Blog Posts By Category: Uncategorized
For the last few years, experts and novices alike have tried their hand at predicting the future of the economy - how fast we'll all come back, will it be a U, V or W shape line on the graph, which industry will be the front runner, etc....
In the meantime, most of us have been tightening our belts and biding our time, and continuously climbing up our lookout perch to peer through the economic spyglass for a glimmer of uptick.
"Argggg, is that a spike in the "W" I see on the horizon, Captain? Land ahoy!!"
(Okay, okay, enough with the pirate references.)
In the last couple of weeks, we're proud to say that the GreenScaped team has gotten almost two dozen inquiries about our living walls, and Good Earth has brought on several important interior plantscape clients!
It's just the beginning, but we're curious, are you feeling the uptick business?
[polldaddy poll=3123099]
In the meantime, most of us have been tightening our belts and biding our time, and continuously climbing up our lookout perch to peer through the economic spyglass for a glimmer of uptick.
"Argggg, is that a spike in the "W" I see on the horizon, Captain? Land ahoy!!"
(Okay, okay, enough with the pirate references.)
In the last couple of weeks, we're proud to say that the GreenScaped team has gotten almost two dozen inquiries about our living walls, and Good Earth has brought on several important interior plantscape clients!
It's just the beginning, but we're curious, are you feeling the uptick business?
[polldaddy poll=3123099]
Procopio's Downtown living wall is complete, and even we had to take a step back and go "wow!" The high-rise indoor/outdoor courtyard now has a dramatic living wall above windows with an equally dramatic view. Installation of the remaining components (by other contractors) are almost complete, including a water feature and a large cycad that will be placed in the middle of the space. "Procopians" will no doubt enjoy this serene space once it is officially unveiled to their team in May.
Thanks to Procopio, Roel and David McCullough, ASLA (the project's Landscape Architect) for the great opportunity and team work!
Check out some of the images! You can click on them to enlarge! (Or use this link to see the PDF: Procopio Image OneSheet)
Thanks to Procopio, Roel and David McCullough, ASLA (the project's Landscape Architect) for the great opportunity and team work!
Check out some of the images! You can click on them to enlarge! (Or use this link to see the PDF: Procopio Image OneSheet)
I've been asked to be a guest speaker at the luncheon for the San Diego Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America on the 20th of April. They are hosting a panel discussion on "green" communications issues, and while I am not on the panel, I guess I am an example of how it works. It's being billed as a special guest appearance by the Eco-Warrior. It happens to be the same day as we are installing Procopio's living wall, so the jokes are already starting that I'll need to duck into a phone booth on my way to lunch and change into my cape and tights. I hate to disappoint them, but I will not be wearing a leotard on stage anytime soon...
As an added bonus for the week, I got an email from Elizabeth at the Batali group that they are ready to go forward with a doubling of the size of their edible wall at Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood. The new rows will be too high to effectively harvest edibles, so we have designed a living wall of ornamentals. I am looking at an installation of late May, pictures to follow. Yahoo!
Elizabeth also wants to move forward with a proposal for their restaurant in Las Vegas. Because the light is insufficient for an edible wall, we will be proposing a somewhat monolithic approach using just a few varieties of plants that will do well under low light conditions. For this project, we will be using a different green wall system, one that allows for maximum flexibility. Plus they have an area that they want a hedge of plants to help create separation between the restaurant and the surrounding casino.
Monday the 12th I am being interviewed by David Asman for the FOX news feature: Small Business America's Nightly Scoreboard. I am still getting all of the details, but the best part is that they are sending a limo to pick me up. Now all I need is for them to agree to my rider that states my culinary and massage needs before I go on air. Yeah, and I only eat green M&M's! It will air at 4pm PST. Tom Walsh and my other buddies over at Parker Urban Greenscapes have graciously agreed to provide the studio in New York a small potted plant and living wall panel. You guys rock!
As an added bonus for the week, I got an email from Elizabeth at the Batali group that they are ready to go forward with a doubling of the size of their edible wall at Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood. The new rows will be too high to effectively harvest edibles, so we have designed a living wall of ornamentals. I am looking at an installation of late May, pictures to follow. Yahoo!
Elizabeth also wants to move forward with a proposal for their restaurant in Las Vegas. Because the light is insufficient for an edible wall, we will be proposing a somewhat monolithic approach using just a few varieties of plants that will do well under low light conditions. For this project, we will be using a different green wall system, one that allows for maximum flexibility. Plus they have an area that they want a hedge of plants to help create separation between the restaurant and the surrounding casino.
Monday the 12th I am being interviewed by David Asman for the FOX news feature: Small Business America's Nightly Scoreboard. I am still getting all of the details, but the best part is that they are sending a limo to pick me up. Now all I need is for them to agree to my rider that states my culinary and massage needs before I go on air. Yeah, and I only eat green M&M's! It will air at 4pm PST. Tom Walsh and my other buddies over at Parker Urban Greenscapes have graciously agreed to provide the studio in New York a small potted plant and living wall panel. You guys rock!
So much is going on that it's becoming hard to stay on top of things. And of course, even harder to blog on all of it!
Last weeks open house was an exceptional success. We had nearly 100 people come in between the two days and were talking non-stop answering questions and giving information. I'll see if we can get a copy of the map that showed 23 stations of green roofs, living walls and rain water harvesting systems. Everything looked fantastic and we got two very good leads on future green roof projects.
The green wall project for the Procopio Cory Law firm is coming up quickly. We are designing and installing two green walls in their 22nd floor, open ceiling, two story, courtyard atrium. I doubt there is another space like it in San Diego. The system selected was our TerraWall that I believe offers the best solution for this particular application. I have not yet finalized the plant design, but it's coming together in my head and will be finished over the weekend. I can't wait to see it come to life!
Last weeks open house was an exceptional success. We had nearly 100 people come in between the two days and were talking non-stop answering questions and giving information. I'll see if we can get a copy of the map that showed 23 stations of green roofs, living walls and rain water harvesting systems. Everything looked fantastic and we got two very good leads on future green roof projects.
The green wall project for the Procopio Cory Law firm is coming up quickly. We are designing and installing two green walls in their 22nd floor, open ceiling, two story, courtyard atrium. I doubt there is another space like it in San Diego. The system selected was our TerraWall that I believe offers the best solution for this particular application. I have not yet finalized the plant design, but it's coming together in my head and will be finished over the weekend. I can't wait to see it come to life!
MEDIA ADVISORY
GreenScaped Buildings Hosts
Third Annual Open House March 26 & 27
Meet San Diego's "Eco-Warrior" and
Tour the GreenScaped Living Lab
RSVP: Alexa@GoodEarthPlants.com
Where: GreenScaped Buildings, 7922 Armour Street, San Diego CA, 92111 (Kearny Mesa)
When: Friday, March 26, 3 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 27, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
Who: Jim Mumford, President and Founder, and the staff of GreenScaped Buildings
What: Tour the GreenScaped Buildings Living Lab and explore various green roof, living wall and rainwater harvesting methods and products that contribute to low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings, cultivating a legacy for which future generations can be proud.
Even if you've visited before, you'll see plenty of new systems and products just added to the lab this spring. Displays include:
• A conventional loose-laid green roof on an existing building with native plants
• Five other green roof system options
• Over a half-dozen indoor and outdoor living wall systems, expanding the potential for gardens in areas with no traditional space, the first of their kind in the United States
• Innovative products and systems that capture rainwater runoff and recycle it for irrigation
• Sub irrigation systems for green roofs eliminating evaporation
• Organic drainage layers for green roofs, minimizing synthetic materials
• Artificial growing mediums that don't use traditional "soils" that can sit on any flat surface
Plenty of people told Jim Mumford he was nuts building a green roof project in the middle of a Kearny Mesa industrial park. Three years later, the roof is thriving and Jim Mumford's GreenScaped Buildings is a leader in the green building industry.
Mumford was named one of San Diego's "Eco-Warriors" and an environmental role model in the April 2010 issue of San Diego Magazine.
For additional information, visit www.greenscapedbuildings.com or www.goodearthplants.com
About GreenScaped Buildings
After more than 30 years of providing award-winning plantscaping service and design to the region as the owner of Good Earth Plant Company, Jim Mumford and his venture GreenScaped Buildings has expanded the focus to include green roofs, living walls, and rainwater harvesting systems. Mumford's passion for low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings will cultivate a legacy through GreenScaped Buildings for which future generations can be proud.
GreenScaped Buildings Hosts
Third Annual Open House March 26 & 27
Meet San Diego's "Eco-Warrior" and
Tour the GreenScaped Living Lab
RSVP: Alexa@GoodEarthPlants.com
Where: GreenScaped Buildings, 7922 Armour Street, San Diego CA, 92111 (Kearny Mesa)
When: Friday, March 26, 3 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 27, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
Who: Jim Mumford, President and Founder, and the staff of GreenScaped Buildings
What: Tour the GreenScaped Buildings Living Lab and explore various green roof, living wall and rainwater harvesting methods and products that contribute to low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings, cultivating a legacy for which future generations can be proud.
Even if you've visited before, you'll see plenty of new systems and products just added to the lab this spring. Displays include:
• A conventional loose-laid green roof on an existing building with native plants
• Five other green roof system options
• Over a half-dozen indoor and outdoor living wall systems, expanding the potential for gardens in areas with no traditional space, the first of their kind in the United States
• Innovative products and systems that capture rainwater runoff and recycle it for irrigation
• Sub irrigation systems for green roofs eliminating evaporation
• Organic drainage layers for green roofs, minimizing synthetic materials
• Artificial growing mediums that don't use traditional "soils" that can sit on any flat surface
Plenty of people told Jim Mumford he was nuts building a green roof project in the middle of a Kearny Mesa industrial park. Three years later, the roof is thriving and Jim Mumford's GreenScaped Buildings is a leader in the green building industry.
Mumford was named one of San Diego's "Eco-Warriors" and an environmental role model in the April 2010 issue of San Diego Magazine.
For additional information, visit www.greenscapedbuildings.com or www.goodearthplants.com
About GreenScaped Buildings
After more than 30 years of providing award-winning plantscaping service and design to the region as the owner of Good Earth Plant Company, Jim Mumford and his venture GreenScaped Buildings has expanded the focus to include green roofs, living walls, and rainwater harvesting systems. Mumford's passion for low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings will cultivate a legacy through GreenScaped Buildings for which future generations can be proud.
First off, my apologies for the blog silence the last couple of weeks. What a cycle! You're too busy to write things on the blog, but you're really busy with things you want to write on the blog about! I think that most of us go through this. So, like most of us, I'm working on picking up the postings in the next few weeks!
That said, here's a cool project where they've implemented Urban Farming in the heart of Brooklyn! Brooklyn Grange aims to build on decades of rooftop farming best practices and establish a one acre farm that operates as a sustainable small business. The farm will sell fresh, organic and affordable food to the local community, contributing to the health and economic development of the neighborhood.
Check out their blog at www.brooklyngrangefarm.com. We'll keep them on our blogroll so everyone can stay up to date as well.
That said, here's a cool project where they've implemented Urban Farming in the heart of Brooklyn! Brooklyn Grange aims to build on decades of rooftop farming best practices and establish a one acre farm that operates as a sustainable small business. The farm will sell fresh, organic and affordable food to the local community, contributing to the health and economic development of the neighborhood.
Check out their blog at www.brooklyngrangefarm.com. We'll keep them on our blogroll so everyone can stay up to date as well.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the manufacturer is pretty pleased with our design and installation of herb walls for Pizzeria Mozza. Good, because we're pretty pleased too! :)
Check out their blog posting HERE. Thanks Chris & Jon!
Check out their blog posting HERE. Thanks Chris & Jon!
Mmmmm fettucine with lobster and tomato sauce - AND flowering chives! Hey - I bet we can grow that! The chives that is!
Check it out:
Part 1:
www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/mariobatali-part1
and Part 2:
www.latenightwithjimmyfallon/mariobatali-part2
Check it out:
Part 1:
www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/mariobatali-part1
and Part 2:
www.latenightwithjimmyfallon/mariobatali-part2
Check out some of the images from our installation today[gallery]....more pics and details to come!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2010
Contact: Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, Falcon Valley Group
619-997-2495 or gayle@falconvalleygroup.com
Elizabeth Meltz, Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group
646-572-6359 or ermeltz@bandbhg.com
MEDIA ADVISORY
GreenScaped Buildings Installs Edible Wall
at Chef Mario Batali's Pizzeria Mozza
WHEN: Friday, February 26, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
WHO:
Jim Mumford of GreenScaped Buildings, San Diego
Nancy Silverton, Partner, Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group
Elizabeth Meltz, Director of Food Safety and Sustainability, Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group
WHERE:
Pizzeria Mozza, 641 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles CA, 90036
WHAT:
GreenScaped Buildings will install an "edible wall" at Pizzeria Mozza to supply the restaurant with herbs and demonstrate industry leadership in sustainability
The first of its kind at a California restaurant, GreenScaped Buildings of San Diego will complete installation Pizzeria Mozza's edible wall, providing 72 square feet of growing space for a dozen varieties of herbs and greens to be used in the restaurant. The edible wall demonstrates the potential for sustainability and use of green building practices within the restaurant industry.
For additional information, visit www.greenscapedbuildings.com and www.mozza-la.com
# # #
Good Morning All!
Tomorrow, February 23, 2010, I will be the speaker for the Green Plant and LEED Teleseminar from 9:00 am to 10:00 am (pacific).
Tune in for an interview as I discuss the perils, profits, pros and pitfalls of adding green roofs to your portfolio of services. I'll cover structural requirements, liabilities, plant selection, working with a team of professionals and potential sales and profits. A Q&A will also take place. As one of the first Accredited Green Roof Professionals in the country, past president of PIA (Plantscape Industry Alliance) and president of Good Earth Plant Company and Greenscaped Buildings, I've taken great strides in learning about this new technology, and I'd love to share my experience.
Most importantly however, proceeds from this event benefit Urban Corps of San Diego! Learn about the organization and their new ECO Center here: www.urbancorpssd.org
Please find more information about the teleseminar HERE.
To register for the teleseminar, click HERE or visit the shop using the info link above!
Let's help Urban Corps add the finishing touches to their Recycling ECO Center!!! Thanks for your support!
Tomorrow, February 23, 2010, I will be the speaker for the Green Plant and LEED Teleseminar from 9:00 am to 10:00 am (pacific).
Tune in for an interview as I discuss the perils, profits, pros and pitfalls of adding green roofs to your portfolio of services. I'll cover structural requirements, liabilities, plant selection, working with a team of professionals and potential sales and profits. A Q&A will also take place. As one of the first Accredited Green Roof Professionals in the country, past president of PIA (Plantscape Industry Alliance) and president of Good Earth Plant Company and Greenscaped Buildings, I've taken great strides in learning about this new technology, and I'd love to share my experience.
Most importantly however, proceeds from this event benefit Urban Corps of San Diego! Learn about the organization and their new ECO Center here: www.urbancorpssd.org
Please find more information about the teleseminar HERE.
To register for the teleseminar, click HERE or visit the shop using the info link above!
Let's help Urban Corps add the finishing touches to their Recycling ECO Center!!! Thanks for your support!
Happy Friday!
Like every week for seemingly a very long time, this last week has been very busy. The news media is picking up on our "incredible edible wall" projects and we had Larry Himmel come out to do a short piece on us that aired on Tuesday the 2nd. He was both friendly and professional, doing us justice with what he produced. To see the video, visit the media page on our website at www.greenscapedbuildings.com/media
I gave a green roof talk to the Sustainability Alliance of Southern California that same night. They asked the best questions of any group I have spoken to and want to be instrumental in green roof and green wall projects throughout the region. I hope to be able to collaborate with them to help promote the viability of this type of architecture.
A couple of authors have contacted us this week and I believe we will see their articles coming out in the next few months. I am excited that all of our hard work is being noticed.
Later this month I will be giving a 60-minute teleseminar on green roofs through the Green Plants for Green Buildings organization. It will cost $29, and all proceeds will go to Urban Corps San Diego, a local non-profit. Please plan to attend or forward the information below to any one that you think would benefit from learning more about green roofs.
You can link to more information on teh teleseminar HERE, and register for it HERE.
Like every week for seemingly a very long time, this last week has been very busy. The news media is picking up on our "incredible edible wall" projects and we had Larry Himmel come out to do a short piece on us that aired on Tuesday the 2nd. He was both friendly and professional, doing us justice with what he produced. To see the video, visit the media page on our website at www.greenscapedbuildings.com/media
I gave a green roof talk to the Sustainability Alliance of Southern California that same night. They asked the best questions of any group I have spoken to and want to be instrumental in green roof and green wall projects throughout the region. I hope to be able to collaborate with them to help promote the viability of this type of architecture.
A couple of authors have contacted us this week and I believe we will see their articles coming out in the next few months. I am excited that all of our hard work is being noticed.
Later this month I will be giving a 60-minute teleseminar on green roofs through the Green Plants for Green Buildings organization. It will cost $29, and all proceeds will go to Urban Corps San Diego, a local non-profit. Please plan to attend or forward the information below to any one that you think would benefit from learning more about green roofs.
You can link to more information on teh teleseminar HERE, and register for it HERE.
