NRCA will offer its final SpecRight Program training session of the year Oct. 21 in Washington, D.C. This program is being held in conjunction with NRCA's Fall Meetings. Participants will learn how to use NRCA's EnergyWise Roof Calculator Online to demonstrate to building owners how energy costs can be reduced through insulation. Additional topics include cool roofs and the latest trends in energy codes. Participants will earn 0.75 CEU upon completion of this one-day session. Click here for more information and to register.
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The Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing has announced a call for entries for its 2009 Excellence in Design Award program. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the center is a nonprofit 501 (c)(6) organization that serves as a forum to unite the roofing industry in the common cause of promoting the knowledge base, development and use of environmentally responsible, high-performance roof systems.

The program honors those who design energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and long-lasting roof systems according to accepted industry practices. Nominated roof systems must have been designed and installed after Jan. 1, 2006. Entries must be received by Nov. 21, and judging will be conducted by a panel of four roofing industry experts selected by the center.

One winner will be selected and notified by Dec. 5. The winner will be recognized during NRCA's 122nd Annual Convention in Las Vegas Feb. 1-5, 2009, and will receive a $2,500 cash prize, publicity during the convention, and acknowledgement in Professional Roofing and on the center's Web site and SpecRight's Web site.

For more information and to download an official entry form, click here.

For more information about the award program, contact Mary Mai, the center's director of corporate relations, at (202) 380-3371; fax (202) 380-3378; or e-mail mary@roofingcenter.org.
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Although roofing contractors are obliged to comply with local building codes and many are beginning to build "green," new initiatives for cool roofing—ranging from voluntary green building programs to heightened code requirements—are inducing change quickly. And the rush to conserve energy can cause confusion about compliance with these new initiatives. "New initiatives elevate cool metal roofing" will explain how metal roofing—unpainted, oven-baked paint finishes or granular-coated surfaces—can be a viable option to help conserve energy by reducing cooling loads and lowering the urban heat island effect. Click here to read the article.
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During September, NRCA Bookstore is offering 20 percent off worker training products, as well as The NRCA Green Roof Systems Manual—2007 Edition and The NRCA Green Roof Systems Manual—2007 Edition on CD.
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'Green' Building Principles Could Pay Off for Convention Center
Wral.com (09/05/08)

In Raleigh, N.C., the city's new downtown convention center is being hailed as a model in energy efficiency. Project Manager Jeff Deal commented: "The Raleigh Convention Center is the largest city project to date that includes sustainable design and construction practices." Among its design features is a white roof system that reflects rather than absorbs sunlight and heat. Other features include water sensors in the bathrooms and the use of environmentally friendly paints and carpets throughout the building. According to Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, the success of the convention center could mean more green structures for the city. Indeed, city planners hope to apply some of the same green principles to Raleigh's new police headquarters, which is now in the planning stages. Construction on that project is slated to start in 2009.
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Con Ed Installs 'Green Roof' in LIC
Queens Chronicle (09/03/08) Rosenberg, Noah

In Long Island City, Consolidated Edison's three-story Learning Center has a green roof system that is crowned with approximately 21,000 heat- and water-absorbing plants. The energy-saving system is the result of a collaboration between Con Ed and Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research. It is projected to save as much as 30 percent of the Center's peak-cooling costs. If Con Ed gets its way, other New York buildings will follow the Learning Center's lead. The system of sedum plants took about two weeks and $200,000 to install in July. Upon completion, maintenance became minimal. After a year or two, aside from periodic weeding, the plants will require no special care. In addition to absorbing heat and keeping the building cooler, the plants are able to soak up 30 percent to 70 percent of storm runoff that might otherwise strain local sewers. The utility company's resource conservation coordinator, Dave Westman, remarks: "With a black roof, the sun hits the roof and just causes the roof to heat up." He adds that Con Ed initially started considering the cost and environmental benefits of a green roof system on one of its facilities about a year ago.
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First LEED Building Arrives on Campus
The Shorthorn (09/04/08) Lutz, Sarah

The University of Texas at Arlington's Engineering Research Complex (ERC) will become the first building on campus to receive a silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. John Hall, administration and campus operations vice president, notes the ERC will have horizontal shading devices to reduce the solar load coming into the building. He adds that the ground around the building will have zero-scape vegetation, requiring little watering and maintenance. He states: "We'll also have tanks buried in the ground to catch the rain water. All the water from the site as well as the roof will flow into this area and be captured in those tanks." Additionally, the building will feature a green roof system, which will occupy 40 percent of the ERC along terraces on the north side of the structure. This positioning will create a less harsh environment for the vegetation, especially during the summer months. The other portions of the roof will have highly reflective material to reduce the building's solar load. Groundbreaking is set for Sept. 26, with a January 2011 grand opening targeted.
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Bruns Building $4.75M Manufacturing Facility in Troy
Dayton Business Journal (09/05/08)

