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Newsroom Archive
June 2009
- Chicago’s Sears Tower to Receive “Green” Retrofit
(June 30, 2009) – This project will result in unparalleled energy savings and reduced carbon dioxide emissions to the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
- A Growing Trend: Green Roofs(June 28, 2009) – Composed of living plants and earth, green roofs are gradually showing up in the United States, years after first being used in Europe and Asia.
- Minneapolis Taking the Lead in the Green Revolution (June 27, 2009) – One City Council member says it’s important for government to lead by example when urging others to go green.
- Perlmutter Re-Introduces Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (GREEN) Act for Affordable Mortgages (June 26, 2009) – U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) re-introduced his GREEN Act in the House of Representatives, which includes a key financing provision by Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT).
- American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (June 26, 2009) – The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, H.R. 2454, contains two key urban forestry provisions, including Rep. Doris Matsui’s Energy Conservation through Trees Act and Rep. Ed Perlmutter’s GREEN Act.
- Sears Tower Unveils Sustainable Plan to Transform Tallest Building in Western Hemisphere (June 24, 2009) – The project will result in unparalleled energy savings and reduced CO2 emissions to the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, reducing the base building electricity use by up to 80 percent, which includes a combination of energy savings and co-generation.
- Group Greens Pittsburgh’s Concrete Jungles, First to Use New Tree Technology (June 24, 2009) – Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest Friends is working with TreeVitalize, a statewide public-private partnership, in an effort to plant one million trees in Pittsburg by 2012.
- Rooftop Gardeners Harvest Hefty Tax Breaks (June 23, 2009) – The green roof movement is gaining momentum around the country as more lawmakers are enlightened about the energy-saving benefits of establishing gardens on the roofs of city buildings.
- TCU Grads Turn to Native Grasses for Business (June 22, 2009) – Two Texas Christian University graduates have developed green roof technologies that work well in Texas’ dry climate.
- Cool Roofs are Hot (June 18, 2009) – A cool roofing system, called fluid-applied reinforced acrylic, is sprayed on like paint and is considered easy to repair.
- Bethany Blues Goes Green with New Roof Garden (June 18, 2009) – This Delaware restaurant is installing a green roof to cut down on energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint, as well as prolong the lifespan of the roof.
- State in ‘Bull’s-Eye’ for Change (June 17, 2009) – A new report released by the White House concludes that the Southwest, especially Arizona, is going to be hit hard by climate change.
May 2009
- Shade-Tree Mechanics (May 30, 2009) – The “Sacramento Shade” project has planted nearly a half-million trees in the greater Sacramento area. It is estimated that the net savings in energy alone top $128 million since the program began in 1990.
- Energy Chief Steven Chu Joins Phoenix Mayor’s Push for White Roofs (May 27, 2009) – Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu are on the same page when it comes to reducing urban heat islands and energy consumption.
- Obama’s Climate Guru: Paint Your Roof White! (May 27, 2009) – Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy, has encouraged making roofs and pavements white or light-colored to help reduce global warming by both conserving energy and reflecting sunlight back into space.
- Toronto Adopts “Green Roof” Requirements (May 27, 2009) – Toronto’s city council passed a new bylaw setting minimum “green roof” requirements on all classes of new buildings.
- Looking at Europe’s Green Ways (May 24, 2009) – U.S. leaders are looking abroad for guidance in developing green building and energy saving techniques such as green roofs.
- Greening Baseball (May 22, 2009) – Various Major League Baseball stadiums are taking steps to reduce energy consumption, extend recycling efforts, and take the first steps into renewable energy.
- U.S. Green Roof Industry Grows By 35 Percent in 2008 (May 20, 2009) – Green Roofs for Healthy Cities conducted a survey of green roofs projects which indicates a U.S. growth rate of more than 35 percent over 2007, representing more than 3.1 million square feet installed in 2008.
- Council to Consider New Tree Rules (May 14, 2009) – The Austin City Council is considering proposed rules that would require tree plantings and preservation.
- Perlmutter Re-Introduces Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (GREEN) Act for Affordable Mortgages (May 14, 2009) – The GREEN Act promotes energy efficiency in homes through building improvements and incentives.
- Cities to Sizzle as Islands of Heat (May 10, 2009) – London and other cities could see summer temperatures rise to more than 10°C above those in the surrounding countryside, according to research being used to help devise the first official climate change map of Britain.
- Alliant Energy Provides $2,450 for Arnolds Park Planting Project (May 8, 2009) – Branching Out is a program which provides grants for community-based, tree-planting projects- like parks, gateways, cemeteries, nature trails, libraries, schools, and more.
