Green Heights of Boston
July 8, 2014
Things start looking up when summer comes to Boston -- all the way up to the rooftops. While building roofs offer a range of perks in the summer, from patio barbecues to unrivaled skyline views, it is the green roofs of Boston that benefit the city all year round. Some of the leading examples of Boston’s green roofs are found on the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, John Hancock at 601 Congress Street, the Seaport Hotel, Atlantic Wharf, Dana-Farber’s Yawkey Center, Post Office Square and the Boston World Trade Center. As design strategies such as green roofs help achieve Boston’s emission reduction goals, these buildings are taking their efforts to the top level. The concept of a green roof has been around for thousands of years, with one of the earliest examples being the Hanging Gardens of Babylonia. In more recent years, the science connecting greenhouse gas emissions to global climate change has prompted cities to explore innovative ways to increase energy efficiency and thus modernize the green roof design strategy. Green roofs, also commonly referred to as vegetative roofs, can differ in design, density, and function. Regardless of the design variations, green roofs use layered vegetative cover, such as turf grass or garden beds, to supplement or replace impervious/non-reflective surfaces. The layered vegetation provides a pervious surface that reduces storm water runoff while combating the heat island effect, a warming effect caused by the absorption of sunlight by dark surfaces. As a building insulator, vegetation proves effective in reducing heating and cooling demands and thus lowering a building’s energy demand and emission footprint. According to the EPA, green roofs can reduce energy usage by 20-60% with higher energy savings occurring during the winter months. On July 30, in honor of Boston’s ongoing green roof movement and the long-overdue summer season, the Challenge for Sustainability invites Challenge participants to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston for a Green Roof Gala. The event will begin at 5:00pm with beverages and light refreshments available for guests. In addition to an evening of fun and celebration, the Green Roof Gala feature interactive presentations on successful green and cool roof design strategies. Challenge participants can register for the Green Roof Gala here: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=i7ljcybab&oeidk=a07e9je68eod73a845f.
