About Us

Greenroofs.com is an internet news media organization:
the international greenroof industry’s resource and online information portal.

Our Goal is to inform, promote and inspire the earth friendly technology of organic greenroof architecture through the interchange of ideas, projects, news, video, travel, research, organization and government updates, marketing opportunities and exclusive features via our website. We recognize that each reader, project, and perspective is unique.

Our Mission is to facilitate information, and as “The Greenroof Industry Resource Portal,” Greenroofs.com serves an important role as the information database and clearinghouse for the greenroof movement worldwide. Founded in 1999, the website continues to evolve to better reflect the needs and desires of our ever growing readership while continuing to provide an interactive platform of greenroof learning and varied living architecture philosophies. We launched our news magazine-type format in May, 2003, and website-wide access is always free and unencumbered! We love to push the limits and post articles from guest contributors and occasional guest columns along with commentary, book reviews, and exclusives from publisher Linda Velazquez.

Our Readership audience includes design and construction professionals, building stakeholders, decision makers, environmental consultants, government officials, students and homeowners interested in sustainable design and environmentally friendly architecture.

The Greenroof Directory of Manufacturers, Suppliers, Professional Services, Organizations, Students & Green Resources. Maximize your marketing strategy in the emerging international greenroof industry and reach our highly targeted greenroof market by listing your business with us! Advertisers in The Greenroof Directory pay an annual fee for a Directory Listing which links to categorized listings, and their full page Color Brochure (Sponsor, Elite, and Premium Listings only).

The Greenroof Projects Database. Our goal is to compile a comprehensive body of global greenroof projects searchable by type, date of completion, geographic location, designer, manufacturer, etc., all at no charge. And, our goal is to be inclusive, not exclusive. While an ambitious and time-consuming undertaking to be sure, with all the stake-holders' input we can make this a success.

As we all participate, everyone benefits from this potentially huge and important reference database of greenroof Projects worldwide.

GreenroofsTV. Greenroofs.TV and Greenroofs.com are encouraging a loose network of Greenroof "Videographers" to submit their videos to us. Showcase your own experience and increase your exposure by sharing your interviews, tours, project visits, etc., here, and send us feedback! If you are interested in sending us video, we ask that you sign-up for an account in YouTube - it is very easy and free. After that all you have to do is upload your videos and send us an email when you are done.

Sky Gardens Blog ~ where cool green meets lofty blue. Greenroofs.com founder and publisher/editor Linda Velazquez enters the blogosphere and kicks off Sky Gardens ~ a blog about greenroofs, the living roofs community, and awesome sustainable design in general from her and all our contributing editors. Sign up for updates.

Stay tuned for the 2009 Greenroofs of the World™ Wall Calendar - currently in the works!

Greenroofs.com Forums
These are on-line discussions devoted to the pursuit of greenroof information sharing and debate across global, organizational, and political boundaries. Read and post comments from around the world in these categories: General Greenroof Discussion, Design/Build, Projects, Research, Students, News & Conferences and Policy.

"Forums" replaces our old Discussion Board, which was popular but not very user-friendly. The opinions expressed by participants may not necessarily reflect the views of Greenroofs.com and are offered to open a dialogue of further discussion. We invite your input and feedback, and ask that you play nicely, have fun and contribute to our vibrant greenroof community!

Sky Gardens ~ “Travels in Landscape Architecture” is Publisher Linda S. Velazquez’s occasional column – read it for a view of her unique perspective of the world where she highlights a different U.S. or international city active with greenroof projects and people.

The Greenroof Projects Database
Peruse the multi-searchable fields of the international Greenroof Projects Database. Submit your greenroof as a case study and become a part of our international reference.

Guest Feature Articles
Read the submissions of personal stories, opinions, and viewpoints on a range of subjects pertaining to the greenroof industry (no "advertorials").

