Austin News
Builders design new Austin office with green roof
06:33 PM CST on Tuesday, March 3, 2009
>Green roof technology is beginning to take hold in Central Texas. New research shows they are good for the environment and can also save big on energy costs.
It's been three years since researchers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center began looking into green roof technology. The big question -- can they work here?
Research Scientist Mark Simmons thinks they can.
"On a hot August day when the surface temperature of a black roof would be around 170 degrees, the surface temperature of a green roof will be in the high 90s," Simmons said.
Simmons says the rocks, soil and plants also limit the amount of storm water runoff.
"Most of the green roofs are installed in the northern United States, Canada and Europe, so it's been slow to start here, but it's beginning to catch on," he said.
Stanley Architects & Artisans is a local company building a new office with a green roof.
"It basically operates like a big sponge. It has all kinds of benefits and we really wanted to test one out in this area," said Lauren Stanley, owner and architect.
Stanley says most buildings can easily handle the extra weight. "Typically, new construction doesn't have a problem with it. A lot of times roof structures are oversized anyway," she said.
A group of geography students from the University of Texas is utilizing the new roof for a research project.
"It's definitely exciting," said Matthew Menchaca, student. "We are just happy to be able to come out and see it first hand as well as help out in anyway we can."
The students will help monitor the growth of the plants in what they hope will also be a growing field of technology.
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