Green Roofs Reducing the ecofootprint of Jackson Heightsand New York City

1
Green Roofs Reducing the eco-footprint of
Jackson Heightsand New York City

• By Theodore Lane (Queens College) -
• Nature in New York

2
NYC is an Urban Ecosystem

• A natural cycle were a part of it
• Our Ecological Foot Print shows
• We consume more than our share
• We create more waste than the system can handle
• We cannot go on like this

3
My Community-Jackson Heights, in the summer its
HOT!

• Roofs trap heat buildings stay warm all night
• Hot air encourages more ozone pollution,
  aggravates health problems
• More heat more air conditioning more
  electricity greater eco-footprint
• Demand for ethnic goods transported from far away
  greater eco-footprint

4
NYC -Combined Sewage Overflow System

• When it rains everything flows into one big
  pipe to the treatment plant
• Contaminated run off from roofs/streets enters
  the sewer system
• More electricity used by treatment plant
  overflow into nature greater eco-footprint

5
NYC We need more green

• We use a great deal of fossil fuels and release
  considerable heat waste
• More plants and trees would help a lot toward
  establishing sustainability and reducing
  eco-footprint
• Wheres the space for these plants and trees?

6
Think up, not down Green Roofs

• Absorb heat, keep the city cooler lower
  eco-footprint
• Slow runoff, hold the rainwater lower
  eco-footprint
• Take air pollution and creates cleaner air
  lower eco-footprint
• Space to grow ethnic produce here in NYC lower
  eco-footprint

7
Green Roofs theyre already here

• Rockefeller Center
• A garden in the middle of the city

8
The Queens Botanical Garden

• New Visitor/Administration Building opens Fall
  2006
• Shows that roof top garden are environmentally
  beneficial shows NYC is beginning to think
  ahead

9
Other Green Roofs in Queens

• Pratt Institute Center for Community and
  Environmental Development (PICCED)
• First industrial Green Roof in NYC (11,000 square
  feet)
• Potential green area in L.I.C. equals Prospect
  Parks Imagine what Jackson Heights could
  contribute

10
Historical Landmark District receptive to green
roofs?

• Area known for historical gardens but will green
  roofs be received well?
• Preservationist thinking of residents
• Co-op boards concerned about costs

11
Tell all the Neighbors

• Posters an ad blitz in the busy transit hubs
• Mock green roof in local park
• Volunteers to explain distribute literature
• On top of schools
• Show co-op boards how they will save
• Expand existing garden contests between
  buildings to include rooftops

12
Think Green (roofs)!

• Green Roofs Beautiful and bring balance to our
  Urban Ecosystemlets be part of the solution and
  stop being part of the problem