Tomorrow morning we're headed to Urban Corps San Diego's headquarters on Jefferson St to install their living herb wall, the newest addition to their Recycling Education & Community Outreach (ECO) Center! Although we usually grow in the plants and herbs on site and then install them, this time, we'll be planting up the walls and let the Urban Corps team monitor the grow-in period, to help provide a hands-on learning space for urban gardening and drought tolerant landscaping. Corpsmembers, students, community and business members alike will have the opportunity to learn about water conservation, healthy eating, and growing their own food in an urban environment.
All media members are welcome to this event. Check out our website for the media advisory, here.
See you tomorrow!
All media members are welcome to this event. Check out our website for the media advisory, here.
See you tomorrow!
As always, a couple of very busy weeks.
On Thursday the 14th, we submitted our largest bid to date for a green roof - nearly one and a half million dollars. The new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) building in La Jolla has a 27,000 sq ft green roof of varying depths and plant patterns designed by Jeffery Bruce and Associates of Kansas City. Jeff is the current president of the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities organization. Keep your fingers crossed!
Last week we participated in the Balboa Park Sustainability workshop and set up a booth at the lunchtime trade fair. Lisa Michaels, our new "star" salesperson joined me and did an outstanding job doing the trade show dance. We saw many old friends in attendance and even made a few new ones.
Yesterday I spoke at Cuyamaca College's faculty enrichment program with an emphasis on sustainability. I was able to condense into 15 minutes what normally takes me 3 hours to present. I believe we will be working with the college in developing a plan for a green roof in the Water Conservation Garden.
When I returned from the Cuyamaca program, I met with representatives from Point Loma Nazarene College and gave them a tour of our green roof and living wall systems demonstration, while it rained profusely. That was a first - I've never been on top of our green roof in a rain storm. I doubt I would do it again but they were here to see what is possible as we put together plans for a green roof on campus. They have a horticultural department that we will incorporate to grow the native plants we will be installing later this year in the fall.
And to wrap up our day, Pari Sanati nearly single handedly submitted a major bid for the green roof on the new Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. Designed by RoofScapes Inc., we have a very good chance of winning this project and it will be our first working with the Roofscapes crew. We are even planning on bringing in Greg Raymond from EcoGardens in Chicago. He is a member of the network and has extensive experience with large green roof projects.
On Thursday the 14th, we submitted our largest bid to date for a green roof - nearly one and a half million dollars. The new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) building in La Jolla has a 27,000 sq ft green roof of varying depths and plant patterns designed by Jeffery Bruce and Associates of Kansas City. Jeff is the current president of the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities organization. Keep your fingers crossed!
Last week we participated in the Balboa Park Sustainability workshop and set up a booth at the lunchtime trade fair. Lisa Michaels, our new "star" salesperson joined me and did an outstanding job doing the trade show dance. We saw many old friends in attendance and even made a few new ones.
Yesterday I spoke at Cuyamaca College's faculty enrichment program with an emphasis on sustainability. I was able to condense into 15 minutes what normally takes me 3 hours to present. I believe we will be working with the college in developing a plan for a green roof in the Water Conservation Garden.
When I returned from the Cuyamaca program, I met with representatives from Point Loma Nazarene College and gave them a tour of our green roof and living wall systems demonstration, while it rained profusely. That was a first - I've never been on top of our green roof in a rain storm. I doubt I would do it again but they were here to see what is possible as we put together plans for a green roof on campus. They have a horticultural department that we will incorporate to grow the native plants we will be installing later this year in the fall.
And to wrap up our day, Pari Sanati nearly single handedly submitted a major bid for the green roof on the new Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. Designed by RoofScapes Inc., we have a very good chance of winning this project and it will be our first working with the Roofscapes crew. We are even planning on bringing in Greg Raymond from EcoGardens in Chicago. He is a member of the network and has extensive experience with large green roof projects.
Here's a snippet of Caron Golden's blog article on the herb wall that we're currently growing for Mario Batali's Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood! Click HERE for the full text and pictures. Thanks Caron!!!!
The kitchen garden. It's something those of us who cook at home hope to have just outside our kitchen door, accessible for quickly snipping a few sprigs of oregano, picking some lettuce leaves, or pulling a few radishes. But if you live in a condo or apartment you're probably limited to a small balcony or terrace. And, if you're a chef in the city, you may not even have that surrounding your restaurant.
Enter Jim Mumford, owner of the San Diego-based plant company Good Earth, and his edible walls, an idea so cool in concept that chef Mario Batali is his first restaurant customer. According to Mumford, Batali wanted a roof garden at his restaurants Osteria Mozza and Pizzaria Mozza in Los Angeles, but couldn't get it to work with the building specs. So, if he couldn't go horizontal, how about vertical? After doing some research on his own, he found Mumford, who has been playing with the concept with several types of materials and styles.
The kitchen garden. It's something those of us who cook at home hope to have just outside our kitchen door, accessible for quickly snipping a few sprigs of oregano, picking some lettuce leaves, or pulling a few radishes. But if you live in a condo or apartment you're probably limited to a small balcony or terrace. And, if you're a chef in the city, you may not even have that surrounding your restaurant.
Enter Jim Mumford, owner of the San Diego-based plant company Good Earth, and his edible walls, an idea so cool in concept that chef Mario Batali is his first restaurant customer. According to Mumford, Batali wanted a roof garden at his restaurants Osteria Mozza and Pizzaria Mozza in Los Angeles, but couldn't get it to work with the building specs. So, if he couldn't go horizontal, how about vertical? After doing some research on his own, he found Mumford, who has been playing with the concept with several types of materials and styles.
'Green roofs' prove even more effective in fighting global warming than first thought
2010-01-08 09:58:23
By Jeff Salton
01:30 September 24, 2009 PDT
You only have to watch a TV show in which the camera flies over any major city to realize the numbers of ugly, stark, gray, flat roofs that occupy millions of square feet but contribute nothing to the environment. It's almost an 'out of sight, out of mind' attitude we have with these unoccupied spaces. But what if we could turn these wasted environments into something beneficial to the environment, while at the same time beautifying the tops of our tall buildings and skyscrapers? 'Green roofs'- urban rooftops covered with plants - are gaining in popularity to help buildings reduce their reliance on air conditioning, and now scientists in Michigan are reporting they could also help fight global warming by eliminating carbon dioxide in cities, more effectively than was first thought.
Previous studies have indicated that painting roofs white can be a low tech way to reduce global warming by reflecting the sun's rays back into space and Prof Steven Chu, the U.S. Energy Secretary, has been heralding the idea.
Now researchers have attempted to quantify the benefits of covering urban rooftops with plants. The scientists found that replacing traditional roofing materials with 'green' in an urban area the size of Detroit with a population of about one-million, would be equivalent to eliminating a year's worth of carbon dioxide emitted by 10,000 mid-sized SUVs and trucks. Their study is the first to examine the ability of green roofs to sequester carbon that may impact climate change and the findings are scheduled to appear in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Multi-functional
While many researchers understood that green roofs were multi-functional because of their ability to reduce heating and air conditioning costs, detain stormwater and absorb carbon dioxide, it wasn't until Kristin Getter and his colleagues' new study that anyone knew how big a positive impact green roofs could have on reducing green house gases, which contribute to global warming.
The scientists measured carbon levels in plant and soil samples collected from 13 green roofs in Michigan and Maryland over a two-year period and found that green roofing an urban area of about one million people would capture more than 55,000 tons of carbon, or the same effect as removing more than 10,000 mid-sized SUVs or trucks off the road a year.
Imagine how much more carbon dioxide could be removed if urban environmentalists and town planners incorporated vertical landscaping into their the cities, like we highlighted recently in Gizmag.
(Check out the actual article here!)
01:30 September 24, 2009 PDT
You only have to watch a TV show in which the camera flies over any major city to realize the numbers of ugly, stark, gray, flat roofs that occupy millions of square feet but contribute nothing to the environment. It's almost an 'out of sight, out of mind' attitude we have with these unoccupied spaces. But what if we could turn these wasted environments into something beneficial to the environment, while at the same time beautifying the tops of our tall buildings and skyscrapers? 'Green roofs'- urban rooftops covered with plants - are gaining in popularity to help buildings reduce their reliance on air conditioning, and now scientists in Michigan are reporting they could also help fight global warming by eliminating carbon dioxide in cities, more effectively than was first thought.
Previous studies have indicated that painting roofs white can be a low tech way to reduce global warming by reflecting the sun's rays back into space and Prof Steven Chu, the U.S. Energy Secretary, has been heralding the idea.
Now researchers have attempted to quantify the benefits of covering urban rooftops with plants. The scientists found that replacing traditional roofing materials with 'green' in an urban area the size of Detroit with a population of about one-million, would be equivalent to eliminating a year's worth of carbon dioxide emitted by 10,000 mid-sized SUVs and trucks. Their study is the first to examine the ability of green roofs to sequester carbon that may impact climate change and the findings are scheduled to appear in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Multi-functional
While many researchers understood that green roofs were multi-functional because of their ability to reduce heating and air conditioning costs, detain stormwater and absorb carbon dioxide, it wasn't until Kristin Getter and his colleagues' new study that anyone knew how big a positive impact green roofs could have on reducing green house gases, which contribute to global warming.
The scientists measured carbon levels in plant and soil samples collected from 13 green roofs in Michigan and Maryland over a two-year period and found that green roofing an urban area of about one million people would capture more than 55,000 tons of carbon, or the same effect as removing more than 10,000 mid-sized SUVs or trucks off the road a year.
Imagine how much more carbon dioxide could be removed if urban environmentalists and town planners incorporated vertical landscaping into their the cities, like we highlighted recently in Gizmag.
(Check out the actual article here!)
Okay, okay. It was a little tougher than we thought it was going to be! Here are the answers....how did YOU do?
1. According to a 2004 study, cited in an article about noted Berkeley engineering professor Arvad Horpath, reading the NYT wirelessly consumes 140 times less CO2 and 26 to 67 times less water. Which explains why we didn't print these answers upside down. What would the answer be if "PDA" were changed to "desktop computer?"
2. According to the Yale Sustainability Blog, 2 (high-density polyethylene), 4 (low density polyethylene) and 5 (polypropylene) are re-usable.
3. Trick question! According to Green Car Journal, the green car of 2009 was the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, a clean diesel that achieves estimated highway fuel economy of 41 mpg. The green car of 2010, just announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, is the Audi A3 TDI, that gets 42 miles per gallon.
4. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, CFC-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) are the six primary sources of greenhouse gases.
5. According to the Green Bride Guide, one wedding generates produces 63 tons of CO2 and 400-600 pounds of trash - and there are 2.5 million weddings every year in this $60 billion industry.
6. From the coolrain44 blog:
# 1 -> PET ... polyethlyene terephthalate
# 2 -> HDPE ... high-density polyethylene
# 3 -> PVC ... polyvinyl chloride
# 4 -> LDPE ... low-density polyethylene?
# 5 -> PP ... polypropylene?
# 6 -> PS/PS-E ... polystyrene / expanded polystyrene
# 7 -> OTHER ... resins or multi-materials
7. Between 39 and 43 percent of all energy is used to heat, cool, ventilate or illuminate buildings in the U.S., depending on whose numbers you follow. Either way, it explains why upgrading the building envelope, insulation and systems of existing buildings is a high priority of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
8. Well this one should be easy, for those familiar with Sustainable Minds LCA software: it means life cycle assessment, and LCA is the best way to determine the environmental sustainability of a product. Because LCA looks at all stages of a product's life cycle, including 'end of life', you can determine how meaningful it is to recycle products or parts after their useful lifetime, and to specify recycled materials in the manufacturing process.
9. According to the Department of Energy, 90% of the energy in a conventional top-load washing machine is used to heat the water. That's why many environmentally-conscious homeowners simply wash their clothes in cold water.
10. Chocolate - well, actually, waste fat from chocolate factories - was used to power the Formula 3 car, built at the Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Center in Warwick, Britain. Demonstrating biofuels -- the waste chocolate comes from Cadbury's nearby plant, according to the New York Times - the car's body is constructed from recycled bottles, carbon fiber and soybean oil.
11. The 2009 Solar Decathlon was held Oct. 9-18 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and challenged 20 student teams to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house. First Place went to Technische Universitat Darmstadt, the team that also won at the last Solar Decathlon, in 2007.
This blog post originally appeared on SustainableMinds.com, a greener product design software and information company bringing environmental sustainability to mainstream product design.
1. According to a 2004 study, cited in an article about noted Berkeley engineering professor Arvad Horpath, reading the NYT wirelessly consumes 140 times less CO2 and 26 to 67 times less water. Which explains why we didn't print these answers upside down. What would the answer be if "PDA" were changed to "desktop computer?"
2. According to the Yale Sustainability Blog, 2 (high-density polyethylene), 4 (low density polyethylene) and 5 (polypropylene) are re-usable.
3. Trick question! According to Green Car Journal, the green car of 2009 was the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, a clean diesel that achieves estimated highway fuel economy of 41 mpg. The green car of 2010, just announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, is the Audi A3 TDI, that gets 42 miles per gallon.
4. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, CFC-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) are the six primary sources of greenhouse gases.
5. According to the Green Bride Guide, one wedding generates produces 63 tons of CO2 and 400-600 pounds of trash - and there are 2.5 million weddings every year in this $60 billion industry.
6. From the coolrain44 blog:
# 1 -> PET ... polyethlyene terephthalate
# 2 -> HDPE ... high-density polyethylene
# 3 -> PVC ... polyvinyl chloride
# 4 -> LDPE ... low-density polyethylene?
# 5 -> PP ... polypropylene?
# 6 -> PS/PS-E ... polystyrene / expanded polystyrene
# 7 -> OTHER ... resins or multi-materials
7. Between 39 and 43 percent of all energy is used to heat, cool, ventilate or illuminate buildings in the U.S., depending on whose numbers you follow. Either way, it explains why upgrading the building envelope, insulation and systems of existing buildings is a high priority of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
8. Well this one should be easy, for those familiar with Sustainable Minds LCA software: it means life cycle assessment, and LCA is the best way to determine the environmental sustainability of a product. Because LCA looks at all stages of a product's life cycle, including 'end of life', you can determine how meaningful it is to recycle products or parts after their useful lifetime, and to specify recycled materials in the manufacturing process.
9. According to the Department of Energy, 90% of the energy in a conventional top-load washing machine is used to heat the water. That's why many environmentally-conscious homeowners simply wash their clothes in cold water.
10. Chocolate - well, actually, waste fat from chocolate factories - was used to power the Formula 3 car, built at the Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Center in Warwick, Britain. Demonstrating biofuels -- the waste chocolate comes from Cadbury's nearby plant, according to the New York Times - the car's body is constructed from recycled bottles, carbon fiber and soybean oil.
11. The 2009 Solar Decathlon was held Oct. 9-18 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and challenged 20 student teams to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house. First Place went to Technische Universitat Darmstadt, the team that also won at the last Solar Decathlon, in 2007.
This blog post originally appeared on SustainableMinds.com, a greener product design software and information company bringing environmental sustainability to mainstream product design.
(From GreenerDesign.com....)
SustainableMinds, a green product design software and information company bringing environmental sustainability to mainstream product design, offers up this year-in-review take on 2009, "taken from our perusals of some of the quirkier green stories we've seen this year."
Go ahead: Test your green cred.
1. What's greener, reading the New York Times on a PDA or on paper?
2. What plastic bottles are safe to re-use, by numerical designation?
3. Name the Green Car of the Year.
4. Name the six most prevalent greenhouse gases.
5. What common social ritual produces 63 tons of CO2 and 400-600 pounds of trash?
6. What do all the numbers on plastic bottles represent?
7. How much energy do buildings consume in the U.S., by percentage?
8. What is LCA and why is it an important factor in product design?
9. In a conventional washing machine, what percentage of energy is used to heat the water?
10. A prominent story this year featured a racing car made from recycled materials that runs on which biofuel?
11. What team won this year's Solar Decathlon challenge for energy-efficient, solar-powered homes?
Leave a comment and show us your answers - We'll post the real answers at the end of the day!
SustainableMinds, a green product design software and information company bringing environmental sustainability to mainstream product design, offers up this year-in-review take on 2009, "taken from our perusals of some of the quirkier green stories we've seen this year."
Go ahead: Test your green cred.
1. What's greener, reading the New York Times on a PDA or on paper?
2. What plastic bottles are safe to re-use, by numerical designation?
3. Name the Green Car of the Year.
4. Name the six most prevalent greenhouse gases.
5. What common social ritual produces 63 tons of CO2 and 400-600 pounds of trash?
6. What do all the numbers on plastic bottles represent?
7. How much energy do buildings consume in the U.S., by percentage?
8. What is LCA and why is it an important factor in product design?
9. In a conventional washing machine, what percentage of energy is used to heat the water?
10. A prominent story this year featured a racing car made from recycled materials that runs on which biofuel?
11. What team won this year's Solar Decathlon challenge for energy-efficient, solar-powered homes?
Leave a comment and show us your answers - We'll post the real answers at the end of the day!
Follow the link to a local writer's take on green roofs and carbon footprints:
Cooling the Asphalt Jungle
As green roofs proliferate to cool and cheer cityscapes, might they also suck up and store some of the carbon urban life pumps out?
