"Energy: Wiser on the West Coast"
"Green Roofs Bloom on Concrete Cityscape"
"Mayors Endorse Call for Greener Buildings"
"'Green Roofs' Growing in Bay Area"
"New Big Box to Have a Circular Sod Roof"
"Spaces and Places: Write-Off for Energy Savings Creates 'a Lot of Uncertainty'"
"Retail: Deal Lets Lowe's Open in Vermont"
"Out of the Computer"
"Bigger Tax Credits Energize Solar Power Business"
"'Green' Loans Touted as Profit Opportunity"
"Building 'Green' Is Growing in Popularity"
"Reduce Energy Costs With Roofing Asset Management Software"

In a proposal being put forth by his office, California Energy Commissioner Arthur H. Rosenfeld notes that all new roof construction would require the use of white roofing materials. Current regulations only require the use of white materials for low-slope roofs. State officials and roofing manufacturers are partnering in an effort to develop pigments that will offer the same energy-efficiency benefits of white materials in order for the regulations to be extended to steep-slope roofs and tiles by 2008. California has restrained per-capita electricity consumption from climbing since the 1970s. The state's per-capita electricity consumption is at 6,500 kilowatt-hours (kwh) per user compared to between 8,000 kwh and 12,000 kwh per user in other parts of the country. California employs a number of strategies, such as mandating the use of fluorescent bulbs for new construction and some remodeling projects.
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Green roofs are just beginning to have an impact in the U.S. as a way to regulate global warming, beautify urban areas, absorb water from storms and make commercial buildings more energy efficient. One state where environmentalists hope they catch on is Hawaii. Honolulu architect Patrick Tozier states, "Green roofs are definitely possible in Hawaii. I see opportunity in urban areas of Hawaii, retrofitting existing buildings and places like universities, government buildings and strip malls." Green roofs' mitigation of rainwater is particularly important to the Aloha State, which is susceptible to flooding and has burdened water facilities. Additionally, Tozier reports that rooftop gardens can help "increase the life of roof membranes by protecting them from temperature fluctuations and ultraviolet lights." Still, high-quality materials are vital. Building owners should also know that green roofs are costly to install, but most landlords will be able to recoup their investments as the vegetation acts like insulation.
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The U.S. Conference of Mayors has approved the "2030 Challenge" for city buildings, an initiative put forth by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) that urges mayors nationwide to reduce the amount of fossil fuels used by buildings in increments over the next couple of decades. The ultimate objective will be for all new buildings to use no fossil fuel energy by 2030. Reductions can be achieved with better building materials and via the use of natural heating, cooling and ventilation. According to AIA, buildings and their construction account for almost 50 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumed in the U.S. annually. AIA President Kate Schwennsen applauded the mayors' group for its support, adding, "This is a tremendous step taken by the mayors to exert a strong leadership position in addressing the nation's ongoing energy crisis at a time when global warming is venturing into dangerous territory."
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Architects, urban planners and environmentalists recently gathered at San Jose State University to tout the many pluses of green roofs. Among those present was Berkeley architect Dan Smith, who noted that these environmentally friendly roofs help prevent flooding by slowing rain runoff in the winter. In the summer, they have proven to be effective at reducing the heat-island effect in cities. Smith expects more urban-based buildings will add green roofs in the years ahead, commenting, "To me, it makes the most sense the more urban you get. I think a lot of high-rises will go for it." San Jose Councilwoman Linda LeZotte, meanwhile, stated that she hopes her city will soon offer tax breaks for green roofing.
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The unique Traer Creek Plaza building in Avon, Colo., will feature a sod roof with a longer life expectancy than a traditional roof. The circular building stands in contrast to two nearby big-box buildings owned by retailers Wal-Mart and Home Depot. The Traer building's sod roof will allow the building owner to spend less on air conditioning, and water from storms will drain without being polluted. In addition, the sod roof will put out more oxygen and will serve as a habitat for insects. The building has structures similar to an archer's bow that take the place of interior columns, giving the building a curved and flexible roof that can move in any direction. A drip irrigation system will feed the sod roof, which will be comprised of 17 species of sprout-like sedum pod. The sod roof will change colors with the seasons, from rust brown in the fall to yellow to orange and then to green.
