News | FAQ | Resources | Contacts
Trinity's Green Roof Project
At its January 2009 meeting, Trinity's Vestry approved funding to complete installation of a Green Roof over the Education Wing of the church. This page contains information about this project and resources you can refer to in order to learn more about Green Roofs.
News
- (October 24, 2009) View the news release and photo gallery of Trinity's participation in the 350.org Day of International Climate Action.
- (July 13, 2009) Visit the photo gallery for pictures of the installation and some current views of the roof.
- (July 13, 2009) Join our Environmental Stewardship discussion forum
- (May 16, 2009) News Release re: the Green Roof Installation at Trinity
FAQ
- What is a Green Roof?
- What does the Trinity Green Roof look like?
- Why did we do this?
- Why did we do this now?
- What is the timeline to complete this project?
- Who did the installation and what is their experience in this field?
- How do we know this will work?
- How can I support this effort?
Q: What is a Green Roof?
A: Vegetated GREEN ROOFS are low-maintenance,
long-lasting, energy-saving roofs, planted with hardy succulent
ground cover. It has the most advanced environmental and energy
benefits.
Q: What does the Trinity Green Roof look
like?
A: Trinity’s flat roof has low-lying,
rock-hugging plant cover. The photos above
show pre- and post-installation pictures of the roof. Visit the
photo
gallery for more pictures of the installation.
Q: Why did we do this?
A: It all started with a chronically leaking flat roof
over the Education Wing. We needed a longer-term solution,
better than the conventional roofs we had before. We have
chosen to install a green roof because with it we can expect a
longer roof life, lower utility costs, and better storm water
management than with a conventional roof.
Because of its insulation value, the Green Roof reduces seasonal heating and cooling costs, to the extent of paying for itself in reduced utility costs. By using less energy, Trinity would also reduce air pollution caused by electric power generation. The Green Roof is designed to reduce wet weather discharges to storm sewers, by infiltrating precipitation in the living roof and slowing down any overflow. Finally, this type of roof would be extremely durable, lasting as many as three times the life of a conventional roof. There are examples of this type of green roof that have lasted for more than 60 years (installed even in the 1930s, per the Philadelphia Yearly Friends leaflet). So proper design and proper maintenance plans are known, and can be followed here.
The intangible benefits certainly include what God calls us to be, stewards of Creation, and we can witness right here at Trinity Church.
Q: Why did we do this now?
A: The Imagine Trinity project envisioned installing a
Green Roof. The first phase was completed during that effort:
installation of the thick, long-lasting, high-quality (and
expensive) geotextile membrane that underlies the vegetated
portion of the green roof. The Vestry did not vote the funds to
complete the project, however, because it hoped to receive a
grant to do so. However, after numerous applications over
several years, no funding was awarded. Subsequently, during the
January 2009 meeting, after much deliberation, the Vestry
approved funding to complete the project. For more information
on this decision, refer to the Resolution for Environmental and
Facilities Stewardship: Green Roof.
Why didn't we wait a little longer (e.g., until the economic situation improves)? The longer we would have waited, the more expensive it might have become to complete the installation. Material and labor costs continue to rise. During this economic downturn that we are in, money held in reserves did not increase in value at the same rate. Additionally, the membrane is designed with the intention that vegetation be installed on top of it. The longer that the membrane remained exposed, the more likely it is that it would have failed, causing us to lose our initial investment.
Q: What is the timeline to complete this
project?
A: Installation was completed the week of May 26
– 29, 2009. As we go through the growing months, we have
maintenance visits (including watering and weeding) from JIG,
the installer. We expect two full growing years before the
carpet will be fully grown in.
Q: Who did the installation and what is
their experience in this field?
A: JIG, Inc., of Philadelphia, one of the companies
working for Roofscapes (see www.roofscapes.com for a list
of projects), Philadelphia, was the installer. The principal of
Roofscapes is a proponent of the European Green Roof
technology, which is where this technology originated.
Roofscapes directs its installers and the results are
award-winning projects.
Q: How do we know this will work?
A: Although only now becoming widely known in the
United States, Green roofs have been tested and embraced in
Europe for decades. For example, about 150 million square feet
of green roofs are installed in Germany each year. As the
long-term benefits have been proven, the technology has made
its way west.
In North America, the cities of Chicago, Portland, and Toronto have garnered attention for installing numerous green roofs on municipal and other buildings. The corporate headquarters of Ford Motor Company and the Gap boast massive green roofs, and Baltimore's Montgomery Park Business Center now is topped by a 30,000 square foot Green roof. Green roofs may be found on St. Philip's Episcopal Academy in Newark, NJ and on the Oregon Episcopal School in addition to numerous other religious buildings in the United States. As religious, civic, and corporate organizations around the world consider their operating costs and environmental impact, Green roofs are proving to be effective and responsible solutions to roofing and water management problems.
Q: How can I support this effort?
A: Please consider being a “Green Roof
Raiser” by making a contribution toward the costs of this
special project. Each sponsoring family will receive a handsome
certificate to acknowledge the greening of one square foot of
the roof for every $10 contributed. Those who become
“Green Roof Greenskeepers” will also be recognized
on a plaque to commemorate the Green Roof project.
To make a contribution, please complete a donation form and return it to the church office, along with your contribution, made out to Trinity Church (please write ‘Green Roof’ in the memo line). The address for the office may be found at the bottom of this web page.
If you would like to volunteer your time or talents to future Environmental Stewardship efforts, please contact a member of the Green Roof team at greenroof@trinityswarthmore.org.
Resources
More information is available on the following websites:
- A recent National Geographic article on Green
Roofs:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/05/green-roofs/klinkenborg-text - Emory Knoll Farms (a leading supplier of plants and plant
expertise for extensive green roof systems) company
website:
http://www.greenroofplants.com/ - Roofscapes (the installer) company website:
http://www.roofscapes.com/ - The Green Roof Industry Resource Portal:
http://www.greenroofs.com/ - Penn State Center for Green Roof Research:
http://web.me.com/rdberghage/Centerforgreenroof/Home.html - EPA Green Infrastructure page:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298 - EPA's website for Green Roofs as a best management
practice:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=browse&Rbutton=detail&bmp=114 - EPA’s Boston regional office green roof
installation plans:
http://www.epa.gov/greeningepa/facilities/boston-hq.htm#greenroof - A sample design is also available on the
installer’s website:
http://www.roofscapes.com/assemblies/aromaticgarden.php
Contacts
For more information, please email greenroof@trinityswarthmore.org