- Green Cities Report Assesses How Key Cities in America are Combating Climate Change (May 7, 2009) – This report is an assessment of how 40 of the country’s largest cities are trying to limit their carbon footprints.
- Tree-Killing Hurricanes Could Contribute To Global Warming (May 1, 2009) – A study of hurricane impact on U.S. trees shows that hurricane damage can diminish a forest’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming, from the atmosphere.
April 2009
- The Reroofing of Government (April 28, 2009) – The General Services Administration, which owns and manages more than 1,500 federal buildings nationwide, intends to use some of the $4.5 billion it received through stimulus funds to green federal buildings for roof replacements.
- Aid for Shade: Municipalities Eyeing Money to Buy Trees (April 26, 2009) – Pennsylvania communities are lining up to take advantage of a state initiative to increase the number of trees along urban streets and in parks.
- Arbor Day: Let’s Plant More Trees In Hartford (April 24, 2009) – The City of Hartford is working on a new tree ordinance, which will create a tree commission, set guidelines for the replacement of trees, and identify and give special status to trees of significance.
- Innovative Desert Garden Promotes Sustainability (April 22, 2009) – The School of Landscape Architecture at the University of Arizona has created an innovative desert landscape to address the urban heat island effect.
- NFL Planting Trail of Trees to Connect Super Bowl Host Communities (April 22, 2009) – The NFL has partnered with the Florida State Division of Forestry, TREE, Inc., the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Miami Dolphins and seven cities across Florida to create a living bridge between Super Bowl host communities.
- Cool Roof Rating Council Unveils First AIA-Approved Continuing Education Course (April 21, 2009) – The Cool Roof Rating Council has launched its first solo-sponsored continuing education course, which will inform architects about the wide variety and benefits of cool roofing products.
- Nonprofit Celebrates 15 Years of Free Trees in San Jose (April 17, 2009) – The nonprofit group Our City Forest has planted more than 50,000, 5-gallon trees throughout the city of San Jose since 1994 as part of its push to create an urban forest.
- Toronto Mulls Mandatory Green Roofs (April 16, 2009) – The City of Toronto is considering a proposed green roof by-law that would make green roof installations mandatory on certain new developments with a gross floor area exceeding 54,000 square feet.
- Global Warming Could Kill Drought-Stressed Trees Fast (April 13, 2009) – The journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published a study which found that droughts during warmer weather kill the pinon pine, a tree found in southwestern United States, 28 percent faster than it killed the trees at cooler temperatures.
- Green Roof Systems: A Guide to the Planning, Design, and Construction of Landscapes over Structure (April 10, 2009) – This book was recently released, which offers technical information on green roofs, and landscapes over structure.
- WPI’s ‘Green’ Residence Hall Garners Prestigious Recognition for its Sustainable Features(April 9, 2009) – Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s (WPI) newest and most environmentally conscious residence hall, East Hall, features the city of Worcester’s first “green” roof.
- Somerville’s Getting 150 Trees Greener (April 2, 2009) – The town of Somerville is working with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Community Forestry Cool Cities Initiative to help offset residents’ energy costs by planting 150 shade trees in the borough this spring.
March 2009
- Groups Collaborate to Make Sure Boston Branches Out (March 29, 2009) – A collaborative effort between the city of Boston and Boston’s Urban Forest Coalition, Grow Boston Greener aims to plant 100,000 new trees in the city by 2020.
- It’s Not Easy Turning Co-op Boards Green (March 22, 2009) – The politics at residential buildings, which are notoriously contentious, have become even more so as environmental issues have entered the fray.
- Researchers: Atlanta’s ‘Heat-Island’ Intensified 2008 Tornado (March 14, 2009) – One year after a tornado tore through Atlanta, researchers at the University of Georgia and Purdue University say the city’s asphalt splendor may have helped create the destructive storm.
- Mayor Gordon Wants Phoenix to be Solar Silicon Valley (March 11, 2009) – Mayor Phil Gordon wants Phoenix to have a carbon-neutral footprint – a plan that includes painting rooftops white to reflect the sun and using canals for green enterprises.
- Plan to Plant Trees (March 4, 2009) – The Texas Tree Foundation presented a plan to the Dallas City Council for planting trees in Dallas to increase the city’s tree canopy.
- Branching Out - Cities are Learning the Many Benefits of Urban Forestry Programs (March 1, 2009) – Many cities are investing in urban forestry programs despite budget constraints.
February 2009
- Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center LEED Platinum (February 26, 2009) – The Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center employs strategies such as a green roof in order to reduce the urban heat island effect.
- Architectural Firm Cuts Power Use Almost In Half With Sustainability (February 22, 2009) – Green strategies such as the installation of a green roof have reduced energy usage for an architecture firm.
