FAQs
what is a green roof?
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil, or a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane.
what are the benefits of green roofs?
Green roofs reduce heating (by adding mass and thermal resistance value) and cooling (by evaporative cooling) loads on a building. They reduce the urban heat island effect while increasing the life span of a roof. Green roofs also reduce stormwater run off, filter pollutants and CO2 out of the air, and increase wildlife habitat in built up areas.
how large will the Stevenson Green Roof be?
This proposal seeks to create a living laboratory atop the Stevenson Campus rooftop. The phased project seeks to realize 20,000 square feet of living laboratory in Phase I and a combination green-cool roof for the remaining 49,000 square foot roof in Phase a peer review by outside engineers. The analysis concluded that, using a conservative value for concrete strength and a live load of 60 square feet, all structures affected by the Green Roof verify using the load factors from the current ACI 318-2005 provisions. This demonstrates the structure is capable of sustaining the added weight of the Green Roof, including soil, plants, rainwater, students and teachers, with no risk to the building's structure or occupants.
how will the Green Roof be used by the schools to support instruction?
The Green Roof will be used as a living laboratory by all seven schools on the Stevenson Campus. It will be used to support learning in Math and Science through project-based learning and real life experiments, although, any classroom teacher interested in using the roof will be encouraged to make curricular connections between his/her subject area and the Green Roof. Additionally, current events, such as global warming can be deeply contextualized, by actively studying, experimenting, and participating in a solution to a large social/political problem.
how will educators be trained in working with the roof?
Through professional development, which will include tours of existing green roofs, exploration of Green Roof technology, discussion of project-based and place-based education, and curriculum planning, teachers will develop methods of using the roof as an outdoor classroom. The Stevenson Campus has agreed to fund a Green Roof Coordinator position, whose primary responsibilities will include curriculum development, professional development, and partnership management. This position will coordinate ongoing training of teaching staff, as well as document curriculum units and training into a searchable curriculum library.
will curriculum be developed for the roof?
Thanks to collaborative planning and professional development with the Salvadori Center and New Visions for Public Schools, teachers are currently developing two curricula that will connect the green roof to Math and Science instruction. The STEM Strand curriculum group will examine how to use a Green Roof to explore content and skills related to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields. The Life Science group will consider how the green roof might be used to deepen student understandings of core concepts while also building their capacity to use key science skills. During the school year, the Green Roof Coordinator will work with teachers to enhance the curricula and organize learning on the green roof.
is there a contract with the members of the consortium?
The Salvadori Center will serve as a consultant to the Green Roof Coordinator and teachers at the Stevenson Campus. Other needed consultants will be at the discretion of the Green Roof Coordinator and the campus principals, to prioritize and seek funding as needed. Currently, Salvadori Center is seeking funding to subsidize this relationship. One goal is to build the capacity of this position to develop campus-based expertise.
who will be responsible for the maintenance of the green roof?
By using pre and post-documentation (involving student learning, curriculum development, teacher and student usage, community involvement, environmental impact, and building performance- particularly costs of heating and cooling and roof integrity) the Green Roof at Stevenson can be evaluated as a pilot model for the introduction of Green Roofs to schools throughout New York City. Cost data, environmental data, and student performance data will be the drivers to replicate this project. As the work is documented, it is hoped that costs can be analyzed towards greater efficiencies. Curriculum will be documented. It is our hope and expectation that the Green Roof will demonstrate this green design is feasible and economically viable as a driver for environmental sustainability, smart buildings, and higher levels of student engagement and achievement.
what is the budget for the Green Roof?
Approximately $1.3 million of in-kind goods and services has been pledged for this project. Included in that figure are design services, a pre-qualified SCA contractor for installation, the green roof technology, scientific instrumentation, planting materials and a dedicated green roof coordinator supported by the six schools on the campus. Further project need at this time is currently being ascertained; but rough estimates put outstanding need for Phase I at $500,000; and Phase II at $4.5m.
