This book studies the application of green roofs in ecoregions of the western United States and Canada. While green roofs were intended to sustain local or regional vegetation, this volume describes how green roofs in their modern form are typically planted with a low-diversity mix of sedums from Europe or Asia. The authors demonstrate how in the western USA and Canada many green roofs have been designed with native plants and have been found to thrive. Part I of this book covers theory and an overview of ecoregions and their implications for green roofs. In Part II vegetation from prairies, deserts, montane meadows, coastal meadows, and scrub and sub-alpine habitats are explored on seventy-three ecoregional green roofs. Case studies explore design concepts, materials, watering and maintenance, wildlife, plant species, and lessons learned. Part II covers an overview of ecoregional green roofs and a future outlook. This book is aimed at professionals, designers, researchers, students and educators with an interest in green roofs and the preservation of biodiversity.

Autorentext
Bruce Dvorak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning at Texas A&M University, USA. He is co-founder of an Interdisciplinary Green Roof Research Group that focuses on exploring the possibilities for low-input green roofs for central Texas through quantitative research.

Inhalt

Part I Background and Theory

1. Introduction

1.1 Origins of naturalized vegetation and green roofs

1.3 The growth of the green roof industry in North America

1.3 Green roof design versus reality

11.3.1 Chicago City Hall 11.3.2 Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

11.3.3 Texas A&M University

1.4 The 100th meridian

2. Green roof design in response to climate and ecoregion

2.1 Ecoregion, climate and microclimate

2.2 Substrates for ecoregional green roofs

2.3 Water for ecoregional green roofs

2.4 Designing and managing ecoregional green roofs for aesthetics and biodiversity

2.5 Ecoregions of the Western United States

Part II Application: Ecoregional Green Roof Case Studies

Overview

3. Prairie Ecoregions

3.1 Ecoregion characteristics

3.1.1 Konza Prairie (tall-mixed grass)

3.1.2 Nachussa Grasslands (tallgrass)

3.1.3 Fort Worth prairie (mixed-grass)

3.2 Research in the ecoregion

3.2.1 Texas A&M University 3.2.2 University of Nebraska

3.3.3 Kansas State University

3.3 Pioneers Park Nature Center, Lincoln, Nebraska

3.4 Larson Building Green Roof, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

3.5 Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas

3.6 Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building, San Antonio, Texas

3.7 University of Texas at Austin's Dell Medical School, Austin, Texas

3.8 John Gaines Park Mueller Development, Austin, Texas

3.9 Camp Young Judaea's Experiential Learning Center, Wimberley, TX

3.10 Perot Nature Center, Dallas, Texas

3.11 Dallas Homeless Assistance Center, Dallas, Texas

3.12 BRIT, Fort Worth, Texas

3.13 Kansas City Public Library

3.14 TWA headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri

3.15 Plants for the prairie ecoregion

4. Shortgrass Prairie Ecoregions

4.1 Ecoregion characteristics

4.1.1 Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge 4.1.2 Pawnee National Grassland

4.2 Research in the ecoregion

4.2.1 Colorado State University

4.3 Denver Botanical Gardens

4.4 Denver Botanic Gardens' Mordecai Children's Garden

4.5 Denver Museum of Contemporary Art

4.6 REI, Denver, Colorado

4.7 Community College of Denver

4.8 Anderman Green Roof

4.9 Denver Belcaro residence

4.10 Andy Creath Geneva - Boulder

4.11 Bonnie Brae Denver Green Roof and Deck 4.12 Denver Rooftop Garden &lt...