Green Roof’s Important Role in New York City’s Future Resilience
Two major challenges that cities are facing today are managing stormwater and dealing with extreme heat. As cities develop, the amount of permeable surface decreases due to new buildings, roads, and car parks, leaving less natural ground cover to absorb rain water and cool the city. As a result, more water is ushered into sewer systems that were built over a hundred years ago and designed to manage a far lower volume of water at one time. Extreme rainfall events only exacerbate this situation, leading to more frequent flooding. In addition, the vast amount of concrete and asphalt in cities absorb and capture heat, creating what is known as the urban heat island effect. Temperatures in cities can be more than 10 degrees higher than the surrounding countryside. This creates a unique urban challenge during the hot summer months as the city does not cool down overnight when ambient temperatures are lower. This has serious health and economic impacts on the citizens which have to suffer longer periods of extreme heat, and is particularly a problem in lower income neighbourhoods
Cities like New York are ready to address their stormwater and urban heat island challenges through innovative and multi-dimensional solutions. Green infrastructure technologies such as green roofs, living walls, rain gardens and urban agriculture provide multiple benefits to cities including stormwater management and regulating ambient temperature. Green infrastructure is a cost-effective, and long lasting solution for cities that creates jobs, improves resilience and supports public health and wellbeing.
In November 2019, NYC passed local laws 92 and 94 which require sustainable roofing systems for all new roofs, and when replacing/expanding already existing roofs. Green roofs are an example of sustainable roofs. While there are currently only 736 buildings with green roofs in New York City, with these new laws, New York City is guaranteed to develop more green roofs! And the faster, the better for all who dwell in the city.
On Tuesday, October 19th, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the Green Roof Researchers Alliance are hosting Green Roofs In New York: Research & Practice Virtual Symposium. The event will bring local and global industry professionals to push the green infrastructure industry in New York City. The goal of this event is to ensure the potential of green roofs is understood and maximized.
Speaker sessions will include:
Lauren Smalls Mantey, Environmental Systems Analyst - Urban Heat Island Research
Shayna Stott, Environmental Planner, City Planning Division, City of Toronto - Exceptional Case Study #1: The City of Toronto's Green Roof Policy
And more! For the full speaker list, visit the event website
The event is only $50 USD and we are currently pending approval for up to 6 LU|HSW credits from AIA, ASLA, APLD, and GRP credits. Please join us on October 19 to expand your knowledge of the green roofs in New York City and get onboard this important transformation for the Big Apple!
From the Living Architecture Monitor
