Green Technology

Chicago Illinois' City Hall has a GREEN ROOF.  

"As part of an EPA study and initiative to combat the urban heat island effect and to improve urban air quality, ... City of Chicago began construction of a 38,800 square foot (total roof area) semi-extensive greenroof in April 2000. It was completed at the end of 2001 at a cost $2.5 million, funded by a settlement with ComEd."

"Encompassing one square block and twelve stories high, ... serves as a demonstration project and test greenroof. ... will monitored for plant survival as well as other environmental features. Chicago City Hall's greenroof saves $5,000 a year on utility bills, according to Michael Berkshire."

""This is unique to Chicago," ... "No one else has looked at rooftop gardens to mitigate urban heat island effect, which is a process whereby highly urbanized areas with hard surfaces tend to be degrees hotter than green areas," (ENN.com, May 2000)."

"According to a March 1, 2002 article in The Wall Street Journal, "The garden's origins can be traced back ten years, ...  to support Chicago mayor Richard Daley's vow to make Chicago "the greenest city in America." 

"The 20,300 square foot ... garden has over 20,000 herbaceous plants installed as plugs of more than 150 varieties including 100 woody shrubs, 40 vines and 2 trees - a Cockspur Hawthorn and Prairie Crabapple. Although rainwater will be collected and saved from the 7,700 square foot penthouse, a supplemental irrigation system will aid in establishing the plants as well as provide supplemental water during extreme periods of drought (Landscape Architecture Magazine, September, 2000; John Beaudry, June, 2000)."

"Due to the very high visibility factor ... numerous articles have been presented to the public, a few of which can be accessed from NEWS LINKS and Archives. Click the following to link to read more about monitoring the project from thee City of Chicago's site and learn more about the urban heat island effect problem and how they are creatively dealing with this subject of global importance. You may also view a PDF booklet prepared by the City of Chicago entitled "Chicago's Green Rooftops: A Guide to Rooftop Gardening" under How To's.".

Via:  GreenRoofs.com   Link