Green roofs are gaining popularity for several reasons. They are super efficient at insulating a home. They also minimize our ecological footprint by retaining and filtering water before it reaches our rivers and streams. In this course, we will explore intensive and extensive green roof systems. We will discuss various planning strategies including water retention and native habitat preservation.   We will cover the theoretical and technical considerations of green roofs while gaining the hands-on experience of actually building them. Through evening lectures and discussions, we will examine layer buildup, drainage solutions, characteristics of growing medium, and plant palette selection. We will also introduce case studies from around the world to demonstrate the many ways green roofs have been used, from small scale residential projects to large scale commercial buildings. During the days, we will perform a hands-on installation.

Earn college credit through UVM:  This course is available for credit through the University of Vermont (CDAE 95, ENVS 95, PSS 95, 2 credits).  In-state tuition is $828, plus a non-refundable $300 program fee to Yestermorrow. Click here for UVM registration information.

  • Competency Level: All Levels
  • AIA credits: 35 -- Qualifies for HSW requirements.
  • UVM credits: 2

Course Objectives

Students will explore the history of Green Roofs throughout time to the modern day. Understanding the economic, environmental and social forces that are driving the boom in green roofs and walls will be our goal, as well as learning roofing systems and plant types. Hands on construction of our project roof will give participants the opportunity to understand the ease with which a simple roof can be assembled.

Materials to Bring

  • Images of a site, if any
  • Information on pitch of existing roof
  • Location relative to watershed,
  • Major open spaces around them
  • Brief synopsis of why they are interested in green roofs

Suggested Readings

Snodgrass, Edmund and Lucy. Green Roof Plants Timber Press

Birkeland, J (2002). Design for Sustainability Earthscan London

Braungart, M & McDonough, W (2002). Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things Northpoint Press

Schiffer, Atglen, PA. Earth Pledge (2005) Green Roofs: Ecological Design and Construction

Givoni, B (1998). Climate Considerations in Building and Urban Design Wiley London

L ovejoy, T & Hannah L eds. (2005). Climate Change and Biodiversity Yale University Press, New Haven

McHarg, I (1971). Design with Nature Natural History Press, Garden City, NY

Roaf, S. (2004). Closing the Loop Benchmarks for Sustainable Buildings RIBA Enterprises London

Todd, John and Nancy Jack (1994). From Eco Cities to Living Machines North Atlantic Books

Class Schedule

This course will have three components. First, we will look at precedents through published case studies and visiting a few regional examples. In the second part of the course will review the technical components and the layering of the green roof and wall systems. In the final part of the course, we will construct a green roof and then plant it with our selected vegetation.

Course Outline

Sunday

  • Welcome Dinner
  • Intro-Meet and greet,
  • Slide show of our work

Monday AM

  • Components

Monday PM

  • Worksite introduction

Monday evening

  • Benefits
  • Structural engineering/code

Tuesday AM

  • Horticulture (h vs. natives)

Tuesday PM

  • Work at job site

Tuesday Evening

  • Living machines/integrated approach - rainwater harversting, rain gardens.
  • Living walls

Wednesday AM

  • Tours - UVM, Knoll Farm, Garden Folly

Wednesday PM

  • Work at job site

Wednesday Evening

  • Case studies- slide show of built greenroofs/green screen projects

Thursday

  • Work at job site

Thursday Evening

  • Gaia institute- using waste to create greenroofs

Friday

  • Work at job site

Friday Evening

  • Final Q and 
  • Course evaluations
  • Graduation celebration

Movies

Design Outlaws

Manufactured Landscapes

Rivers and Tides

Readings During Class

Ecological Design, intro 1-18

  • Chap 3 ‘design with nature
  • Chap 5 ‘make nature visible

Cradle to Cradle

  • Chap 4 waste = food

John Todd

  • Ch. 10 ocean arks, restoring the water

John Todd: From Ecocities to Living Machines -

  • Epilogue: Living machines and the years ahead.

Rainwater harvesting - Brad Lancaster

Rain Gardens

Green roofs - Earth Pledge

Planting green roofs and living walls

Instructors: Meaghan Pierce-Delaney, Thandi Rosenbaum

 

 

Start Date: May 30, 2010
Closed