Green roof over EPA
By Marcella Hutchinson, EPA Region 8 watershed coordinator/nonpoint source project officer and Greg Davis, EPA Region 8 storm water coordinator
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EPA Region 8 headquarters with multiple green roof surfaces |
The new Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 8 headquarters at 1595 Wynkoop St., in Denver, features numerous environmentally friendly designs and systems.
The new space was designed and built to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification requirement for new construction – making it one of only a few buildings in Colorado to achieve such a high performance and sustainability rating.
While the LEED certification process is ongoing, the EPA anticipates that the building will exceed this requirement and achieve a Gold-level certification. In addition, the new building also meets Energy Star building energy performance standards.
For more information on EPA Region 8’s new headquarters or to request a tour, contact the Environmental Information Service Center at 800-227-8917 or atr8eisc@epa.gov, or visit http://epa.gov/region8/about/newbldg.html.The environmentally friendly building addresses energy conservation, water conservation and quality, indoor air quality, waste reduction and recycling, and alternative transportation.
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Green roof installation at EPA Region 8 headquarters |
One of the key features that addresses water quality is the building’s green roof, one of the first of its kind in the Interior West. A green roof is vegetated to absorb and slowly release precipitation to mimic a more natural landscape. The vegetation is expected to filter pollutants found in rain water and to reduce peak flow and runoff volumes, resulting in reduced storm water impacts on the nearby South Platte River.
Other environmental benefits of the green roof include improved insulation for reduced energy use, filtration of air pollutants, and the provision of habitat for birds and other small animals.
The green roof will also lessen the “heat island” effect from the building. The heat island phenomenon describes urban and suburban temperatures that are 2 to 10 degrees hotter than nearby rural areas. These elevated temperatures can impact communities by increasing peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution levels and heat-related health issues.
EPA’s green roof covers approximately 20,000 square feet. It is made up of 4-inch deep modules containing an engineered growth medium and a mix of several species of sedum chosen by the green roof subcontractor, Green Grid, as selections that are well suited to the Denver climate in terms of drought tolerance and cold hardiness.
Because there has been little study of green roof applications in semi-arid areas like the Colorado Front Range, Region 8 and EPA’s Office and Research and Development will study the green roof for biological performance; and evaluate its effectiveness as a best management practice for storm water control and to mitigate the heat island effect in the region.
To learn more, including the roof’s design specifications, logon http://www.epa.gov/region8/greenroof/index.html.
Check out these related Web sites:
LEED - http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19
Energy Star - http://www.energystar.gov/
Heat island - http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/strategies/greenroofs.html
General information about green roofs - http://www.greenroofs.com/ or http://www.greenroofs.net/
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