Central Florida Future

Issue date: 1/29/07 Section: News

The sun is shining, the air is cool and there isn't a cloud in the sky. But next to the Student Union, the distinctive pitter-patter of rain can be heard; water splashes on the ground and what seems like rain falls from nowhere.

"Have you ever walked by the Student Union and wondered why it is raining only there and heard laughing in the distance?" asked Mike Hardin, a research associate for the Stormwater Management Academy at UCF.

Many students have experienced this, but may not know what causes it. The answer is green.

Sitting atop the Student Union is a garden of plants and shrubs, with an irrigation system that occasionally waters UCF students as well as the plants on the roof.

The International Builders' Show, a homebuilder's convention starting on February 7, will feature a home with a green roof like the Student Union's. The show is expected to draw about 100,000 visitors to tour the New American Home in downtown Orlando.

"The New American Home project is a 'real-world' laboratory demonstrating concepts, materials, designs and construction techniques that can be replicated - in whole or in part - in housing built any place and in any price range," stated the New American Home Web site.

According to Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, green roofs across the country experienced a 72 percent increase between 2004 and 2005. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is a nonprofit organization that hopes to increase awareness of the industry.

According to Hardin, who recently earned a graduate degree from UCF, the green roof on the student union is "growing really well" and greatly "benefits storm water management."

These benefits include improved water quality at UCF, an energy costs savings of 45 percent when the temperature is below 55 degrees and 18 percent otherwise. The green roof also eliminated the need for another bigger storm water pond to be built on campus.

"Conventional roofs on campus are re-roofed every 15 to 20 years, while the green roof is guaranteed for at least 50 years without needing replacement," said Martin Wanielista, director of the Stormwater Management Academy.

Currently, the arboretum staff and the Stormwater Management Academy maintain the Student Union roof.

According to Wanielista, there are future plans to cover more of the Student Union roof; a recent extension was built with a green roof in mind.

There are also plans on the table to cover the storm water labs near the campus observatory with a green roof.

Continued...

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