by Shane Henson — July 10, 2013—GreenFeathers, the Pacific Northwest regional distributor of the LiveRoof brand of green roof systems, recently put the finishing touches on a green roof it was contracted to install for a maintenance facility built for Seattle’s second new streetcar line, First Hill. The newly constructed maintenance and operations facility will house operations personnel and will serve to store and maintain the streetcars.
Green roofs, or vegetation on roofs, offer many benefits, including beautification, water management, air purification, and an increase in energy efficiency. The new green roof atop the 10,000-square-foot facility is planted with sedums. According to GreenFeathers, these drought-tolerant plants require little care, thrive in full sun with good drainage, and suppress weeds. This green roof is just one of the features of this building to certify it under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
Jenny Ruthven, sales representative at GreenFeathers, notes that while people will be going about their business using the new public transportation system, the living roof system will be quietly and constantly working above to provide ongoing benefits. “Green roofs help reduce urban temperature, noise pollution, minimize water runoff, and provide wildlife habit to birds and bees. These systems can be sustained for decades,” says Ruthven.
Indeed, according to Terrance Plumb, senior project manager with the Seattle Department of Transportation, the green roof is expected to last two to three times as long as a traditional tar or rubber roof.
For more information on the facility, see its YouTube video.