- Chicago Promising Greenest Olympics in 2016 Bid (February 22, 2009) – The City of Chicago has implemented various “green” strategies, such as a green roofs program and renewable energy initiatives, and hopes to host the Olympics in 2016.
- Trees Absorb a Fifth of Carbon Emissions Pumped Out by Humans (February 19, 2009) – The journal Nature published a study that found that on average trees are getting bigger and absorbing more CO2, contrary to the theory that mature forests are carbon neutral as a result of the carbon absorbed by new trees being balanced by that released from old trees dying.
- Why Some Cities Are Getting Drier as Skyscrapers Rise (February 17, 2009) – Recent research shows that urban growth may be a factor in creating a drier, or different, regional climate.
- Green Infrastructure Municipal Handbook Grows (February 10, 2009) – EPA is developing the Municipal Handbook to help local officials implement green infrastructure in their communities.
- New City Council Proposal Aims to Grow Green Spaces High Above the City (February 10, 2008) – Building owners who put plants, grass or even white paint on their roof to soak up heat and rainwater could get big tax breaks under a New York City Council proposal.
- Harford County Farmer Sings the Praises of the Green Roof Movement (February 8, 2009) – A local farmer supplies plants that cover nearly 2.5 million square feet of rooftops across the U.S. His projects include green roofs in Baltimore at Loyola College, Morgan State University, the National Aquarium, and various federal buildings in Washington, DC.
- Congress Mulls Green Roof Tax Credit (February 3, 2009) – Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Clean Energy Stimulus and Investment Assurance Act of 2009 (S.320) legislation which contains financial incentives for commercial and residential green roof installation.
- One Thousand Trees Helping to Green Super Bowl (February 1, 2009) – 1,000 new trees will take root in urban neighborhoods and wildlife areas throughout the Tampa Bay area as part of the overall “greening” of Super Bowl XLIII.
January 2009
- Green Roof a Part of Airport Wish List (January 31, 2009) – Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio is seeking funding to support the construction of a green roof.
- Road Builders Compete For Slice Of Stimulus (January 30, 2009) – In competing for funding from the economic stimulus package, the concrete industry argues that their material provides benefits such as reduced ambient temperatures.
- DEP Grant Funds Largest Green Roof in the State(January 28, 2009) – Florida's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded a $1.4 million Urban BMP Research and Demonstration grant to Escambia County to assist with the construction of a green roof as well and a pervious pavement parking lot.
- Planting Trees Saves Cash, Research Confirms (January 22, 2009) – Researchers in California have found that planting trees in strategic locations around your house can lower your summertime electricity bill by that much or more.
- Far from Tar: Ecoroofs Take Root in Portland (January 20, 2009) – Green roofs are spreading in Portland, Oregon, in part due to local legislation and incentives which encourage the use of vegetation in urban areas.
- New Bill Will Require Homebuilders to Plant Trees (January 19, 2009) – New legislation may require Nashville's homebuilders to plant one tree for every 30-linear feet of street front in residential areas.
- Rooftop Gardens Start to Grow on Local Residents (January 19, 2009) – Green roof and rooftop garden projects have increased in the Memphis, Tennessee area.
- Chandler to Finish First ‘Green’ Building in October (January 16, 2009) – The City of Chandler, Arizona, will open its new fire administration headquarters in October, which incorporates various green building principles, including cool roofs.
- Is Your Community Planning for Trees? (January 15, 2009) – The American Planning Association has released a report, “Planning the Urban Forest: Ecology, Economy, and Community Development”, the result of a three year study on the impacts and benefits of urban forests.
- Urban Heat Island (January 13, 2009) – A satellite image of the Twin Cities in Minnesota shows the warmer temperatures surrounding the urban areas.
- Cities are Key Culprits in Weather Shifts (January 11, 2009) – Phoenix, the host of American Meteorological Society Annual Conference, provides an example of how urban areas influence local weather.
- Dallas Launches Unique Tree Planting on Skillman Road Medians (January 8, 2009) – Dallas’ Urban Forest Advisory Committee (UFAC) encourages neighborhoods to adopt street medians to plant trees which shade Dallas roadways to combat the urban heat island effect.
- Roof of City Hall May be Covered in Grass (January 7, 2009) – The city hall in Dayton, Ohio, is exploring the installation of a green roof in a stormwater pollution reduction effort.
Older Stories
- White Washed: Could a Coat of Paint Fight Global Warming? (September 10, 2008) – Research from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California shows that the heat savings from having reflective roofs and pavements could offset huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.
- High Temps On Turf Fields Spark Safety Concerns (August 7, 2008) – Recent evidence shows that artificial turf surfaces heat up significantly, raising concerns about health.