Though Minnetrista has the honor of building the first green roof in Muncie, Ball Memorial Hospital (BMH) plans to up the ante by building the largest green roof in Indiana. Having lived in the Chicago area during the previous decade, we watched with interest as Mayor Daley began his green roof initiative and spurred the adoption of green roofs all over the city. Studies have shown that green roofs can result in the following benefits:
- 25% reduction in summer cooling needs
- 95% reduction in summer heat gains
- 26% reduction in heat loss during winter
- Significant reduction in sound levels inside the building
- Moderation of heat island effect
Not to mention that they offset tons of carbon dioxide.
BMH's roof will be 23,000 square feet, and I'm sure their heating and cooling bills will soon start to make the investment pay off. BMH has estimated that they will save about $50,000 annually by reducing energy usage and by slowing roof repairs. (Green Roofs help roofs last longer.)
Chicago Green Roof Image via Inhabitat
Comments