by Brianna Crandall — August 12, 2016 — A new Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) elementary school received LEED Gold certification, while a revitalized MCPS high school is among the school district’s 12 buildings queued up for LEED certification in the coming months. Both schools are being constructed with a LiveRoof brand green roof system to filter stormwater runoff and extend the useful life of the roofing system.
The Wilson Wims Elementary School in Clarksburg, Maryland, opened for the 2014-2015 school year and was designed by architects Grimm & Parker to be a model for “green schools.” The school was awarded LEED Gold certification in February 2015. Constructed by Hess Construction, the school’s environmental and sustainability features include daylighting in learning spaces, biofilters and rain gardens, a living roof, geothermal heating and cooling, sustainably forested wood, regional and recycled materials, and significant water savings. The 38,000 square-foot vegetative roof was installed by Interstate Corporation.
Wilson Wims Elementary School’s 38,000-square-foot vegetative roof helped it earn LEED Gold certification.
When Oak Construction completes a remodel of Wheaton High School in 2016, the school will also offer green school features while providing learning space for 250 additional students through its four academy programs. The new green roof at Wheaton High School, located in Silver Spring, was installed last December. At 105,000 square feet, this single installation is one of the two largest green roofs installed by the district to date.
Montgomery County Public Schools, the largest school district in Maryland and 17th largest in the nation, is seeking LEED certification for its new and remodeled school facilities. LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — is a national green building standard developed in the U.S. Green Building Council. MCPS has 21 schools certified as Gold, and one school certified as Silver.
Jim Snyder, CEO, Riverbend Nursery, the LiveRoof licensed grower that supplies planted roofs to the school district, commented:
The Montgomery County Public Schools needs green roofs that arrive pre-planted, fully functional, and therefore easy to maintain. The green roofs we supply to the school district are fully mature at the time of installation for an instant, meadow-like rooftop garden.
We use care to select plants that are effective at withstanding periods of drought, while also absorbing ample rainwater when it does fall. Not only is the rooftop garden an environmental asset, just as importantly it provides opportunities for students to observe and learn about the importance of environmental stewardship.
LiveRoof says green roofs provide significant environmental benefits; they:
- Improve air filtration; one square foot of green roof foliage can filter seven ounces of dust and smog per year. Plant photosynthesis also reduces greenhouse gases in the air.
- Lower interior sound levels by as much as 40 decibels.
- Reduce energy costs; offer improved thermal insulation and reduced heat island effect, providing heating and cooling savings.
- Reduce stormwater runoff by 65-90 percent in the summer and 25-40 percent during winter months.
- Increase roof life; soil and plants provide a protective barrier reducing exposure to ultraviolet rays and extreme temperatures, along with a waterproof roof lining, to extend roof life by as much as 200-300 percent, or 40-50 years.
- Provide natural beauty; rooftop gardens provide a verdant, living space and habitable space when patios, walkways and seating are included in the garden design.
- Provide financial benefits gleaned from energy conservation, and conservation of municipal sewer systems.
MCPS has formal agreements with Montgomery County regarding stormwater management roles and responsibilities. The county encourages green roofs on their Web site, stating, “The most important reason to install a green roof may be that you are doing your part to help the environment and protect your local streams and the Chesapeake Bay.”
