Green Roofs for Water Conservation: Science, Policy and Market

Transcription

1 Green Roofs for Water Conservation: Science, Policy and Market Haven Kiers, MLA, LEED AP, GRP, Green Infrastructure Foundation Beverly Powell MBA, PMP, CWM, Greening California Rooftops Silver Sponsors Media Sponsors Certified Sponsors Solano County Water Agency Zone 7 Water Agency Founding Partners Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency The City of Redwood City of Vallejo City of Napa Water Division City of San José Environmental Services Contra Costa Water District East Bay Municipal Water District Marin Municipal Water District San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Santa Clara Valley Water District Solano County Water Agency Sonoma County Water Agency Soquel Creek Water District Zone 2 7 Water Agency

2 Vegetation on Roofs Absorbs Water! The speakers met in a local group promoting green roofs: Roof Alliance/about?hl=en Join us and other professionals to learn, hear news, advocate for policy, collaborate on grants & business opportunities We believe, and we hope you do, that green roofs are a valuable addition to the stormwater management toolkit. We have info today for newcomers to the topic, but also science, policy and market for those who know about green roofs but need more details. 3 Q&A and Unique Networking Exchange At the end of the presentation, we would like to give audience members a chance to network and exchange information Some local business and funding opportunities rely on alliances Collaboration is healthy in a growing industry! 4

3 Quick Polls #1 and 2 1. How many of you have personally seen up close /visited a green roof (including a personal involvement in the build)? 2. How many of you have participated in the installation of a green (living, vegetated) roof? 5 Science Benefits of Green Roofs Noise Reduction Fire Retardation Increased Land Values Increased Membrane Durability & Longevity Waste Diversion Urban Agriculture Opportunities Project Marketability 6

4 Science Benefits of Green Roofs 2 Increased Carbon Sequestration Improved Air Quality Urban Heat Island Mitigation Reduced Energy Demands Additional Wildlife Habitat And Recreational Space Improved Human Health Aesthetic Improvements 7 7 Green Roofs and Solar Installations Solar Energy Installations: Popular And Incentivized In California Whether Solar Thermal Heating Units Or Solar Power Generation Systems, Green Roofs Co exist Comfortably Cooling Effect Of Green Roof Increases Efficiency Of PV Modules Low profile Plants Increase Reliability Of Solar Unit Due To Insulating Effects/Noncompetition 8

5 Science Benefits of Green Roofs 3 Not a One Hit Wonder Multiple benefits at public, private, and project design levels Can be designed to meet the specific needs of a region or municipality Primary role of green roofs in Portland is to reduce stormwater runoff In Chicago, green roofs have been implemented to reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect Provide a salient, visual component to the green building movement 9 Science Stormwater Management Benefits Reduced stormwater runoff volumes Delayed stormwater runoff volumes Stormwater pollutant reductions Reduced sewer overflow events SFPUC Summit Pump Station 10

6 Reduced Stormwater Runoff Volumes (Retention) During smaller storms, green roofs are capable of absorbing a majority, if not all, of the rainfall A media depth of 2.5 in. can retain 40% of the rain for an individual 2 in. storm (Scholz Barth, 2001). Annual reductions of runoff of 38 54% and 38 45% have been reported for 3 in. deep media (Miller, 1998). An EPA study (Berghage, 2009) confirmed that a in. deep green roof can retain 50% or more of the annual precipitation. During the summer months, nearly 95% of the precipitation was retained. During winter, retention was smaller (<20%) and not significant. Planted media retained more water than unplanted media (gravel ballast) as a result of evapo-transpiration. 11 Delayed Stormwater Runoff Volumes (Detention) Flow rates are reduced in runoff from green roofs until systems are saturated, at which point runoff flow roughly equals the rate of precipitation input Peak flows are reduced Time to peak is significantly increased e.g., peak flows are delayed Green roofs are most effective at delaying time to peak and reducing peak flows when they when not fully saturated by rainfall events on the previous day. 12

