THE BRONX MAKES ENTIRE CITY GREEN WITH ENVY

 

(L-R)  Timothy S. Carey, President & CEO of the New York Power Authority,

Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión,  Barry Salman, Administrative Judge,

Civil Division of the Bronx  12th Judicial District, Kate Shackford of Bronx Initiative for Energy and the Enviroment (BIEE), Ray Saleberrios, President of BOEDC, and Miquela Craytor of BIEE

 

Bronx, NY – Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión Jr., and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) unveiled the new “green roof” on the Bronx County Courthouse building today.  The Bronx is now considered to be the greenest of New York City’s five boroughs! 

 

This new roof will be the first of its kind in the Bronx and only the second municipal building in the city to utilize this technology. These structures referred to as “meadows on rooftops”, help reduce the urban heat island effect by filtering and lowering air temperature, capturing storm water which otherwise pushes pollutants into the waterways, and reducing energy costs for heating and air conditioning.  Green roofs require very little maintenance and typically more than double the life of a roof.

 

 “I am  extrememly excited that my office was able to provide this green roof as a gift to New York City. The new roof will reduce air pollution and  save energy; this will certainly make the rest of the city green with envy,  and I hope that this project will inspire  other buildings to follow our lead,”  said Carrion.

 

President Carey, who spearheaded development of “green” sustainable buildings as head of the Battery Park City Authority from May 1999 to September 2005, noted that the Power Authority donated some $7 million to the BIEE several years ago for enhancing air quality and the borough’s overall environment. “These efforts underscore the enlightened, environmentally pragmatic policies Governor Pataki has pursued for New York State,” Carey said.

 

“In addition to their obvious aesthetic appeal, modern green roofs provide savings on heating and cooling costs, not to mention environmental benefits such as absorbing airborne pollutants and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Timothy S. Carey, president and chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority. “These and other benefits are the reason that Governor Pataki has given his strongest support for their development. We’re gratified to be contributing to these efforts with our funding of the Bronx Initiative for Energy and the Environment (BIEE) and the various green roofs it is undertaking.”

 

This is also the first green roof on a building managed by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), which manages 53 public buildings in the City.

“We are proud to have supported the addition of this innovative feature atop one of the Bronx’s distinctive public buildings,” said DCAS Commissioner Martha K. Hirst. “This green roof will benefit our tenants and the City by showing how such projects can reduce energy costs while protecting the environment.

 

The Bronx  is now leading the city and has been placed on the map as the primer green roof borough. With over six green roofs planted and eight more on the way,  the borough continues to do its share to promote alternative technologies that benefit the environment, economy and our communities. 

 

The roof is one of 14 green roofs funded through the Borough President’s Bronx Initiative for Energy and the Environment. The roof was designed by Green Roof Service, LLC, and installed by Tecta America’s J.P. Patti and Magco, Inc., divisions, who are located in nearby Saddle Brook, NJ, and Jessup, MD, respectively.  Magco, Inc., will continue to monitor the green roof to maintain a healthy system, and Green Roof Service will conduct a two-year scientific monitoring of the roof to measure stormwater retention and temperature. 

 

“It’s a tremendous honor and opportunity, to be involved in such a forward-thinking initiative as this, and we are delighted to be a part of this exciting green roof installation,” said Magco Inc. President Mark Gaulin, who is also President of the National Roofing Contractor’s Association.

 

Barry Salman, Administrative Judge, Civil Division of the Bronx  12th Judicial District and Timothy S. Carey, President & CEO of the New York Power Authority  also joined Borough President Carrión.