In Troy, Ohio, Bruns General Contracting Inc. is nearing completion of a $4.75 million facility for Rev Wires. Bruns is on pace to finish the 80,000-square-foot building in November, with Rev Wires expecting to commence operations there by early December. The facility, which features a number of green building elements, will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifiable. Chiefly, the new structure will feature a white roof system design to slash energy costs.
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Green Roof Planned for PECO Headquarters
Greener Buildings (09/02/08)

PECO has taken the wraps off plans for a 45,000-square-foot green roof system atop a section of its Philadelphia headquarters. According to the electric and natural gas utility, the planting of the green roof system is an element of its five-year, $15.3 million plan to become more environmentally friendly. When it is finished, it will be the largest green roof system on an existing building in urban Pennsylvania and the first on a company property. However, it is not the first to involve the utility. In a project funded with a $50,000 grant from PECO, Temple University's Ambler campus completed a green roof system on its Intercollegiate Athletics Field House three years earlier. PECO's new green roof system will sit atop an eight-story section of its headquarters and is expected to absorb 60 percent to 70 percent of the estimated 1.5 millions gallons of rainwater that fall on the structure each year. During the green roof system's peak growth period in the summer months, rainwater absorption is projected at 85 percent. Additionally, the green roof system is expected to help insulate the building during poor weather and help cool it inside and out during warm months.
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Boston's Biggest Property Owner Going All Green
Boston Globe (08/28/08) Ross, Casey

Equity Office Properties Trust, Boston's biggest property owner, is seeking "green" certification for all of its office buildings citywide. The REIT was compelled by high energy prices and rising demand from tenants to make this decision, which marks a major milestone in Mayor Thomas M. Menino's push to make Boston the country's most environmentally friendly city. Equity Office, which owns 20 structures throughout the Boston metro area, has agreed to outfit its buildings with such features as energy-saving heating and cooling units and new bike racks. Greg Shay, president of Boston operations for Equity Office, stated: "We're doing this from a social responsibility perspective, but it's also become necessary to maintain tenants. It's gotten to the point where not taking action is somewhat foolish." The REIT's marquee properties in Boston include One Post Office Square and Rowes Wharf. Equity Office hopes its efforts will save $1.5 million in electricity costs by 2012 on six buildings where upgrades are currently underway. Commercial and residential buildings consume about 70 percent of America's electricity and account for 39 percent of its carbon dioxide emissions, reports the U.S. Green Building Council.
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Duke Energy Seeks Solar Suppliers to Launch $100 Million Solar Plan
PRNewswire (09/04/08)

As part of its proposed $100 million North Carolina solar plan, Duke Energy Carolinas is currently seeking bids from solar power companies to supply solar panels, electrical equipment and installation services. Beginning in next year's first quarter, Duke Energy will look to install electricity-generating photovoltaic solar panels at up to 850 North Carolina sites, including office buildings, shopping malls, warehouses, large manufacturing facilities and homes—both on the ground and on rooftops. The proposal requires approval by the North Carolina Utilities Commission prior to implementation. Duke Energy would own and, via contractors, install and maintain the solar panels. In addition, the utility would own the electricity generated, which would be sent to the grid that serves all customers. Based on the size of the installation and amount of electricity generated at any given location, the company would compensate homeowners, businesses and other entities that offer their roofs or land for the program. If regulatory approval is granted, Duke Energy expects to complete all installations by the end of 2010. Each installation should have a useful life of at least 20 years.
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Toronto Launches Green Highrise Plan
CBC News (CAN) (09/02/08)

On Sept. 2, Toronto Mayor David Miller announced an initiative to make the city's high-rise apartment buildings greener and more energy-efficient. The city is looking to establish a partnership with landlords, tradespeople and the community to help create greener living spaces inside and outside those apartments. To start, buildings will be retrofitted to make them more energy-efficient. Another improvement will be the addition of green roof systems. The major hold-up for both city and privately owned buildings has always been maintenance. Miller believes that retrofits should allow landlords to improve the quality of buildings and achieve cost savings that will better allow them to keep up with maintenance. The estimated cost for retrofitting each building could range from less than $1 million to $3 million.
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New Wal-Mart Canada Stores Go Greener
Times of India (08/27/08)

Wal-Mart Canada Chief Executive David Cheesewright reports that the retail giant's new Canadian locations set to open next year will be greener. He states that new outlets opened in 2009 will be designed to save 30 percent in energy use, resulting in savings of C$25 million during the first five years. Cheesewright said: "We call them Wal-Mart HE—a high-efficiency prototype." The retailer will achieve the energy savings by covering roofs with white membranes to reflect sunlight and lower summer cooling costs, using waste energy from refrigerators to help heat stores, cutting overhead lighting costs and reducing the size of the buildings.
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Green Roof Tops Massive New Convention Hotel in Baltimore
The Green Meeting (08/27/08)