Cooling the Asphalt Jungle
As green roofs proliferate to cool and cheer cityscapes, might they also suck up and store some of the carbon urban life pumps out?
Business activity is picking up! Inquiries are going from mere curiosity to serious needs for information and proposals.
We are installing a green roof this week and very likely installing another the following week. We also planted the edible wall for Pizzeria Mozza and got confirmation of a small living wall for a resident in La Jolla. Plus we have several green roof projects on the boards and even more as future possibilities.
And now that it is raining, inquiries and RFP's for rainwater harvesting systems are arriving daily.
Plus, core business, plantscaping, is expanding. We did a really nice installation at a local non-profit this week and a couple more are coming up soon.
Knock on wood, business is good!
We are installing a green roof this week and very likely installing another the following week. We also planted the edible wall for Pizzeria Mozza and got confirmation of a small living wall for a resident in La Jolla. Plus we have several green roof projects on the boards and even more as future possibilities.
And now that it is raining, inquiries and RFP's for rainwater harvesting systems are arriving daily.
Plus, core business, plantscaping, is expanding. We did a really nice installation at a local non-profit this week and a couple more are coming up soon.
Knock on wood, business is good!
During the past several years, the word "green" has taken on new meaning and usage as it has quickly entered the business vernacular in its many forms.What was once strictly an adjective has quickly evolved into a noun and verb as we use green to describe everything from household products to office buildings to the process of becoming more environmentally responsible.
What does it mean to design and operate a business in the era of green?
Recently, executives from the real estate, legal, technology and design services industries recently joined together for "The Green Symposium; Your office in the Era of Green." The event was hosted by Howard Ecker Company and panelists from Gensler, Workplace2go, Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, Schreck, LLP and Ecker Green headed up a focused discussion on new ways to think about locating, planning and tech-ing, and living in office environments in the era of green.
The key takeaways from the discussion:
1. The time is now for companies to start thinking about sustainable practices. It isn't something we are going to see coming in the future. It is already happening.
2. Businesses that align their practices with core values, such as sustainability, are often better positioned to recruit and retain employees. 58 percent of people working in office environments are under the age of 44 (bureau of labor statistics), placing them in the Millennial and Gen X demographic categories. A business's sustainability practices are increasingly important to people within this age group.
3. Energy aware real estate strategies, space selection and efficient design can cut energy costs and increase work productivity and employee retention.
4. Reducing total energy use by 40 percent (average Energy Star Building reduction) would net savings of $1 a day per employee.
5. While LEED-certified buildings are designed to perform based on a set of prescriptive data, it's how you live and occupy the space after the building is built that will ultimately decide the buildings performance. How you live and occupy your space also defines and demonstrates your commitment to the environment and the health of your organization.
6. Computers are proliferating and it appears growth will continue to be exponential. Computers use a great deal of power and disposal is a big problem. Server consolidation or cloud computing will reduce a company's carbon footprint and save a lot of money.
7. Employees are often looking for a better work/life balance and telecommuting accomplishes this objective and at the same time improves productivity and the bottom line.
8. Avoid seeking the elusive environmental "silver bullet." It doesn't exist. It's essential to look out for opportunities to use less. If an asset doesn't improve customer service or productivity, get rid of it.
9. Design performance is all about beginning to research strategies on how to measure from four primary drivers: emotional, cultural, economic and environmental. The most important thing to do is to develop an understanding of space utilization and design accordingly.
10. The regulatory environment surrounding green building will change drastically in the next year or two, from a market-driven, locally-regulated environment, to a mandated, federally-regulated one.
11. Cities and counties, armed with federal funding and resources, are adopting climate change plans and regulations and are not waiting for federal direction, but are moving forward with a wide variety of programs and regulations.
12. Developers and building owners who are considering green construction practices or retrofit projects now will be ahead of this regulatory curve.
What does it mean to design and operate a business in the era of green?
Recently, executives from the real estate, legal, technology and design services industries recently joined together for "The Green Symposium; Your office in the Era of Green." The event was hosted by Howard Ecker Company and panelists from Gensler, Workplace2go, Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, Schreck, LLP and Ecker Green headed up a focused discussion on new ways to think about locating, planning and tech-ing, and living in office environments in the era of green.
The key takeaways from the discussion:
1. The time is now for companies to start thinking about sustainable practices. It isn't something we are going to see coming in the future. It is already happening.
2. Businesses that align their practices with core values, such as sustainability, are often better positioned to recruit and retain employees. 58 percent of people working in office environments are under the age of 44 (bureau of labor statistics), placing them in the Millennial and Gen X demographic categories. A business's sustainability practices are increasingly important to people within this age group.
3. Energy aware real estate strategies, space selection and efficient design can cut energy costs and increase work productivity and employee retention.
4. Reducing total energy use by 40 percent (average Energy Star Building reduction) would net savings of $1 a day per employee.
5. While LEED-certified buildings are designed to perform based on a set of prescriptive data, it's how you live and occupy the space after the building is built that will ultimately decide the buildings performance. How you live and occupy your space also defines and demonstrates your commitment to the environment and the health of your organization.
6. Computers are proliferating and it appears growth will continue to be exponential. Computers use a great deal of power and disposal is a big problem. Server consolidation or cloud computing will reduce a company's carbon footprint and save a lot of money.
7. Employees are often looking for a better work/life balance and telecommuting accomplishes this objective and at the same time improves productivity and the bottom line.
8. Avoid seeking the elusive environmental "silver bullet." It doesn't exist. It's essential to look out for opportunities to use less. If an asset doesn't improve customer service or productivity, get rid of it.
9. Design performance is all about beginning to research strategies on how to measure from four primary drivers: emotional, cultural, economic and environmental. The most important thing to do is to develop an understanding of space utilization and design accordingly.
10. The regulatory environment surrounding green building will change drastically in the next year or two, from a market-driven, locally-regulated environment, to a mandated, federally-regulated one.
11. Cities and counties, armed with federal funding and resources, are adopting climate change plans and regulations and are not waiting for federal direction, but are moving forward with a wide variety of programs and regulations.
12. Developers and building owners who are considering green construction practices or retrofit projects now will be ahead of this regulatory curve.
The herbs waiting ever so patiently to be planted...
Our one and only Danny - planting away!
Some of the units planted and ready to go grow! All media is welcome to visit tomorrow between 10:00 to noon to watch as we finish up the rest!
Our one and only Danny - planting away!
Some of the units planted and ready to go grow! All media is welcome to visit tomorrow between 10:00 to noon to watch as we finish up the rest!
Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton & GreenScaped Buildings Partner on New Hollywood Living Wall
2009-12-08 15:20:19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2009
Contact: Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR
Falcon Valley Group
619-997-2495
GreenScaped Buildings Installing Edible Wall for Iron Chef Mario Batali
Wall for Batali's Pizzeria Mozza now being constructed; will be installed in January
(SAN DIEGO) - The hottest trend in green is sending people up the wall - literally. The latest development in green building technology is green walls, especially edible walls. Like green roofs, green walls are structures that allow plant materials to grow on a building, but have the added benefit of allowing them to grow on vertical spaces indoors or outdoors. Both types of walls grow in "found space," using far less space than typical gardens. Edible walls can be planted with herbs, fruits and vegetables.
Cutting edge chefs and restaurant owners are embracing edible walls, including popular "Iron Chef" Mario Batali. Batali and his partner Nancy Silverton will work with Jim Mumford, San Diego's "green roof guy" to build an edible wall at their Hollywood restaurant, Pizzeria Mozza.
"We've always been leaders in our industry when it comes to sustainability, and a green wall is just the logical next step," said Batali. "We hope to be able to supply our restaurant with some of our own herbs, from our own restaurant's wall! How exciting."
Mumford will build and plant the wall at his Kearny Mesa business, GreenScaped Buildings. It will grow for approximately six weeks before being transported to Batali and Silverton's restaurant and put into place with the plant materials well established.
The wall will be planted with mint, endive, Chinese celery, rosemary, parsley, chicory, sage, and edible geraniums. It will be 72 square feet on an east facing wall near the restaurant entrance.
Over three years ago, Mumford planted the first commercial green roof project in the middle of a Kearny Mesa industrial park. Mumford's original roof planted the seeds for innovations in restorative building, including an explosion of interest in green and edible walls.
Mumford has been growing green walls as part of his living laboratory at GreenScaped Buildings, trying out various methods and products that contribute to low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings. In addition to the aesthetic benefits of his green roof and walls, they produce increases in biodiversity, cooling buildings and reducing of the urban heat island effect, carbon sequestration, cleaning the air of particulates and adding oxygen.
"I'm now applying my experience with green roofs to the next natural step, green and edible walls," said Mumford. "Green roofs are wonderful but not practical for everyone. Green walls can be built for a fraction of the cost in many more places.
"The victory garden is making a comeback. People keep asking me about growing vegetables on the roof, which is problematic from a labor perspective - you can't easily allow folks on a roof to tend a vegetable garden."
The idea of vertical farming and "victory farms" are not new, but with more densely-built urban areas and an eye on lessening environmental impacts, advocates of urban farming have embraced edible walls as a way to lower food costs, increase nutritional quality and cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions by using fewer delivery trucks. While not all vegetables can be grown on a wall (corn being a good example), with practice and technological advancements the possibilities are endless.
"We can bring an entire farm to found space in the middle of an urban environment," said Mumford. "I'm excited to be working with Mario and to be building this edible wall for his wonderful restaurant. I'm looking forward to my first great meal at Pizzeria Mozza made with ingredients from the new edible wall."
Mumford is also in discussions with a high end La Jolla restaurant about construction of an edible wall, and a prominent San Diego based corporate headquarters about installing an edible interior wall.
For additional information, visit www.greenscapedbuildings.com and www.mariobatali.com/restaurants_pizzeriamozza.cfm
# # #
About GreenScaped Buildings
After more than 30 years of providing award-winning plantscaping service and design to the region as the owner of Good Earth Plant Company, Jim Mumford and GreenScaped Buildings has expanded the focus to include green roofs, living walls, and rainwater harvesting systems. Mumford's passion for low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings will cultivate a legacy through GreenScaped Buildings for which future generations can be proud.
December 8, 2009
Contact: Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR
Falcon Valley Group
619-997-2495
GreenScaped Buildings Installing Edible Wall for Iron Chef Mario Batali
Wall for Batali's Pizzeria Mozza now being constructed; will be installed in January
(SAN DIEGO) - The hottest trend in green is sending people up the wall - literally. The latest development in green building technology is green walls, especially edible walls. Like green roofs, green walls are structures that allow plant materials to grow on a building, but have the added benefit of allowing them to grow on vertical spaces indoors or outdoors. Both types of walls grow in "found space," using far less space than typical gardens. Edible walls can be planted with herbs, fruits and vegetables.
Cutting edge chefs and restaurant owners are embracing edible walls, including popular "Iron Chef" Mario Batali. Batali and his partner Nancy Silverton will work with Jim Mumford, San Diego's "green roof guy" to build an edible wall at their Hollywood restaurant, Pizzeria Mozza.
"We've always been leaders in our industry when it comes to sustainability, and a green wall is just the logical next step," said Batali. "We hope to be able to supply our restaurant with some of our own herbs, from our own restaurant's wall! How exciting."
Mumford will build and plant the wall at his Kearny Mesa business, GreenScaped Buildings. It will grow for approximately six weeks before being transported to Batali and Silverton's restaurant and put into place with the plant materials well established.
The wall will be planted with mint, endive, Chinese celery, rosemary, parsley, chicory, sage, and edible geraniums. It will be 72 square feet on an east facing wall near the restaurant entrance.
Over three years ago, Mumford planted the first commercial green roof project in the middle of a Kearny Mesa industrial park. Mumford's original roof planted the seeds for innovations in restorative building, including an explosion of interest in green and edible walls.
Mumford has been growing green walls as part of his living laboratory at GreenScaped Buildings, trying out various methods and products that contribute to low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings. In addition to the aesthetic benefits of his green roof and walls, they produce increases in biodiversity, cooling buildings and reducing of the urban heat island effect, carbon sequestration, cleaning the air of particulates and adding oxygen.
"I'm now applying my experience with green roofs to the next natural step, green and edible walls," said Mumford. "Green roofs are wonderful but not practical for everyone. Green walls can be built for a fraction of the cost in many more places.
"The victory garden is making a comeback. People keep asking me about growing vegetables on the roof, which is problematic from a labor perspective - you can't easily allow folks on a roof to tend a vegetable garden."
The idea of vertical farming and "victory farms" are not new, but with more densely-built urban areas and an eye on lessening environmental impacts, advocates of urban farming have embraced edible walls as a way to lower food costs, increase nutritional quality and cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions by using fewer delivery trucks. While not all vegetables can be grown on a wall (corn being a good example), with practice and technological advancements the possibilities are endless.
"We can bring an entire farm to found space in the middle of an urban environment," said Mumford. "I'm excited to be working with Mario and to be building this edible wall for his wonderful restaurant. I'm looking forward to my first great meal at Pizzeria Mozza made with ingredients from the new edible wall."
Mumford is also in discussions with a high end La Jolla restaurant about construction of an edible wall, and a prominent San Diego based corporate headquarters about installing an edible interior wall.
For additional information, visit www.greenscapedbuildings.com and www.mariobatali.com/restaurants_pizzeriamozza.cfm
# # #
About GreenScaped Buildings
After more than 30 years of providing award-winning plantscaping service and design to the region as the owner of Good Earth Plant Company, Jim Mumford and GreenScaped Buildings has expanded the focus to include green roofs, living walls, and rainwater harvesting systems. Mumford's passion for low impact development, sustainability and restorative buildings will cultivate a legacy through GreenScaped Buildings for which future generations can be proud.
Check out this cool and original leaf art by Christoph Niemann, whose illustrations have appeared on the covers of The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine and American Illustration.
Niemann blogs (somewhat regularly, judging from the comments on the page) on the NYTimes.com site. We're definitely going to keep an eye out for his new posts - these are fun!!
Niemann blogs (somewhat regularly, judging from the comments on the page) on the NYTimes.com site. We're definitely going to keep an eye out for his new posts - these are fun!!
I am feeling stimulated!
Seems that something has changed and perhaps some of the stimulus money is finally trickling down to us. The phones are ringing...
Last week we got a call on a project in Rosemead that will entail the design and installation of 5,000 sq ft of occupied roof garden space. This area will include paths and benches along with pergolas and maybe even a water feature. The other part of the roof (7,000 sq ft) will have a green roof made up of low growing sedums. And still another area will utilize living walls to hide the mechanical element of the roof top heating and air conditioning system.
Still another call came in from a local Landscape Architect for a job with a major downtown law firm. They have a very unique space that will have a green wall as part of the décor along with potted plants surrounding an outdoor seating area. This will be "the" place for members of the firm to hang out. We're proposing a system that is new for us, but I have been coveting one for some time now. I really like the design. We will have one displayed in our plantscape trialing area in about two weeks.
So what happens when a major local restaurant hears about our living edible wall project happening at Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood? They jump on board and want one too! We're in talks with the "powers that be" to create another custom edible wall in La Jolla. I cannot wait to see the first harvest.
I've also heard from an interior design firm and a moving consultant on two very different projects coming up in the near future. These are both projects for the interior plantscaping team, but I'm suggesting indoor green walls to augment their décor scheme. We'll see!
Seems that something has changed and perhaps some of the stimulus money is finally trickling down to us. The phones are ringing...
Last week we got a call on a project in Rosemead that will entail the design and installation of 5,000 sq ft of occupied roof garden space. This area will include paths and benches along with pergolas and maybe even a water feature. The other part of the roof (7,000 sq ft) will have a green roof made up of low growing sedums. And still another area will utilize living walls to hide the mechanical element of the roof top heating and air conditioning system.
Still another call came in from a local Landscape Architect for a job with a major downtown law firm. They have a very unique space that will have a green wall as part of the décor along with potted plants surrounding an outdoor seating area. This will be "the" place for members of the firm to hang out. We're proposing a system that is new for us, but I have been coveting one for some time now. I really like the design. We will have one displayed in our plantscape trialing area in about two weeks.
So what happens when a major local restaurant hears about our living edible wall project happening at Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood? They jump on board and want one too! We're in talks with the "powers that be" to create another custom edible wall in La Jolla. I cannot wait to see the first harvest.
I've also heard from an interior design firm and a moving consultant on two very different projects coming up in the near future. These are both projects for the interior plantscaping team, but I'm suggesting indoor green walls to augment their décor scheme. We'll see!
Today we received a letter in the mail that Jim and GreenScaped Buildings was nominated as a "Top Influential" for The Daily Transcript at SDDT.com. The distinction is for a person whose actions and opinions strongly influence their industry and business community. Each year, 50 Top Influentials are featured in a special web, print and event program. Although we didn't make it in that list of 50, we're really excited to have received the recognition!
We've worked hard this past year to get the name of Good Earth's sister company out there, and judging from the number of calls we've gotten as of late, we're pretty sure we're doing something right!
Thank you to those who contributed to the nomination. Full steam ahead!!!!!
We've worked hard this past year to get the name of Good Earth's sister company out there, and judging from the number of calls we've gotten as of late, we're pretty sure we're doing something right!
