Energy saving starts at the top

Every square foot of the newly renovated Whittier Research Center is being used for research — even the roof.

In June, the junior-high-turned-research-facility became the first building at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to be fitted with a state-of-the-art "green roof," made of small, drought-resistant, water-storing plants.

The 700-square-foot test plot provides an opportunity for researchers and landscapers to see how a green roof can be maintained, as well as test its purported benefits. Those benefits include increased stormwater retention, added insulation and preservation of the roof membrane.

The plants, called sedums, were grown by Roof Top Sedums LLC in Davenport, Iowa, and planted on the roof by UNL Landscape Services.

Emily Casper of UNL Landscape Services said the rooftop courtyard is easy to access and can be viewed from the top floors of the building.

"Before, it was just a white roof," she said. "Now the whole space is aesthetically pleasing."

The project adds a little more green to an already "green" building. Whittier was renovated along federal Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and uses geothermal energy.

Other Big Ten schools, such as Penn State University and Michigan State, have been experimenting with green-roof technology for years. In fact, Penn State's new $215 million Millennium Science Complex has six of them.

Green roofs also have been popping up off-campus in Nebraska. In Omaha, more than 10 green roofs have been installed on buildings within the past two to three years, said Kent Holm, the Douglas County environmental services director.

Holm explained that more and more businesses and building owners are looking for ways to save money and be energy-efficient.

Despite the startup cost of a green roof — the plants alone at Whittier were valued at nearly $10,000 — the benefit comes later through energy savings.

"With this type of technology, it's going to be more expensive initially. But the savings come in the long run because it extends the life of the roof membrane and serves as an insulator for the building," Holm said.

Casper said although the green roof at Whittier is still in its pilot stage, the research is important as more and more buildings look to meet efficiency standards.

"The U.S. ... is moving towards more sustainable green building practices, and green roofs are a natural part of that movement," she said.