Green Roof of the Year 2014

Green Roof of the Year 2014 – 30 Years and Counting

The oldest Green Roof Association in the world, FBB (Fachvereinigung für Bauwerksbegrünung), awarded a prize for Green Roof of the Year 2014 to a 30 year old Green Roof on the Allianz Insurance Company in Stuttgart, Germany. 

 

The roof is one of the first projects where Jörg Breuning, CEO at Green Roof Service LLC / Green Roof Technology was substantially involved in the realization. Allianz Insurance Company decided in 1981 to build their local headquarters in the heart of Stuttgart. At that time the office building was already a big step forward for urban development in many regards. Along with very advanced, environmentally friendly technologies it was also one of the first buildings to achieve the split between living green working space and luxurious living in downtown of a large City. 

The Green Roof is generally assembled around the building and on different levels. Most people in the offices have a view into the green spaces.  Some areas of the Green Roof are accessible for coffee breaks and, on the highest floors there is usable garden space for the Condominium owners. The top floor even offers extensive lawn areas as playgrounds for kids.

All Green Roofs together measure over 21,000 sf. This inner city oasis utilized an advanced Optigreen Green Roof Systems with fully automatic high tide and low tide irrigation system in the mineral drainage layer. The plants “decide” when they need irrigation; no drop of water is wasted or can evaporate before reaching a plant. Neither a person nor electricity is needed to operate this fully mechanical system and it leaves enough room for precipitation to fill up the water storage under the plants. This green roof represents a smart combination of Blue Roof and Green Roof as Green Roof Service LLC / Green Roof Technology is still doing it on projects today. It is a foremost and 100% accurate irrigation system far beyond most irrigation systems that are operated by sensors, electricity, Apps, tubes, pipes or other highly vulnerable and expensive equipment  we see every day on projects in North America or around the world.  

The entire depth of this highly efficient Green Roof technology is approximately 18 inch and has allowed lawn, perennials, shrubs and small trees to grow for over 30 year without replacement or  changing out the growing media. 

Green Roof Service LLC / Green Roof Technology is proud of this Award and we are pleased to offer more information about it. We offer Green Roof tours for anyone interested in this kind of technology.

This has been a landmark project for more than 3 decades and we congratulate all who are part of this Award!
 
 

 

Green Roof Solar Demonstration Plot at NYC Parks Dept. Building

Solar Green Roof - NYC Parks and Recreation Demonstration Roof

Recently, Highview Creations and Green Roof Service LLC / Green Roof Technology installed a new green roof and solar technology on top of a NYC Parks Department building, which is being used to display different green roof systems.  The display is the first installation in the United States, and it presents a combination of green roof and solar technologies.  When coupled, they can provide a beneficial relationship to maximize energy production and stormwater retention.

The Solar Green Roof is ballasted by an extensive green roof, eliminating the need for rooftop penetrations

The solar array of the system sits on an HDPE molded support module, and is ballasted by an extensive green roof system that sits in the mold above the existing rooftop.  Usually, rooftop solar systems are ballasted by supports that penetrate the rooftop membrane, increasing installation costs and the possibility of roof leaks because of more penetrations.  This system eliminates the need for such complex installations and decreases the possibility of leaking.

Solar technology has an efficient temperature range of up to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.  When temperatures rise above this, the solar panel loses its voltage production efficiency by about .5%.  On rooftops, temperatures can easily rise above 100 degrees (and up to 130+ degrees), and can reduce solar panel efficiency by more than 15%.

A green roof can keep rooftop temperatures at, and sometimes below ambient temperatures (depending on the type of system).  When coupled with Solar technology, electricity production becomes more efficient by keeping surrounding temperatures lower than an exposed rooftop.  Green roofs can also lower energy costs through increased insulation in the summer, and by reducing air conditioning costs.  Because a green roof lowers ambient temperatures, HVAC systems take in cooler air, which reduces the energy required to cool warmer air.

As with any green roof system, stormwater will be retained during days of precipitation.  In cities like New York, stormwater retention through green infrastructure lessens the burden on combined sewer systems. This decreases the chances of an overflow, which can release waste water and pollutants into surrounding waterways during significant rain events.

