Urban Green
President Lyndon Johnson presided over a tumultuous period in US history. Protests over the War in Vietnam divided the country. And Johnson’s bull in the china shop personality didn’t exactly endear him to the American people. Mrs. Johnson on the other hand, left behind a legacy of natural beauty that will last for generations.
Lady Bird Johnson spearheaded numerous efforts to create and maintain nature preserves alongside American highways. The former first lady would have admired the trend of recapturing green space in our towns and cities, most noticeably through sod roofs.
City Hall
The city of Chicago has saved about $25,000 in energy costs since installing a 20,000 square foot sod roof on top of City Hall five years ago. The Windy City is also home to a Center for Green Technology, the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and the Chicago Climate Futures Exchange (CCFE).
Hospitals
The Ronald McDonald House of Austin, Texas recently received the highest level of certification from the United States Green Building Council. It has a sod roof which mitigates the “heat sink” effect and provides a quiet area for outside seating. And the building’s solar panels produce enough electricity for half of the 30 rooms.
Most hospitals use a central air conditioning system which re-circulates the same air throughout the entire structure. This poses problems for a building full of sick people. In the Austin Ronald McDonald House however, each room has its own ventilation system, so indoor air stays fresh.
Universities
Kansas University decided to preserve precious above ground campus real estate by building their new athletic facility into the side of Campanile Hill. The roof of this 80,000 square foot structure blends comfortably in with the surroundings and students can still catch a nap on the grassy hillside.
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