Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

Today we continue our CUES guest blog series with a topic that’s near and dear to our hearts: a green roof project!

Hackensack Riverkeeper roof

Hackensack Riverkeeper owns a headquarters building located in the middle of the highly urbanized City of Hackensack, NJ. When suburban families want to improve stormwater quality and reduce runoff from their property they can choose to install a Rain Garden. This Best Management Practice is great in suburban New Jersey where there is a lot of lawn, but downtown Hackensack is close to 100% covered by concrete sidewalks, roads, and buildings! So a different kind of solution is needed to manage Riverkeeper’s rooftop runoff. It is especially important to solve the runoff problem in older cities like Hackensack because the stormwater flows into the city’s Combined Sewer System (CSS). During heavy rains, the CSS discharges untreated sewage, along with stormwater, directly into the Hackensack River because the antiquated plumbing cannot handle the larger water volumes.

Urban areas across the U.S. (most notably Chicago) and North America have turned to utilizing green rooftops for their environmental benefits. While there are a few green roof installations in New Jersey, such as the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland, we do not know of any urban areas in NJ that are currently using green roofs to diminish the impact of stormwater runoff. Hackensack Riverkeeper collaborated with CUES to determine the feasibility of converting their black tarpaper roof to a ‘Green Roof’. Undergraduates in the Departments of Landscape Architecture & Design and Environmental Sciences Studio Design courses at Rutgers School of Environmental & Biological Sciences (SEBS) accepted this challenge and designed a modular Green Roof system appropriate for installation on the Riverkeeper’s existing 1,500 sq. ft. flat roof.

Hackensack Riverkeeper roof

The benefits of installing a green roof have been known since ancient times (the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in present day Syria), and today green roofs are becoming an accepted building design feature, particularly in Europe where they may account for up to 14% of all flat roof systems. Environmental benefits of green roofs can include reduction in urban stormwater runoff and improvement in runoff water quality and plant uptake of carbon dioxide. Ecological benefits include an increase in urban habitat diversity. In highly urbanized areas such as those found in older NJ cities, up to one-third of the horizontal surface may be represented by rooftops. However, there are few green roof installations in NJ, and none in typical older urban downtown centers. There are no installations that we are aware of that might be duplicated inexpensively in privately owned, small to medium size buildings that make up much of the infrastructure of NJ’s urban landscape. Therefore, a demonstration Green Roof constructed on the Hackensack Riverkeeper building in the center of Hackensack, NJ (five blocks from the Bergen County seat) can show elected officials, building department staffs, and the general public an important tangible example of a sustainable construction option.

Captain Bill, Lisa Ryan, and Rich Dwyer from PSE&G went to New Brunswick to see the first 15 draft designs created by the students in the sophomore design studio class. They were joined by Dr. Christopher Obropta and his engineering students from the Department of Environmental Sciences. An example from the first design phase (conceptual plan) is shown here. While this illustration may not necessarily be the final form of the roof, it is the first step in determining a design that will achieve our stormwater goals, while having an aesthetic appeal that is representative of Hackensack Riverkeeper’s organization and mission.

The environmental engineering students then worked with the landscape students to develop plans for the final Hackensack Riverkeeper Urban Green Roof that PSE&G employees have volunteered to construct. It is particularly fitting that the roof will be built by PSE&G volunteers because the Hackensack Riverkeeper building was originally built by PSE&G as a regional substation – we are now coming full circle. The green roof installation will be done under the guidance of a certified green roof professional and Rutgers University Landscape Architecture & Design and Water Resources staff will test various vegetation combinations for their ability to reduce heat loss from the Riverkeeper roof. The Water Resources engineers and scientists will design a water collection system that can store rainwater for future use, and an easily maintained pumping system operated via solar power to move water from the collection system to the roof.