Contributing Editor Columns
Read these lively occasional columns from experts in their fields: Ask Ed, Student Editor Ramblings, The Roving Exhibitor, ASTM Updates, A View from the Sky Trenches, Chic Sustainability, The G.R.E.E.N. Report, and Living Wall & Green Roofs. Send us your questions, and read about these people below.

NewsLinks
NewsLinks is a huge database of a variety of greenroof articles, with Archives from 1996 - Present. NewsLinks offers a glimpse into what and how other online and print publications are talking about living roofs - from internet magazines to blogs to radio shows to organization press releases. News is posted as it comes across the newswire, listed by most recent date.

Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events is a huge database of a variety of seminars, workshops, conferences and other public events that address green building, green living, and the greenroof concept, presented with contact information for the respective organization, as well as highlights of relevant Past Events, where we have Archives of Upcoming Events from 2001 - Present.

Research Links
Research Links informs you of current greenroof sources and studies being conducted by universities, private companies, and public or governmental affiliates.

Students
The Student Directory, Student Feature Articles, Projects & more
A place where students involved with greenroof pursuits can post projects and papers, and make contacts with other students and companies. Send Christine Thuring, our Student Editor, your comments and suggestions.

Greenroofs 101
Greenroofs 101 is a sub-web of its own and our most popular section. It is lengthy, holding the nuts and bolts information about the earth friendly technology of organic greenroof architecture. This is Linda's original website and independent study paper designed to be a living research document. We update this section often as new findings and ideas emerge. Read all about greenroofs here, including: FAQ's; Concept; Advantages; Components; How To's; Industry Support; Bibliography; Plant Lists; Applications; and Issues.

The Greenroof Directory
Search through six Category Sections to locate greenroof professionals & materials in your area or around the globe, searchable by multiple fields. Maximize your marketing strategy in the emerging international Greenroof Industry and list your business with us.

The MarketPlace
Check it out for books and magazines dealing with issues of ecological and sustainable design. Do you have a product or accessory related to extensive or intensive greenroofs, roof gardens, sod or earth-sheltered homes? We are looking for related high quality publications and merchandise from ecologically friendly companies to join the growing Greenroofs.com MarketPlace.

Regarding advertising practices - in an attempt to stay consistent with our environmentally friendly mission and goals, we will make every effort to screen our advertisers carefully. But we also believe in an open market and our readers' right to make an informed decision and choose their own professionals and product suppliers.

Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA Associate, LEED™ AP, is publisher and editor of Greenroofs.com and is the author of its original content, and is also the designer of The Greenroof Projects Database. She has a Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Georgia (2000, cum laude) and an Associate's in Art in Business Administration (1982). She heads up the brand new Blog, Sky Gardens ~ where cool green meets lofty blue. “Cool green?” Cool green architecture, cool green people, cool green environments, etc., you get the picture. “Lofty blue?” As in sky high spaces, places, ideals, and ideas.

Linda is a greenroof design consultant and and principal of Sky Gardens Design, and has presented on greenroofs all over the world. Linda is also a mom of three and has been an international flight attendant since 1979 (Yes, she's still flying). When not too busy writing, editing, and flying, she occasionally writes Sky Gardens ~ Travels in Landscape Architecture which features areas of the world currently greening their roofs. She lives in Alpharetta, Georgia with husband and partner Aramis, and the occassional "children" who keep coming back every now and then.

email: lindasv@greenroofs.com

Ari Velazquez is the developer of The Greenroof Directory, the developer and administrator of The Greenroof Projects Database, and administrator of The Greenroofs.com Forums.

Ari is attending the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), in his third year. Ari is pursuing a degree in Computational Media, and is the youngest of Linda's three kids.

email: ari@greenroofs.com

Caroline Menetre is the student intern. Caroline is currently pursuing a second career in Environmental Horticulture at North Metro Tech in Atlanta with a specialization in Sustainable Urban Horticulture. Previously, she was employed for 20 years as art director with one of Northwest Florida's most established and successful advertising agencies.

