Two half-day lectures on rooftop food production using aquaponics will be held in Brisbane on August 1 and August 7.

Aquaponics is fish farming and vegetable growing, in which vegetable crops take up fish wastes, and freshened water returns to the fish tank.  City spaces are considered ideal for aquaponics, especially rooftops and walls.

These special lectures are either side of the Skrettings Australasian Aquaculture International Conference and Trade Show in Brisbane, Queensland, which will have a half day on aquaponics, with eight industry presenters (from August 3 to 5, 2008 – see www.australian-aquacultureportal.com  and the list below).

The FRESH FOOD FROM THE ROOF lectures are for initial backgrounding of either high school teachers on August 1, or for backgrounding municipal government and the food industry executives on August 7.
August 1, 2008:  “Aquaponics for rooftops of high schools of South East Queensland.”

Speakers will be aquaponics specialists Dr Wilson Lennard; Dr Mike Nichols; Dr Nick Savidov; Rebecca Nelson and Geoff Wilson.  The five speakers have wide experience in practical aquaponics and hydroponics in Australia, New Zealand , Canada and the United States.

The aim is to encourage aquaponics (fish farming and vegetable farming) on school rooftops, where equipment can be more safely held.

The aim of the half day of lectures is to show SE Queensland science and biology teachers in state and private education systems the advantages of aquaponics to teach science and technology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, small business and urban food production.

High school teachers are the first beneficiaries of teaching with aquaponics. Secondary school students are next, but tertiary teaching using aquaponics is already providing successful experimental studies.
Two new books on Australian and North American aquaponics will be available to participants at wholesale prices.

Cost of the August 1 event is:  A$120 a person, including breakfast and GST, payable in advance.

August 7, 2008: “Brisbane’s future farming on urban landscapes, on roofs, walls  and inside buildings.”
Speakers are Dr Mike Nichols; Keith Agoada; Anthony Foo, Ms Morag Gamble and Geoff Wilson. These five speakers have studied future urban food production, or are investing in urban food production – in open spaces, on rooftops, on walls and within buildings.  Urban agriculture is expected to be heavily boosted soon in Australia by five factors:

• Peak oil and its rising costs on non-local rural food,.
• Climate change problems of rural agriculture and fisheries,
• Cheaper costs and higher quality from local urban food from urban walls and rooftops.
• Widespread future use of solar power for 24-hour LED-lit  hydroponics and aquaponics.
• Innovative conversion of clean urban organic matter for organic food production.

Much fresh food will be produced in cities close to where it is consumed. It will be free from the cost of petroleum in farming, transport and retailing, and free from the cost of coal energy as a result of Australian National University’s solar power advance of 5 to 10 times current yield.
Two new books on Australian and North American aquaponics will be available to participants at wholesale prices.  .

Cost of the August 7 event is also A$120 a person, including breakfast and GST, payable in advance.
Venue in Brisbane:

Both half-days will be held at the Brisbane Technology Park conference centre, Miles Platting Road, Eight Mile Plains.  Each will begin with a breakfast at 7.30am and finish at 12.30pm.
Morning tea/coffee will be served from 10.30am to 11am. Notes with pictures and diagrams will be provided. So will names and addresses of many expert contacts, publications to consider, and organizations to provide help.

Register with: Geoff Wilson, Aquaponics Network Australia and Green Roofs Australia Inc. Phones: 07 3411 4524  or  0412 622 779.  Email:   wilson.geoff@optusnet.com.au

Conference program August 3 to 6:

The following aquaponics sessions are listed in Brisbane for Monday, August 4 and  for Wednesday, August 6.

Monday, August 4:
Dr Brett Roe - Aquaponics research by Central Queensland University: Aquaponic Methodologies – Investigating More Sustainable Solutions Utilizing Terrestrial Food-Chain Integrations
Dr Wilson Lennard.-  Economics of commercial niche scale aquaponics in an Australian context.
Dr Mike Nichols.- Basic hydroponic aspects of aquaponics, and aquaponics prospects in NZ.
Matt Herbert,  - Innovative solar powered aquaponics at Mudgee, NSW.
Wednesday, August 6:
Hogan Gleeson,  - Innovations in community aquaponics at Rivendell, Nimbin, NSW.
Steve Magarry, - Aquaponics in Sub-Saharan Africa, is it Sustainable Hope?.
Carlos León  -  Aquaponics report on BOFISH Acuaponia, Mexico.
Geoff Wilson –   Aquaponics developments  and the importance of Canadian research.

It’s less than a week away: our exciting green roofs conference in sunny Brisbane!

