 Rooftop Gardens Uplift Squalid Palestinian Camps
Al-Monitor, by Dalia Hatuga
Middle East. “An initiative to grow rooftop gardens in overcrowded, crammed camps is providing some economic relief for Palestinian refugees...The idea of rooftop gardening started with Karama, a camp-based non-governmental organization that focuses on women and youth. So far, 15 homes in Dheisheh and one in the nearby Aida camp have been fitted with these gardens — simple fixtures made out of rows of open pipes filled with soil, fitted with an irrigation system and covered by a large net to provide some shade to the plants..." [1.4.13]
 Landscape visitor centre with green roof and straw walls promises to cut energy costs
Horticulture Week, by Staff
Bournemouth, UK. "Hengistbury Head nature reserve in Bournemouth is to build a £1m visitor centre with green roof, straw bale walls and solar panels that will save £1,000 a year in energy bills...A natural turf roof planted with grasses will blend in with the natural surroundings, offer insulation and soak up rainfall. Modcell walls, timber frames infilled with straw bales will form a thick insulating cocoon..." [1.3.13]
 Northwest grant award supports local project
New Castle News, by Staff
New Castle, PA. "A Lawrence County project is one of eight receiving a grant in the Northwest Commission’s Greenways Block Grant Program. Human Services Center received $40,000 for its green roof project at the Fisher Building in 2012...The Human Services Center project entails installing a GreenGrid roof on the Human Services Center’s Fisher building in downtown New Castle. The roof is a pollution reduction activity that will result in eliminating more than 50,000 gallons of storm water from entering the Shenango River watershed." [1.1.13]
 Mayor of Copenhagen to Visit New York, Discuss Green Initiatives
The Epoch Times, by Zachary Stieber
New York, NY. "The mayor of the Danish city of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen, will talk at a panel discussion about greening cities in New York City in early January. Copenhagen is often thought of as a green city, with many of its residents riding bicycles every day, and an efficient waste incineration program…the city is preparing both short and long term for the changing environment. Plans listed on the city’s website include preserving the existing park system, planting more trees, installing green roofs and gardens, and expanding the capacity of the sewers to deal with heavier and more rain..." [1.1.13]
 The best of 2012 in green community solutions: a personal, eclectic list
NRDC Switchboard, by Kaid Benfield
US. "As we look back on the year that was, let’s honor some of the outstanding issues and accomplishments for community sustainability that came to light during the year. In many cases, naming a particular item one of the best of 2012 may be a bit (not completely) arbitrary: by definition, sustainability is seldom a single “event” that occurs wholly within one calendar year..." [12.31.12]
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what's new:
NRCA offers vegetative roof systems manual. The NRCA Vegetative Roof Systems Manual, Second Edition, addresses cutting-edge technologies available for vegetative roof systems, including the waterproofing system and its associated components, such as a protection course, a root barrier, a drainage layer, thermal insulation and an aeration layer, and an overburden of growth medium and plantings. Best practices are included for the design and installation of extensive, semi-intensive and intensive vegetative roof systems
