Title: Lowell Green Roof Project
Description: The Lowell Green Roof Project will focus on educating commercial builders and building owners about green roofs, or roof gardens, and encouraging them to incorporate them into their buildings. As a green roof is initially more costly than a traditional roof, the project also seeks to educate banks on their benefits and encourage them to fund their construction since they provide long-term and short-term benefits that are cost effective.
During large storm events, this project will be a benefit to our area, as it will help reduce combined sewer overflows in the Merrimack River by retaining the stormwater that travels from impervious surfaces all over the watershed and empties into the river through storm drains and combined sewer overflow systems. The green roof, which is a type of low impact development (LID), will be a benefit to the community as it will make water control easier and the greenery will be open for viewing to the public.
Implementing green roofs in Lowell would in turn:
• Increase groundwater infiltration and stream base flow
• Reduce runoff and peak flow rates
• Improve water quality through infiltration and increased detention times
• Reduce non-point source pollution (NPS)
• Decrease combined sewer overflows by reducing storm water runoff
• Reduce flooding and flood hazards
• Improve community aesthetics by removing unsightly detention ponds
Objectives and goals: Green roof advocacy and education (e.g. builders and financiers).
Justification: This project is a form of advocacy for the sustainability of the watershed.
Cost: $37,000 (budgeted and available)
Funding Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
Required Resources: Building where a green roof is being built (or planned to be built), whose owners would partner with MRWC.
Start/completion date, anticipated duration: 2005-2011
Milestones:
Deliverables: Green roof and low impact development conference
Internal Approvals Needed:
Status: Funding has been received, but the project is temporarily on hold until construction of a green roof begins. |
