivering comprehensive solutions to complex problems for industry and government worldwide.
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