Exteriors: Green Roof in Bloom
[nggallery id=”24980″ template=galleryview] Last year, a Park Slope couple sent us the skinny on the green roof they’d installed. They’d found the design firm, Prospect Architecture, through our very own forum, who created a green roof, photovoltaic array (solar power) and roof deck, making it feel like “a small meadow.” Here’s the update from the…
[nggallery id=”24980″ template=galleryview]
Last year, a Park Slope couple sent us the skinny on the green roof they’d installed. They’d found the design firm, Prospect Architecture, through our very own forum, who created a green roof, photovoltaic array (solar power) and roof deck, making it feel like “a small meadow.” Here’s the update from the architects: “We (and the clients) were thrilled by how well the plants have grown and filled in the space. The garden has required little to no maintenance. The most exciting part has been that the solar panels have provided for about 60% of the clients’ energy needs!”
Here are energy use numbers before and after solar installation:
– 2007 6/11-7/12 2081 kwh (before solar installation)
– 2008 6/10-7/10 958 kwh (after solar installation)
Those $100 ConEd bills are only going to go up up up. I think you will see an ROI long before the 22nd century.
TownhouseLady,
Sometimes the return is not simply monetary. We’re pursuing a green roof on our home in Red Hook, and partly this is to help with insulation issues as it should keep the top floor, which is open plan with a pitched ceiling and no crawl space, cooler in summer and warmer in winter. But partly we are doing it to help with storm water run off issues and air quality in the neighborhood. These last two are more good for the community in general (of which we are of course a part) than our pockets.
Lastly the two quotes we’ve gotten were no where near as expensive as this project, though we’re pursuing something much simpler.
Ugh that not good news. I would love to do something like this but only if I see R.O.I.
If there’s no return then as far as I’m concerned it’s just creating more waste which defeats the whole idea of “green”.
THL –
The post from last year …about the cost? A little over $200 a square foot. So if the roof is 750 sf (likley bigger guessing from pics) they spent over $150k… and they reduced about 1000 kwh comparing a month in 08 to 07, i’m figuring they saving $100 per month on con ed bills and will break even some time in the 22nd century.
OK, to be fair that cost was including demo, structural enhancement, new stairs and bulkhead … a lot more than the solar panels cost. I’m all for green and it is fabulous, but safe to say not a break even any time soon.
This may make me recant all my comments about green-wash.
ROI probably didn’t figure into the equation, it’s probably 40 years or more; this was obviously very expensive, but the result is fabulous, I covet it!
Fabulous.
Curious though, now that they know how much they are saving on energy when can they expect to break even on the cost?
A green roof using brazilian ipe? There’s an oxymoron.
That said, looks like a lovely retreat.
Pretty great. I’d love to see what it looks like from the street.
Brilliant. On every level. Bravo!