Enhances community well-being

Columbia Green offers two versions of its Advanced Vegetative Roof System (AVRS). The AVRS Tray System uses interlocking, overlapping modular trays that allow overfill so deeper growth medium can be added, up to 8" total depth. The trays also allow airflow to the tray bottoms to improve plant health and manage wind uplift. The company’s Multilayer system is engineered with a drainage layer and a water retention layer. Both of these products contain high amounts of recycled content; the trays and multilayered drainage layer are 88% and 40% post-consumer polypropylene, respectively, and the multilayered retention layer is 100% pre-consumer polypropylene. The growing media are chosen depending on project needs and plants can be regionally grown.

Sportworks offers a range of secure, space-efficient, and convenient steel bike racks. As is common in steel building products, the steel contains pre-consumer recycled content. Included in Sportworks offerings is an Living Building Challenge Red-List Free, scratch-resistant model with an EPDM bumper. Sportworks offers a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

The American Bird Conservancy developed BirdTape for preventing bird collisions with residential windows. Because birds cannot see plain glass, up to a billion birds die in window collisions each year, the majority on residential homes. BirdTape is designed to be visible to birds, while allowing light through a window. It is available 3/4" wide, for application in strips 2"-4" apart, and 3" wide to make squares 2"-4" apart. Easily applied and removed, BirdTape will last up to four years. BirdTape is relatively unobtrusive from a visual perspective, but it is affect the aesthetics of the window. It may be best in selective use on windows with known collision problems, especially during spring and fall when songbirds are migrating. BirdTape is made in the U.S.

GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, offers simplified green roof systems incorporating its DuraGrow drainage foundation and Start-Rite growing medium. DuraGrow does the work of four products, protecting the roofing membrane, retaining water for plants, draining excess water, and keeping the system from clogging. The growing medium incorporates organic fertilizers and is formulated based on climate. These products sit on GAF’s roofing membranes and are covered by the company’s warranty.

EarthSmart recycling containers are made of 95% recycled steel (75% post-consumer—not an uncommon figure) and 97% post-consumer high-density polyethylene—a strong showing. Available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors, the containers can be configured for specific recycling needs with up to eight separate openings. The steel side panels may be engraved to represent the materials accepted for recycling.

Colbond, which has more providing green roofing products for more than 25 years, now offers Enkamat root reinforcement, and EnkaRetain & Drain and Enkadrain for water retention and drainage. Enkamat anchors roots and holds growing medium, making it appropriate for sloped roofs or high-wind conditions, while Enkadrain is made from 40% pre-consumer recycled polypropylene and contains a waterproofing membrane. The company’s EnkaRetain & Drain has a water retention fabric that holds ten times its weight in water, according to the company, allowing excess to flow through. It is flexible—making it easier to shape—and it doesn’t require an aggregate drainage layer, reducing the load on the roof.

GSky offers two green wall systems: the Pro Wall and Basic Wall. The Pro Wall System uses a stainless steel frame and panels that incorporate a structural growth medium made from cocoa fibers. The plants are pre-grown to design specifications, monitored for temperature and moisture, and watered automatically using a drip irrigation system. GSky’s Basic Wall Container System is designed for larger walls and uses a stainless trellis and integrated 3’ x 5’ containers to support vines, which can be either pre-grown or allowed to grow naturally. GSky has warranties of ten years on the planters, five years on the irrigation system, and a “100% Plant Health Guarantee” when paired with the company’s maintenance contract.

Henry Company offers green roof systems ranging from extensive systems, for low-growing vegetation, to intensive systems, for deeper soil and larger plants and trees. These systems typically include a hot rubberized asphalt waterproof roofing layer, a roofing protection layer, a root blocking layer, a rigid polyisocyanurate insulation layer, a drain board and water retention layer, growing medium, and plants. The rubber waterproofing layer contains 48% recycled content (11% post-consumer and 37% pre-consumer), and the drain board and water retention layer, which aerates the soil while keeping it appropriately moist and draining overflow, is available with 57%–68% recycled content. Henry offers 10-, 15-, or 20-year single-source warranties covering the entire green roof assembly.

DeepRoot Tree Root Barriers redirect tree roots away from sidewalks, curbs, and other hardscapes, protecting them from damage and improving the health of trees planted in these areas. Made from polypropylene, they can be used on new or existing trees and in conjunction with the company’s Silva Cell, which is used to support tree health and improve stormwater runoff in urban environments by creating a protected growing space for tree roots.