Hackensack Riverkeeper green roof

The proposed Hackensack Riverkeeper green roof design is modular – it can be adapted for any size/shape structure, and so has broad applicability in older urban centers where there is a preponderance of available flat rooftops. This demonstration project will allow us to quantify actual energy and cost savings before and after implementation of the green roof, while introducing a design concept that utilizes readily available materials. The concept was designed with cost effectiveness as a critical component. This model demonstration project will allow other urban building owners in Bergen and adjacent Hudson Counties to see the energy saving benefits of a green roof installation and to easily adapt the concept for their own buildings. The energy and cost savings data generated by the pilot project will be disseminated through tours with elected and building code officials, description of the project on the Hackensack Riverkeeper and CUES websites, and via the quarterly Hackensack Riverkeeper newsletter, Tidelines.

The purpose of the Hackensack Riverkeeper Green Roof Project is to demonstrate that readily available, inexpensive components can be combined in a modular green roof system. Unless this technology can be demonstrated with ‘real-world’ local examples for building code officials, elected officials, the construction industry, and the general public to view, wide-spread acceptance of the green roof technology will not occur. Plus, the roof will provide a unique and exciting new vista for downtown Hackensack! CUES and Hackensack Riverkeeper have applied for funding to cover the cost of materials, engineering services, permit applications, and professional management of this project, and we hope to begin construction in spring 2011.

View additional conceptual plans for the Hackensack Riverkeeper Urban Green Roof.

Also, you can learn about the Dodge green roof and see photos of our garden here and here.

This guest blogger series will conclude next Monday.

Wendy Liscow, Program Officer

I don’t know about you, but as soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers are crammed into the refrigerator, I start to think about two things: sending year-end donations to my favorite nonprofits and tackling my holiday gift list.  I have come to dread the latter task, not just because I hate crowds and making gift decisions, but also because I don’t want to spend money on more “stuff” that people don’t really want and that will ultimately end up in a landfill.   I am part of a growing number of people who want their purchases to reflect their values.  In fact, one of New American Dream’s holiday polls revealed that 82% of Americans would rather receive a photo album filled with memories than a gift from a store.  New American Dream offers a great list of ideas on how you can make more socially responsible choices.

I’ve committed to using my purchasing power for dual purposes:  delight the gift-receiver and support New Jersey’s nonprofits.  Just a little bit of brainstorming will reveal a plethora of ways to do this.

How about giving your friends and loved ones tickets to a concert, play, or dance?  Or even better, consider a subscription.  How about a class at your favorite community arts center or nature reserve?  Or a membership at a museum.  Or check out a New Jersey Audubon birding tour and workshop or a Hackensack River Eco-Cruise. Or consider a donation to your friends’ and family members’ favorite charity/nonprofit in their name!

If you are thinking that you would prefer to give your lucky family members and friends something more tangible that they can unwrap and keep, why not consider a gift that also supports the herculean efforts of a nonprofit organization and  bolsters the livelihood of an artist.  For example, you can help ArtPride NJ raise $10,000 to support the Arts in our state by bidding (before December 11, 2009) on almost 70 items of memorabilia, travel packages, and tickets to cultural events at their online auction.

I have found some of the most unique, one-of-a-kind gifts at museum stores and holiday art sales.  This weekend there are some fabulous events at some of the greatest art centers in our state.  Be sure to check these out:

On December 5^th and 6^th you can catch Millville’s WheatonArts holiday happening which features some excellent discounts.  Make a day of it and watch artist Deborah Czeresko and her team create an amazing large-scale blown-glass snowman and other holiday related pieces.  According to Dodge Foundation President and CEO David Grant, who witnessed this artistic feat several weekends ago, it is something you won’t want to miss.

Princeton’s D & R Greenway has a history of bringing the arts and environment together, and Sunday December 6^th their Winter Green: Gifts of Nature holiday sale will showcase watercolor calendars featuring creatures of the wild, jewelry and wearable art, ceramic works, photography note cards, and mosaics and tiles.   35% of the proceeds support D&R Greenway’s preservation and stewardship efforts.