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Tax deduction 179D of the Internal Revenue Code, contained in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, offers commercial building owners and renters a deduction of $1.80 per square foot if they install equipment that cuts their energy usage by 50 percent--a tough standard, to be sure. For those who achieve less, there is a deduction of up to 60 cents per sq. ft. depending on the amount of energy saved. When taking into account that energy costs for a commercial property can range from $1.30 to $3 per sq. ft. a year, that is a substantial amount of potential savings. Still, it is not clear how many businesses this will benefit, as the IRS waited until June 2 to release details--even though the law took effect back in January. Additionally, the tax break is only available through the end of next year unless Capitol Hill lawmakers extend it. Karen W. Penafiel, assistant vice president of BOMA International, says that may not be sufficient time for some building owners to retrofit their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. She asks, "What happens if your system isn't up and running until Jan. 3, 2008?" Penafiel is now lobbying Congress to extend the deduction period by three years.
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Lowe's has settled pollution complaints in Vermont and will proceed with the development of its first store in the state. The retailer agreed to filter and treat storm runoff from its South Burlington site and to test green roofs on all future stores. Lowe's was forced to halt development of the property in the late summer of 2004. It now hopes to have the new location up and running by mid-2008.
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Clemson University architecture professor Virginia San Fratello has won this year's Next Generation ideas competition, sponsored by Metropolis magazine, with her design of a "Hydro Wall" building insulation component. The Hydro Wall collects rainwater from a building's roof and stores it as a thermal mass in a rubber bladder inside the wall. The goal is to reduce air-conditioning costs and energy consumption in hot climates with large daily temperature swings. Ideally, San Fratello would like to produce the Hydro Wall in 20- by 4-foot sections that could be put up like tilt-up concrete panels, with intervals corresponding to structural steel beams.
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Higher energy costs and tax credits are fueling demand for photovoltaic energy systems in Hawaii, which in turn is shifting contractor strategy. Commercial Roofing + Waterproofing Hawaii, for example, has invested about $350,000 for solar panels and training. Owner Guy Akasaki is banking on photovoltaic solar roofing to be a hot market, particularly among commercial and industrial clients like supermarkets and transportation companies. "It makes business sense," Akasaki said. "If it was only good for the environment and not economically feasible, we wouldn't do it. With the price of fuel increases, the feasibility of these systems will kick in."
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Few are aware that energy-efficient building features can provide some commercial and residential mortgage borrowers with sufficient additional income to service their debt, thus helping to make them eligible for larger loans. Financial consultant Scott Muldavin remarked, "There's a significant profit opportunity for lenders that understand these issues and can appropriately value the costs and benefits." Wells Fargo & Co. has made loans on a total of eight green buildings, several of which involved tenants willing to pay higher rents for green features such as more efficient heating and air-conditioning systems. One of the loans was a $20.5 million construction loan for an 11-story commercial tower in Boise, which developer Gary Christensen said will boast energy-efficient features that will save roughly $2 per square foot in operating costs.
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The Dayton, Ohio, metro area is seeing more and more environmentally friendly buildings being added to the landscape. American Honda Motor Co., for instance, recently announced plans to develop an $89 million parts distribution facility in suburban Troy. Scheduled for a fall 2007 grand opening, the center will boast a white roof to reflect instead of absorb the sun's heat. Consequently, the roof will hold down the building's cooling costs. This will be Honda's fourth green-workplace building in the U.S. Nearby, Wright State University recently started constructing its third biological sciences building. This project adheres to "green" principles, including energy efficiency and water conservation.
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Most of today's commercial building owners are quite savvy when it comes to different roofing elements and how the roles they play in reducing a structure's energy costs. However, many such landlords are unaware that managing these roofing elements is also an integral part of energy conservation. To this end, there are a number of roof asset management software programs available that make it easier for owners and managers to gather, store and access the data necessary to get the most out of their roofing investments. One of the key steps in managing the energy costs of roof systems is taking inventory of the details and specifics of existing roofs. This information can be collected and managing in a roof asset management database. Ideally, such a system will offer simple ways to enter this data into the system. A second key factor in a roof's energy performance is the condition of the roofing materials. This entails everything from checking for any roof leaks to determining whether a roof is due to have its white coating reapplied. The best roof asset management software programs will automatically flag when a building's roof is due for routine inspections and maintenance.
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