How 7 Acres of Grass Grown in Syracuse Area Ended Up Covering NYC’s Javits Center’s Roof
Sourced from Syracuse.com
A small Syracuse-area company is helping to green up America’s roofs.
Chatfield Green Roofing, of Skaneateles Falls, has provided nearly 1 million square feet of green roofs for buildings throughout the Northeast. It grows the vegetation for the roofs at its 34-acre farm in Elbridge.
Its biggest and best-known job was the nearly 300,000 square feet of green roof on the Jacob Javits Convention Center, the largest green roof in New York City and second largest in the nation.
Green roofs, also known as living roofs, are vegetation planted over a waterproof membrane. Chatfield owner Bob Parker said they have many benefits for building owners and the environment. Among them, a green roof:
Helps increase the life span of a roof membrane because the vegetation protects it from the sun’s UV rays. The membranes of green roofs last two to three times those of conventional roofs.
Cuts heating and cooling costs because the vegetation acts as a natural insulator. Since the installation of the nearly seven-acre green roof at the Javits Center was completed in 2014, the building’s energy consumption has decreased by 26%, saving about $3 million a year.
Reduces and slows rainwater runoff, easing the burden on municipal wastewater treatment plants. The Javits Center’s green roof can absorb up to seven million gallons of stormwater runoff annually. On average, 77% of an average rainfall is retained on the center’s green roof and later evaporates.
Provides an urban habitat for birds, bees and other wildlife. The Javits Center roof is now a sanctuary to 35 bird species, five bat species and thousands of honeybees. The center even harvests more than 2,500 ounces of honey from rooftop beehives each year and sells it as bottled honey and a salad dressing.
Creates a park-like setting for workers, residents and visitors. The green roof at the Javits Center has proven so popular that the center gives group tours and even operates a live roof cam.
From the Living Architecture Monitor