December 3-6 you can visit the GlassRoots studio in Newark for demonstrations, studio tours and holiday shopping.  GlassRoots is also participating in a range of other holiday sales events at New Jersey Performing Arts Center and PSE&G.  A purchase of these beautiful glassworks made by Newark youth makes it possible for young people to learn a distinctive craft and develop entrepreneurial skills.

Museum shops have become one of my favorite shopping haunts.  In fact, this past spring I made lots of graduating teens happy with unique gifts made from recycled materials from the Newark Museum Shop.    Morris Museum kicks off their holiday sale and special events this weekend and you can use a special 10% off coupon for Montclair Museum’s Holiday Sale on December 3-6.  If you are in Oceanville, NJ be sure to stop in at Noyes Museum.  The Brodsky Center for Innovative Editions at Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Brunswick is offering fabulous art at “ridiculously low prices” at their holiday blowout on December 14 and 15^th.

These ideas represent only the tip of the iceberg of possible gift ideas that will please the most finicky people on your list and make for a more socially responsible holiday season.  So, help us out, and please share your ideas  for supporting nonprofits while tackling that holiday list.

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Michelle Knapik, Program Director

Last Monday a team of “Dodgers” gathered at the Laurel Hill Paddling Center and boarded a pontoon boat so we could see, smell, and touch and better understand the stories behind the rebounding health of the Hackensack River. While there are a number of factors in play, like better environmental regulations and improved industry standards, many of the River recovery stories begin with one person – Captain Bill Sheehan, the Hackensack Riverkeeper.

I have to admit, being a former field hockey goal keeper, I have a particular affinity for the “waterkeepers.” There is something unique about watching and trying to influence actions that are unfolding across the entire playing field, and then serving as the last line of defense. Of course the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Waterkeepers. They are often the last line of defense against ill-planned developments and uneducated (and sometimes just unconcerned) polluters that stand to wipe out critical habitat that protect us from flooding, clean our waters and support wildlife.

During our eco cruise Captain Bill laid out the challenges: the legacy of industrial activity, the impact of the NJ Turnpike, the impact of the Newark Airport, and the continued environmental violations from industry, businesses, and developers (just to name a few). One of my colleagues recalled her childhood images of the Meadowlands as a filthy wasteland. When she took her first eco cruise with Captain Bill a few years ago she was amazed that the River and the surrounding wetlands offered a sanctuary for wildlife and presented scenic views.

Now to truly understand the transformative actions of the Hackensack Riverkeeper, you need to be front and center for Captain Bill’s rich storytelling. I won’t attempt to capture the details of those awe-inspiring stories here, but I will share a few images to pique your interest in the River’s rebound. (more…)

The Dodge Foundation is off today, celebrating the long holiday weekend. Stay tuned for next week’s blog posts, including a round-up of our field trip with the Hackensack Riverkeeper and a visit with US Poet Laureate (2004-2006) Ted Kooser on Friday.

Have a great holiday!

Wendy Liscow, Program Officer

Non-profit organizations are resourceful, resilient, and let’s face it, a bit scrappy.  With their missions acting as both powerful rudder and faithful compass, passionate non-profit leaders and dedicated staff and boards have navigated their ships through all types of troubled social and economic waters.  The more turbulent the waves, the more innovative they become.

But I am not telling you anything you haven’t lived through.

Still, this economic downturn is different from the others.  According to a recent Center for Non-Profits‘ report New Jersey Non-Profits 2009: Trends and Outlook, 70% of New Jersey’s non-profits report that demand for their core services has increased during the past year, and they expect this trend to continue next year.  Yet, 89% of respondents report decreases in nearly every funding category.  For additional resources on the general health of New Jersey’s non-profits, the Non-profit Center has just announced a new “Non-profits and the Economy” resource page that follows trends and provides valuable information on how to access stimulus package funds and other “coping” resources.

So how are these resilient, capable non-profits coping with the economic downturn?  (more…)