Each week you can expect to learn What’s New here on Greenroofs.com through our “This Week in Review” video.  Here is the transcript from May 4, 2012 from our daughter, Anjuli – click on the photo below to see the video, or here. Enjoy!

– Hello, I’m Anjuli Velázquez and welcome to “This Week in Review” for May 4, 2012 on GreenroofsTV.

– Project of the Week

-Our project of the week is the Fichtebunker built in 2009, in Berlin-Kreuzberg, Germany.  This 56 meter in diameter, nineteenth-century gasometer was made into an air-raid shelter in World War II and was then used as a shelter for the homeless refugees.  In 2006, the State of Berlin’s Real Property Fund sold the building to developers and two-story luxury condos were planned on top along with townhomes and a five-story apartment building on the land around the building.  Beginning in October 2007, 13 pie shaped family residences were built with curved walls and private gardens offering beautiful views over the city

The individual apartments are accessible through a landscaped community courtyard with a fountain, bamboo troughs, and an extensive greenroof.  Each house has its own roof garden with a size of 70 to 100 square meters.  The ZinCo System build-up “Heather with Lavender,” with the Floradrain ® FD 40 drainage element as a base, provides a permanently functioning lawn with planting areas and hard surfaces.  Also, the roof of the new flats received an extensive greenroof as well as the underground parking and the roof of the new building with 12 apartments next door.

What’s New

– Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Video

–  Watch the Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Episode 21: “Green Roof Technology Sails Around the World,” by Jörg Breuning.

And find the rest of the videos in this series on our GreenroofsTV page and/or our greenroofsTV YouTube channel.

–  Guest Feature Article

And read our latest guest feature article, “You’re Invited to Hangzhou, China for the 2012 World Green Roof Congress,” by Xianmin Wang, Secretary-general of the 2012 Hangzhou China World Green Roof Conference.

–The Greenroofs.com eNewsletter

-If you haven’t checked it out already, our April 2012 eNewsletter is now available!  So get caught up with everything that happened here at Greenroofs.com last month.  Sign up on the Homepage.

– Advertiser Press Releases:

–  Alumasc Chosen for Kidbrooke Regeneration.

–Eco-Roofs Helps Butler University Students Complete First Campus Green Roof Installation Atop Pharmacy College Building.

–Tremco Headquarters Renovation Receives Ohio Chemistry Technology Council Award.

– Joblinks

–  Xero Flor America Green Roofs is currently hiring 3 Sales Professionals in regional US markets.

-Sika Sarnafil USA is looking for an Inside Sales Representative in Canton, Massachusetts.

– Industry News

–  Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) is pleased to announce the results of its 2012 Annual Industry Survey of Corporate Members.  President of GRHC and GRP, Steven Peck said, “The green roof industry grew by 115% over the course of 2011, up significantly from 28.5% growth in 2010.  This great news comes on the eve of the launch of: 10th Annual Green Roof and Wall Conference.”

-Speaking of CitiesAlive 2012, this year it will be held once again in Chicago, the site of their first Green Roof and Wall Conference.  Hurry to register for the Early Bird Discount rate by May 15! Visit http://citiesalive.org/ for more info.

–  Sky Gardens Blog

– Over at Sky Gardens, check out Linda’s latest posts: “Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Episode 21: Green Roof Technology Sails Around the World,” and “Greenroofs.com’s “˜This Week in Review’ on GreenroofsTV: April 27, 2012.”

– “Upcoming Events“

-May 9th-10th: is the Greenbuild EXPO Sustainable Refurbishment & Building Event, in Manchester, United Kingdom.  (@GreenbuildExpo #greenbuildexpo)

-May 9th-11th: is Greenbuilding – International Exhibition & Conference on Energy Efficiency & Sustainable Architecture, in Verona, Italy.  (@GreenbuildingIT)

-And May 9th-12th: is The New World – The 20th Congress for the New Urbanism, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

– “In the News“

-Wayne Roberts of NOW Magazine, talks about “Hitting the green roof.”  He says a “crucial vote will decide if the city is serious about its greenroof policy.”  Toronto’s Green Roof Bylaw was passed in 2009, and requires green roofs on new commercial, institutional and residential developments with a minimum gross floor area of 2,000 square meters.  The issue is whether schools can be exempted from this bylaw.

The city’s chief planner recommended that the Planning and Growth Management Committee exempt public and Catholic school boards from the bylaw, saying that painting them white would reduce the heat stored on roofs and that those schools could store rainwater and offer green space on other parts of their property.  Another member of the Planning Committee opposed the school board’s attempt to sidestep their eco responsibility saying, “We expect them to be built smarter than before, and they  shouldn’t  get a pass on this.”  The city will save money in the long term, since greenroofs manage stormwater, reduce roof maintenance, lower energy bills, and help the environment among other benefits.  Schools also have the added advantage of turning their greenroofs into outdoor classrooms and teaching future generations about green infrastructure and how it enhances our lives.

-Mireya Navarro of the New York Times Blog has a “Q&A: [about] Greening the City’s Zoning Rules.”  She says, “Changes in New York City’s zoning code are expected to encourage the installation of rooftop gardens.”  This week the New York City Council unanimously approved a package of zoning changes that make it easier for property owners to undertake energy efficiency upgrades and even produce their own solar and wind power; and developers will also have more freedom to incorporate green elements into their building designs.  She asks questions like how many owners of the city’s million or so existing buildings are willing to foot the upfront costs to save energy in the longer term?  And how will things change for architects and developers once the zoning rules are relaxed?

For answers to these and other questions, she asked Howard Slatkin, director of sustainability for New York’s Department of City Planning, and Paul Freitag, the director of development in New York for the Jonathan Rose Companies.  Mr. Slatkin said they worked closely with architects, engineers, developers and other experts to identify the zoning obstacles to building or retrofitting green buildings.  Mr. Freitag says that one green element that seems to be growing in popularity is the use of greenroofs.  People in the industry are recognizing the many benefits of green roofs, like improved insulation, reduction of the heat island effect, stormwater management and food production; not to mention that green roofs are basically gardens with fantastic views.  You can go to the full article to read of all their answers to the New York Times’ questions.

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

– Send us your green articles, videos and images to editor@greenroofs.com and share your greenroof or greenwall info with the world!

– Make sure to keep up with everything Greenroofs.com by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, being a member of our network on LinkedIn, and subscribing to our greenroofsTV channel on YouTube!

– This has been This Week in Review for May 4, 2012 on GreenroofsTV.  I’m Anjuli Velázquez 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.