November 2014 25
need some basic maintenance. Landscape contractors can be advocates
for maintaining green roofs."
There is a lot to learn for landscapers interested in getting into the
green roof business. Steve Maria recommends checking out green roof
conferences and seminars as well as read-
ing relevant publications. Green Roofs for
Healthy Cities offers a Green Roof Profes-
sional (GRP) accreditation.
As for getting the business? "Find out
which systems are getting installed in your
area, connect with the designers, and contact
the manufacturers. Find out what it takes to
become an approved contractor," says Ma-
ria. "Network with regional green roof sup-
pliers and plant growers. They know the lo-
cal market."
MacDonagh has another piece of advice:
"Put a green roof on your own facility.
You will learn so much about the installation
process and maintenance from even a small
green roof. Owning and maintaining your
own green roof will also demonstrate your
commitment."
David Aquilina, Strategic Storyteller, is
a communications consultant and freelance
writer in Minneapolis. He can be reached at
davida@strategicstoryteller.com .
I n f o r m a t i o n R e q u e s t # 6 0 7
On top of the Campus Center building at San Diego County's operations center,
ValleyCrest Landscape Companies installed 7,346 square feet of LiveRoof® Hybrid
Green Roof System, which consists of pre-vegetated modules. The standard depth
of the growing medium was 4.25 inches. In the modules, Native Sons Wholesale
Nursery Inc. of Arroyo Grande, Calif., planted a blend of two multi-variety Sedum-
based plant mixes, accented with a non-invasive, warm-season grass.
Credit: liverooF, llC
Rooftop Green Works also installed this
6,000-square-foot green roof, Indianapolis's fourth
largest, which sits atop WFYI's television and radio
station headquarters. One of the advantages of the
roof is sound insulation courtesy of the tall plant
canopy provided by the selection of meadow plants;
some as tall as four feet high. They include daylilies,
echinacea, cosmos, and catmint planted in a 5-inch-
deep growing media. Additionally, the green roof
has helped reduce the urban heat island effect and
mitigate stormwater runoff.
Credit: o mni eCosystems
DBM
LC