Keenly interested in greenroofs and greenwalls– and combined with years of experience in advertising and editorial publications–Caroline hopes to research and further promote the greenroof industry while helping Greenroofs.com grow The Greenroof Projects Database, and help design our new blog, Sky Gardens ~ where cool green meets lofty blue, among other projects.

email: Intern@greenroofs.com

American Society of Landscape Architects, Associate Member
Georgia Chapter, ASLA
Atlanta Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
The Green Roof Society
Southface Energy Institute
G.R.E.E.N.

These are our Guest Contributing Editors, in order of coming on board, who graciously provide unique insights in their field of expertise without compensation (affiliations are given for identification purposes only):

Ed Snodgrass is the Plant Editor. He writes an occasional Q & A column entitled "Ask Ed" where he answers your plant and horticulture questions, and also contributes an occasional Plant Feature, which highlights a particularly interesting and useful greenroof plant.

Ed is a Horticultural Consultant and co-owns and operates Emory Knoll Farms, a perennial nursery specializing in green roof plants, currently stocking over 100 varieties and providing over 2 million sf of planted roofs. Ed, along with Lucie Snodgrass, is co-author of Green Roof Plants, A Planting and Resource Guide, published by Timber Press, 2006. Located in Street, Maryland, Ed lives as lightly on the Earth as he can with his wife.

email: PlantEditor@greenroofs.com

Christine Thuring is the Student Editor and wants to improve The Students page and get students more active on The Student Forum! Sign up for her Student Forum Ramblings Newsletter entitled "Students on Green Roofs" and read her inaugural June 2004 Student Guest Feature.

Christine graduated in Spring 2005 with a MSc from Penn State's Department of Horticulture's Centre for Green Roof Research. Her project studied the effect of different medium depths on plant performance, seeking a balance between depth and effective green roof function (stormwater retention, persistent plant community). Christine is a citizen of the world.

email: StudentEditor@greenroofs.com

Kelly Luckett, LEED AP, is “The Green Roof Guy.” He fine-tuned his editorial focus and inaugurated his new column of the same name in April, 2008. Formerly “The Roving Exhibitor,” he wrote about his experiences at green building conferences as president of Green Roof Blocks and St. Louis Metalworks Company. They manufacture various modular green roof products and accessories. As president of both, he still is a frequent trade show exhibitor at greenroof and green building conferences, workshops & seminars - but Kelly also roves around the country attending ASTM, GRHC and other roofing and greenroof related organization meetings, and has become a central figure here.

Look for this column about his experiences and impressions within the greenroof industry as just a regular (green)roofing guy from St. Louis, Missouri, where Kelly lives with his wife, son and daughter. So read his column to stay up to date within the greenroof industry!

email: GreenRoofGuy@greenroofs.com

Ralph Velasquez of Tremco and our Sustainable Roofing Technologies Editor

Ralph Velasquez is the Sustainable Roofing Technologies Editor. He changed his editorial focus and inaugurated his new column "Sustainable Roofing" in April, 2008. Previously, you knew him as the ASTM Editor. He wrote a quarterly "ASTM Update" as a member of the American Society for the Testing of Materials Green Roof Task Force (E.06.71.07), part of the sub-committee for Sustainability (E.06.71), which in turn is part of the committee for Performance of Buildings (E.06).

Ralph is Director, Sustainable Technologies Group with Tremco Inc., heading up their new program for sustainable roofing, waterproofing and building envelope solutions, including green roofs, photovoltaics (incl. BIPV), cool roofing and bio-based materials. Ralph lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife.

email: SustainableRoofingEditor@greenroofs.com

Patrick Carey is the Architecture Editor. He writes an occasional architectural column entitled "A View from the Sky Trenches," where he selects and discusses pertinent greenroof industry topics.