7 Stormwater Pollutants Water quality impacts of a green roof are seasonal, and depend on concentrations from a planted system, precipitation concentrations, and runoff rates. Pollutant reductions: Acid precipitation (ph) Nitrate Pollutant increases (similar to a residential landscape): Greater concentrations of nutrients (phosphorous, potassium) Greater concentrations of hardness (calcium, magnesium) 13 Reduced Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Events With Combined Sewer Systems (CSS), stormwater flows often exceed the sewer system s hydraulic capacity, causing overflows of untreated wastewater during rainfall events Green roofs reduce the amount of water entering the sewer system and thus can reduce the likelihood of a CSO and diminish the quantity of untreated wastewater entering the Bay San Francisco is the only coastal city in California with a CSS Number of CSOs in San Francisco typically 10/Year 14

8 Quick Polls #3, 4 and 5 3. How many of you have built other types of stormwater solutions, such as swales or bioretention ponds)? 4. In what geographic areas have you done this? 5. For commercial or residential properties? 15 Policy Carrots and Sticks Stick Prescriptive Mechanisms Stormwater Fees LEED Certification/ Green Point Rated Policies Green Roof Mandates 16

9 Stormwater Fees Require property owners to pay fees on all stormwater runoff not retained on site Provide an incentive for ratepayers to manage the water that falls on their property in a sustainable manner Green roofs qualify as stormwater reduction mechanisms Example: Innovation Stormwater Policy, Minneapolis In 2005, the City began charging property owners stormwater fees based on the amount of impervious surfaces and concurrently implemented a program allowing fee reductions of up to 100% for onsite treatment and detention (including green roofs). 17 LEED Certification/ Green Point Rated Policies Require new construction and redevelopments to meet certain minimum green building standards Green roofs can contribute as many as 23 pts towards LEED certification from USGBC California s Build it Green provides points for the inclusion of green roofs in residential development Example: Green Building Ordinance, San Francisco 2004: Required all new City construction and major renovation projects to achieve LEED Silver 18

10 LEED Certification/ Green Point Rated Policies Green Building Ordinance, San Francisco, 2009 Established stricter parameters for new buildings and retrofits Small Residential Buildings, Midsize Multifamily Buildings GreenPoint Rated Minimum of 50 Green Points (until 2011) or 75 Green Points (after 2011) New High Rise Residential Buildings LEED Silver Certification Compliance w/san Francisco Stormwater Design Guidelines New Large Commercial Buildings LEED Certified Certification (until 2011) or LEED Gold Certification (after 2011) 19 Quick Poll #6 6. Could we get a show of hands on how many of you are LEED Accredited Professionals? 20

11 Green Roof Mandates Require projects of a certain type and/or size to install a green roof over a portion of their roof Generally implemented with a specific goal in mind (stormwater runoff reduction, reduced urban heat island effect) Mandates for green roofs in Germany and other European countries have helped bring down the cost of green roofs Examples: Green Roof Bylaw, Toronto All new construction with a Gross Floor Area of 2,000 square meters or greater constructed after January 30, 2010 required to include a green roof City Ordinance, Chicago Any developer who receives city assistance (for example, to rehabilitate a brownfield) must include a green roof. 21 Policy Carrots and Sticks Carrot Incentive Mechanisms Stormwater Fee Discounts Development Incentives Grants Rebates & Installation Financing Awards & Recognition Programs 22

12 Stormwater Fee Discounts Reduce stormwater fees if property owners reduce impervious area and the volume of runoff discharged from the property Create incentives for reusing or storing stormwater on site Reductions in annual fees can be used to offset initial capital costs for green roofs Example: Clean River Rewards, Portland, 2006 Provides up to a 100% discount on on site stormwater management charges. Discount is based on runoff from roof areas only for residential properties and runoff from both roof and paved areas for commercial properties. 23 Development Incentives Offered to developers during the process of applying for development permits Examples include: zoning upgrades, expedited permitting, reduced stormwater requirements and density bonuses Provide a way for developers to enlarge their projects and save money simply by incorporating a green roof Examples: Green Building Ordinance, San Francisco, 2006 Created a priority permitting process for LEED Gold certified, or equivalent, building projects. Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Bonus, Portland, The city s FAR bonus includes green roofs as a favored practice. Projects are given 1 3 square feet of additional built space or bonus, per square foot of green roof. 24