Thank you to those who contributed to the nomination. Full steam ahead!!!!!
We've been called in to bid on a large southern California green roof installed 7 years ago that's not doing well. What happened you might ask? Well, it seems that the client went with the low bid maintenance contractor after 5 successful years with another firm. The new guys either didn't know what they were doing or were instructed to cut water use. The result? Half the plants are dead and the new owners aren't pleased.
I don't know how much I can emphasize that extensive green roofs don't need much maintenance but they do need it done right. It isn't rocket science (well OK the green roof we did on the jet Propulsion Lab comes close...) but it does require the expertise and knowledge to do it well. It's why we insist on a two year after-installation maintenance contract to be able to guarantee the long-term health of the vegetated roof top.
This is will be a fantastic project - one that we will be able to see some amazing results relatively quickly. And at the same time - make it apparent how beautiful and sustaining a green roof can be!
I don't know how much I can emphasize that extensive green roofs don't need much maintenance but they do need it done right. It isn't rocket science (well OK the green roof we did on the jet Propulsion Lab comes close...) but it does require the expertise and knowledge to do it well. It's why we insist on a two year after-installation maintenance contract to be able to guarantee the long-term health of the vegetated roof top.
This is will be a fantastic project - one that we will be able to see some amazing results relatively quickly. And at the same time - make it apparent how beautiful and sustaining a green roof can be!
It's been an exciting week here at GSB, as we have had two new clients sign on with us - one a local developer for a green roof project in a beautiful spec house in Leucadia, and another for a living herb wall for Mario Batali and his restaurant group's Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood!
ArtHaus Home project in Encinitas - The house, still in the finishing stages of its construction, is already looking beautiful, with interesting architectural design both inside and out and a sweeping view of the ocean from its main living space.
Rich Williams, owner of ArtHaus Home and his Construction Manager, Matt Friedman, are great to work with and are as eager as we are to get the roof installed before the rainy season. See ArtHaus' images and description of 1491 Neptune, here: www.ArtHausHome.com.
Let the battle begin!
Okay, not really. But the Iron Chef fans here at GreenScaped Buildings are excited about our newest endeavor - building an herb wall for Mario Batali's Hollywood restaurant, Pizzeria Mozza!
The east-facing exterior wall of Pizzeria Mozza, one of the many restaurants in the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group, will soon be adorned with aromatic herbs and edible flowers to supplement the restaurant's needs and simultaneously create an aesthetically pleasing façade. After analyzing several different systems, our team, along with the Pizzeria team, decided to use the deep profile VGM wall units, to help create a finished look.
The VGM units are the same product we use at our headquarters, and since the installation, we've enjoyed delicious strawberries, mojitos made from our wall's pineapple mint, and many a spruced-up leftover by adding sage, beet greens, oregano, geraniums and other herbs to dishes we bring from home!
Visit our blog for updates as the projects nears completion!
ArtHaus Home project in Encinitas - The house, still in the finishing stages of its construction, is already looking beautiful, with interesting architectural design both inside and out and a sweeping view of the ocean from its main living space.
Rich Williams, owner of ArtHaus Home and his Construction Manager, Matt Friedman, are great to work with and are as eager as we are to get the roof installed before the rainy season. See ArtHaus' images and description of 1491 Neptune, here: www.ArtHausHome.com.
Let the battle begin!
Okay, not really. But the Iron Chef fans here at GreenScaped Buildings are excited about our newest endeavor - building an herb wall for Mario Batali's Hollywood restaurant, Pizzeria Mozza!
The east-facing exterior wall of Pizzeria Mozza, one of the many restaurants in the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group, will soon be adorned with aromatic herbs and edible flowers to supplement the restaurant's needs and simultaneously create an aesthetically pleasing façade. After analyzing several different systems, our team, along with the Pizzeria team, decided to use the deep profile VGM wall units, to help create a finished look.
The VGM units are the same product we use at our headquarters, and since the installation, we've enjoyed delicious strawberries, mojitos made from our wall's pineapple mint, and many a spruced-up leftover by adding sage, beet greens, oregano, geraniums and other herbs to dishes we bring from home!
Visit our blog for updates as the projects nears completion!
Cal Poly grad student Todd Nelson recently sent us a picture of his experiment in which he's testing different types of systems and plant palettes as part of his coursework.
He was also a recipient of a Green Roof Professional accreditation a few months ago, along with Jim. And he's been visiting us every so often to gather more facts about the industry and check out our test site.
He may be helping us with our upcoming green roof in Leucadia too! We can't wait to see updates on his work!
He was also a recipient of a Green Roof Professional accreditation a few months ago, along with Jim. And he's been visiting us every so often to gather more facts about the industry and check out our test site.
He may be helping us with our upcoming green roof in Leucadia too! We can't wait to see updates on his work!
With its air-filtering plants and sustainable architecture, Kamal Meattle's office park in New Delhi is a model of green business. Meattle himself is a longtime activist for cleaning up India's air.
Check out this video on the researcher's arrangement of three common houseplants, used in specific spots in a home or office building, that can result in measurably cleaner indoor air.
Check out this video on the researcher's arrangement of three common houseplants, used in specific spots in a home or office building, that can result in measurably cleaner indoor air.
A couple of weeks ago, I met Jennifer Guerin at her studio on 5th Avenue. Jen is currently featured on the HGTV show Design Star. I have always found color to be the most fascinating element of design and an integral part of our plantscape designs. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and potential future collaboration.
She shared with me some of her thoughts on the use of color:
"The implications of the thoughtful use of color are tremendous. A person cannot look at a color and remain neutral. Our lives are immeasurably enriched by the informative and emotive qualities of color. Though color has a profound impact on our human experience, few understand the far-reaching effects of our color choices."
"Color is part of our psychological and biological heritage. Color and light affect our brain waves, hormonal responses, automatic nervous system and arouse emotional and aesthetic associations. Our biological responses to color are beyond our control."
"We also react to color based on personal, cultural and symbolic associations. Within ourselves and outside in nature and the man-made environment, complex reactions to color have profound meaning for our lives and our livelihood. Something so powerful should not be relegated to mere decoration."
"Whether creating a skyscraper, school, hospital, jail, office or home interior, effective application of color can mean the difference between an ordinary, perhaps even dull result or an exceptional result that communicates its precise intent."
I've always been aware that color attracts our eye and have incorporated its use directly and indirectly. Think how stunning a bright floral arrangement is on a front reception desk or a row of planters that utilize a contrasting color makes them stand out and be noticed. I also love to use plants that have variegation or colors other than green in their leaves.
We like to think that we make buildings "authentically green" by growing plants in or on a building. Think how powerful the color green is in the sustainability world!
She shared with me some of her thoughts on the use of color:
"The implications of the thoughtful use of color are tremendous. A person cannot look at a color and remain neutral. Our lives are immeasurably enriched by the informative and emotive qualities of color. Though color has a profound impact on our human experience, few understand the far-reaching effects of our color choices."
"Color is part of our psychological and biological heritage. Color and light affect our brain waves, hormonal responses, automatic nervous system and arouse emotional and aesthetic associations. Our biological responses to color are beyond our control."
"We also react to color based on personal, cultural and symbolic associations. Within ourselves and outside in nature and the man-made environment, complex reactions to color have profound meaning for our lives and our livelihood. Something so powerful should not be relegated to mere decoration."
"Whether creating a skyscraper, school, hospital, jail, office or home interior, effective application of color can mean the difference between an ordinary, perhaps even dull result or an exceptional result that communicates its precise intent."
I've always been aware that color attracts our eye and have incorporated its use directly and indirectly. Think how stunning a bright floral arrangement is on a front reception desk or a row of planters that utilize a contrasting color makes them stand out and be noticed. I also love to use plants that have variegation or colors other than green in their leaves.
We like to think that we make buildings "authentically green" by growing plants in or on a building. Think how powerful the color green is in the sustainability world!
We were just sent this video on a project that we helped with in Pasadena!
Today, Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) debuted its new Flight Projects Center, the greenest completed facility in the NASA family. JPL is a Federally-funded research and development facility managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Their new building included a 5,000 sq ft vegetated roof, to help keep the building cool and help minimize storm water runoff into the Arroyo Seco, a dry riverbed near JPL.
Check out the video here!
Today, Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) debuted its new Flight Projects Center, the greenest completed facility in the NASA family. JPL is a Federally-funded research and development facility managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Their new building included a 5,000 sq ft vegetated roof, to help keep the building cool and help minimize storm water runoff into the Arroyo Seco, a dry riverbed near JPL.
Check out the video here!
A friend of mine alerted me to this recent development in Río Blanco, Veracruz, México.
This flower is the biggest one in the world! Two meters high and weighing 75 kilos, it has the peculiarity of blooming only during three days every 40 years. Though found in many botanic gardens around the world it is still indigenous only to the tropical forests of Sumatra. The "fragrance" (uh....can you really call it that?!) of the inflorescence resembles rotting meat, attracting carrion-eating beetles and Flesh Flies (family Sarcophagidae) that pollinate it. Yummy!
Check out the video of this prized (and very temporary!) bloom in Veracruz, here.
This flower is the biggest one in the world! Two meters high and weighing 75 kilos, it has the peculiarity of blooming only during three days every 40 years. Though found in many botanic gardens around the world it is still indigenous only to the tropical forests of Sumatra. The "fragrance" (uh....can you really call it that?!) of the inflorescence resembles rotting meat, attracting carrion-eating beetles and Flesh Flies (family Sarcophagidae) that pollinate it. Yummy!
Check out the video of this prized (and very temporary!) bloom in Veracruz, here.
Debbie, Alexa and I attended the Plantscape Industry Alliances' annual conference "Calscape" while Pari "manned" the fort back home. It was fun to get away to Vegas for a few days and see our interior plantscaping peers from across the country. I think that the networking is the most valuable benefit from attending a conference like Calscape and I was fortunate to meet many new and interesting plantscapers, vendors and horticulturists. The best part is we all share similar victories and frustrations. And we speak the same language!
The Plantscape Alliance Industry team led by Mary Golden was for the first time augmented by a large volunteer staff if BYU horticultural students. What a great crew they were. I counted at least 15 students all very helpful and willing to do anything for the organization to help the conference work better.
A new agenda item this year was a "reinvention forum" created and hosted by Jerry Shipe. He rounded up a panel to speak on the virtues of; short term plant rentals, florals, residential plant care, exterior landscape services and holiday décor. Participants included; Barb Helfman, Rich Parker, Steve Foster, Tim Konig, Rita Rogers, David Lemel, John Kruzshak, Don Warner, Peter Harleman. Although alternative revenue streams are what PIA has offered at each Calscape for years, having it all in one place spoke to the urgency we are all feeling right now. I look forward to this being a regular part of future Calscapes.
The welcoming party Wednesday evening was sponsored by Dennis Gabrick of Preserved Treescapes and once again he outdid himself. Overflowing with appetizers and finger food we washed it all down with a margarita (or two). The party was outside in the palm studded courtyard and it was a little cold (in Las Vegas?) but we managed OK and all ended up at the party room hosted by Bill Meade, Peter Herrera and Bill Lyon.
Thursday the morning keynote speaker was Paul Dolan a winemaker and sustainability advocate. He gave a thought provoking talk that was inspiring and funny but a little bit of a downer as he told the story of our nearly destroyed ecosystem and what monumental efforts it will take to restore it. He spoke again in the afternoon as part of a panel and the dialog that it created went past the session and into the next few days.
The trade show was then opened and it was full of planters and pots, silk plants and preserved plants, live plants and assorted accents. There was a guy representing a green roof growing media company as well as several holiday decorating wholesalers and even a software company. Feedback from the vendors was very positive with several echoing the sentiment that they were pleased to see the enthusiasm by attendees. Chris Lyon said he took an unusually high number of orders! I believe I visited with each and every booth and got some new ideas to use on our next project.
Later in the day I gave a talk on green roofs and living walls that was well received. My emphasis was on inspiration coupled with preparation and indeed caution. After some technical difficulties with the power point I was able to get into a rhythm and put on a good and informative presentation. And perhaps I may have gained several green roof design and installation consulting contracts.
The awards banquet Thursday night was a beautiful event with some of the most amazing images of outstanding projects imaginable. A noteworthy item was that almost all of the awards came from outside of California. I was a bit embarrassed that we didn't have an entry as we nearly always do and usually win an award. Alas, there just wasn't anything we did this past year that I thought was award winning on the scale I want it to be to enter. Regardless, it was fun to see other plantscaping design and installation award winners along with special events and holiday décor.
When the awards banquet concluded, the infamous Calscape-After-Party at suite 24078 began. Hosted by the "Gang of Three"; Bill, Peter and Bill, food and booze flowed aplenty. The view of the Strip from their room was phenomenal. With camera in hand, Bill Lyon captured many provocative images of attendees that will undoubtedly end up on the internet, somewhere. Interesting how much is learned during an after party, who you meet and what is shared. I particularly enjoyed talking with Howard of Blondie's and meeting some of his folks. I hope I can arrange a trip to New York to pay them a visit soon.
I missed the Friday morning session on a "killer" database for interiorscapers as well as the session about environmentally sensitive pest management put on by Suzanne Wainwright, a perennial Calscape speaker. The "lunch with exhibitors" was set up like speed dating as a variety of vendors stopped at each table and gave a 5 minute talk on their product line and services. I found a fantastic database of plant images during one of these conversations.
The Friday afternoon closing keynote was put n by Jan Goodman of Cityscapes in Boston and focused on differentiating yourself from your competitors. It was a lively hour long info-fest as Jan has an extraordinary amount of energy to share her creative ideas. Afterwards the Green Plants for green Building organization hosted a reception that included information about interior plants' ability to sequester carbon. The research was conducted by Dr. Bodie Pennisi and looks very promising.
All in all a great Calscape conference that included people, plants, ideas and concepts that I am implementing daily. I look forward to next year!
The Plantscape Alliance Industry team led by Mary Golden was for the first time augmented by a large volunteer staff if BYU horticultural students. What a great crew they were. I counted at least 15 students all very helpful and willing to do anything for the organization to help the conference work better.
A new agenda item this year was a "reinvention forum" created and hosted by Jerry Shipe. He rounded up a panel to speak on the virtues of; short term plant rentals, florals, residential plant care, exterior landscape services and holiday décor. Participants included; Barb Helfman, Rich Parker, Steve Foster, Tim Konig, Rita Rogers, David Lemel, John Kruzshak, Don Warner, Peter Harleman. Although alternative revenue streams are what PIA has offered at each Calscape for years, having it all in one place spoke to the urgency we are all feeling right now. I look forward to this being a regular part of future Calscapes.
The welcoming party Wednesday evening was sponsored by Dennis Gabrick of Preserved Treescapes and once again he outdid himself. Overflowing with appetizers and finger food we washed it all down with a margarita (or two). The party was outside in the palm studded courtyard and it was a little cold (in Las Vegas?) but we managed OK and all ended up at the party room hosted by Bill Meade, Peter Herrera and Bill Lyon.
Thursday the morning keynote speaker was Paul Dolan a winemaker and sustainability advocate. He gave a thought provoking talk that was inspiring and funny but a little bit of a downer as he told the story of our nearly destroyed ecosystem and what monumental efforts it will take to restore it. He spoke again in the afternoon as part of a panel and the dialog that it created went past the session and into the next few days.
The trade show was then opened and it was full of planters and pots, silk plants and preserved plants, live plants and assorted accents. There was a guy representing a green roof growing media company as well as several holiday decorating wholesalers and even a software company. Feedback from the vendors was very positive with several echoing the sentiment that they were pleased to see the enthusiasm by attendees. Chris Lyon said he took an unusually high number of orders! I believe I visited with each and every booth and got some new ideas to use on our next project.
Later in the day I gave a talk on green roofs and living walls that was well received. My emphasis was on inspiration coupled with preparation and indeed caution. After some technical difficulties with the power point I was able to get into a rhythm and put on a good and informative presentation. And perhaps I may have gained several green roof design and installation consulting contracts.
The awards banquet Thursday night was a beautiful event with some of the most amazing images of outstanding projects imaginable. A noteworthy item was that almost all of the awards came from outside of California. I was a bit embarrassed that we didn't have an entry as we nearly always do and usually win an award. Alas, there just wasn't anything we did this past year that I thought was award winning on the scale I want it to be to enter. Regardless, it was fun to see other plantscaping design and installation award winners along with special events and holiday décor.
When the awards banquet concluded, the infamous Calscape-After-Party at suite 24078 began. Hosted by the "Gang of Three"; Bill, Peter and Bill, food and booze flowed aplenty. The view of the Strip from their room was phenomenal. With camera in hand, Bill Lyon captured many provocative images of attendees that will undoubtedly end up on the internet, somewhere. Interesting how much is learned during an after party, who you meet and what is shared. I particularly enjoyed talking with Howard of Blondie's and meeting some of his folks. I hope I can arrange a trip to New York to pay them a visit soon.
I missed the Friday morning session on a "killer" database for interiorscapers as well as the session about environmentally sensitive pest management put on by Suzanne Wainwright, a perennial Calscape speaker. The "lunch with exhibitors" was set up like speed dating as a variety of vendors stopped at each table and gave a 5 minute talk on their product line and services. I found a fantastic database of plant images during one of these conversations.