Bike Arc offers modular bike racks from galvanized steel and polycarbonate sheeting. These racks come in a basic Rac Arc, a one-piece unit with a small footprint; Half Arc, similar to Rac Arc but with a protective shell; Umbrella Arc, which holds eight bicycles under a polycarbonate umbrella in a 24 ft2 area; Loop Arc, a two-piece unit that locks front and back wheels; and the Tube Arc, a modular structure that can be designed to provide an enclosed shelter for more than 60 bicycles. Bus Arc has bicycle storage, provides shelter, and comes with photovoltaic (PV) panels and inverters that provide power for bus patrons. Car Arc has an extended covered shelter and PV panels so it can provide covered parking and power for electric cars or bicycles. Note that polycarbonate contains bisphenol A, a suspected endocrine disruptor and aquatic toxin; we would like to see the product modified to avoid polycarbonate.

The Silva Cell system holds soil for tree growth and stormwater management in a structure strong enough to support paved surfaces. Growing trees in urban areas can reduce the heat island effect, replenishes oxygen, and connects us with the natural environment. Silva Cells support this by creating a space that holds ten cubic feet of soil, enough for tree roots and most utilities. With the proper drainage medium they can also manage stormwater runoff to reduce flooding and erosion. The 48” x 24” x 16” fiberglass and polypropylene cells have galvanized steel supports and, to provide additional space, can be stacked up to three cells high before the decking is attached. Silva Cell meets the American Association of State Highway and Transportation H-20 standards for highway loading, so it can be used under most paved surfaces, from parking lots to streetscapes. Though the company does not recommend these under roadways. For use with new trees only and may require root barrier.

Nashville Natives sells native Tennessee plants and seeds, including trees, shrubs, native grasses, wildflowers, ferns, vines, sedums, and succulents. The company also provides environmental restoration and management services such as exotic species control, custom planting, and protection of natural areas. Southeast Green Roofs, a division of Nashville Natives, has partnered with LiveRoof as a licensed grower for modular green roof systems in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. Because of the harsh growing environment on roofs, plants produced for their green roof systems are mostly non-native. However, they are unlikely to propagate beyond the roof media, according to the company.

E-Krete is a zero-VOC cementitious coating that seals and protects aging pavement surfaces without using petroleum-based products or solvents. Using a mix of cement, quartz aggregate, and a butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate-based latex adhesive, E-Krete flows into cracks and forms a 1/16" thick coating that bonds to asphalt, concrete, chip seal, and stone to protect the surface from weather and wear. According to the manufacturer, this polymer composite micro-overlay (PCMO) can be applied in multiple coats for additional durability and is not affected by UV, ice oxidation, oil, or diesel fuel. E-Krete has a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of about 40. This coating is available with added aggregate for extra friction, does not require milling, and cures in about two hours, depending on temperature. E-Krete has a ten-year limited warranty and is approved by the FAA, EPA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Chute Source makes recycling systems for high-rise buildings that eliminate the need for recycling bins on every level. Access panels on each floor connect to a 16-gauge aluminized steel vertical tube that empties into recycling bins or compactors. The Multichute unit uses one access door and three separate chutes—for trash; paper and cardboard; and bottles and cans—but separate chutes for brown, green, and clear glass are also available. The Single Chute model has an electronically controlled intake panel with buttons for various recycling and trash settings. The default is set to trash. Hydraulic cylinders with sorting flaps direct the contents of the chute into the chosen bin. For safety, only one access door can be opened at a time and the system can be locked down during bin replacement. Automatic sprinklers are located at the top intake and on alternating floors, and there is a fire damper at discharge.

ZinCo offers a variety of green roof systems, ranging from simple “extensive” systems with low-growing vegetation to complex “intensive” systems that incorporate large plants, trees, or structures such as walkways. Though the systems will differ depending on plant type and load capacity, these green roofs consist of a root barrier, protection mat, drainage layer, filter sheet, engineered growing medium, and plants. The plastic used for root barriers and drainage are made from 100% recycled content (50/50 pre- and post-consumer polyethylene). The company’s Floradrain is an underground channel system that drains away excess water. These channels protect the plants from rot and drought while also aerating the plant layer.