13 Grants Provide direct funding to property owners and/or community groups for implementing a range of green roof projects Grant subsidies stimulate implementation by helping to overcome the higher costs associated with green roofs May often incorporate a research and education component into the project Example: Green Roof Grant Program, Chicago, Offers $5,000 to qualifying green roof projects, seeking to promote green rooftops aimed at stormwater runoff reduction and urban heat island reduction. 25 Small Projects Upcoming Application Timeline: Local Grants SFPUC Community Challenge Grants $100,000 in Watershed Stewardship Grants for neighborhood based stormwater management and similar projects Medium Projects Large Projects Applications Twice a Year Twice a year Twice a year Accepted Award size up to $10,000 $10,000 to $25,000 $25,000 to $100,000 Project duration 6 months 6 months 1 year Other Requirements 50% community match required 25% community match required Demonstrate history of successful project implementation and 25% community match required Application Cycle Opens Monday, June 7, 2010 Application Submission Deadline Thursday, July 15, 2010 by NO Later Than 4:30 PM, City Hall, Room 362 Award Notification Week of September 20,

14 CA State Grants Urban Greening for Sustainable Communities Program Offers funds for urban greening projects and planning efforts that reduce energy consumption, conserve water, improve air and water quality, and provide other community benefits Grant funds must be used to preserve, enhance, increase or establish community green areas such as urban forests, open spaces, wetlands and community spaces Eligible projects include urban heat island mitigation and energy conservation efforts through green roof projects Applications are due by 5:00 Friday, April 30, 2010 For information: 27 Rebates & Installation Financing Provide funding, tax credits or reimbursements to property owners who install specific practices. Often focused on practices needed in certain areas or neighborhoods Offset initial capital costs to make green roofs more affordable Encourage the inclusion of green roofs in all types of development Example: Green Roof Tax Abatement, New York Building owners in New York City can apply for a one time tax credit of up to $100,000 for the installation of a green roof. The green roof must be on at least 50% of available rooftop space. The credit equals approximately $4.50 sf. 28

15 Local Financing San Francisco Sustainable Financing Program Provides city administered loans using private capital to residential and business owners looking to improve building efficiency Will finance the upfront costs of sustainable property improvements (comprehensive water and energy efficiency improvements, as well as renewable generation like solar) for up to 20 years Repayment obligation will be attached to the property and will be paid back through property taxes over the life of the financing. For information: release san francisco sustainablefinancing program/ 29 Local Rebates City of Palo Alto Stormwater Rebates Offers rebates for the installation of a green roof to minimize storm runoff from rooftops $1.50 per square foot green roof rebate Maximum of $1,000 per single family residential property Maximum of $10,000 for commercial/industrial and multi family residential properties For information: 30

16 Awards & Recognition Programs Provide marketing opportunities and public outreach for exemplary projects. May include monetary awards Provide a platform to acquaint officials with green roofs Generate media and local attention Examples: GreenWorks Awards, Chicago promote a green city by recognizing businesses, non profits, schools and government agencies whose buildings, practices, and products or services are environmentally responsible. Eco logical Business Program, Portland highlights environmentally friendly businesses; participating shops receive a shop display package, press coverage, listing on the program web site, and promotion on the radio and at public events. 31 What Is the Business Opportunity in California Green Roofs? Growth To Date Has Been Slow Organic Growth Of Green Roofs in California Shows Our Leadership In Sustainability Green Roof Market Growth In Other Jurisdictions Has Benefited From Grants, Incentives Water Conservation Sector Has History Of Alliances/Partnerships to Impact the Market 32