The Friday afternoon closing keynote was put n by Jan Goodman of Cityscapes in Boston and focused on differentiating yourself from your competitors. It was a lively hour long info-fest as Jan has an extraordinary amount of energy to share her creative ideas. Afterwards the Green Plants for green Building organization hosted a reception that included information about interior plants' ability to sequester carbon. The research was conducted by Dr. Bodie Pennisi and looks very promising.
All in all a great Calscape conference that included people, plants, ideas and concepts that I am implementing daily. I look forward to next year!
In an article written by Monica Uphold of the SD Daily Transcript, she cites a study done by USD that shows an increase in productivity in "green" buildings:
Employees working in green buildings phone in sick to work less frequently and are more productive than their counterparts who work in non-green buildings, according to a recent study by University of San Diego's Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate and commercial real estate firm CB Richard Ellis.
The study suggests buildings that bear the LEED-certified or Energy Star label are more valuable as office space because of the increase in productivity, said Norm Miller, academic director for USD's Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate.
Indoor air quality, natural light and ventilation were cited as reasons employees perform better when working in green buildings.
"People like natural light, they like clean air," Miller said, whether the effects be on health, morale or psychological.
Conducted by Miller and David Pogue, national director of sustainability for CB Richard Ellis, the study surveyed 534 tenants of 154 green buildings nationwide.
Of those surveyed, 12 percent of respondents said they strongly agree employees were more productive in green buildings, 42.5 percent agreed employees were more productive and 45 percent noted no change in productivity. Of the companies that reported an increase in productivity, the average increase was greater than 4 percent.
The increase in productivity was in part due to employees taking fewer sick days. Forty-five percent of the companies surveyed reported employees took an average of 2.88 fewer sick days at their new green office location compared with their previous location. An equal amount noted no effect and 10 percent reported more sick days. The 10 percent were residents of Energy Star-labeled buildings, which -- unlike LEED-certified buildings -- do not have air quality requirements.
The study estimates the increase in productivity translates into a net effect of $20.82 per employee based on an office space of 250 square feet per worker using average salary as an index. The average effect on productivity was estimated at $5,204 per employee, with the average impact of employees taking fewer sick days was estimated at $1,228 per worker.
The effect of increased productivity and fewer days lost to illness increases the worth of rented space by $20.82 and $4.91 per square foot, respectively.
Despite the benefits, it is important to note that the majority of respondents said they would not pay more for a green building, an attitude Miller said he believes will change as people begin to realize the benefits of such office space.
"Healthier buildings reduce sick time and increase productivity," Miller said. "If you consider the benefits in terms of recruitment, retention of employees, less sick time and greater productivity, tenants should be willing to pay more rent for such space or require steep discounts for less healthy space."
Employees working in green buildings phone in sick to work less frequently and are more productive than their counterparts who work in non-green buildings, according to a recent study by University of San Diego's Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate and commercial real estate firm CB Richard Ellis.
The study suggests buildings that bear the LEED-certified or Energy Star label are more valuable as office space because of the increase in productivity, said Norm Miller, academic director for USD's Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate.
Indoor air quality, natural light and ventilation were cited as reasons employees perform better when working in green buildings.
"People like natural light, they like clean air," Miller said, whether the effects be on health, morale or psychological.
Conducted by Miller and David Pogue, national director of sustainability for CB Richard Ellis, the study surveyed 534 tenants of 154 green buildings nationwide.
Of those surveyed, 12 percent of respondents said they strongly agree employees were more productive in green buildings, 42.5 percent agreed employees were more productive and 45 percent noted no change in productivity. Of the companies that reported an increase in productivity, the average increase was greater than 4 percent.
The increase in productivity was in part due to employees taking fewer sick days. Forty-five percent of the companies surveyed reported employees took an average of 2.88 fewer sick days at their new green office location compared with their previous location. An equal amount noted no effect and 10 percent reported more sick days. The 10 percent were residents of Energy Star-labeled buildings, which -- unlike LEED-certified buildings -- do not have air quality requirements.
The study estimates the increase in productivity translates into a net effect of $20.82 per employee based on an office space of 250 square feet per worker using average salary as an index. The average effect on productivity was estimated at $5,204 per employee, with the average impact of employees taking fewer sick days was estimated at $1,228 per worker.
The effect of increased productivity and fewer days lost to illness increases the worth of rented space by $20.82 and $4.91 per square foot, respectively.
Despite the benefits, it is important to note that the majority of respondents said they would not pay more for a green building, an attitude Miller said he believes will change as people begin to realize the benefits of such office space.
"Healthier buildings reduce sick time and increase productivity," Miller said. "If you consider the benefits in terms of recruitment, retention of employees, less sick time and greater productivity, tenants should be willing to pay more rent for such space or require steep discounts for less healthy space."
While our street isn't as busy as some, we totally support the efforts of Park(ing) Day organizers to showcase the importance of parks in our urban communities, in a very interesting way!
So last Friday, we took park in Park(ing) Day 2009 by designating a spot on the street in front of our headquarters as our "park." We took some great pictures and had a lot of fun doing it! Check out the Park(ing) Day website to see pictures of Park(ing) Day entries from around the world! Here are some of ours - notice our green roof in the background!:
[gallery]
So last Friday, we took park in Park(ing) Day 2009 by designating a spot on the street in front of our headquarters as our "park." We took some great pictures and had a lot of fun doing it! Check out the Park(ing) Day website to see pictures of Park(ing) Day entries from around the world! Here are some of ours - notice our green roof in the background!:
[gallery]
This has been a very eventful week!
I'd like to say that it started off with a spectacular Monday night football game where the Chargers whooped up on the Raiders, but I'll have to settle for just a win...
Tuesday I brought the A-Team (Roofer Ulf Waldmann of Mission Valley Roofing and Robert Thiele AIA LEED AP architect) to the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) for a half day workshop on green roofs. I begin with an over-view and definition of green roofs, their history, styles and types. Robert follows with a view from 5,000 feet and from his perspective all about structure, codes and permits. Ulf comes on next with information on roof types, waterproofing and safety concerns along with his German experience. I wrap it all up with the sexy part - plants! I also include media, irrigation and drainage.
This is our third time doing the program (the first two were for Cuyamaca College) and I am proud to say that we drew the largest audience for any of their previous events. The crowd was a good mix of architects, contractors, developers, homeowner's and interested parties. For the first time I was asked about insurance concerns (I know of nothing) and what to do if you get termites in the building and how does one tent it. All I know about tenting a structure for termites is that it would undoubtedly kill the plants on the roof. I am looking into it for more in-depth answers.
On Wednesday I teamed up with Mathew Porreca of BNIM Architects to do a presentation to the Sustainability Committee of the Downtown San Diego Partnership organization. Mathew has worked on some amazing projects in Kansas City and the Midwest. I was stunned by the scale of their green roofs covering many acres.
After our presentation, I was off to Petco Stadium for QUALCOMM's vendor appreciation day at the Padres game. I went with a friend, Christine Petrarca of Christine Connects You, and she indeed knew most everyone and connected me to several new people. Plus, the Padres won!
I wasn't able to enjoy the game much as I had another appointment with Reno Contracting later in the afternoon. I met with their "Green-Team" and both learned about their objectives and shared with them about our work doing green roofs and living walls. I was impressed by both their interest and level of questioning. We have already started to look at a retro-fit green roof project on a building in Rancho Bernardo.
Last night I took my children; Teddy and Allie to the San Diego River Parks Annual Gala. After speaking with the director, Rob Hutsel, we will be doing a green roof presentation for them as they want to incorporate an eco-roof into their plans for a visitor's center.
And finally, I am preparing a new Power Point Presentation for a large un-named client that wants an edible wall in their new buildings cafeteria. I'm excited!
Whew! Hopefully I'll get some rest this weekend. Who knows what next weekend will bring!
I'd like to say that it started off with a spectacular Monday night football game where the Chargers whooped up on the Raiders, but I'll have to settle for just a win...
Tuesday I brought the A-Team (Roofer Ulf Waldmann of Mission Valley Roofing and Robert Thiele AIA LEED AP architect) to the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) for a half day workshop on green roofs. I begin with an over-view and definition of green roofs, their history, styles and types. Robert follows with a view from 5,000 feet and from his perspective all about structure, codes and permits. Ulf comes on next with information on roof types, waterproofing and safety concerns along with his German experience. I wrap it all up with the sexy part - plants! I also include media, irrigation and drainage.
This is our third time doing the program (the first two were for Cuyamaca College) and I am proud to say that we drew the largest audience for any of their previous events. The crowd was a good mix of architects, contractors, developers, homeowner's and interested parties. For the first time I was asked about insurance concerns (I know of nothing) and what to do if you get termites in the building and how does one tent it. All I know about tenting a structure for termites is that it would undoubtedly kill the plants on the roof. I am looking into it for more in-depth answers.
On Wednesday I teamed up with Mathew Porreca of BNIM Architects to do a presentation to the Sustainability Committee of the Downtown San Diego Partnership organization. Mathew has worked on some amazing projects in Kansas City and the Midwest. I was stunned by the scale of their green roofs covering many acres.
After our presentation, I was off to Petco Stadium for QUALCOMM's vendor appreciation day at the Padres game. I went with a friend, Christine Petrarca of Christine Connects You, and she indeed knew most everyone and connected me to several new people. Plus, the Padres won!
I wasn't able to enjoy the game much as I had another appointment with Reno Contracting later in the afternoon. I met with their "Green-Team" and both learned about their objectives and shared with them about our work doing green roofs and living walls. I was impressed by both their interest and level of questioning. We have already started to look at a retro-fit green roof project on a building in Rancho Bernardo.
Last night I took my children; Teddy and Allie to the San Diego River Parks Annual Gala. After speaking with the director, Rob Hutsel, we will be doing a green roof presentation for them as they want to incorporate an eco-roof into their plans for a visitor's center.
And finally, I am preparing a new Power Point Presentation for a large un-named client that wants an edible wall in their new buildings cafeteria. I'm excited!
Whew! Hopefully I'll get some rest this weekend. Who knows what next weekend will bring!
The past two weeks have been a flurry of activity. We've done two very successful lunch and learns with prominent San Diego architectural and interior design firms showing off our interiorscaping; plants, pots, design, installations and maintenance services. They are very excited about our work doing green roofs and living walls.
We also bid a large green roof in the Brentwood California area. I have to say it was a very aggressive bid, one that I am proud of as Pari did the lion's share of work and learned a tremendous amount. I don't know yet whether we were awarded the job, if we do I'll be posting details.
I flew up to San Francisco at the last minute on Tuesday to meet with the owners, developers, contractor and architects of a hospital project that is going to have a green roof. It felt like a senate subcommittee meeting with 10 of them on one side of the table and I on the other as they grilled me about our experience, knowledge, design ideas and other pertinent areas important in this early phase of the design process.
While in San Francisco I visited with friends Tony Caruso of Decorative Plant Service and Mathew Gardner of the Wright Gardener and we were able to see the Academy of Sciences spectacular green roof designed and installed by my buddy Paul Kephart and Rana Creek. Amazing project!
I also attended a couple of designer networking meetings and have to say that I feel a "nervous optimism" out there as the economy stops falling and bounces along the bottom. Folks are finding work, projects are beginning to move forward and the bleeding seems to have stopped. Let's hope so!
I also went to the "Slow Foods" group mixer and was impressed with the attendance. A broad and diverse group and everyone was interested in what we are doing with vertical gardening and the edible walls we are designing and proposing. Our newest potential client is the Marine Room in La Jolla. They want an edible wall close to the front door to establish the concept of very fresh locally grown spices and herbs. I like it!
We also bid a large green roof in the Brentwood California area. I have to say it was a very aggressive bid, one that I am proud of as Pari did the lion's share of work and learned a tremendous amount. I don't know yet whether we were awarded the job, if we do I'll be posting details.
I flew up to San Francisco at the last minute on Tuesday to meet with the owners, developers, contractor and architects of a hospital project that is going to have a green roof. It felt like a senate subcommittee meeting with 10 of them on one side of the table and I on the other as they grilled me about our experience, knowledge, design ideas and other pertinent areas important in this early phase of the design process.
While in San Francisco I visited with friends Tony Caruso of Decorative Plant Service and Mathew Gardner of the Wright Gardener and we were able to see the Academy of Sciences spectacular green roof designed and installed by my buddy Paul Kephart and Rana Creek. Amazing project!
I also attended a couple of designer networking meetings and have to say that I feel a "nervous optimism" out there as the economy stops falling and bounces along the bottom. Folks are finding work, projects are beginning to move forward and the bleeding seems to have stopped. Let's hope so!
I also went to the "Slow Foods" group mixer and was impressed with the attendance. A broad and diverse group and everyone was interested in what we are doing with vertical gardening and the edible walls we are designing and proposing. Our newest potential client is the Marine Room in La Jolla. They want an edible wall close to the front door to establish the concept of very fresh locally grown spices and herbs. I like it!
Lucia Stone forwarded me a link to a video on a roof top farm in new York. What an amazing project!
We get asked a lot about doing vegetables on a roof top here in San Diego and indeed southern California in general. I am a firm believer that this is an outstanding use of a roof top garden - so much more to offer when you can harvest edibles from an otherwise wasted space. And the benefits of a green roof: storm water retention, energy reduction, extending the life of the membrane and bio-diversity, are all still applicable.
The challenge is two-fold. First our roofs in southern California are not built to handle the additional load of a green roof. So a retro-fit is difficult if not impossible.
The second issue is safety. A vegetable garden is labor intensive with all of the weeding, watering and harvesting. So the roof must have some type of railing surrounding it to prevent someone from falling off. In addition, code compliant access can pose a problem, unless designed in from the beginning.
This is one of the reasons we have been designing and installing living walls that support vegetables, herbs, spices and lettuces. Using a wall for vertical farming is nothing new and the benefit is that the engineering is minimized compared to a roof top. Plus, you don't have to worry about access issues unless you build a green wall high enough that one would need to stand on a ladder.
Design one in from the beginning? You bet! That will work just fine and not cost an arm and a leg in beefing up the structure. That said....anyone planning on a building a new building any time soon? ;)
We get asked a lot about doing vegetables on a roof top here in San Diego and indeed southern California in general. I am a firm believer that this is an outstanding use of a roof top garden - so much more to offer when you can harvest edibles from an otherwise wasted space. And the benefits of a green roof: storm water retention, energy reduction, extending the life of the membrane and bio-diversity, are all still applicable.
The challenge is two-fold. First our roofs in southern California are not built to handle the additional load of a green roof. So a retro-fit is difficult if not impossible.
The second issue is safety. A vegetable garden is labor intensive with all of the weeding, watering and harvesting. So the roof must have some type of railing surrounding it to prevent someone from falling off. In addition, code compliant access can pose a problem, unless designed in from the beginning.
This is one of the reasons we have been designing and installing living walls that support vegetables, herbs, spices and lettuces. Using a wall for vertical farming is nothing new and the benefit is that the engineering is minimized compared to a roof top. Plus, you don't have to worry about access issues unless you build a green wall high enough that one would need to stand on a ladder.
Design one in from the beginning? You bet! That will work just fine and not cost an arm and a leg in beefing up the structure. That said....anyone planning on a building a new building any time soon? ;)
The economy has a lot of folks feeling down these days and quite a few of them take it out on others. As our horticultural technicians go about their day caring for plants in business and homes, they sometimes encounter cranky clients. I remind them on a regular basis that whatever they are being yelled at for may have nothing to do with them, and everything to do with the person doing the yelling. Plus we train our employees on how to handle difficult situations.
The following is my list of techniques to diffuse a bad situation and cranky people:
1. Be empathetic. Use terms such as "I know how you could feel like that."
2. Let people talk. Sometimes they just need to talk it out. The worst thing anyone can ever say when someone is trying to discuss an issue is "I don't want to talk about that". Of course the other interpretation of I don't want to talk about it is when someone says to you, "All you are doing is harping on the same issues. Move on." People need to talk things out. That's why psychiatrists have patients come back again and again. Shut the door on the communication and shut the door on the relationships.
3. Ask for a remedy. If you did something wrong, then ask how it can be corrected.
4. When dealing with the unreasonable remedy, simply use the expression, "I wish we could." That works just about every time.
5. Thank you. We cannot thank people enough. I am becoming a believer that we are in the midst of an epidemic of people who just expect everything. You do something for someone and they don't thank you. It is so easy but so few people do it. When was the last time you thanked a client for choosing to work with us? Send a thank-you note after a sale!
6. Expectation management: What does a client expect when we walk into their office or home? Take the time to write it down then have a friend or even yourself practice. You will avoid problems before they happen.
7. Become a Flexetarian. Don't be so rigid. Lighten up. The times they are-a-changin' and the rules of the new normal are yet to be written. Things are never just black or white. There are many shades of gray.
8. Be a Seeker and a Doer. Many times our policies become stale because we never shop other businesses to see what our clients are experiencing. It's one thing seeing good ideas but it's another thing implementing them. You can't be successful without both of them.
9. Decisions of Convenience: Again, I am seeing more people make decisions because it's the easy way out. In the service business we sometimes get lazy and make the decisions because it's easy or convenient to do. Somehow we start to have different rules and policies for different customers and employees. It's the same as buying from a rep because it's easy. Just be aware of the amount of decisions we make because of that. It's scary and extremely dangerous business.