Register now! Click here for program and booking details.

Less than a month to go to the Green Roofs Conference in Brisbane! Click here for program and booking details. BOOK BEFORE JUNE AND SAVE!

Seven countries have set up a non-profit international association to run the World Green Roof Infrastructure Network (WGRIN) to promote sensible climate change responses around the world.

The seven countries met at the April 30 to May 2 sixth annual international greening rooftops conference in Baltimore in the United States. The WGRIN headquarters office will be in Toronto, Canada.

WGRIN’s prime roles will be:

• To help its national membership organizations become more professional and globally-oriented in green roof, green wall and ancilliary infrastructure benefits that counter climate change problems.

• To co-organise with its member countries the new annual World Green Infrastructure Congress.

The seven founding countries are Germany, France, United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Australia. Other countries are expected to soon join WGRIN via their national green roof organizations.

Six directors have been appointed to manage and develop the global network.

Founding President of the new world network is Professor Dr Manfred Koehler, from the University of Applied Sciences, Neubrandenburg, Germany. He has been involved in green roof research, teaching and green roof organizations for 25 years, and represents the German FBB (green building association).

Vice President is Tanya Muller from Mexico. She is President of AMENAMEX (Associacion Mexicana para la Naturacion Azoteas), the national Mexican green roof association that has assessed the major green roof projects in Mexico and is currently working with the Secretary of Environment, Mexico City, in developing public policies for green roofs.

Treasurer/Secretary of WGRIN is Steven Peck, Founder and President of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, North America. He represents more than 6,000 green roof professionals of both the United States and Canada, and has been a leading initiator of northern America’s rapid recent expansion of green roof information and education programs.

Communications Director is Geoff Wilson, Founder and Immediate Past President of Green Roofs Australia Inc. He is a retired Australian journalist/editor in agribusiness, green roofs, urban agriculture and aquaponics.

Two other WGRIN company directors are Francois Lassalle, Co-founder of the French green roofs organization, ADIVET, and Joao Fejio of, Associatio Brazileira de Telhados Verdes, the Brazilian green roof association.

Auditor of the company is Sidonie Carpenter, President of Green Roofs Australia Inc. and owner of the Brisbane-based green roof and green wall consultancy, Green Canopy.

WGRIN’s immediate task is to help conduct the Toronto World Green Infrastructure Congress in October, 2009 in partnership with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, North America. Around 1,000 participants are expected to attend to learn more about green roofs and walls as a climate change tool.

Other annual congress events planned with climate change and related themes are:

• Mexico CityWorld Green Infrasructure Congress in 2010 (confirmed).
• Linz World Green Infrastucture Congress in 2011 (to be confirmed).
• Brisbane World Green Infrastucture Congress in 2012 (confirmed).

Each congress is being run jointly by WGRIN in partnership with a member country’s national organization.

“We believe that green roof and green wall technology can make an important contribution to amelioration of climate change problems likely to be experienced around the world,” Professor Koehler said.

“WGRIN will help develop the global built environment industry in climate change responses that reduce costs for users of green roof, green wall, and associated infrastructure.

“It will also increase sound business opportunities for just on 12 professional and business groups involved. A special focus is expected on green roof and green wall research and demonstration developments that underpin sound information for dissemination,” Professor Koehler said.

Note to editors/journalists:
Further information is available from WGRIN Director of Communications: Email Geoff Wilson. Phone: +61 (0)412 622 779.

By GEOFF WILSON

Building and operating commercial greenhouses on supermarket rooftops in the United States is the award-winning idea for a new business named Sky Vegetables.

It is an idea expected to be widely adopted around the world as peak oil cost increases and climate change problems seriously challenge traditional agricultural production.

Last month the Sky Vegetables’ business plan won the $10,000 top prize in the 2008 G.Steven Burrill Business Plan Competition for students of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

According to the Wisconsin Technology Network News, Sky Vegetables won top prize following a review of business plans of 17 start-up companies.

Sky Vegetables prototype green roof investment intends to break even 20 months from now. It proposes to operate its rooftop greenhouses as separate entities above supermarkets and its business model calls for year-round rooftop hydroponic cultivation of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers for retail sale immediately below. Fast expansion of the idea is expected as Sky Vegetables succeeds.

Produce will be picked as it ripens, and taken to the sales shelf in less than half and hour. Market research has shown this as a big sales clincher.

Lack of transportation, packaging, and storage costs provides the venture with a significant competitive advantage. About 80% of the cost of fresh produce in the U.S lies in the travel from farm to supermarket shelf. Other developed countries have much the same cost basis for fresh produce.