17 Why So Few Green Roofs In California? Industry (Figures as of 2008) Illinois (start of industry to date)* Percent 27% 10% 6% California (start of industry to date)** Roof capacity 20,652,509 ft² (1013 projects) 2,362,945 ft² (219,530 m²) 895,950 ft² (83,238 m²) *since **since Figures are approximate and based on available data. Source: The Green Roofs Projects Database 33 Quick Poll #7 7. What is your opinion why growth of green roofs industry in California seems to be slower than elsewhere? 34

18 Recent Projects In Other Mediterranean Climates Italy Spain South Africa Australia France Greece Mexico New Zealand More information, with photos, available at 35 Potential CA Green Roof Market Segments Stormwater Management Federal Buildings Complying with EPA Section 438 Biodiversity/Habitat Restoration LEED Credits/Energy Savings Home Beautification/Building Amenity Space Rooftop Agriculture Noise Abatement Air Quality Improvement Carbon Sequestration 36

19 A Specific Market for Green Infrastructure: Federal Buildings Complying with Stormwater Regulations EPA Section 438 Implementation Process Full Technical Guidance : d/section Successful Public Private Water Conservation Partnerships EPA s WaterSense Partners With Irrigation Professionals/Others For Product Standards In Arizona, Association Of Cities Partners With Lowe s: Water: Use It Wisely Month For Cost sharing, Leveraging Of Effort The Complex, New Green Roofs Market May Benefit from Similar Types of Partnerships 38

20 Private/Public Partnerships: Making Them Work For Public Sector/Non Profit Entity Access To Funds And Resources Need To Confirm Credentials Of Partner For Private Companies Goodwill/ Marketing & Sales Opportunity From a Sponsorship Communications Capabilities That Public Sector Groups Might Not Obtain On Their Own 39 Growing a Green Roofs Business Marketing and Sales Customer Focus Solve a Problem for your Customer Make It Site Specific and Easy To Administer Develop Capabilities, Skills and Jobs Professional Education /Industry Awareness Support Local Green Jobs Programs Alliances Strengthen Your Firm s Market Position 40

21 Planning To Propose a Green Roof? Go to City Hall. Find out if staff is familiar with green roofs. If not, use materials at to educate them even before educating your client. Let officials know you will be taking all the recommended steps: Structural Engineering Stormwater Management Plan Green Building Requirements City Zoning and Permitting 41 Planning To Propose a Green Roof? 2 Know area funding sources through EPA, Sustainable Communities, etc. Open the topic with your customer, find their objectives and best available site! Client balking at costs? Remind them cost of roof is more than just materials. Its that plus repair bills, maintenance, replacement and energy costs. Demonstrate total costs of ownership use the GreenSave Calculator at 42

22 Quick Polls # last one 1. Are you optimistic that growth of the green roofs market in California will accelerate over the previous rate? 43 The Speakers Haven Kiers is a landscape designer and a big fan of green roofs. She received an MLA from UC Berkeley and wrote her thesis on the myths of green roofs. Haven works as an instructor for the non profit organization Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC). She teaches Introduction to Green Roofs, Green Roof Design and Installation, and Green Roof Plants and Growing Medium. Last year, Haven started working for the Green Infrastructure Foundation (the charitable arm of GRHC) as their San Francisco Market Development Coordinator. She is also the Design Editor for the website Greenroofs.com and has written several articles profiling the top trends in green roof design. [email protected] Beverly Powell is an independent management consultant and blogs on the business of the California green roofs industry at She is a founding member of the Green Roof Alliance (San Francisco Bay), and has consulted for twenty five years in sales, marketing, and project management. She possesses advanced credentials in business, project management and water management from Brown University, Keller Graduate School of Management, and other programs. She has been an active gardener for many years, specializing in native plants and water conservation. Contact her at her twitter 44

23 Q&A and Unique Networking Exchange Questions? Your Chance to Network! Your Introductions To Each Other: Non Profits To Green Roof Professionals Corporations To Vendors/Non Profits Non Profits To Non Profits Vendors To All Publicize Your Green Roof Project(s) 45 THANK YOU! @greenroofca 46