Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Be one of the first to see the installation of the largest green, living roof in Wisconsin.
Join Mayor Jim Schmitt, along with representatives from the City of Green Bay; plus horticultural classes from University of Wisconsin- Green Bay, St. Norbert College, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and area contractors interested in developing their own green initiatives, to view the installation of the living roof at the Regional Cancer Collaborative at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Eleven truckloads of sedums and alums are currently being installed on the largest living roof in Wisconsin. Attend a special viewing Wednesday, September 23, where you can interview representatives from Live Roof ®, experts in the pre-vegetated invisible, modular green roof system.
When: Wednesday, September 23, from 9-11a.m.
Where: Emergency entrance, St. Mary’s Hospital, 1726 Shawano Ave., Green Bay, WI.
Ask at Valet or the Registration Desk for the living roof installation.
You will be escorted to the observation area.
Environmental Benefits of the Living Roof
Urban Heat Island Mitigation
• The urban heat island effect is the temperature difference between urban areas and their rural surroundings.
• Green roof vegetation helps by cooling the air, slowing air movement and acting as a substrate for pollution to settle out and detoxify.
• Roof temperatures are significantly reduced during the summer months.
Noise Reduction
• Plants, soil and air trapped in the soil are great acoustic insulators.
• Green roofs can reduce exterior sound by up to 40 decibels, creating a more peaceful interior environment.
Fire Prevention
Succulent green roof plants help reduce the risk of fire.
Water Conservation/Reduction of Stormwater Run-off
• Soil in the green roof system acts like a sponge and absorbs excess rain water.
• Living roof will have a rainwater device (two cisterns) to collect 99 percent of all rainwater. Not only will it self-irrigate the rooftop plants, but rainwater will be stored and used to irrigate other gardens on the campus.
Aesthetic Benefits of a Living Roof
• Green roofs look better that asphalt or tar
• Natural views create more productive, healthy, happy, creative, relaxed people
• Green roofs expand the usefulness of buildings
Fast Facts about the Green Roof:
• The green roof being installed with this project covers approximately 22,000 square feet. It will be the largest in Wisconsin and north of Chicago. 16,000 square feet will be “green” while 6,000 square feet will be used for terraced area, walking paths and seating.
• The primary plants being used will be Sedum and Alum species, as they perform well in a Zone 4 climate.
• Each year the garden will come to life in late March to early April.
• Throughout spring, summer and fall, the colors of yellow, white, burgundy and pink will emerge, with many shades of green as a backdrop.
• An additional 2,400 square feet of healing gardens at ground level are also planned.
• Ground level gardens will incorporate significant water features and terraced areas for the benefit of cancer patients.
• Both rooftop and ground level gardens will be an ideal habitat for birds and butterflies, adding to the visual experience.
• Irrigation of St. Mary’s campus will be accomplished through a bio-filtration system that collects and re-uses all rainwater.
The living roof is one “green” aspect of The Regional Cancer Collaborative at St. Mary’s Hospital. The construction project has followed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards which will feature energy saving daylighting, bio-filtration of stormwater, rainwater collection and irrigation (captures 90 percent of rainwater), polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-free/all natural finishes, stone, wood, slate, limestone. Energy Star heating and cooling systems will be in place, heat reclamation – use of “waste heat”, water-saver technology as well as complete construction site recycling has made this one of the greenest initiatives in the area.