More on ‘green’ roofs

I read Becky Kramer’s article titled “Roof In The Rough” in the July 9 Spokesman-Review with interest. With the renewed focus on “building green,” LEED, and sustainability, soil and plantings on roofs is becoming an energy-conserving and sustainable building option again.

I remember the early 1980s when “earth sheltering” for housing and buildings became popular due to rising energy costs, and how much interest there was in this concept. There was so much interest, and so many people coming to our offices to talk about using prestressed concrete elements for their roofs at that time that we held weekly seminars on how-to-build in this manner for many months.

Over 100 “earth sheltered” houses came about from those seminars, and in the ensuing years I’d estimate we have been involved in several hundred more structures with soil and plantings on their roofs. The feedback we have gotten from people who have built this type roof has been that there has been significant energy savings, as well as an added benefit – the quietness of the building.

If any of your readers want to read more on the subject, Edward Mazria, AIA, has several good publications written talking about “green” roofs and sustainability.

Chuck Prussack

Vice president and general manager,

Central Pre-Mix Prestress Co.

Spokane