Patrick has a degree in architecture and lives in Seattle, Washington, principal of hadj design, a green roof design-build company. Patrick is also director of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild's Green Roof Project. PKC is also a trainer for the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Green Roof 101, 201, & 301 Courses.

email: ArchitectureEditor@greenroofs.com

Haven Kiers is the Design Editor. She writes an occasional column entitled "Chic Sustainability," and co-writes and co-presents the "Top Ten List of Hot Trends in Greenroof Design" series. She feels the "Greenroof challenge lies in finding the right balance between idealistic principles and cutting edge design."

Haven is a new Mom and lives and works as a landscape architect in California, with Mono County with her husband and baby girl. Haven designs and presents nationally about greenroofs, and is also a trainer for the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Green Roof 101 & 201 Courses.

email: DesignEditor@greenroofs.com

Dr. Bill Retzlaff is the G.R.E.E.N. Editor. He writes a bi-annual column entitled "The G.R.E.E.N. Research Report." Dr. Retzlaff is the research coordinator of the St. Louis metropolitan area research collaboration G.R.E.E.N. - Green Roof Environmental Evaluation Network - between Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUe), Green Roof Blocks, Jost Greenhouses, Midwest Trading and Horticultural Supplies, Inc., Midwest Groundcovers, JDR Enterprises, Emory Knoll Farms, Garick, The Gaia Institute, and Greenroofs.com.

Bill Retzlaff, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences Program at SIUe, and lives in the St. Louis, Missouri area with his wife.

email: GREENEditor@greenroofs.com

George Irwin

George Irwin is the Green Wall Editor. George is President and CEO of Green Living Technologies, LLC, a company that manufactures and designs Green Living™ Walls & Green Living™ Roofs in addition to other Green Living™ Accessories. He is also a trainer for the GRHC Green Walls 101 and contributes to the GRHC Green Wall Committee. George also is the moderator for the Greenroofs.com Green Walls Forum & oversees additional green wall research with various higher educational facilities in the U.S.

George lives in Rochester, New York with his wife, son and daughter. In his spare time he is still an avid gardener he also enjoys travel and lecturing.

email: GreenWallEditor@greenroofs.com

The opinions expressed by our contributing editors may not necessarily reflect the beliefs of Greenroofs.com, and are offered to our readers to simply present individual views and experiences and open a dialogue of further discussion, debate and research. Enjoy, and if you have a particular comment, please contact the author or send us an email to: comments@greenroofs.com.

Publisher Acknowledgements – quoted from Linda S. Velazquez in 1999 while a fifth year undergraduate student at the University of Georgia – but still relevant today:

“Landscape Architecture Magazine’s May 1998 article by J. William Thompson spurred me on to conduct the original UGA research paper that eventually turned into this website. I had seen greenroofs throughout Europe, but not in the U.S., and wondered why we, as landscape architects, weren’t yet interested in this fascinating, ecologically sound, design possibility. I took Mr. Thompson’s advice to “seek out the most up-to-date information available and to become a leader of greenroof technology.” Research through an independent study program made sense to me as most professors had only a vague idea of what greenroofs were all about.

Charlie Miller, P.E. of Roofscapes, Inc. has been very helpful in providing me with so much of his greenroof stormwater research and information.

Tom Liptan, ASLA, has shared his thoughts and personal experiences with me and provided me with many of my initial leads.

Katrin Scholz-Barth, environmental and civil engineer, has been very open to assisting me with engineering tips and plant selection for my Senior Project.

Dr. Michael Krebs, Sales Manager and Walter Hussong, Civil Engineer at Optima in Tornesch, Germany, were very hospitable during my visit to their headquarters in March 1999. They provided me with invaluable insight from the tour of the offices.

Kevin Burke, AIA, of McDonough + Partners has assisted me greatly by providing me with background information regarding their Gap Headquarters project as well as manufacturer product information and comparison studies.

Dr. Jeffrey C. Luvall of NASA’s Global Climate and Hydrology Center at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama sent me a ton of fascinating information on the urban heat island situation.

A special thanks goes to a professor of landscape architecture at the University of Georgia, Kwesi DeGraft-Hanson, for encouraging my interest in greenroofs.” - LSV