Up until now the lower farm cost of most agricultural production has prevented this rooftop urban agriculture idea from being maintained, but as rural production faces declines from climate change problems ahead, and as petroleum cost rises add to rural production, transport and other costs, the rooftop growing above supermarkets becomes financially attractive.

Since 1966 the Burrill competition has encouraged UW-Madison students to design technology-related businesses. G.Steven Burrill, the UW alumnus who supports the competition is a San Franciscan merchant banker investing in biotechnology companies. He is known internationally for his interest in life sciences.

The Sky Vegetables rooftop investment is expected to have significant benefits in Australia, via Green Roofs Australia Inc.

More details of United States and Australian “food from the roof” projects will be available for participants in the second annual Green Roofs Australia conference in Brisbane, Queensland, on June 18 and 19. Details here.

Green Roofs Australia invites abstracts for its 18-20 June 2008 conference in Brisbane.

Built environment academics and professionals can submit abstracts online here.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ABSTRACTS

• The abstract must include at least four to six key words (for example: “stormwater”, “retrofit”, “costing”, “regulation”, “species”) and be clearly noted.
• All Abstracts must be submitted via the on-line system provided from the Subtropical Cities 2008 Website.
• All abstracts must be submitted in English.
• All abstracts must be in word format – PDF not accepted.
• The abstracts must be clear and grammatically correct and should avoid the use of ‘I/we’ in the text.
• Abstracts submitted for the Green Roofs Australia Conference must be original work that has not been published or under consideration for publication elsewhere

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

Abstract addressing the conference topics are invited from all potential authors. The abstracts should be written between 400-500 words and submitted via the Abstract Submission on the Green Roofs Australia Conference Website.

The Abstract should:

• clearly state the objectives of the proposed paper;
• summarise the subject matter and the substantive issues it will raise;
• detail the conclusion(s) to be presented; and
• comment how it would address the conference topics.

The document format should be submitted via the Abstract Submission (ie. typed directly into the space provided). All abstracts and full papers will be peer reviewed before being accepted and published in the conference proceedings.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION & TRAVEL

To register for the Green Roofs 08 conference, please click here. ALL flight options to the GRA08 Conference are here. Alternatively, contact Corporate Travel Management (CTM) direct for the best airfare rates available on 1800 630 866 or e-mail: groups@travelctm.com. Remember to quote your event code: GRA08

CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP

To sponsor the Green Roofs 08 Conference, please click here.

Sidonie Carpenter (pictured) has been appointed president of Green Roofs Australia (GRA), the organisation formed in October 2007 as Australia’s member of the World Green Roof Infrastructure Network (WGRIN).

Mrs Carpenter was elected vice-president of Green Roofs Australia when it was founded. She runs her own business, Green Canopy, involved in the design and installation of green roofs and walls. Green Canopy also consults to built environment industries about the positive and active responses that Green Roofs and Walls offer to climate change.

She became president when founder and first president, Geoff Wilson, retired to become an active director of WGRIN, and to have a lesser role in organisational work for Green Roofs Australia.

Both Mrs Carpenter and Mr Wilson will attend the first meeting of WGRIN in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States, in the first week of May. They will be promoting a bid for Brisbane to hold the World Green Roof Congress in 2012.

This will provide the city of Brisbane with four years to build green roofs and walls that can be viewed by up to 2,000 conference attendees expected from around the world.

Mrs Carpenter is currently organising the second Green Roofs for Australia conference in Brisbane on June 19 and 20, 2008, and the one-day Introductory Green Roof and Wall Education Program on June 18, 2008.

In 2007 Mrs Carpenter made a two-month fellowship study visit to Singapore, North America and Canada to collect the latest information on green roofs and walls. This study fellowship was awarded by the Melbourne-based International Specialised Skills Institute, funded by the Pratt Foundation.
She holds an arts degree at the University of Queensland (majoring in architecture and town planning); a graduate diploma in landscape architecture from Queensland University of Technology; and a Certificate of Urban Horticulture, as well as and 101 and 102 Green Roof Design & Installation Courses.

Further information: Geoff Wilson. CLICK HERE TO EMAIL

Green Roofs Australia (GRA) has been very fortunate to receive this photo documentation from a roofing contractor who is hoping green roofs will put more traditional roofs out of business.

Washington roofing contractor Troy Wagner replaced his own roof with greenery after he observed that green roofs last much longer than “clean roofs”.

