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The Green Roof at Arlington County government center building at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. today.
Arlington recognized as a leader in 'green' roofs
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a non-profit industry association whose mission is to increase the development of the green roof industry across North America, named Arlington County one of the “Top Ten Green Roof Cities in North America” recently.
Vegetated roof systems are made up of a drainage system, high quality waterproofing, a root-repellant layer, specialized growing media and specially selected plants. They have many environmental and community benefits. Green roofs:
- significantly reduce the amount of stormwater runoff created by rooftops, which can improve water quality in local streams;
- keep buildings cooler in summer and warmer in winter, providing a thick layer of insulation that also reduces energy bills;
- reduce heat island effect in the cities and neighborhoods where they are installed-and often provide healthy new habitat for birds and butterflies;
- extend the life of the roof by reducing temperature fluctuations that can damage roofing material.
Arlington is committed to using environmentally sensitive “green” technologies, such as these vegetated roofs, to minimize the effects of buildings on the environment. The county’s green building programs, including an incentive program for commercial buildings and the Green Home Choice program for residential properties, are models for other localities across the nation.
Arlington also incorporates green building technologies in county facilities. In 2003, Langston Brown School and Community Center received Virginia’s first Silver certified green building award from the U.S. Green Building Council. That same year a 3,000 square foot green roof was installed on part of the Arlington County Government Center. The soon-to-be-completed Operations Building for the Parks Department and a planned fire station also will include a number of green components. The Washington-Lee High School also is slated for official green certification.
In addition, the newly completed Walter Reed Community Center, scheduled to open in May, also includes an 18,000 square foot green roof, which will help reduce stormwater runoff and keep the building cool.
Workers install the 3,000 square-foot Green Roof atop the Arlington County government center building at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. in 2003.
Several private buildings have installed green roofs, too. The FDIC building, located near the Virginia Square Metro, includes a 3,000 square foot green roof. As part of a roof replacement project, the Pallazzo Condominium in Arlington recently installed 8,000 square fee of green roof. Additionally, the Pentagon included a large green roof over the new remote delivery facility.
Green roofs are not just for large buildings. Four homeowners in Arlington are installing green roofs as part of home renovation projects. Nancy Striniste, a landscape designer and homeowner, chose a green living roof for her new front porch.
“I am very excited about experimenting with plants on my porch roof, and feel good about doing something positive for the environment, even if it is a small 300 square-foot area,” she said. Striniste plans to mix hardy sedums with colorful annuals that will attract butterflies and birds.
In addition to the recognition from the green roofs industry association, the county’s Green Building Program received an Outstanding Civil Engineering Project Award recently from the National Capital Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
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