WHY? Green Roof Technology…the Benefits:

Green buildings and green roofs are increasingly being looked at as ways to mitigate the threats and concerns surrounding climate change, water quality and the expanding gap that exists in energy supply and demand. The application of a green roof can help to reduce energy costs related to heating and cooling through their insulating effects, providing the building owner with year round energy savings. Green roofs that are combined with solar panels have also been shown to produce even greater energy benefits due to increased panel efficacy that help contribute to lower a building’s overall energy consumption and environmental footprint.

The buildup of greenhouse gases (GHG) which include: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), and Nitrous Oxide (N2O), can cause the earth’s temperature to increase. This occurs when such gases become trapped and buildup within the atmosphere, creating an insulating effect on the earth. These warming effects can be heightened within urban areas, due to dense populations and increased emissions of fossil fuels, most commonly stemming from CO2. Without human influence, Carbon dioxide levels naturally fluctuate with seasonal changes. In the northern hemisphere, during spring and summer month’s plants intake CO2, removing excess amounts of it from the atmosphere produced by human-caused actions. In the fall and winter months plants release this CO2 back into the atmosphere. Green roofs are beneficial in urban areas and help mitigate urban heat island affect because of the plants natural ability to absorb pollutants; such as GHG, and they intake carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a process known as carbon sequestration.

The concept of urban heat island effect is gaining more attention throughout the U.S. and as a result there is more pressure to more directly address this issue and mitigate its effects. Generally, urban heat island describes a buildup of atmospheric gases, usually in a metropolitan area, that is hotter than the surrounding rural areas. This occurrence can affect communities and cities by increasing energy demands in summer months: increasing air conditioning costs, and heightening the occurrence of heat-related illness and fatalities. Green roofs can play an integral role in mitigating those negative effects through the ability to lessen the amount of gases that warm the atmosphere and therefore cool the surrounding environment.

Private Developers and Design Professionals:

Developers and design professionals are also increasingly looking to green roofs for the benefits they provide as a way to create more sustainable green buildings, with lower carbon footprints and a greater ability to manage stormwater runoff. These benefits also extend to the building owner through increased building aesthetics and a potentially higher LEED Certification rating. The application of a green roof helps to contribute from 6 to 14 LEED points for sustainable building structures, while buildings with white membranes alone, qualify for only 1 to 2 LEED points. Buildings with green roofs also help to extend the life of the roofing membrane; up to 2 times in many cases. This lowers replacement and repair cost to a building owner, thus reducing direct capital investments.

• Sustainable Sites – SSc5.2  Maximize Open Space
• Sustainable Sites – SSc6.1  Stormwater Quantity
• Sustainable Sites – SSc6.2  Stormwater Quality
• Sustainable Sites – Urban Heat Island Mitigation, Roof
• Water Efficiency – Wec1  Water Efficient Landscaping

The green roof industry is continually growing and further benefits continue to develop as groups within the green building community push the envelope as to what this technology can provide.

Green Jobs and Government Support:

Growing interest and acceptance of green building solutions, such as green roofs, along with increasing popularity in the green building sector will help boost the economy and the construction market, which has seen a decrease in past years. The green building market is projected to grow dramatically in the next 5 to 10 years, both in the United States and globally. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently cites green roofs as one of the strategies that can be taken to help combat these issues. The EPA shows the growing support from government groups to promote green roofs and other sustainable industries.

Green roofs are also seeing support from governments across the globe. Governments worldwide have begun to adopt strategies of incentivizing green initiatives and enforcing minimum standards that support the development of green buildings. Some incentives available for installing a green roof system include: tax incentives, zoning expansions and direct public utility rebates/monthly billing reductions.

