[Greenbuilding] Growing Media Embodied Energy

[Gennaro Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn]

Ill give it a try

On Saturday, October 12, 2013, John Salmen wrote:

> I think the roof chips have to be thought of as just roof cover initially
> not a growing medium. Moss could be established. If the roof is partly
> intensive this could work well as the chips will compost over time and can
> be encouraged to do so which then supplements the nutrient needs for the
> soil mix for the intensive plants. In terms of landscaping maintenance it
> is similar to on the ground – a woodchip path has to be scraped back
> occasionally and renewed. The bottom layer is the composted soil material
> which saves bringing in organic material.****
>
> ** **
>
> You can play with depths – 3” will compost quicker and support more life
> than 6”.  I don’t think weight will be an issue as you pretty well have to
> design for a certain depth of saturated soils no matter what.****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* Greenbuilding [mailto:
> greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml',
> 'greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org');>] *On Behalf Of *Gennaro
> Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn
> *Sent:* October-12-13 8:18 AM
> *To:* Green Building
> *Subject:* Re: [Greenbuilding] Growing Media Embodied Energy****
>
> ** **
>
> That is a good idea. I've actually been meaning to look into Black Locust
> chips given that woods ability to not rot under ground. My current project
> is semi intensive so my reservation is what will happen to the weight  over
> time. The wood will decompose and shrink in depth, requiring the addition
> of more. Each time you do that the weight increases. Is that a valid
> concern?****
>
> ** **
>
> As an extensive sedum or moss cover then wood chips is a no brainer.
>
> On Saturday, October 12, 2013, John Salmen wrote:****
>
> I would seriously look at using ground up wood waste / wood chips. They
> can hold their structure for years achieving a number of green roof goals
> without the green initially. The end product is soil so you can look at it
> as a green roof in process or simply an urban composting area. Wood chips
> have been used in biofilters and support a diversity of life. ****
>
>  ****
>
> *From:* Greenbuilding [mailto:
> greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] *On Behalf Of *Gennaro
> Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn
> *Sent:* October-12-13 4:40 AM
> *To:* Green Building
> *Subject:* Re: [Greenbuilding] Growing Media Embodied Energy****
>
>  ****
>
> That's very helpful. Thanks John. I agree with your list of priorities. I
> would add quality of life, for all biota, especially in the city. ****
>
> I'm really struggling to find a lower embodied energy light aggregate here
> in NYC. ****
>
> It's turning out to be as easy as my other quest- to find a greener option
> to sheet rock.
>
> On Friday, October 11, 2013, John Salmen wrote:****
>
> The ESCSI (lightweight aggregate institute put out numbers in 2012). For
> manufactured materials like expanded shale or other lightweight aggregates
> the number is same for all - 2.16MBtu/ton or 1.34 mbtu/cubic yard. Carbon
> dioxide is 350.5 lbs/ton 218lbs/cy.****
>
>  ****
>
> Sand is about 20,000 Btu per ton and Crushed stone about 30,000 Btu/ton. *
> ***
>
>  ****
>
> Those numbers don’t get it to your building site though.****
>
>  ****
>
> I’m doing another green roof now (extensive type) and I’ve switched from
> varied sedum type mix to just a moss roof (they typically turn into a moss
> roof anyway and its a more desirable material in my mind). Soil mix is
> simpler and can be limited to local sandy soils or cement sands (different
> particle sizes) with some aggregate – limited organics. Less saturated
> weight. ****
>
>  ****
>
> For me the main points of a green roof are ****
>
> -          To substitute a natural bulk material (soils primarily) for a
> manufactured sacrificial material (roofing that can withstand the elements
> ****
>
> -          To reduce concentrated peak water flows (preventing erosion,
> etc.)****
>
> -
>


-- 
Gennaro Brooks-Church, Director
Eco Brooklyn
347-244-3016
22 2nd St, BK NY 11231
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