Frontlines – Finding Green Advice
Consulting company Sustainable Research Group hopes to help others focus on sustainability.
special to green@work
Many observers have said that a new economy has begun to emerge with a new breed of business to drive it—firms whose value is based on their intellectual capital and their keen sensitivity to the newest opportunities and trends. Companies and government policymakers at all levels are seeking the assistance of firms that can help them take their next step in the sustainability revolution.Sustainable Research Group, LLC, a company dedicated to identifying, documenting and improving business performance based on environmentally healthy and socially responsible principles, is one organization committed to helping others embrace today’s focus on sustainability. SRG provides consultation on everything from waste stream analysis and end-of-life product impact, and has recently focused on ensuring office furniture meets sustainability guidelines.SRG was integral to the development of one of the first applications of a sustainable product standard for the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association.
As the project manager and lead technical resource for the process, SRG helped BIFMA develop North America’s first industry-wide sustainability guidelines in 2004. Two years later, SRG became responsible for overseeing the organization and development of the complete product sustainability standard.
A Logical Step Toward Sustainability
by Lisa Laitinen
SERA Architects in Portland, Ore., is an example of a company that not only emphasizes sustainability— it won’t settle for anything less.
SERA Architects Inc. has been located in Portland, Ore., since 1968 and has had a major impact on turning downtown Portland into a center of urban livability and environmental responsibility. The architects and planners at SERA took on sustainable practices, such as urban redevelopment and revitalization of historic buildings, long before the term “sustainability” was even conceived. However, in the last 10 years, sustainability has become the firm’s guiding principle into the future, and it has worked hard to bring on board designers who understand sustainability as a unifying design philosophy.
Today, as a 100-percent-employee-owned company, SERA’s leadership within national organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Oregon Natural Step Network and the AIA Committee on the Environment help provide it with state-of-the-art knowledge of sustainable-design approaches to create energy- and resource-efficient buildings and communities.
Installing a Green Roof: A How-to
When planning for a green roof, a number of decisions, processes and initial costs must be considered.
Before the green roof installation can begin, a licensed structural engineer or architect should be hired to determine what, if any, upgrades need to be made to the existing roof. Due to the weight of green roofs, some buildings cannot initially support them. Consultants will determine the weight capacity of the building, type of roof membrane, current condition of the roof, height above ground, roof slope and orientation, water supply, and accessibility for installation and maintenance. Additionally, the consultants will determine what irrigation and drainage systems are needed.
Overall, the initial cost of installing a green roof usually includes consultant fees; irrigation and drainage systems; garden materials; plants; and maintenance, transportation and city permits. The average cost varies because of the different green roof options. The weight load of the building and the plantings desired will determine which type of green roof is necessary. The options include either an extensive or intensive green roof. The main differences between these two types of green roofs are the growing media depth and organic contents—which in turn affects the cost and planting options.
