Our daughter,  Anjuli, has been writing, filming and editing our “This Week in Review” video since August, 2010 and each week you can expect to learn What’s New here on  Greenroofs.com.   Here’s the transcript for April 8, 2011 –  click on the photo below to see the video, or  here.   Enjoy!

–   Hello, I’m Anjuli Velazquez and welcome to This Week in Review for April 8th, 2011 on  GreenroofsTV.

–  Project of the Week

– Our project of the week is the National Trust Visitor Centre at Portstewart Strand built in 2008 in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.  The National Trust is Northern Ireland’s largest conservation charity and the Strand, nestled amongst a two mile stretch of award winning beach and sand dunes, has been designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest and a proposed Special Area of Conservation.  Meeting the highest environmental standards, the new National Trust Visitor Centre facilities here are designed to maximize energy from natural light.  The structure was constructed with cedar panels from renewable sources and includes a greenroof; the vegetation and the timber will weather naturally to blend in with the landscape.  Sustainability is also key and in accordance with the Trust’s policy of managed coastline retreat, the facility, which is built on sand, is demountable, so it can be relocated with minimal impact.  A ZinCo green roof system from sustainable roofing specialists Alumasc was chosen for the new National Trust Visitor Centre at Portstewart Strand in County Londonderry.

– To learn more about  The National Trust Visitor Centre at Portstewart Strand, click on our project of the week photo on our  homepage.

–   “What’s New“

–  Watch the trailer for the Rooftop Rainforest TV program on Sky 1 HD with  Dusty Gedge on our greenroofsTV page at the link below.  The program follows urban ecologist and wildlife expert Dusty Gedge in his ambitious effort to build an indoor rainforest on top of London’s Westfield Centre in Shepherd’s Bush.  Gedge will face countless obstacles as he attempts to construct a structure to house tropical trees, plants, animals and insects.

–  Our annual Earth Day Photo Contest is upon us!  Starting today, April 8th, you can submit your photos for the 2011 Earth Day Photo Contest.  Go to the Sky Gardens Blog and read, “Enter the 2011 “˜Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!’ Earth Day Photo Contest!“ later tonight and/or our Facebook page at facebook.com/greenroofs for all of the details of entering and voting for this year’s contest!

–  While you’re at the Sky Gardens Blog, check out Linda’s latest posts. Read about our project of the week on the “GPW: National Trust Visitor Centre at Portstewart Strand“ blogpost.  You can also read my script on the “Greenroofs.com’s “˜This Week in Review’ on GreenroofsTV: 4.1.11“ post.  And on the “Join DC Greenworks for their “˜Day Without Oil Reception’ on April 14th“ post, you can read how two leading environmental advocates are teaming up to commemorate the first anniversary of the Gulf Oil Spill and preview the 2011 Earth Day celebrations with a Day Without Oil gathering to promote reduced use of fossil fuels.  You can participate by signing the pledge to: Refrain from using gasoline or other fossil fuels for one day, and donating the value of one day’s oil consumption – $17.40 to an environmental organization on the front lines.  Go to the blogpost for all of the details.

–   “Upcoming Events“

–  April 11th-12th: is the GRHC 2011 Living Architecture Regional Symposium in Washington, DC.  Don’t miss exhibits from American Hydrotech, Barrett Company, Capitol Greenroofs, CETCO, Conservation Technology, Etera,  International Leak Detection (ILD), KISSS, Rooflite, Sempergreen, Sika Sarnafil, Tremco and XeroFlor America.

–  April 12th-13th: is ROOFTECH, The Canadian Roofing Exposition in Montreal, Canada.  Don’t miss exhibits from   A & A Melters, Appian Way Sales, International Leak Detection (ILD), LiveRoof Ontario, Sika Sarnafil, Soprema Canada, and Tremco Roofing.

–  Stayed tuned for our latest Sky Gardens – Greenroofs of the World: The Cook+Fox Architects Office episode in Manhattan, New York coming soon!  Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Cook+Fox Architects LLP Office is that it is the first known modular green roof system to have been entirely removed with new waterproofing installed, and then re-installed in 2008 to great success.  That is what makes this project truly unique – completely dismantling and replacing the roof using the same growing media and plants, without having to dig up a single plant, let alone incurring the cost of a new green roof system!  For more information about this project profile you can search Cook+Fox in our projects database, or visit this link below:  http://greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=670

–   “In the News“

–  Kim Glovas of CBS Philadelphia, gives you the “Guide To Going Green.”  She says, “Today, tree huggers and business tycoons are both involved in the greening of America.  The green movement encourages people to clean up their litter; to use less water; to recycle paper, glass and plastic; and to drive environmentally friendly vehicles, like hybrids and electric-powered cars.”  With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, many people would like to know how they can help our planet but maybe not where to start.  On this article, you can read and listen to how the average home-owner can help by decreasing their own carbon footprint with things like landscaping: using locally grown plants and flowers to save on fossil fuels, and home energy: like installing your very own greenroof.

–  Nicole D’Alessandro of examiner.com, says “Greenroofs are growing.”  The West Woods Nature Center served as the pilot green roof project for the Geauga Park District to study the benefits of greenroof construction and technology and the list of greenroofs across Northeast Ohio is growing with projects like the Cleveland Environmental Center in Ohio City, which included a portion of green roofing, and with the help of its Environmental Science students, the Cleveland State University’s Recreation Center got a 7,000 sq ft greenroof.  There are many benefits to green roofs like: decreased stormwater runoff; decreased impermeable surfaces, which helps reduce the urban heat island effect; and increased insulation in cold climates and absorption of heat in hot climates, which affects a building’s energy use.  Greenroofs can be beautiful and offer a wonderful habitat for wildlife while also extending the life of a roof.  Any concern of installing a greenroof can be taken away with the help of professionals.

–  Mark Apfelbacher of Water World, asks “Green Roof Professional: What does it mean?”  He says, “With so many accreditations and acronyms floating around in the water industry, it’s an accomplishment equally worthy of certification to identify half the listed designations.”  GRP acknowledges the level of professional green roofing expertise and allows individuals to have the distinction of being someone who has the appropriate knowledge.  We know the vast benefits of green roofs, and they can last a long time when designed and managed correctly; but there are rare cases of failure, like Chicago’s Aquascape, Inc, which collapsed in February.  Although engineers are still investigating the cause of the collapse, Apfelbacher says “it’s crucial to note that the collapse shouldn’t discourage use of green roofs as multi-functional building improvements…green roofs have been installed in much harsher climates with higher annual snowfall levels than that of Chicago and have weathered the elements for decades.”  A GRP accreditation is a valuable title to earn for understanding green roof system design and implementation, and also to help teams understand the challenges of green roof systems and the best practices to go about building and maintaining them.

–   To learn more about these stories and new ones posted daily, go to our  In the News or  newslinks section of our website.

–   Have something you think we should know about and post on our website?   You can send us your green articles, videos and images to  editor@greenroofs.com.

–   Stay up-to-date with what’s going on at  Greenroofs.com by subscribing to our  greenroofsTV channel on YouTube, following us on  Twitter, liking us on  Facebook and being a member of our network on  LinkedIn.

–   This has been This Week in Review for April 8th, 2011 on GreenroofsTV.  I’m Anjuli Velazquez and I’ll see you next week!

*This week’s episode is sponsored by  The Greenroof Directory, brought to you by  Greenroofs.com.*

Did we miss something?   We’d love to hear from you!

~ Linda V.