Green roof technology is both new technology and as old as architecture itself.  Early settlers to our area often build sod homes with a roof that blended into the landscape – grass and all.  They used the natural heating and cooling of mother nature as insulation against the harsh environment of the plains.  The thickness of the soil on the structure’s roof, one of the few building materials available, insulated from the cold of winter and kept the interior of the home cool in the summer. 

 Today’s green roofs come in a variety of options.  The Urban Plains Center is one variety of green roof.  The reflective surface of the light colored roof keeps the heat of the sun from being absorbed by the building.  Since the ice sheet requires colder temperatures, reflecting the sun puts less stress on the internal cooling system, which saves energy. 

 The green roof planned for the Starion Financial building is an earthen system that insulates the building.  In the summer, the soil and vegetation act like a barrier between the heat of the sun and the internal air-conditioning.  It keeps the heat out and the cool air in.  Then in winter, the thickness of the soil acts like an insulator to keep the heat in.

 Green roofs also play a role in natural water retention.  Normally, water that hits a roof will flow through the gutters, out onto the pavement, and then into our city streets, through the sewer system and into the river or other bodies of water.  This can leach contaminants into our rivers or drinking water.  With a green roof, some of the rain water or snow melt will be retained on the roof as natural irrigation for the living garden of the green roof system.  Some of that runoff can also be stored for future irrigation needs.  The moist soil and plant life on a green roof can reduce the energy usage of a building by up to 20%.

Geothermal energy is a process of using the earth’s natural energy for heating applications in commercial and residential buildings. While the technology of today has improved the techniques used for geothermal energy, the process itself has been around since before the Roman Empire.

Benefits of having geothermal heating in your business or home are outstanding and more cost effective than you might imagine. You can expect lower maintenance costs, lower utility bills and a safe work environment. Geothermal systems provide a more relaxing atmosphere for employees and clients through more usable work space and comfortable temperatures all year long.

Top 5 Reasons to go Green with a Geothermal System:
• Environmentally Friendly – geothermal energy is non-polluting and it’s naturally renewable.
• Cost Effective – a geothermal system is easier to maintain resulting in lower maintenance costs plus it can cut utility bills by 30-50 percent compared to traditional heating and cooling systems.
• Flexible Design & Longer Lifespan – a geothermal system can be easily subdivided or expanded to fit building modifications and has a lifespan of up to 30 years.
• Comfortable, Single System – heating and cooling applications are on 1 system with geothermal energy and cold drafts are eliminated.
• Safe & Energy Efficient – with a geothermal system there is no danger of carbon monoxide poisoning or gas leaks. It can also move more units of heat energy per unit of electrical energy in traditional heating systems.