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Seidman College of Business
Overview
Overview
We will address the wicked problem of climate change broadly, but more specifically show how to help address the issues of urban "heat islands" in cities. This is important because these heat islands have been shown to alter weather patterns around these urban cities
How green infrastructure like roof gardens can help with heat islands in heavily populated urban areas
How specific roofing and planting techniques can help improve dense urban areas' climate effects
Our project address the issues of over pollution and how green infrastructure can be used as a solution
Benefits of Green Roofs
Green roofs would benefit building owners, as the new insulation from green roofs would provide energy savings. They also reduce pollution and can be used in order to alleviate the effects of climate change. This is a local solution that can improve the cities they are used in while making a global difference
Green roofs help mitigate the effects of “heat islands” that cities can experience. By installing green roofs, it can provide shade, remove heat from the air, as well as reduce the temperature of the roof and the surrounding air. Green roofs can reduce the temperatures in cities up to five degrees
This natural cooling system is not only good for energy savings, and the environment, but it can also make an impact on human health, as reducing extreme temperatures in cities is safer for more vulnerable citizens, like the elderly. Other benefits of green roofs include improving air and water quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
As well, we want to address how Green infrastructure, specifically in our case a rooftop garden, can reduce energy costs and consumption of a building by making it easier to cool
It does this naturally by acting as an insulant, shading the building and protecting from direct sunlight, as well as preventing heat flux through the roof. It can also improve stormwater management by allowing for water infiltration and by slowing rainfall and water runoff
Existing Green Infrastructure at GVSU
Existing Green Infrastructure at GVSU
Green Roof at Mackinac Hall
It was established in 2008 with the help of LiveRoof Green Roofs
LiveRoof Green Roofs provide “hybrid” systems in order to create the best combination of low maintenance needs and green roof benefits
Terrace at the Mary Idema Pew Library
The terrace is equipped with planters, as well as a raised floor in order to assist with snow and water drainage
This water is collected in a 12-inch reservoir below the floor, which will be recycled for the irrigation of the library's outdoor landscaping
Project was designed to meet LEED Platinum Standards
Green Roof at the Mary Idema Pew Library
Outside the 2nd floor, there is a smaller green roof that also collects water
This green roof is planted full of perennials, so it is low maintenance
Green Roof at Learning and Dining Hall
This green roof was installed in 2014 and is around 2,360 square feet
Plants for Air Quality: Reducing Air Pollution
Lady Palm
Peace Lily
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Removes airborne pollutants by absorption from their leaf and root surfaces
They help fight the pollutants in the air like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide. Originally, palm trees were planted in large areas to help purify the air
Plants rely on photosynthesis to create food, which pulls carbon dioxide from the air and releases oxygen as a result. This allows the plants to breathe, releasing water vapor into the air, initially making the air humid, producing air that is easier for humans to breathe
Stakeholders
Stakeholders
Hortech, inc. / LiveRoof LLC: an existing partner for GVSU
Blanford: providing education on plants, and a walk through their facility
GreenRoofs.com LLC: an existing partner for GVSU
In an over-the-phone interview, we spoke to John Scholten from LiveRoof, and we learned that green roofs benefit human health and wellness, building productiveness, and the management of water & storm-water runoff
The green roofs are better for cooling, as opposed to heating, but he said that there is no issue with northern snow. The plants go dormant and come back in the spring and the maintenance is minimal
As for economic or climate benefits, John noted that it'd split about half and half for these reasons. Some do it for climate reasons, while others prioritize the economic reasons
Plan and Goals
The plan is to...
Limit the amount of heat trapped on campus and expand the availability of environmental options on Grand Valley's campus
We hope to work with ecological business stakeholders, such as LiveRoof and GreenRoofs.com LLC, to help implement ideas about green roofs. We also would like to continue working with Blandford Nature Center to educate us about the vast amount of plants that can be used to help pollution
As a group, we'd like to collectively address and teach about the problems with pollution and heat islands around the Grand Valley campus
Our Goals are...
We hope that in the future, people who visit GV can witness the environmental, economic, and sustainable improvements in the quality of life around campus. We wish to create a ripple effect in the students and faculty by changing perspectives and feelings towards environmental issues and encouraging the maintenance and future of green spaces on GVSU's campus
Our target audience would be the students and the surrounding campus community. We hope to involve as many interested people as possible
Where we go from here
We will address this issue by creating an informational packet which compiles research and other resources on how people can get involved in green roofing solutions. It will provide the following:
An overview of the wicked problem
How it is integrated into organizations on campus
Information on the green rooftop gardens already established at GVSU
The opportunity to get involved in established solutions
We plan on distributing this packet throughout people involved in the ENS department
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