East Coast Green - Session Descriptions

East Coast Green is offering over 30 continuing education sessions focused around individual topics tracks throughout the conference.

Below is a detail of one of the courses. To see full course listing and times go back to Speaker Schedule.

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TH16P3
Thursday, September 16, 2010, 1:15pm - 2:45 pm

The Living Green Roof - Applications & Obstacles
1.5 HSW/SD LU Hours - Approved
1.5 USGBC CEU Hours - Approved

Green Roof and Green Wall technologies offer many advantages to today's built environs. From stormwater management and improved water quality to reduced building energy needs, today's vegetated roof systems can and will be an increasing part of proper land use for years to come. Victor Coppola is an Environmental Planner and Founder of GreenWorks Environmental, LLC, a New Jersey based Green Design/Build, Environmental Science & Land Use Consulting firm who will offer a unique perspective of Green Roof system applications and obstacles.

Urban agriculture, in which crops are grown in tall buildings using state-of-the-art hydroponics and aeroponics techniques, could facilitate the way high density population centers gain access fresh, safe produce all year round. Indoor farming avoids climate change issues related to severe weather events (droughts, floods, etc), while allowing for controled input of nutrients, thus avoiding pesticides, heavy metals, and other noxious contaminants of our food supply.

Speaker:

Victor Coppola
Environmental Planner
GreenWorks Environmental, LLC

Dickson Despommier
Columbia University

Download PDF of Presentation:
TH16P3 - Living Green Roof.pdf
( 7,360 Kb )

Program Description: Proper stormwater management is critical to every land development project where in-fill and urban redevelopment present particularly unique challenges. In developed areas, poorly performing drainage is difficult (at best) to correct.

Today, everything from volume control of runoff to non-point source pollutants found in stormwater is a concern that if properly addressed helps to minimize our development footprint and enhance our natural environment. Vegetated or "Green" roof applications offer just such a tool to help address today's stormwater management needs of our built environs.

Examples of Green Roof and Green Wall projects built in the US and abroad will be showcased to give an overview of applications available from the many Green Roof Providers available today. We will explore the design, installation and maintenance issues often associated with such systems and some obstacles often encountered.

While not as visible, Green Roof systems offer a broad array of environmental benefits to there use as well. We will explore the direct and secondary benefits to our natural environment associated with these systems in everything from stormwater management and improved water quality to reduction in building energy needs.