10. Commitment. The service business isn't easy. There can be long hours and frustrating times. BUT you have to love it. You have to get excited when new clients get installed and the plants and planters arrive. You need to get excited to call a client up and be so enthusiastic that you were able to get exactly what they are looking for. You need to get excited about every orchid, palm or ficus tree that you push yourself to visit one more nursery when you're dead tired but that new resource becomes the winner of the season.
Hopefully, the client's mood won't last long, but the way you and your team handled it will, creating a better relationship in the long run....
The following is my list of techniques to diffuse a bad situation and cranky people:
1. Be empathetic. Use terms such as "I know how you could feel like that."
2. Let people talk. Sometimes they just need to talk it out. The worst thing anyone can ever say when someone is trying to discuss an issue is "I don't want to talk about that". Of course the other interpretation of I don't want to talk about it is when someone says to you, "All you are doing is harping on the same issues. Move on." People need to talk things out. That's why psychiatrists have patients come back again and again. Shut the door on the communication and shut the door on the relationships.
3. Ask for a remedy. If you did something wrong, then ask how it can be corrected.
4. When dealing with the unreasonable remedy, simply use the expression, "I wish we could." That works just about every time.
5. Thank you. We cannot thank people enough. I am becoming a believer that we are in the midst of an epidemic of people who just expect everything. You do something for someone and they don't thank you. It is so easy but so few people do it. When was the last time you thanked a client for choosing to work with us? Send a thank-you note after a sale!
6. Expectation management: What does a client expect when we walk into their office or home? Take the time to write it down then have a friend or even yourself practice. You will avoid problems before they happen.
7. Become a Flexetarian. Don't be so rigid. Lighten up. The times they are-a-changin' and the rules of the new normal are yet to be written. Things are never just black or white. There are many shades of gray.
8. Be a Seeker and a Doer. Many times our policies become stale because we never shop other businesses to see what our clients are experiencing. It's one thing seeing good ideas but it's another thing implementing them. You can't be successful without both of them.
9. Decisions of Convenience: Again, I am seeing more people make decisions because it's the easy way out. In the service business we sometimes get lazy and make the decisions because it's easy or convenient to do. Somehow we start to have different rules and policies for different customers and employees. It's the same as buying from a rep because it's easy. Just be aware of the amount of decisions we make because of that. It's scary and extremely dangerous business.
10. Commitment. The service business isn't easy. There can be long hours and frustrating times. BUT you have to love it. You have to get excited when new clients get installed and the plants and planters arrive. You need to get excited to call a client up and be so enthusiastic that you were able to get exactly what they are looking for. You need to get excited about every orchid, palm or ficus tree that you push yourself to visit one more nursery when you're dead tired but that new resource becomes the winner of the season.
Hopefully, the client's mood won't last long, but the way you and your team handled it will, creating a better relationship in the long run....
I've always heard, "You're one tragedy away from becoming an advocate."
While that quote applies to a lot of situations, it's clear that in our society, it usually takes a tragedy or crisis to get us to make a change. Look at our energy issues. While we are not energy independent yet, the energy crisis of a few years ago got us things like tax incentives for PVC installations, more solar products in the market, and the word "sustainability" forever embedded in our minds.
Now here we are, facing a water shortage. For years we've touted the benefits of gray water, but have also stared into the face of bureaucratic red tape to make it a reality. Just like the energy crisis however, we, as a City, are becoming advocates.........click here to read about: Residential "Gray Water" Rules Eased
While that quote applies to a lot of situations, it's clear that in our society, it usually takes a tragedy or crisis to get us to make a change. Look at our energy issues. While we are not energy independent yet, the energy crisis of a few years ago got us things like tax incentives for PVC installations, more solar products in the market, and the word "sustainability" forever embedded in our minds.
Now here we are, facing a water shortage. For years we've touted the benefits of gray water, but have also stared into the face of bureaucratic red tape to make it a reality. Just like the energy crisis however, we, as a City, are becoming advocates.........click here to read about: Residential "Gray Water" Rules Eased
I loved this article so much, I decided to make it my post for the day:
"EnvironDesign Notebook: Inviting Nature In
Biomimicry can lead us to more innovative, sustainable interior spaces
By Mary Ann Lazarus, LEED AP
The emerging science of biomimicry has captivated the design professions. Conferences are buzzing about it, magazines are craving it, and the next generation of designers can't get enough of it.
Established by biologist Janine Benyus in the 1990s, biomimicry looks to the natural world for ideas and inspiration for all kinds of design opportunities. The goal is to create sustainable products, processes and policies-new ways of living-that are well-adapted to life on Earth and able to endure, regardless of the challenges.
In its brief evolution, biomimicry has led to some amazing innovations-from self-cleaning surfaces inspired by the lotus leaf, to Olympic swimsuits that emulate the skin of a shark. There's even a new sunscreen under development that mimics the UV protection properties of hippo secretions.
Within the built environment, however, the discipline is still in its infancy. While a growing number of bio-inspired products are expanding the sustainable options available to designers, projects that incorporate biomimicry at the macro scale are few and far between.
Perhaps you're familiar with the small number of building projects that have been completed around the world, including the Eastgate Centre shopping mall and office building in Harare, Zimbabwe. Inspired by thermal control found in termite mounds, architect Mick Pearce worked with Arup to design the structure, which is passively cooled and doesn't even require a fuel-based air conditioning system.
Although these innovative projects are exciting showcases of biomimicry in action, the fact that they are so rare reveals the need to advance bio-inspired design within the built environment-to bring biomimicry to the masses.
ADVANCING A NEW SUSTAINABLE STANDARD
Since forging a formal alliance with the Biomimicry Guild in 2008, HOK has been working to expand biomimicry into tangible, real-world design solutions for our clients. We believe biomimicry will not only help us significantly reduce the environmental impact of our projects, but will also help define a whole new sustainable standard for our profession.
Because biomimicry addresses critical environmental issues at the habitat scale, it gives us lessons on how to achieve increasingly more significant sustainable outcomes. We're pursuing solutions that reach far beyond the realm of LEED® Platinum, net zero carbon and regenerative projects.
"Integrating biomimicry within interior environments is about much more than specifying bio-inspired products. It requires introducing the concept as early as possible in the design process-ideally before any initial ideas have even been formulated."
Integrating biomimicry within interior environments is about much more than specifying bio-inspired products. It requires introducing the concept as early as possible in the design process-ideally before any initial ideas have even been formulated. It also involves inviting a biologist to the design table as a full team member, not as an add-on specialty consultant or afterthought.
Rather than primarily looking to previous projects for ideas to solve a particular design challenge, our teams need to ask how nature would solve it. With 30 million species and 3.85 billion years of R&D experience, it's a pretty safe bet that nature has encountered-and tackled-the same challenge before, and we could probably learn something from those natural systems strategies.
Bio-inspired solutions frequently have far-reaching sustainable implications, reflecting the interdependence of a project's systems.
As an example, the ability to effectively bring natural light into a space that has limited access to it reduces the need for artificial lighting. Because less heat is generated, less cooling is necessary, which could reduce the size of cooling equipment (a capital cost). Overall energy use is reduced (an operational cost), and fossil fuel dependence is lessened (an environmental cost). And we're not even considering the significant aesthetic and human benefits that natural light offers.
In the natural world, the most innovative lighting strategies might emerge from studying begonias, which maximize photosynthesis in low-light conditions by using clear surface cells to focus light. Or perhaps the ideal approach is to mimic emperor penguins, whose beaks reflect UV light via a multilayer reflector photonic microstructure. These time-tested strategies are accessible through a new database called Ask Nature. A project of the Biomimicry Institute, this free resource enables designers to search for and study nature's solutions to design challenges-e.g., how organisms filter air and water, gather solar energy, and create non-toxic dyes and glues.
In fact, studying nature will help us uncover effective and sustainable solutions to the most significant issues in our interior environments: thermal comfort, indoor air quality, acoustical privacy, flexibility, and productivity.
HUMBLING OURSELVES
Biomimicry opens up a whole new palette of design inspiration, ideas and opportunities. But it also demands a certain humility in admitting to ourselves that we humans don't have all the answers-or even, necessarily, the best ones.
The Biomimicry Guild has developed a phrase, "quieting our cleverness," to remind us of the need to step back and be open to "genius" from unexpected sources. For designers, this notion can be a challenging one to consider; but it is a vital component of unleashing the most profound, transformative ideas and solutions.
As we introduce biomimicry to our clients, we're finding that those who are most receptive to the concepts are the ones who are eager to pioneer a cutting-edge, showcase project. They're also more likely to have an overall appreciation for nature. One of the most revealing questions we can ask clients is how they spend their free time. If they like to fish, hunt or hike, they're much more likely to be open to biomimicry than if they spend their weekends watching TV or fixing cars.
And another great aspect of biomimicry is that it isn't limited to projects of a certain size, market sector or geographic region. Potential ideas and applications are as diverse as nature itself.
TOWARD A GREENER FUTURE
The built environment is the most fertile ground for biomimicry. Buildings account for about 50 percent of total energy use in the Unites States, and it's estimated that 75 percent of buildings in the year 2030 will be new or renovated. Consulting with nature will help us to effectively address the environmental and climate crisis by leapfrogging incremental sustainable improvements in order to develop profession-transforming solutions.
I truly believe biomimicry can help create a new environmental standard for spaces, buildings, communities and cities worldwide. For designers and other design professionals, it opens up a whole new universe of inspirational ideas for transforming our interior spaces, while optimizing human and social well-being. And beyond the projects themselves, the principles of biomimicry will help our people and teams work smarter, design smarter, and truly connect our work with the natural environment.
Mary Ann Lazarus, AIA, LEED AP, is sustainable design director at HOK, a global design and services firm. She can be reached at mary.ann.lazarus@hok.com.
"EnvironDesign Notebook: Inviting Nature In
Biomimicry can lead us to more innovative, sustainable interior spaces
By Mary Ann Lazarus, LEED AP
The emerging science of biomimicry has captivated the design professions. Conferences are buzzing about it, magazines are craving it, and the next generation of designers can't get enough of it.
Established by biologist Janine Benyus in the 1990s, biomimicry looks to the natural world for ideas and inspiration for all kinds of design opportunities. The goal is to create sustainable products, processes and policies-new ways of living-that are well-adapted to life on Earth and able to endure, regardless of the challenges.
In its brief evolution, biomimicry has led to some amazing innovations-from self-cleaning surfaces inspired by the lotus leaf, to Olympic swimsuits that emulate the skin of a shark. There's even a new sunscreen under development that mimics the UV protection properties of hippo secretions.
Within the built environment, however, the discipline is still in its infancy. While a growing number of bio-inspired products are expanding the sustainable options available to designers, projects that incorporate biomimicry at the macro scale are few and far between.
Perhaps you're familiar with the small number of building projects that have been completed around the world, including the Eastgate Centre shopping mall and office building in Harare, Zimbabwe. Inspired by thermal control found in termite mounds, architect Mick Pearce worked with Arup to design the structure, which is passively cooled and doesn't even require a fuel-based air conditioning system.
Although these innovative projects are exciting showcases of biomimicry in action, the fact that they are so rare reveals the need to advance bio-inspired design within the built environment-to bring biomimicry to the masses.
ADVANCING A NEW SUSTAINABLE STANDARD
Since forging a formal alliance with the Biomimicry Guild in 2008, HOK has been working to expand biomimicry into tangible, real-world design solutions for our clients. We believe biomimicry will not only help us significantly reduce the environmental impact of our projects, but will also help define a whole new sustainable standard for our profession.
Because biomimicry addresses critical environmental issues at the habitat scale, it gives us lessons on how to achieve increasingly more significant sustainable outcomes. We're pursuing solutions that reach far beyond the realm of LEED® Platinum, net zero carbon and regenerative projects.
"Integrating biomimicry within interior environments is about much more than specifying bio-inspired products. It requires introducing the concept as early as possible in the design process-ideally before any initial ideas have even been formulated."
Integrating biomimicry within interior environments is about much more than specifying bio-inspired products. It requires introducing the concept as early as possible in the design process-ideally before any initial ideas have even been formulated. It also involves inviting a biologist to the design table as a full team member, not as an add-on specialty consultant or afterthought.
Rather than primarily looking to previous projects for ideas to solve a particular design challenge, our teams need to ask how nature would solve it. With 30 million species and 3.85 billion years of R&D experience, it's a pretty safe bet that nature has encountered-and tackled-the same challenge before, and we could probably learn something from those natural systems strategies.
Bio-inspired solutions frequently have far-reaching sustainable implications, reflecting the interdependence of a project's systems.
As an example, the ability to effectively bring natural light into a space that has limited access to it reduces the need for artificial lighting. Because less heat is generated, less cooling is necessary, which could reduce the size of cooling equipment (a capital cost). Overall energy use is reduced (an operational cost), and fossil fuel dependence is lessened (an environmental cost). And we're not even considering the significant aesthetic and human benefits that natural light offers.
In the natural world, the most innovative lighting strategies might emerge from studying begonias, which maximize photosynthesis in low-light conditions by using clear surface cells to focus light. Or perhaps the ideal approach is to mimic emperor penguins, whose beaks reflect UV light via a multilayer reflector photonic microstructure. These time-tested strategies are accessible through a new database called Ask Nature. A project of the Biomimicry Institute, this free resource enables designers to search for and study nature's solutions to design challenges-e.g., how organisms filter air and water, gather solar energy, and create non-toxic dyes and glues.
In fact, studying nature will help us uncover effective and sustainable solutions to the most significant issues in our interior environments: thermal comfort, indoor air quality, acoustical privacy, flexibility, and productivity.
HUMBLING OURSELVES
Biomimicry opens up a whole new palette of design inspiration, ideas and opportunities. But it also demands a certain humility in admitting to ourselves that we humans don't have all the answers-or even, necessarily, the best ones.
The Biomimicry Guild has developed a phrase, "quieting our cleverness," to remind us of the need to step back and be open to "genius" from unexpected sources. For designers, this notion can be a challenging one to consider; but it is a vital component of unleashing the most profound, transformative ideas and solutions.
As we introduce biomimicry to our clients, we're finding that those who are most receptive to the concepts are the ones who are eager to pioneer a cutting-edge, showcase project. They're also more likely to have an overall appreciation for nature. One of the most revealing questions we can ask clients is how they spend their free time. If they like to fish, hunt or hike, they're much more likely to be open to biomimicry than if they spend their weekends watching TV or fixing cars.
And another great aspect of biomimicry is that it isn't limited to projects of a certain size, market sector or geographic region. Potential ideas and applications are as diverse as nature itself.
TOWARD A GREENER FUTURE
The built environment is the most fertile ground for biomimicry. Buildings account for about 50 percent of total energy use in the Unites States, and it's estimated that 75 percent of buildings in the year 2030 will be new or renovated. Consulting with nature will help us to effectively address the environmental and climate crisis by leapfrogging incremental sustainable improvements in order to develop profession-transforming solutions.
I truly believe biomimicry can help create a new environmental standard for spaces, buildings, communities and cities worldwide. For designers and other design professionals, it opens up a whole new universe of inspirational ideas for transforming our interior spaces, while optimizing human and social well-being. And beyond the projects themselves, the principles of biomimicry will help our people and teams work smarter, design smarter, and truly connect our work with the natural environment.
Mary Ann Lazarus, AIA, LEED AP, is sustainable design director at HOK, a global design and services firm. She can be reached at mary.ann.lazarus@hok.com.
According to the findings of research commissioned by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveys, Energy Star buildings in the US command a rent premium of 3 percent per square foot compared with building of similar size, location and function.
The study, "Doing Well by Doing Good?", also concluded that the sale price for green buildings is on average 16 percent higher than non-green buildings. The report concludes that upgrading the average non-green building would increase its capital value by $5.5 million.
For those that don't believe in the green movement (sadly, there are still a few out there), perhaps these numbers which "speak to their pockets" will change their minds!
The study, "Doing Well by Doing Good?", also concluded that the sale price for green buildings is on average 16 percent higher than non-green buildings. The report concludes that upgrading the average non-green building would increase its capital value by $5.5 million.
For those that don't believe in the green movement (sadly, there are still a few out there), perhaps these numbers which "speak to their pockets" will change their minds!
Bill Meade, one of our decorative plant container suppliers visited us last Friday. He came bearing good news and not so good news. It turns out his company absorbed one of their major competitors in the planter/plant pots industry. Sunshine Planters was lost due to a nasty divorce that ultimately lead to its demise. Everyone wants to believe it was the economy, which I'm sure didn't help. Truth be told, it was Steve's wife that ended up with his company, and she wasn't experienced enough to do the job of running it successfully. As Bill said, it's hard to watch a 33 year old company go down the tubes.
The good news? Bill will be offering their competitors planters at a reduced price with higher quality and turnaround time. Sunshine carried a full line of very interesting pots, in a wide variety of colors, shapes and styles. I particularly loved the industrial looking pots with a diamond steel finish. They were also carrying a line of wooden pots that went very nicely with today's emphasis on sustainable, natural elements.
Definitely a loss for Sunshine, but a plus for Bill, and of course - our clients too!
