Workshop to explore green roofs
Developers, architects, consultants, local authority officers and experts from Sheffield's universities will look at how 'green roofs' can help Sheffield retain its title as the greenest city in the UK at a workshop later this month.
Research by Sheffield Hallam University indicates that therapeutic 'green roof' gardens - vegetated roof covers - are not only excellent for mental health, because natural views reduce aggression and increase calm, but improve business profitability. Enhancing the emotional or physical comfort of employees can increase productivity and lower absenteeism. Green roofs also help to prevent asthma as they help ventilate areas between tall buildings.
Dr Ian Rotherham, Director of Tourism and Environmental Change Research Unit at Sheffield Hallam University, said:
"Green roofs offer huge opportunities to help resolve key environmental issues. They create new and sustainable wildlife habitat, they soften adverse development impacts, and more importantly, they help resolve water and flood issues in urban areas. With climate change they offer an easy, cost-effective and positive approach to problem resolution."
The workshop, 'Green Roofs - Benefits and Best Practice', on Tuesday May 12, includes a site visit to Norfolk Community Primary School, Sharrow School and The Cube apartments/offices, sites in Sheffield where green roofs have been installed.
The group will explore the benefits and practical challenges involved in the installation of the roofs, uncovering the latest thinking on green roofs and sharing the lessons learnt from existing projects.
Catherine Basilio, Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam and architect at Sheffield City Council, said:
"The workshop will be a great opportunity to get information from people who have been right in the middle of the thinking and designing of green roofs. The group will meet the people that have been instrumental in getting them onto finished projects in Sheffield, and see green roofs up close instead of just seeing the pictures and reading about them."
The workshop will be held by Sheffield Hallam in partnership with Groundwork Sheffield, The Green Roof Centre and University of Sheffield. It is aimed at developers, consultants and local authority officers and will discuss the design, planning, implementation and maintenance of green roofs in Sheffield.
Key Speakers at the event include Nigel Dunnett, Director of The Green Roof Centre, and University of Sheffield Reader in Urban Horticulture, Department of Landscape; Catherine Basilio and Ian Rotherham.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
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Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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