Here is a recent news release on an upcoming event from our Bexar Audubon Society featuring a panel discussion on vegetated/green roofs taking place on October 9th at Trinity University. Panelists include City Arborist Debbie Reid, Carol Fisher of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Sandra Lyda of Weston Solutions, and Stephen Colley of the Metropolitan Partnership for Energy and will share their perspective on the benefits of green/vegetated roofs.

BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY
DATE OF RELEASE: 21 September 2008
NEWS CONTENT:

Can San Antonio become a wonder of the world, ‘The Hanging Gardens of Bexar,’ like the famous gardens of ancient Babylon? Perhaps, but our city can certainly derive other benefits from vegetating its rooftops; and a panel of experts will discuss those possibilities at a San Antonio Environmental Network public issues forum at the next Bexar Audubon Society meeting.

That meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 9, in Trinity University’s Cowles Life Sciences Bldg., Rm. 149. Assembly is at 6:30 p.m., with announcements at 6:45 p.m., and program at 7 p.m.

A vegetated-roof is just what the name implies, a roof covered largely or entirely with plants. Such rooftops are a promising trend for residential, commercial, and public buildings, lowering heating/cooling costs, cutting the heat-island effect on urban weather, and offering cleaner air and habitat for birds and beneficial insects. Business can get increased customer traffic and more usable space (rooftop snack, boutiques, tourists, etc.) Our panel will include City Arborist Debbie Reid, Carol Fisher of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Sandra Lyda of Weston Solutions, and Stephen Colley of the Metropolitan Partnership for Energy. They will explain the design, history, and benefits of vegetated roofs.

To foster this emerging trend, Bexar Audubon is offering a cash prize for ‘Best Vegetated Roof’ finished in the year ending April 18, 2009. First prize: $2,000 for the building owner or renter who finances construction and $500 for the primary creator. Second prize: $1,000 and $250. (For more details, visit www.bexaraudubon.org/prize.html.)

The meeting is open to the public at no charge. Cowles Life Sciences Building is uphill from Laurie Auditorium near the library but may be hard to find for first-timers.

See http://www.bexaraudubon.org/calendar.html for a description and map, or call Patty at 824-1235 for directions. Parking is available at Laurie Auditorium and lots near Cowles.

For more on local conservation groups and events, visit http://www.bexaraudubon.org and http://www.sa-naturecenter.org.