Green roofs are becoming more popular in many parts in the world, but not in Florida.
Vegetative roofs are stunted in the Sunshine State because its building commission does not recognize them as a best management practice (BMP). The commission has concerns over how green roofs would perform in hurricanes or in other natural disasters.
Florida-based researchers have tested green roofs in a wind simulator and found that the plants and their roots mostly held up in hurricane-force winds of up to 120 mph. They also found that built-in-place green roofs performed better than modular tray green roofs in wind uplift trials.
The building commission reportedly didn’t accept the research as sufficient because it wanted to ensure stability for speeds up to 160 mph. The commission also had other concerns including fire safety and weight loads on roofs.
Related Stories
| Jan 16, 2014
West Point releases plan to achieve net zero campus-wide
The installation has an ambitious plan to move to 100% energy efficiency through several initiatives including more renewable energy production and energy efficiency retrofits.
| Jan 11, 2014
Getting to net-zero energy with brick masonry construction [AIA course]
When targeting net-zero energy performance, AEC professionals are advised to tackle energy demand first. This AIA course covers brick masonry's role in reducing energy consumption in buildings.
| Jan 7, 2014
World Expo village in Kazakhstan to be triple net zero
World Expo 2017, planned for Astana, Kazakhstan, calls for an expo village that rates triple net zero—zero net use of energy and water and zero net generation of landfill waste.
| Jan 6, 2014
Green Building Initiative names Jerry Yudelson as new President
The Green Building Initiative announced today that it has named Jerry Yudelson as its president to accelerate growth of the non-profit and further leverage its green building assessment tools, including the highly recognized Green Globes rating system.
| Jan 6, 2014
An interview with Jerry Yudelson, President, The Green Building Initiative
Green building consultant Jerry Yudelson has been named President of the Green Building Initiative and the Green Globes rating program. BD+C's Robert Cassidy talks with Yudelson about his appointment and the future of Green Globes.
| Jan 3, 2014
World’s tallest vegetated façade to sprout in Sri Lanka [slideshow]
Set to open in late 2015, the 46-story Clearpoint Residences condo tower will feature planted terraces circling the entire structure.
| Jan 2, 2014
Measuring whole building energy use among big changes in LEED v4
A new prerequisite in LEED v4 calls for each project to measure whole building energy use, and then share that data with USGBC.
| Jan 2, 2014
Sacramento utility maintenance facility earns LEED Platinum, targets net zero
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s new maintenance facility, which is targeting net zero, has received LEED Platinum certification.
| Dec 27, 2013
Grand Cancun to be first net-zero energy luxury eco-tourism resort
Using a marine platform concept instead of an artificial island, the development will create more space with less impact in the fragile marine ecosystem.
| Dec 26, 2013
WDMA launches project to create ISO-compliant architectural doors
WDMA's National Architectural Door Council has initiated a project to create ISO-compliant Product Category Rules for architectural wood flush and stile and rail doors