The good news? Bill will be offering their competitors planters at a reduced price with higher quality and turnaround time. Sunshine carried a full line of very interesting pots, in a wide variety of colors, shapes and styles. I particularly loved the industrial looking pots with a diamond steel finish. They were also carrying a line of wooden pots that went very nicely with today's emphasis on sustainable, natural elements.
Definitely a loss for Sunshine, but a plus for Bill, and of course - our clients too!
Yes, that's what I said.....a mini lawn in your loo.
I'm still making my mind up about this, but regardless of how I feel, it is quite an intriguing concept. In case you're tired of that good ol' fashioned bath mat, the makers of the Moss Carpet have a new alternative for you. It's basically a bath mat with three different types of moss adhered to a specialized type of foam. The result -- a stunning piece of functional art that uses the humidity in your bathroom to survive, and tickles your toes when you're done scrubbing in between them.
Check it out here: Moss Carpet by Nguyen La Chanh
Then tell us what you think....
[polldaddy poll=1809192]
I'm still making my mind up about this, but regardless of how I feel, it is quite an intriguing concept. In case you're tired of that good ol' fashioned bath mat, the makers of the Moss Carpet have a new alternative for you. It's basically a bath mat with three different types of moss adhered to a specialized type of foam. The result -- a stunning piece of functional art that uses the humidity in your bathroom to survive, and tickles your toes when you're done scrubbing in between them.
Check it out here: Moss Carpet by Nguyen La Chanh
Then tell us what you think....
[polldaddy poll=1809192]
Like our colleagues, this past year we saw our core plantscaping maintenance client base erode as the economy soured. While we tried to persuade long time clients that the small amount it costs for our services easily justified the benefits of interior plants, they were un-swayed in their need to slash budgets. It's hard to get excited about a new account when you lose two others the same day!
The good news is that about two months ago, it felt like the trend had finally hit bottom. We stopped seeing any cancellations and started to see more new clients coming on board. I think that when it comes to the quality of life, particularly in an office setting, interior plants cared for professionally are an appealing benefit to the harried and stressed out workforce. The deciders are recognizing that the payback for such a small piece of the overall company budget is worth it.
Now we are finally starting to see the reversal. Clients that had cancelled their indoor plant service are calling to have us start up again! And boy, what a mess we are finding. Even the most well meant care by an office worker who "loves plants" does not equal what a professional interior plantscaping technician dedicated to their job can do. We are once again the heroes for working our magic and bringing a little bit of life to an otherwise cold and sterile interior environment of concrete and steel.
The good news is that about two months ago, it felt like the trend had finally hit bottom. We stopped seeing any cancellations and started to see more new clients coming on board. I think that when it comes to the quality of life, particularly in an office setting, interior plants cared for professionally are an appealing benefit to the harried and stressed out workforce. The deciders are recognizing that the payback for such a small piece of the overall company budget is worth it.
Now we are finally starting to see the reversal. Clients that had cancelled their indoor plant service are calling to have us start up again! And boy, what a mess we are finding. Even the most well meant care by an office worker who "loves plants" does not equal what a professional interior plantscaping technician dedicated to their job can do. We are once again the heroes for working our magic and bringing a little bit of life to an otherwise cold and sterile interior environment of concrete and steel.
The chocolate mint in our mojitos were so good! What a great way to start off the weekend!
Today is a rare treat. We're all a little "punchy" after a long, hot, busy week. I just harvested some chocolate mint from our living wall, cleaned it, frosted it and am about to mash it into glasses for fresh mojitos on the green roof. Honk if you're driving by - we'll try not to fall off while waving back!
I became aware of a magnificent green roof project in Chicago yesterday. A restaurant, Uncommon Ground, bought a building with the immediate intent of putting a garden up on the roof. They have gone so far as to be certified as an Organic Rooftop Farm! Mayor Daley attended a dedication ceremony and recognized the coexistence of nature and urban settings. In addition to the Mayor's comments, Uncommon Ground's husband and wife owners, Mike and Helen Cameron, were presented with a check for $20,000 from the City of Chicago to cover a portion of the rooftop farm's construction costs.
Natalie Pfister, Uncommon Ground's organic rooftop farm director, says the farm is tended with great care by a group of interns.
"There are a lot of green roofs in Chicago, but none are a full production farm," she adds. "It's hard to find reliable books on gardening because they don't apply when you are 30 feet above the ground. The growing experience is completely different, and I think we could benefit from a little shade."
Construction of the farm took about six months to complete, four of which focused on revamping infrastructure in the restaurant to accommodate the rooftop facility, Mike comments. A rooftop deck made of a recycled plastic and wood material composite and solar thermal panels to heat the restaurant's water and reduce the gas consumption are some of the many ways the Camerons' keep their business centered around an environmentally-friendly focus.
I am impressed!
Natalie Pfister, Uncommon Ground's organic rooftop farm director, says the farm is tended with great care by a group of interns.
"There are a lot of green roofs in Chicago, but none are a full production farm," she adds. "It's hard to find reliable books on gardening because they don't apply when you are 30 feet above the ground. The growing experience is completely different, and I think we could benefit from a little shade."
Construction of the farm took about six months to complete, four of which focused on revamping infrastructure in the restaurant to accommodate the rooftop facility, Mike comments. A rooftop deck made of a recycled plastic and wood material composite and solar thermal panels to heat the restaurant's water and reduce the gas consumption are some of the many ways the Camerons' keep their business centered around an environmentally-friendly focus.
I am impressed!
Yesterday, while I was in Los Angeles/Hollywood doing a site analysis for a potential vegetable and herb living wall at a high end restaurant, I visited with a new manufacturer of an inexpensive product ideal for green walls. It's probably not something I would use on the Hollywood project, but has great potential for homeowners and small applications.
Essentially, it's a "pocket" made of UV protected recycled plastic fabric. Not all that attractive on its own, but from the images I have seen of a completed green wall, a fantastic solution. I got some samples and will be planting them up shortly. There are two versions, one that goes inside and another for outdoors. They are very conscientious about their impact on the environment in their manufacturing process, making them a nice alternative to green wall systems that are made of plastic.
Yet another addition to our "living lab!"
Essentially, it's a "pocket" made of UV protected recycled plastic fabric. Not all that attractive on its own, but from the images I have seen of a completed green wall, a fantastic solution. I got some samples and will be planting them up shortly. There are two versions, one that goes inside and another for outdoors. They are very conscientious about their impact on the environment in their manufacturing process, making them a nice alternative to green wall systems that are made of plastic.
Yet another addition to our "living lab!"
We have a new living wall client in Hollywood. I visited the site for the first time today and found out it's a collaboration between celebrity chef Mario Batali and Nancy Silverton. I was contacted by Elizabeth, their New York City based "sustainability officer." They are a member of the Green Restaurants Association and want to do something for their Hollywood location that will demonstrate their commitment to the environment. After exploring doing a vegetable garden on their roof (a call I get about green roofs regularly) we decided that it wouldn't be practical and started to get serious about a green wall of herbs and vegetables. As we have experience in this arena, it 's a good match.
So I got a retainer fee (essentially being paid for the design and consultation) and have already contacted our resources to put together a fantastic concept. Turns out they are also interested in capturing storm water. We talked about our rainwater harvesting systems and how we can incorporate them with the irrigation system we'll use on the green wall. What a great project that will undoubtedly garner many kudos for its low impact on design and development helping them create a restorative project.
Plus, some of my staff members are die hard Iron Chef America fans :)
So I got a retainer fee (essentially being paid for the design and consultation) and have already contacted our resources to put together a fantastic concept. Turns out they are also interested in capturing storm water. We talked about our rainwater harvesting systems and how we can incorporate them with the irrigation system we'll use on the green wall. What a great project that will undoubtedly garner many kudos for its low impact on design and development helping them create a restorative project.
Plus, some of my staff members are die hard Iron Chef America fans :)
I got good news today! In early June, I attended the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities annual conference in Atlanta. While there, I took the test to be one of the first Accredited Green Roof Professionals (AGRP) in the country as it was the first time the test had ever been given.
Out of 130 test takers, 109 of them passed, which I find interesting because, while exciting, I personally thought that the test was a bit too easy. I hope they work on the difficulty of the test itself, perhaps using case studies to test decision-making skills when it comes to solving design and installation issues. I also feel they should create some level of criteria to be able to take the test; a qualifier so that not just anyone can read a book and become a certified green roofer. Nonetheless, I am definitely happy with the results of my trip to Atlanta - a new accreditation under my belt, and the beginning of a great partnership with a new rainwater harvesting system supplier.
Out of 130 test takers, 109 of them passed, which I find interesting because, while exciting, I personally thought that the test was a bit too easy. I hope they work on the difficulty of the test itself, perhaps using case studies to test decision-making skills when it comes to solving design and installation issues. I also feel they should create some level of criteria to be able to take the test; a qualifier so that not just anyone can read a book and become a certified green roofer. Nonetheless, I am definitely happy with the results of my trip to Atlanta - a new accreditation under my belt, and the beginning of a great partnership with a new rainwater harvesting system supplier.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the comic section in this past Sunday's paper. The comic strip "The Other Coast" featured a green roof! Now mind you it wasn't flattering in that the humor centered on the imaginary ills of having a green roof on an office. It referenced wasps, poison ivy, pollen and coyotes. Obviously you wouldn't find any of these things on a green roof. What I found interesting is that it's a sad example of a collective shift from being positively involved with nature to an inability to interact with the natural world due to ignorance. Local San Diego Author Richard Louv spells out in his book "The Last Child In The Woods" how our children have gotten away from nature as a playground, and without that connection, how will the next generation protect it? We have become overly protective of our kids to the point that they have a life full of fear, not wonder.
Back to the comic strip, anyone that enjoys the great outdoors should know to stay away from wasps, how to identify poison ivy and what to do if approached by hungry coyotes. I wish the creator had put a more positive spin on the value of a green roof, but in a backwards kind of way, made it all the more reason why we should have them in our increasingly dense urban cities. Let's embrace the idea that green roofs and green walls can help bring back a small part of the natural world to an otherwise sterile environment of concrete and steel and asphalt!
Back to the comic strip, anyone that enjoys the great outdoors should know to stay away from wasps, how to identify poison ivy and what to do if approached by hungry coyotes. I wish the creator had put a more positive spin on the value of a green roof, but in a backwards kind of way, made it all the more reason why we should have them in our increasingly dense urban cities. Let's embrace the idea that green roofs and green walls can help bring back a small part of the natural world to an otherwise sterile environment of concrete and steel and asphalt!
The San Diego Fair at Del Mar ended yesterday. I did a quick check of our sustainable garden display to make sure everything that could "walk away" was secure as we are too busy ( we have two large installations going in this week!) to pick up our plants and other items until Wednesday. It's a little sad each year seeing everything that took many people, many hours to create and construct being broken down and pulled apart in just s few hours. So it goes...
I was very happy with what we created - it showed a green roof, vegetable living wall, succulent living wall, plantscaping and rain water harvesting. Everything was low water use and drought tolerant and we used a lot of signage to explain what visitors were looking at. The big plus? (other than winning an award of merit!) was that we have had more phone calls from this year's display garden than for any of the past years.
Next stop? I speak at PIA's Calscape conference in October on green roofs and green walls, we are doing a program for the California Center for Sustainability and once again, taking the show to Cuyamaca College in November for another half day workshop.
I was very happy with what we created - it showed a green roof, vegetable living wall, succulent living wall, plantscaping and rain water harvesting. Everything was low water use and drought tolerant and we used a lot of signage to explain what visitors were looking at. The big plus? (other than winning an award of merit!) was that we have had more phone calls from this year's display garden than for any of the past years.
Next stop? I speak at PIA's Calscape conference in October on green roofs and green walls, we are doing a program for the California Center for Sustainability and once again, taking the show to Cuyamaca College in November for another half day workshop.
Last Thursday, I was included in a lunch meeting with Assemblywoman Lori Saldana as part of her Small Business Advisory Board. We talked about the credit crunch, water availability and workers comp costs. My fellow board members seemed well informed and anxious to get some things resolved. Assemblywoman Saldana took away several action items for her to pursue and hopefully make a positive impact at the State legislature.
This past Friday afternoon I had the opportunity to speak at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar. My 45 minute presentation was focused on green roofs - but most of the people in attendance wanted to learn more about living walls and rain water harvesting. Thank goodness I had ample time in the question and answer period to satisfy their curiosity, coupled with our display that visually answered their questions. This was the first time I didn't have my PowerPoint that showed all of our work including award winning interiorscape projects. I was delighted that I did as well as I did, as I have depending upon the images on the screen to convey a great deal of my message.
Every year, the San Diego Metropolitan Art Museum in Balboa Park has a program "Art Alive"! Floral designers from around San Diego participate, each interpreting a specific piece of art work with plants and flowers. We've participated off and on for the past 15 years.
This year, I created an arrangement depicting Landscape in the Catskills by Durand. I included Podocarpus, juniper and pittosporum branches, along with rocks, ferns and moss to rep[licate the landscape and a dirt road of sunflowers. I then used a red rose, surrounded by aeonium succulents to depict the men and dog on the road.
Looking around at the other arrangements, it appears that the quality is exceedingly high this year and very impressive. I can't wait to attend the grand Gala tonight!
This year, I created an arrangement depicting Landscape in the Catskills by Durand. I included Podocarpus, juniper and pittosporum branches, along with rocks, ferns and moss to rep[licate the landscape and a dirt road of sunflowers. I then used a red rose, surrounded by aeonium succulents to depict the men and dog on the road.
Looking around at the other arrangements, it appears that the quality is exceedingly high this year and very impressive. I can't wait to attend the grand Gala tonight!
There is something wonderful about taking a plant, whether healthy or in need of some TLC, and making it look spectacular. With time, patience and a little trial and error, your efforts truly turn into something you can enjoy all year. It is no wonder that gardening is an activity so many people look forward to doing in their time off!
For some time now, we have been partnering with St. Madeline's Sophie Center to provide plants for their plant therapy program. (They're picking up plants from our warehouse as I write this!) From draceanas and pothos to bromeliads and orchids, the plants are then transported to their Center where consumers apply time, knowledge and patience to bring back blooms from flowering plants, or make the green plants a little fuller. If the consumers are anything like the rest of us here at Good Earth, they love being able to care for these plants, and feel a twinge of pride when their hard work results in something beautiful.
I love being a part of it!
For some time now, we have been partnering with St. Madeline's Sophie Center to provide plants for their plant therapy program. (They're picking up plants from our warehouse as I write this!) From draceanas and pothos to bromeliads and orchids, the plants are then transported to their Center where consumers apply time, knowledge and patience to bring back blooms from flowering plants, or make the green plants a little fuller. If the consumers are anything like the rest of us here at Good Earth, they love being able to care for these plants, and feel a twinge of pride when their hard work results in something beautiful.
I love being a part of it!
I am always on the lookout for information on success. I found the following in "the Bottom Line Newsletter:"
1. Seek out the top experts and get their advice.
As I have developed my career over the years I have followed this advice regularly. McRae Anderson, Barbara Helfman, Mary Golden and Vicky Cate have all helped me at one time or another with my interior plantscaping business and Charlie Miller, Chris Lyon, Paul Kephart and Jennifer Sprout have lent me their advice on the green roof side.
2. Think Big, Plan carefully, Execute Perfectly.
I'm not as good on this one. I think BIG all the time. Planning carefully has been an issue as I get impatient and want to achieve my BIG goal right away. Executing perfectly, well... if I planned better...
3. Follow up and follow up again.
This is a strong area. I am often struggling between feeling good about being persistent and worrying that I am becoming a pest.
4. Never accept "no" and make it easy to say "yes."
It's sometimes hard to say "no" to a client or potential client. And if I am in the process of winning a bid, I don't take "no" until it's the only option left. I've managed to get myself into some interesting projects that way and more often than not, came out looking good!
5. Keep it simple.
I heard the KISS acronym years ago "Keep It Simple Stupid" and try to remember it anytime we get bogged down in minutiae.
6. Seek constant incremental improvement.
It's the mantra of total quality management and one we look at regularly.
7. Show appreciation.
I'm not sure we do this enough, but it's always a good thing to send a thank you note. I am confident that most of the time a client gets the message of our appreciation.
8. Never compromise integrity.
I've only really fallen down on this one as I was focused on my personal life during a time of great personal upheaval and allowed someone to run my business for me. Despite an excellent reputation and high profits, this person turned out to be a horrible choice and nearly ruined me as she alienated clients and beat up on employees. This has been one of the most embarrassing moments in my career. Now I keep that valuable lesson in mind as I move forward.
1. Seek out the top experts and get their advice.
As I have developed my career over the years I have followed this advice regularly. McRae Anderson, Barbara Helfman, Mary Golden and Vicky Cate have all helped me at one time or another with my interior plantscaping business and Charlie Miller, Chris Lyon, Paul Kephart and Jennifer Sprout have lent me their advice on the green roof side.
2. Think Big, Plan carefully, Execute Perfectly.
I'm not as good on this one. I think BIG all the time. Planning carefully has been an issue as I get impatient and want to achieve my BIG goal right away. Executing perfectly, well... if I planned better...
