Center For Green Roof Research: Penn State's EcoRoof Technology Course

Somewhat-related is this article from the BBC. It lists the winners of a garden design competition. The emphasis is also away from monoculture and on designs that encourage a wide range of plants and wildlife as well being a relaxing space for family and friends.

The winning design is certainly very appealing!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4225517.stm

The Chicago city hall green roof, constructed 10 years ago and over a square city block in size, is hardly a monoculture; it uses 120 carefully selected native species designed to emulate praire environment.

There is even a large beehive on the roof to assist in pollination for the many green roofs now in downtown Chicago. The beehive is very productive and the honey is sold to help finance the bee operation, which has dozens of bee hives across the city in strategic locations.

The City of Chicago has been offering courses on green roof construction (and a wide range of other green topics aw well) for years. This is called Green Tech U; seen below for the extensive course listings.

In addition, the city provides 100 $5000. grants a year to home owners to convert to green roofs.

New construction green roofs are subsidized as well. And all city buiding are required to have a green roof, as well as being required to be LEED certified.

The Center for Green Technology offers courses to a wide range of people; planners, architects, construction workers and home owners.

Other City of Chicago offerings this year included rain water collection barrels for $50.

Center for Green Technology:
http://egov.cityofchicago.org:80/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0338841062.1162151383@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccaddjekejdkdcefecelldffhdfgm.0&entityName=Chicago+Center+for+Green+Technology&entityNameEnumValue=161

Here is an overview of current classes:

Construction; George Malek, Exelon; Jason Campbell, Krahl Construction
MODERATOR: Melissa Ling, Chelsea Group, Ltd.
The IAQ Construction Management: Before Occupancy Credit 3.2 requires a
flush-out of the space to reduce occupant exposure to material off-gassing and
construction debris. Learn how the new language of LEED-NC 2.2 and LEED-CI
clarify this procedure. In addition, the details of the alternative IAQ testing will be
presented and compared to the flush-out in terms of scheduling and cost.
TITLE: LEED Extra Credit: LEED-NC 2.1 vs. 2.2
DATE: 9/14/2006
TIME: 6:00–8:00 PM
PRESENTERS: Sachin Anand, dbHMS; Rand Ekman, OWP/P; Heather Beaudoin
OWP/P; Erik Olsen, Chicago Department of Construction and Permits; Helen J.
Kessler, HJKessler Associates
This evening’s roundtable session will bring together Green Building Experts and
project teams to discuss the differences between LEED-NC 2.1 and 2.2. LEED-NC
2.2 is distinct in many areas including credit requirements, compliance
calculations, and referenced standards like ASHRAE 90.1-2004. This brings new
challenges and opportunities to project teams.
TITLE: LEED Extra Credit: The State of Eco-Effectiveness 2002–2006
DATE: 10/5/2006
TIME: 6:00–8:00 PM
PRESENTER: David A. Cintron, DAC Studios, Ltd.
MODERATOR: George Modrovic, Elfi Wall Systems
The focus of this seminar will be on products relating to Cradle to Cradle certified
products. Mr. Cintron will discuss products that are designed with an ecological
intent and their availability.

LEED for the Layperson
(CAF Lunchtime Lecture, see page 15)
Construction & Demolition
Water Recycling
Tax Incentives for Residential
Construction
Case Study: The Kresge
Foundation Headquarters
Gardening in the Trenches
Case Study:
Green Greystone Rehab
Municipal Stewardship of our
Most Vital Resource–Water
Ecology of Design
Sustainable Roofing
Sustainable Urban Development
in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Healthy Indoor Air Quality
By Design
CCX Associate Membership for
Small Businesses
21st Century Chicago
(CAF Lunchtime Lecture, see page 15)
CoHousing
Transforming the
Sustainable Organization
The Opportunity
of Global Warming
Living Walls
Pest Proofing Your Home and
Garden for Winter
Case Study: Brownfield Redevelopment,
New Green Frame House Construction
The Benefits of Trees in Cities
Gardening in the Trenches II and
Clay Pot Irrigation
Stanley Tigerman & Elizabeth Smith
(MCA Changemakers Talk, see page 16)

174
TITLE: Martin Marty and Eboo Patel, in conversation
DATE: 11/8/2006
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave.
Dr. Eboo Patel, Founder and Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core, and
Martin Marty, one of America’s foremost theologians and religious historians,
discuss the role of youth and religion in strengthening civil society and stabilizing
global politics.
This program is made possible through a generous gift by the Marshall Framkel
Education Fund to the Chicago Contemporary Campaign.
TITLE: Bill Kurtis, Ellen Sandor, and Richard Sandor, in conversation
DATE: 12/5/2006
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave.
Journalist and cattle rancher Bill Kurtis, artist Ellen Sandor, and Richard Sandor, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Climate Exchange, Inc., will explore the
implications of climate change, cattle and socially conscious choices.
The Kristina Barr Lectures were established through a generous gift by The Barr
Fund to the Chicago Contemporary Campaign.
Please note: For tickets to any of the programs in the Changemakers series, call
(312) 397-4010 or visit www.mcachicago.org.
USGREENBUILDINGCOUNCILCHICAGOCHAPTER
Chicago Green Tech is home to the U.S. Green Building Council, Chicago
Chapter, which hosts monthly LEED workshops, LEED Exam Study Sessions and
conducts other green building related programs and events throughout the
region. For more information, please visit the chapter website:
chapters.usgbc.org/chicago
Sustainable Urban
Drainage Systems
Aerotecture: Integrated Windpower
(CAF Lunchtime Lecture, see page 15)
Biofuels for a Better Environment
Energy Star® Homes–Energy Efficiency,
Comfort & Indoor Air Quality
Commercial Lighting and the
Means of Sustainable Design
Bill Kurtis and Ellen Sandor
(MCA Changemakers Talk, see page 16)
Washington Park SRO: Sustainable
Affordable Housing
Sustainable Affordable Housing
Chart continued from previous page
SEMINARLISTINGS
Seminars are listed in chronological order. The certificate titles directly below are
color-coded and cross referenced with the boxes after each seminar description
to indicate which Green Tech U Certificates each seminar counts towards.
• ARCHITECTURE
• BUILDING& CONSTRUCTIONMANAGEMENT
• DO-IT-YOURSELFGREEN
• ENGINEERING
• GREENBUSINESS
• INTERIORDESIGN
• LANDSCAPEDESIGN
You are welcome to attend any class independently of a certificate track.
TITLE: Transforming the Sustainable Organization
DATE: 9/13/2006
TIME: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
PRESENTER: Karen Wan, Chicago Manufacturing Center
LEVEL: All levels welcome
This seminar is inteneded for participants who are interested in learning how to envision their future organization—from products, customers, markets and trading partners to suppliers and stakeholders—so that the organization succeeds according to the new triple bottom line. Learn how to assess the current state of your organization, and how to close the gap between the “here and now,” and the
future you envision.
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Wonderful. Thank you so much for the comment.