He sent GRA a written account of his step-by-step green roof progress, in which he writes:

“Over 15 years I figure I have looked at 15,000 roofs, and occasionally I would come across a roof covered in moss. In the western side of the state of Washington we are blessed with 50 inches of rain a year, this means moss on all the roofs. Insurance companies require the roofs to be moss-free, believing it leads to leaks, so to find a roof covered completely with moss is rare.”

But during his professional life inspecting roofs, Troy observed that moss-covered roofs lasted much longer than ‘clean’ roofs — sometimes more than twice as long:

“When inspecting the roof system that should only last 20 years and finding those covered with moss lasted 40 to 50 years, and only were changed out because the home was being sold or an insurance company saw it, I scratched my head. After seeing this a few times I started to believe that the moss was protecting the roof from the sun’s radiation. The sun’s radiation can cause a roofing system to loose the ability to expand and contract with the change in temperature causing it to crack, curl and become brittle.”

This was when Troy started investigating vegetative options:

“Five years ago I ran into a house with a low pitch 3/12 that had wood shingles, no felt paper and on skip sheeting (1×4s with a 4” space) the roof was 75 years old, covered with grass that had grown in the moss. This caused a light bulb to go off in my head and I said ahhhh, then ran home and tore off my roof.”

The results are pictured above and below, and Troy has given GRA written step-by-step documentation on how he built his own spectacular green roof, which includes an impressive vegetable patch (below). (Australian residents please note: US load bearing specifications differ.)

Troy is enthused about green roofs’ potential to improve our environmental footprint.

“If everybody did this I would be out of business as a roofing contracter, and I am ok about that… I offer free advice to anyone wanting to do this.”

Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne will host half-day seminars about green roofs and green walls as a potent way to address the challenge of climate change.

Featuring Germany’s Professor Manfred Köhler, the seminars will be held during the last week of February and the first week of March. They will draw upon 30 years’ knowledge and experience in green roofs and green walls in Germany - covering research, policy, infrastructure, management and design.

The lectures are designed for built environment professionals: architects, landscape designers, urban planners, builders, water-proofing specialists, horticultural contractors, building owners and developers, building managers, academics and council officers.

Professor Manfred Köhler, Chairman of the World Green Roof Infrastructure Network, is visiting Australia from Germany, where he is professor of landscape ecology at the University of Applied Sciences at Neubrandenberg. He founded the Green Roof Research Centre at this university, and is active in green roof organisations in Germany and in North America. Professor Köhler will speak about Germany’s 30 or so years of modern technology development of green roofs and green walls, plus the important new investment in Germany in combined green roofs and solar energy collection. This expected has significance in Australia because the Worldwatch Institute estimates that the United States and China will reduce solar energy collection equipment costs by around 40% in the next two years.

Also speaking will be Geoff Wilson, Founder and President of Green Roofs Australia Inc and the Australian representative on the World Green Roofs Infrastructure Network. He will speak about the potential of green roofs for both highly improved and less costly storm-water management, plus more effective home and business water storage for both green roofs and associated urban agriculture, aquaculture and aquaponics.

Sidonie Carpenter will also speak. She is Vice President of Green Roofs Australia and proprietor of a landscape design business in Brisbane that specialises in green roofs and walls. Sidonie will explain the elementary green roof and green wall education courses she and her team are preparing for Australia. She will also speak about the design and construction of the new green roofed and green walled home she is currently building in Brisbane, to highlight Australian design ideas and plants.

Refreshments are included at the seminars. Members of Green Roofs Australia (and in Sydney, of AILA) enjoy half-price discounts. Click the following links to register in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra or Melbourne.

BRISBANE: 8.30am—12.30pm 26 February Brisbane Technology Park conference centre

SYDNEY: 6pm 27 February Tusculum, 3 Manning Street, Potts Point

CANBERRA: 8.30am—12.30pm Monday 3 March First floor, Rydges Lakeside, London Circuit

MELBOURNE: 8.30am—12.30pm Thursday 6 March Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Room

Further information from Geoff Wilson: Phones: 07 3411 4524 or 0412 622 779. Or call Sidonie Carpenter 0418 867 123. Or email Geoff Wilson.

The three greenest residential towers in the US, each with solar energy, recycled water and a green roof, are in the same district of New York, reports the Daily News. Treehugger also reports that this area of New York is leading the country in green roofs:

Battery Park City is a neighborhood in New York City, that houses no less than three remarkable green apartment buildings. First came the Solaire, then the Tribeca Green, and the latest is the Verdesian. The roof of the Tribeca is irrigated with harvested rain water, and recycled water from the apartment’s toilets.

Nearby is the Verdesian, which stands 26-stories tall, and atop the building is a green roof, which also serves as a rooftop park for the apartment’s residents.