3. Follow up and follow up again.
This is a strong area. I am often struggling between feeling good about being persistent and worrying that I am becoming a pest.
4. Never accept "no" and make it easy to say "yes."
It's sometimes hard to say "no" to a client or potential client. And if I am in the process of winning a bid, I don't take "no" until it's the only option left. I've managed to get myself into some interesting projects that way and more often than not, came out looking good!
5. Keep it simple.
I heard the KISS acronym years ago "Keep It Simple Stupid" and try to remember it anytime we get bogged down in minutiae.
6. Seek constant incremental improvement.
It's the mantra of total quality management and one we look at regularly.
7. Show appreciation.
I'm not sure we do this enough, but it's always a good thing to send a thank you note. I am confident that most of the time a client gets the message of our appreciation.
8. Never compromise integrity.
I've only really fallen down on this one as I was focused on my personal life during a time of great personal upheaval and allowed someone to run my business for me. Despite an excellent reputation and high profits, this person turned out to be a horrible choice and nearly ruined me as she alienated clients and beat up on employees. This has been one of the most embarrassing moments in my career. Now I keep that valuable lesson in mind as I move forward.
My assistant, Pari, attended the May USGBC GreenMeet last night at the CCSE building. The speaker detailed the process Sweetwater Union High School District went through to use Proposition O funding to build 1-4 buildings on 9 campuses while targeting LEED Gold certification and CHPS Program compliance.
She was really impressed.
It was a very frank discussion on the use of LEED as a guide, not a driver, for creating sustainable buildings. By 2011, all nine campuses should have at least one new building to call home, creating a new environment for their students, and an example to build into their curriculum for how campuses and other facilities such as theirs can (and should!) look like in the future.
The District is perhaps the only one of its kind in the state that is making these changes on such a large scale. What an example to set for school districts in the region, and around the nation! While they made it clear that it is an endeavor only attainable by a large team of professionals with varying backgrounds: architects; LEED, environmental, photovoltaic, power purchase agreement consultants; and project and construction managers, just to name a few, it is not impossible!
The speaker from Gilbane/SGI, Jaime Ortiz, went through the basic steps necessary to initiate and design a project of this size. It sounded like they are close to submitting all their plans for approval, so they still have a long way to go, but Pari definitely appreciated the basic breakdown and walked away with many helpful tips.
Yet another successful USGBC event!
She was really impressed.
It was a very frank discussion on the use of LEED as a guide, not a driver, for creating sustainable buildings. By 2011, all nine campuses should have at least one new building to call home, creating a new environment for their students, and an example to build into their curriculum for how campuses and other facilities such as theirs can (and should!) look like in the future.
The District is perhaps the only one of its kind in the state that is making these changes on such a large scale. What an example to set for school districts in the region, and around the nation! While they made it clear that it is an endeavor only attainable by a large team of professionals with varying backgrounds: architects; LEED, environmental, photovoltaic, power purchase agreement consultants; and project and construction managers, just to name a few, it is not impossible!
The speaker from Gilbane/SGI, Jaime Ortiz, went through the basic steps necessary to initiate and design a project of this size. It sounded like they are close to submitting all their plans for approval, so they still have a long way to go, but Pari definitely appreciated the basic breakdown and walked away with many helpful tips.
Yet another successful USGBC event!
A slide show attachment to an email I recently received about the perils of bottled water got me thinking. We've all seen the statistics of course; particularly when the news of BPAs leaching into our water reared its ugly head a year or so ago. But it never hurts to look over the numbers again as a reminder, right?
According to www.Earth911.com, Americans buy an estimated 28 billion plastic water bottles every year and nearly eight out of every 10 bottles will end up in a landfill. In 2006, it took more than 17 million barrels of oil (excluding the oil used in transporting the plastic) to produce plastic bottles. The manufacturing process of creating bottled water created more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. It also takes more than three liters of water to create one liter of bottled water. In the end, only 13 percent of water bottles were recycled in 2006.
In looking over the email attachment, I found the above website to have a range of resources for the home (www.Earth911.com) and business (www.Earth911Business.com) to help us all as we strive to make environmentally friendly changes to the way we live and work. There are definitely some fun tips that will re-energize your family and coworkers' efforts. It also helps link you with local resources to help you recycle e-waste, paper, metal, plastics, organics and hazardous materials. Check it out!
According to www.Earth911.com, Americans buy an estimated 28 billion plastic water bottles every year and nearly eight out of every 10 bottles will end up in a landfill. In 2006, it took more than 17 million barrels of oil (excluding the oil used in transporting the plastic) to produce plastic bottles. The manufacturing process of creating bottled water created more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. It also takes more than three liters of water to create one liter of bottled water. In the end, only 13 percent of water bottles were recycled in 2006.
In looking over the email attachment, I found the above website to have a range of resources for the home (www.Earth911.com) and business (www.Earth911Business.com) to help us all as we strive to make environmentally friendly changes to the way we live and work. There are definitely some fun tips that will re-energize your family and coworkers' efforts. It also helps link you with local resources to help you recycle e-waste, paper, metal, plastics, organics and hazardous materials. Check it out!
I found this quote from Steve Jobs of Apple fame. Makes me a little more comfortable for not having followed the rules and being somewhat crazy...
Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.
- Steve Jobs
Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.
- Steve Jobs
On Tuesday night I had the opportunity to be one of the respondents at UCSD's Sustainable Solutions Institute's Greenovation program. The theme this year is water, and Tuesday's talks centered around "The Water That We Eat." The first speaker was Professor Ayelet Gneezy who spoke on the behavioral changes required to get everyone on board with the responsible use of our diminishing resources. The second speaker was Scott Murray who runs the Academy Agriculture Program in San Pasqual Valley. They tend a large organic farm run by foster kids and appear to have an amazingly successful program. I think I see a green roof or living wall in their future!
During my 5 minute talk, I touched on the lack of distribution of the purple pipe reclaimed water and the frustrating lack of legal gray water in San Diego. I was also pleased to describe my first harvested salad from our green wall! I think it cost me about $1,000...
During my 5 minute talk, I touched on the lack of distribution of the purple pipe reclaimed water and the frustrating lack of legal gray water in San Diego. I was also pleased to describe my first harvested salad from our green wall! I think it cost me about $1,000...
I've paraphrased an article written by Michael Kanellos about a new green building planned for China. How come they seem to be so far ahead of us in understanding what it will take to make an urban environment hospitable and comfortable? What a concept!
New for Green Buildings: City Parks in the Sky
The second tallest building in the world will include city parks on most floors.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Shanghai Center, due to open in 2014, won't just be the world's second tallest building at 632 meters. It will also be a set of neighborhoods stacked on top of each other.
"The building will contain eight separate neighborhoods each 14 stories tall," says Dan Winey, managing principal for the Asia Pacific office of the architectural firm Gensler, which designed the building. These neighborhoods will contain retail outlets, office space and residences. But at the outer perimeter of each floor of these neighborhoods will be city parks complete with trees, tables and all of the other stuff (except bums) one would expect in a city park.
"All of the parks will be open to the public," he said, during a presentation at the Scaling Up conference sponsored by the Asia Society (see The Beijing Watercube: Better Than Solar Panels). Putting the park inside of a building might have dystopian overtones - but it's a natural extension of the green building concept and the evolving sense of urbanism. To save energy and resources, people are increasingly going to move toward cities. And with real estate at a premium, it makes sense to build up.
"In China, cities are about survival. For the Chinese it is not a lifestyle choice, and it is rapidly becoming the same for America itself," said John Kriken. China has taken some steps toward energy efficient urban planning, he noted. Many of the developments by Shui On Land get rave reviews for blending lifestyle comfort into projects. Generic residential structures are aligned east to west to get two hours of natural sunlight a day. If an apartment gets less, it is reclassified as a workspace.
If people are going to be crowded in cities, they will need open space. Also noted is that the center would use far less energy and water than conventional buildings (see Investors High on Water). Rainwater recovery and grey water recycling systems will cut water use by a minimum of 40 percent, he said. The owners may even include black water treatment. This involves taking sewage and purifying it to drinking level standards - Singapore, which imports half of its water from Malaysia, does this already for a small percentage of its water supply. The country officially calls it NEWater.
The 632 meter high tower, which will sport 5.4 million square feet of floor space, will also have wind turbines to run the exterior lights. Cooling and heating, two of the big energy hogs in the world today, will be provided in part through geothermal systems and thermal mass storage, i.e., giant ice machines that will produce ice at night for cooling in the day.
New for Green Buildings: City Parks in the Sky
The second tallest building in the world will include city parks on most floors.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Shanghai Center, due to open in 2014, won't just be the world's second tallest building at 632 meters. It will also be a set of neighborhoods stacked on top of each other.
"The building will contain eight separate neighborhoods each 14 stories tall," says Dan Winey, managing principal for the Asia Pacific office of the architectural firm Gensler, which designed the building. These neighborhoods will contain retail outlets, office space and residences. But at the outer perimeter of each floor of these neighborhoods will be city parks complete with trees, tables and all of the other stuff (except bums) one would expect in a city park.
"All of the parks will be open to the public," he said, during a presentation at the Scaling Up conference sponsored by the Asia Society (see The Beijing Watercube: Better Than Solar Panels). Putting the park inside of a building might have dystopian overtones - but it's a natural extension of the green building concept and the evolving sense of urbanism. To save energy and resources, people are increasingly going to move toward cities. And with real estate at a premium, it makes sense to build up.
"In China, cities are about survival. For the Chinese it is not a lifestyle choice, and it is rapidly becoming the same for America itself," said John Kriken. China has taken some steps toward energy efficient urban planning, he noted. Many of the developments by Shui On Land get rave reviews for blending lifestyle comfort into projects. Generic residential structures are aligned east to west to get two hours of natural sunlight a day. If an apartment gets less, it is reclassified as a workspace.
If people are going to be crowded in cities, they will need open space. Also noted is that the center would use far less energy and water than conventional buildings (see Investors High on Water). Rainwater recovery and grey water recycling systems will cut water use by a minimum of 40 percent, he said. The owners may even include black water treatment. This involves taking sewage and purifying it to drinking level standards - Singapore, which imports half of its water from Malaysia, does this already for a small percentage of its water supply. The country officially calls it NEWater.
The 632 meter high tower, which will sport 5.4 million square feet of floor space, will also have wind turbines to run the exterior lights. Cooling and heating, two of the big energy hogs in the world today, will be provided in part through geothermal systems and thermal mass storage, i.e., giant ice machines that will produce ice at night for cooling in the day.
"We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us." Winston Churchill
I found this quote by Winston Churchill a couple of weeks ago and find it rather intriguing. Just how do we interact with our built environment and what affect does it have on how we go about our daily lives?
Today is Earth Day. Yippee! I remember waaaay back in the 70's when Earth Day first began. After a couple of years it sort of fizzled and now has made a strong come back. I hope you are able to do something a little special to celebrate and then carry that on throughout the year.
We are participating in an Earth Fair at San Diego Office Interiors having foregone several other opportunities. Our small "playhouse" with a green roof and living walls was set up in their parking lot along with one of our WaterHogs (rainwater retention). The event is from noon until 2pm and I'll be there to do the show and tell aspect. It even includes lunch!
I just learned that one of our short term plant rental installations is going to be featured in the Summer 2009 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. The designer called for two 15' tall weeping willow trees to be staged in the middle of the second floor ballroom at the Grand Del Mar. As trees this size do not easily fit in a freight elevator, let alone through a doorway, we decided to fabricate it on site. Our project leader brought in giant trunks from a set designer in Hollywood and literally built the trees from cut California Pepper tree branches. The lead "greensman" or "tree-dresser" was up in the tree on a ladder and was handed different branches per his request, which were then nailed and wired into place. The base was heavily weighted with sand bags and then disguised with ferns and sod, making a truly remarkable vision come true for the bride.
We're proud to have been a part of this process, and for helping make the day even more special for the happy couple. As soon as the issue comes out, we'll get some images up for you to view.
We're proud to have been a part of this process, and for helping make the day even more special for the happy couple. As soon as the issue comes out, we'll get some images up for you to view.
We've had a number of great opportunities to speak to wide audiences about our "living lab" and all the great things we're doing here at GreenScaped Buildings.
A few weeks ago, San Diego 6's Erin Mikael came by to do a Green Scene segment at our Kearny Mesa Headquarters. Check it out by visiting San Diego 6's Green Scene site and selecting the video option under "Green Roofs on the Rise." Yes, I love being the "plant guy!"
Last week I was happy to do a radio segment with my good friend Gayle Lynn Falkenthal on the Rick Amato Show. Check it out by visiting www.amatotalk.com and clicking on "The Rick Amato Show" on the top navigation bar. You'll see a "Podcasts and Archives" drop down menu. It's the very first item on the list right now.
And this week I'm meeting with The Daily Transcript about our green roof and other living lab products. I'll make sure to provide a link once an article is up.
Stay tuned.....
A few weeks ago, San Diego 6's Erin Mikael came by to do a Green Scene segment at our Kearny Mesa Headquarters. Check it out by visiting San Diego 6's Green Scene site and selecting the video option under "Green Roofs on the Rise." Yes, I love being the "plant guy!"
Last week I was happy to do a radio segment with my good friend Gayle Lynn Falkenthal on the Rick Amato Show. Check it out by visiting www.amatotalk.com and clicking on "The Rick Amato Show" on the top navigation bar. You'll see a "Podcasts and Archives" drop down menu. It's the very first item on the list right now.
And this week I'm meeting with The Daily Transcript about our green roof and other living lab products. I'll make sure to provide a link once an article is up.
Stay tuned.....
It has been a busy couple of weeks!
Our plantscaping business has landed a major contract with one of the local Indian Casinos. Unfortunately it's almost all replica (silk) plants and requires little maintenance - but it's still a good sized installation and perhaps award winning in its style and design. I'm guessing that we will enter it into PIA's National Awards program at Calscape this year - so we will see!
The Green Roof department submitted a bid for the Los Angeles Zoo's new Reptile House and Desert Building. The size and scope is a little daunting but this is a job through Roofscapes, Inc., so I am confident that it will go smoothly. Also through Roofscapes, Inc. I have been hired as a green roof consultant (inspector) to do a punch list on the newly installed JPL green roof in Pasadena. It's about 6,000 sq ft of all succulents using techniques that Charlie Miller, Euro American Growers and I have collaborated on.
Speaking of Euro- American Growers, I attended a Landscape Contractors open house that they had earlier this week. Really fun new plant material is being introduced with an emphasis on low-water use plants. I really liked the combinations they were promoting that weren't just succulents or natives but incorporated grasses, flowering plants and colorful foliage as well. My favorite was the Aligator Agave.
Our plantscaping business has landed a major contract with one of the local Indian Casinos. Unfortunately it's almost all replica (silk) plants and requires little maintenance - but it's still a good sized installation and perhaps award winning in its style and design. I'm guessing that we will enter it into PIA's National Awards program at Calscape this year - so we will see!
The Green Roof department submitted a bid for the Los Angeles Zoo's new Reptile House and Desert Building. The size and scope is a little daunting but this is a job through Roofscapes, Inc., so I am confident that it will go smoothly. Also through Roofscapes, Inc. I have been hired as a green roof consultant (inspector) to do a punch list on the newly installed JPL green roof in Pasadena. It's about 6,000 sq ft of all succulents using techniques that Charlie Miller, Euro American Growers and I have collaborated on.
Speaking of Euro- American Growers, I attended a Landscape Contractors open house that they had earlier this week. Really fun new plant material is being introduced with an emphasis on low-water use plants. I really liked the combinations they were promoting that weren't just succulents or natives but incorporated grasses, flowering plants and colorful foliage as well. My favorite was the Aligator Agave.
This past Saturday I had the pleasure of speaking about green roofs, living walls, rain water harvesting and plantscaping to the Orange County Master Gardeners Association. The event was held in Santiago Park in Santa Ana - a place I've driven through many times but never stopped. It was beautiful.
While not a large crowd, they were very enthusiastic and had many questions. Of course the top three questions are always: what does a green roof cost? How much does a green roof weigh? And what types of plants do you put on a green roof?
They loved our images of the brand new vegetable living wall. I was also pleased to share with them my experience doing interior and exterior plantscaping. The best part was once again being paid for my speaking!
And I heard a brand new question: "What if I get a bullet hole in my green roof, how will I repair it?" Seems that every New Years Eve and other assorted holidays the neighbors like to shoot their guns into the air and bullets rain down on houses. Apparently she got 5 holes last year! I assured her that repairing a leaking green roof as a result of bullet holes would be easy enough.
Now that's a question that's likely to remain unmatched!
While not a large crowd, they were very enthusiastic and had many questions. Of course the top three questions are always: what does a green roof cost? How much does a green roof weigh? And what types of plants do you put on a green roof?
They loved our images of the brand new vegetable living wall. I was also pleased to share with them my experience doing interior and exterior plantscaping. The best part was once again being paid for my speaking!
And I heard a brand new question: "What if I get a bullet hole in my green roof, how will I repair it?" Seems that every New Years Eve and other assorted holidays the neighbors like to shoot their guns into the air and bullets rain down on houses. Apparently she got 5 holes last year! I assured her that repairing a leaking green roof as a result of bullet holes would be easy enough.
Now that's a question that's likely to remain unmatched!
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