August saw the grand opening of the Hilton Baltimore, a 757-room headquarters hotel located adjacent to the Baltimore Convention Center. The new $300 million lodging features the largest green roof system in the city. Two green areas top the property's east and west buildings to form a total living green space of approximately 32,000 square feet. The green roof system's "plant palette" includes a half-dozen species and more than 60,000 1-inch plugs. Self-generating sedum, which is resistant to drought, is the key plant used in the roof system. Jeff Diskin, senior vice president for brand management with Hilton Hotels & Resorts, remarked: "This is our third Hilton Hotel in the Baltimore area, and we are excited to add this unique property to our portfolio and to hosting the growing number of business and leisure visitors flocking to this dynamic city." The Hilton Baltimore also has the largest ballroom in the city at 25,000 square feet and boasts an enclosed sky bridge to the nearby Convention Center.
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Green Roof Sprouts up in Auburn Hills
Detroit News (08/29/08) Flynn, Delores

In Michigan, the Auburn Hills public safety building is in the process of installing a green roof system. Shawn Keenan, the city's water resources coordinator, stated: "The roof has been leaking into the [firing] range for about three years, and we decided to go green when fixing it to help reduce the city's impact on the environment." Although a traditional roof system has a hard impervious surface, a green roof system is composed of plants and flowers that reduce the volume of water that runs off because it is absorbed by the plants. It also helps filter out any pollutants. The $150,000 project, which is being paid for with city funds, will hold the distinction of being the first green roof system on a municipal property. Completion of the project is expected by the middle of September. Auburn Hills adopted a green building policy in the fall of 2006 to encourage businesses to build in a way that is environmentally responsible and protects natural resources.
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Serving Architects, Consultants in Everything Green Become Mainstays
New York Times (08/27/08) P. C6; Chamberlain, Lisa

The green building movement continues to gain momentum. At the end of 2006, for instance, the Green Building Council's membership included 679 consultants. As of the end of August, there were 1,590. This mirrors the soaring increase in the number of buildings certified by the Council. In 2005, there were just more than 400 buildings that met the Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. At 2008's midpoint, there were 1,705 such buildings. Since its founding in 1993, the Green Building Council has grown to more than 16,700 member companies and organizations and continues to be financed via memberships, educational programs, a yearly conference and expo, and LEED certification fees. LEED began certifying new construction as "green" or "sustainable" eight years ago. The fifth version of the standards is now being prepared for 2009. Despite a seemingly straightforward point system, earning LEED certification can be hard. It's a good rule of thumb for companies large and small to hire consultants to walk them through the process. In 2007, CB Richard Ellis developed a corporate policy to be carbon-neutral by 2010. CBRE manages approximately 1.9 billion square feet of commercial space, and many of its clients are also looking to go green, as well. The firm began with its own regional headquarters in Washington, D.C.
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Green Goes Mainstream in New U.S. Workplaces
Investor's Business Daily (08/21/08) Howell, Donna

Nationwide, more building owners are adding energy-efficient, green features for financial and societal return on investment. Increasingly affordable green expertise and incentives such as faster city approval boost appeal. Ashley Katz, spokeswoman for the U.S. Green Building Council, stated: "We've definitely seen large growth in green buildings. For commercial projects, we generally say you can build a green building for not a penny more than a non-green." That is in such markets as Boston and San Francisco, contends Brooks Rainwater of The American Institute of Architects. He added: "But if you talk to someone in Salt Lake City, they're still seeing further cost in green design." However, those who do have to spend 1 percent to 2 percent more will likely recoup the additional outlay in the first couple of years, Katz assures. That is because green buildings typically save between 30 percent and 50 percent on energy bills. Los Angeles, Houston and the nation's capital are just three of the hot spots for green buildings. Symantec received high marks earlier in the year for its office campus in Culver City, Calif. Luigi Sciabarrasi, vice president of real estate at Symantec, remarked: "We believe the paybacks will be long term, with less attrition and sick days when you build healthier buildings." The Symantec facility boasts everything from a reflective membrane roof system to water-saving, dual-flush toilets.
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Ballast Can Do It All
Buildings (08/08) Fricklas, Richard L.

Ballasted roof systems are an alternative to anchored roof membranes, and it is documented that such structures are resistant to blow-offs and wind scour. Ballasted roofs are advantageous in terms of economy (the roofs can be quickly installed, saving money), aesthetics (they have a nice texture and can support walkways with the combination of pavers), resistance to fire (the rock ballast does not burn), sustainability (the ballast and underlying foam insulation are reusable) and energy efficiency. ANSI/SPRI RP-4 details general design considerations and definitions for ballasted roofs, describing a conventional ballasted roof system as one composed of a membrane or membrane and substrate loosely laid over a deck that is held in place by ballast. A protected membrane ballasted roof system is defined as a system that features a roof deck covered by a membrane that is either loosely laid, mechanically affixed or adhered to the substrate. Insulation is then installed over the membrane and covered with a water- or air-pervious fabric over which ballast is applied. RP-4 additionally describes a number of design options that include specific designs for the roof's perimeter, corners and field, while parapet height is a key factor in the prevention of wind scour. Owners of buildings with ballasted roofs face three main challenges: the difficulty of spotting leaks because of the ballast; the problems of managing heavy stone for inspection and repair; and vegetative growth that can hamper drainage and is aesthetically unpleasing.
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