The Solar Green Roof is a new technology Highview Creations strongly supports.  By combining the two systems, electricity generation and conservation becomes more efficient, and green roof benefits are still achievable.  The Solar Green Roof is exclusively distributed through our partners at Green Roof Technologies. by Eric Dalski

Combining PV and Green Roofs

In Europe there are many manufactures with PV and green roof solutions. I also like to mention Optigreen AG - probably the larges green roof manufacturer in the world -for sure the most flexible system in each regard. I did my first Green roof- PV project in 1995 Zeppelin Carré Stuttgart.

My company is an American company but I am still involved in projects in Germany or featuring German projects from the past or ongoing. Last Friday I visited the construction of the largest green roof and PV combination project in the world. This 75,000 sft PV Green roof combination is in Stuttgart Germany, will produce energy for 250 four person house holds and -as said still- under construction. However the entire development of this new fair ground as the forth largest PV park in the world mounted on roofs. There are endless green roofs and PVs. With Roof mounted PVs Germany has nearly 20 projects under the largest 30 in the world and has the leadership in the world.

See a 2009 rendering of the Green roof PV project and expect more information.

 

- Jörg Breuning welcomes people who want to learn from decades of green roof experience - 

 

askjorg@greenrooftechnology.com

Green Roof Service LLC

Green Roof Service LLC /Green Roof Technology is the first company in the United States specializing in professional green roof services. Jorg Breuning are the founders and he has over 30 years of green roof experience which is by far unmatched in the United States. In 1999 Jörg Breuning brought modern green roof technology to the United States. He designed, specified, installed, supervised and monitored more extensive green roofs installations in Germany than there are currently in the entire US (2009) - multi millions of square feet.

With this unsurpassed background Green Roof Service LLC has the best assets to team with architects, landscape architects, developer, general contractors, roofing manufacturers and installers, landscaping companies, suppliers or structural engineers to foster highest quality for any green roof application or any green roof systems for commercial, residential, and institutional structures which includes new construction, retrofits and ongoing maintenance services.

Green Roof Service LLC is obligated to teach, develop and apply advanced green roof solutions in the entire United States and they are the only firm in North America actively transferring proven green roof technology, standards or guidance from leading countries in Europe – especially Germany.Green Roof Service LLC certainly understands their world leader ship and being the first green roof experts in the United States of America and is proud to be mentor and supporter for most of the early key players in the American green roof market including the North American Green Roof Association (GRHC). Green Roof Service is part of selected committees at GRHC, reviewing papers for presentations, forming national education programs and writing articles about selected topics to fuel the North American market with experience based information.
Green Roof Service’s co-founder Jorg Breuning consulted the nation’s first green roof research program at Penn State University in State College and systematically helped to make American’s aware of green roof technology since 1989. As an independent green roof consultant he provided key information, site supervision and hands on training for many award winning projects like Chicago City Hall, Chicago, IL, Chicago Green Technology Centre, Chicago, IL, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago, IL, Oaklyn Branch Library, Evansville, IN, Heinz 57 Center, Corporate Headquarters, Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University, MV Celebrity Solstice Cruise Ship.
Green roof services focused on specific projects are the application or practical sector at Green Roof Service LLC. The sector of theory based facts is covered with ongoing lectures at University, Colleges, municipalities, organizations, associations and architects so to speak at Toronto Botanical Garden, New York botanical Garden, GRHC conferences, Sustainable South Bronx New York, The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, Westmoreland Conservation District, Roofscapes Inc. conference, FBB Association, Tecta America Company meeting, Royal Caribbean / Celebrity Cruises, Earth Pledge Foundation, Rotary Club Bel Air, A3C Architects, Lancaster County/City and much more.

Last but not least Green Roof Service’s knowledge is also incorporated in many brochures, company information, text books and reference books such as Green Roof Handbook RCT, Skyland USA LLC, Cetco Garden Roof Assembly, GAF GardenScapesTM, “Green Roof Plants” by Ed Snodgrass, Germany FLL Guideline, FBB Association, selection of papers on “Tree of Knowledge” at Green Roofs for Healthy Cities North America, at ASTM and SPRI standards.