Our Greener Life

The idea of using living materials for a roof is not a new one. Applying it to modern buildings, however, is relatively new. How is the ancient art of a living roof compatible with modern building methods? And why would anyone choose a living roof for his or her home?

The Living Roof – What Is It?

A living roof, also known as a green roof, can be constructed on an existing roof or incorporated into a new structure. It can be used on commercial or private buildings. A corrugated, aluminum sheet is placed on the roof, followed by a waterproof membrane. Some builders will then apply a sheet of foam and another waterproof membrane. Drains are incorporated into the design.

Over all of the weatherproofing layers, about 4 inches of soil is placed and various greenery is planted. Many green roof builders like to focus on native plants for their rooftop “garden.”

So what are the main advantages and disadvantages of having a living roof? Read on to find out.

Advantages of a Living Roof

* Less Reflective Heat – The sunlight and heat that are reflected off of urban buildings’ roofs can greatly increase the temperature within a city. Green roofs eliminate the reflective factor, absorbing and utilizing the sun’s light.

* Insulation – Earth is a good insulator, and having four or more inches of it on your roof will keep your building cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

* Protection – The soil and plants on a living roof protect the roof structure beneath from the elements, thus preventing the wear and tear (and the subsequent leaks) that can result from exposure to the weather.

* Wildlife – Green roofs provide wildlife habitat, especially if native species are planted. Particularly in urban areas, living roofs can act as an oasis to wildlife.

* Clean air – Plants clean the air, soaking up carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen. The air around your structure will be cleaner as a result, and the more living roofs that are planted, the cleaner the air over a wider area.

* Absorption of rainwater – This helps control storm run-off, which can cause problems when it is excessive. It can also be a source of pollution.

Disadvantages of a Living Roof

* Initial expense – Living roofs can be expensive to construct. Some of the cost can be offset, though, in the savings on heating and cooling, or if you grow your own food on the living roof.

* Maintenance – Like a garden, a living roof will need some maintenance. It might need watering during a dry spell, or fertilizer may be necessary. Choosing native plant species will reduce the amount of maintenance.

* Weight – Soil is heavy, and some roof structures cannot support it.

Living roofs are beautiful, green structures that combine the necessities of building with the beauty of a garden.

Thanksgiving is nearly here, bringing with it lots of time spent in the kitchen cooking. Why not make your cooking more eco-friendly this year? “Green” cooking refers to more than the color of your foods. Truly green cooking covers your choice of foods and how they are prepared. Here are some ideas for greening your culinary efforts.

Cookware

1. Choose long-lasting materials to reduce waste, such as cast iron.

2. Buy used cookware at your local antique store, yard sale, or second-hand shop. Make sure, however, that pots and pans are not warped, as this can effect heat conduction.

3. Make sure you use a pot on the right-sized stove eye. Using too small a pot on a large burner (or vise versa) wastes heat and energy.

4. Choose utensils that are made from sustainable materials, like bamboo. Avoid plastic. Utensils and flatware are also plentiful at antique shops and yard sales.

5. Choose cookware made from metals that conduct heat well: copper, cast iron, aluminum (use anodized aluminum if you have health concerns).

6. Avoid Teflon and non-stick coated pans; toxic chemicals known as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are used in the coating.

7. Buy cookware with an eco-friendly, non-stick finish, such as enamelware, anodized aluminum, or by a new process known as nanotechnology. Also, seasoning your cast iron and cleaning it properly (no soap) will create a natural, non-stick finish.

8. Stainless steel is not a very good conductor of heat, but it is recyclable.

Energy Use

1. If possible, upgrade to a convection oven, which cooks food far faster than a conventional oven.

2. Use a pressure cooker to cut down on cooking time. Whole grains can be cooked in half the time, and meats can be cooked with the “all day tender” flavor and texture in under an hour.

3. Use a slow cooker on low for long-term cooking. It uses less energy than baking something in an oven for hours.

4. Cook outside. And while you are out there cooking, turn off the heat or air conditioning in the house!

5. Use residual heat. This works especially well for cooking greens and steaming vegetables. Cover the pot tightly, bring the water to a boil and then turn off the burner, leaving the pot on the burner. The vegetables will continue to cook with the residual heat.

6. Cover your pots and pans to lessen cooking time. This is especially true when boiling water.

Food

1. Buy local food. It takes less gas to get local food to the market, and such produce is not likely to be sprayed with preservatives or other chemicals applied for long transport.

2. Cut and chop foods into small pieces before cooking; they’ll cook a lot faster.

3. Cook foods simultaneously to cut down on the total time you are using your stove.

4. Limit the trips to the fridge. Think through what you need to get out of the refrigerator and get it in one trip. It’s worth it to hold the refrigerator a few minutes longer to get all that you need to prevent opening and closing the refrigerator door dozens of times.

5. Buy organic foods, which are better for the environment for so many reasons. Not only are organic foods free of synthetic agrichemicals, they are also a component of sustainable agriculture, assuring productive farms for the future.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Have you ever been enjoying the beauty of a landscape only to have your experience ruined by the sight of trash on the ground or in the water? Few things ruin the beauty of nature like improperly discarded plastic bags, bottles, paper, tires, and so forth. You may want to get active and help fix the problem, but it seems daunting and unpleasant. So why not host a trash pick-up party? You will elicit extra hands to help while visiting with friends and having fun.

What Is a Trash Pick-up Party?

Basically, what you are doing by hosting such a party is making something fun out of a necessary (if somewhat unpleasant) task. You are pitching in to help clean up the environment in general and your community in particular. Trash pick-up parties can foster a sense of community as everyone pitches in to take care of the area. Here are some ideas and tips for hosting your trash pick-up party.

1. The first step in hosting your party is to identify a specific spot you want to see cleaned up – a roadway median, creek, playground, neighborhood, etc. Then, check with local residents and authorities to make sure your target area is not someone’s private property or private governmental property.

Take the time to obtain permission from individuals or appropriate authorities if necessary. Very few people would protest about a free labor party cleaning up their property, but it is still a good idea to ask!

2. Organize everyone’s tasks. You can do this in a fun way – you could have everyone pick his or her task out of a hat (or used plastic bag!). Decide on what tasks need to be done beforehand so that everything runs smoothly. For example, you will need someone to bring large bags or containers to hold the trash, someone to drive to the recycling plant, someone else to go to the local dump, etc. Be sure to consolidate these errands as much as possible to save gas and keep emissions at a minimum.

It would be a good idea to section off the area, too, so that everyone is responsible for a certain spot. This will make things more efficient and easier.

3. Take care of your party “guests.” You’ll want to have snacks and drinks available in reusable containers. Contact everyone ahead of time and ask them to bring something, or provide refreshments yourself. You might even want to have a special cake with an environmental theme (green frosting!).

Be sure to tell the participants what they will need to wear, such as waders or boots if it is a creek clean-up, thick-soled boots for areas with broken glass and other sharp trash, and heavy work gloves for everyone.

4. Keep your party green by organizing a car pool for your guests, or co-ordinating with the local public transit schedule.

5. Recycle what you can of the waste. Some things will just have to be thrown out, but try to recycle as much of the trash you find as possible.

And finally, have everyone meet at a restaurant, coffee shop, or someone’s home afterward for fun and camaraderie!