If you’ve been looking to expand your school, or update your facilities, you may have heard about living roofs. Some states are requiring new construction to incorporate efficient roofing and building design to help reduce the demand of natural resources for heating and cooling. (Maryland is one example of a state that is mandating new building design to be green.) But, even in states that haven’t changed their requirements, there is still a movement happening within American schools.
According to a press release from the U.S. Green Building Council, the average school in America is 42 years old, and energy inefficiencies cost approximately $100,000 a year—money that could be better spent on teachers, books, technology, etc. Renovations that include living roofs dramatically reduce the cost of heating and cooling, as well as benefit water drainage systems.
Architects and architect firms are zoning in on the energy inefficiency concerns, and many of them are incorporating energy conservative designs into their proposals.
Here are a few examples of schools that have upgraded their facility to include living roofs:
- Nueva School, Hillside Learning Complex
- Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Education High School
- Drew School
- COMING SOON: Fifth Street Farm Project—a large school building in New York that houses several institutions. Design led by World Trade Center Memorial designer, Michael Arad.
Eco Eco’le is an organization dedicated to helping schools and helping the environment. Its Web site is a good source of information for schools looking to incorporate energy-efficient upgrades.
For those that have recently incorporated living roofs on their campus, the 9th Annual Green Roof & Wall Conference in Philadelphia, PA, is November 30-December 3, 2011. Submissions are being accepted until 11:59 PM PST, July 6, 2011.
Curious how your facility’s new living roof will affect your insurance policies? In response to several state mandates to “green” new construction as well as the growing interest of living roofs and environmentally conscious construction, several insurance providers such as Travelers offer policies designed for green incentives. Check with your agent or broker for more information and direction about planning a green upgrade for your facilities.
If your school has a living roof, send us a picture. We would love to compile several examples and include them in an upcoming issue.
