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Abstract
Low-income neighborhoods suffer disproportionately from environmental degradation. They are burdened with polluting land uses, poor air quality, health problems, and lack of green space. Adding vegetation in these areas is critical, but potential urban parkland is often lost to housing, industrial, and commercial develop-ment. As the American green roof industry grows,advocates must consider where, and for whom, green roofs are built, as well as what impact they will have. Many green building technologies are first adopted by wealthy communities; but if green roofs are to fulfill their promise, low income, minority, and at-risk communities, must also reap the economic and health benefits. Earth Pledge, a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit, created the Viridian Project to help affordable and supportive housing developers construct green roofs as a way to address environmental equity issues and build the capacity of local green roof professionals. This paper examines the development of Viridian since 2002, and presents a model for facilitating green roof construction for populations who most need them. Case studies of completed and ongoing projects in New York City are resented alongside key lessons and recommend-ations for expansion of the Viridian model nationwide.
Low-income neighborhoods suffer disproportionately from environmental degradation. They are burdened with polluting land uses, poor air quality, health problems, and lack of green space. Adding vegetation in these areas is critical, but potential urban parkland is often lost to housing, industrial, and commercial develop-ment. As the American green roof industry grows,advocates must consider where, and for whom, green roofs are built, as well as what impact they will have. Many green building technologies are first adopted by wealthy communities; but if green roofs are to fulfill their promise, low income, minority, and at-risk communities, must also reap the economic and health benefits. Earth Pledge, a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit, created the Viridian Project to help affordable and supportive housing developers construct green roofs as a way to address environmental equity issues and build the capacity of local green roof professionals. This paper examines the development of Viridian since 2002, and presents a model for facilitating green roof construction for populations who most need them. Case studies of completed and ongoing projects in New York City are resented alongside key lessons and recommend-ations for expansion of the Viridian model nationwide.
Date
5/2005
5/2005
Author(s)
Colin Cheney
Colin Cheney
Page(s)
Keyword(s)
green roof; affordable; Viridian project; New York City; low income
green roof; affordable; Viridian project; New York City; low income