Columbia Green and Green Roofs – “Blue is the New Green”:

The potentially largest impact that green roofs have is on stormwater management. Continued expansion of urban development throughout the world results in increased amounts of impervious surfaces. These impervious surfaces decrease both infiltration and evaporative water loss from soils and plant surfaces (evapotranspiration – Et) due to the removal of native vegetation and natural ecosystems. In addition, pollutants deposited on these surfaces are transported into our surface waters; further degrading water quality and surrounding natural habitats. Columbia Green’s products help filter and clean the water as it makes its way to aquatic environments while also creating more energy efficient and sustainable buildings.

Columbia Green is an American made product that supports local economies and helps to ensure U.S. jobs. Columbia Green recognizes that now and in the future water will play a dramatic role in the way we live our lives and therefore we strive to be on the forefront of helping to develop effective ways to address new and arising challenges.

Columbia Green entered the green roof market by recognizing that the current available product was failing to most effectively and efficiently supply a green roof system that managed stormwater runoff. Our team has gained experience through past lessons learned in developing a system that provides a green roof that is easy to install, uniquely designed, horticulturally correct, aesthetically pleasing and that dynamically manages stormwater runoff.

The green roof products provided by Columbia Green were developed by roofers and environmental engineers, for both new and existing structures, to meet stringent roofing requirements while providing a high degree of environmental benefits. Our turnkey solutions meet or exceed the current guidelines for green roofs. Along with easy, low cost installation and maintenance, Columbia Green’s Advanced Vegetated Roof System (AVRS®) is the market’s best choice.

Columbia Green’s AVRS® Tray and Multi-layer systems are engineered to more efficiently manage and meter stormwater runoff. The system was devised to slow the flow of water coming off of roof surfaces, which reduces the likelihood of combined sewer overflows (CSO’s). Our systems can detain up to 70% of the water that hits the roof surface. However, the benefits of a green roof reach far beyond these attributes; as previously aforementioned.

A unique feature that Columbia Green offers is a hybrid system that incorporates both systems into your roof design – eliminating the need to have to choose between systems while still allowing for the ability to create a dynamic green roof and addressing the highest concerns in regards to viability and stormwater management.

Environmental Features and Benefits of AVRS®:

• Used as a stormwater management Best Management Practice (BMP) for Low Impact Development (LID) applications. Detains peak flows to reduce stream erosion or combined sewer overflows (CSO’s). Also retains stormwater
for evapotranspiration to reduce the volume of runoff.
• Acts as a thermal blanket to the building’s roof making solar, heating and
air conditioners more efficient, resulting in as much as 20% energy cost 
savings.
• Shades the roof and helps decrease ambient air temperature reducing the
overall urban heat island effect in cities.
• Remediation of contaminated rain water and air pollution is accomplished through growing media, plant material and our specifically designed AVRS® components.
• City noises are attenuated by the aggregate addition of AVRS®
• Protects the roof from UV radiation, freeze-thaw cycling, heat stress, wind damage, and temperature
fluctuations. This reduces maintenance costs while extending the life of the roof (2.5 times is achievable), which increases property value.
• Enhances the visual experience of medical, hospitality, and recreation facilities for clients, employees, and visitors alike.

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Meet The CEO

Vanessa Keitges, President & CEO

Vanessa has a dynamic 9-year global career reflecting optimal performance in the public and private sector in the area of business development, marketing and sales. Vanessa has served in numerous executive positions in business development roles, where she has managed rapid growth; both domestically and internationally. She has been responsible for triple digit increase within the companies she has worked for where she has played a leading role in the sales groups.

Vanessa is currently President & CEO of Columbia Green, whose core technologies in eco-roofs are based on sustainable functions that help manage the quality and quantity of storm water, energy use, as well as air and water pollution. Vanessa purchased the company along with local investors in 2009 and Columbia Green is currently experiencing significant growth under her leadership.

Ms. Keitges graduated from Oregon State University earning a B.A. in Philosophy. Her personal interests include: riding horses, traveling and meeting new people. She has an affinity toward kids and animals and sits on the Oregon Zoo Wild Life Board. Her true passion is helping others within her community.