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McDonald Block Reconstruction, Toronto, ON M A R C H 2 0 2 3 | 47 Green Roofs & Walls P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y L I V ERO O F O N TA R I O all have six-inch modules with a biodiverse plant mix. We are seeing more of these kinds of projects due to the City of Toronto's regulation that encourages the use of biodiverse and intensive green roofs," explains Govers. The year ahead is looking great as the team at LiveRoof get their teeth stuck into other projects including 141 Bay Street – which has been designed to meet the newest and most innovative standards of efficiency – and 160 Front Street in Toronto, which is a commercial tower on a street-related base and includes the retention of the façade of a heritage building. In addition to green roofs, Govers says he is also seeing increasing demand for Hydropavers – a cutting-edge paver technology that enhances water absorp- tion and evaporation. "The pavers absorb the first five millimetres of any rainfall," explains Govers. "Several big developers in Toronto are using the product to deal with stormwater management requirements." Looking ahead, Govers says that while stormwater management will con- tinue to be top of the radar, biodiverse and (semi) intensive green roofs will also be a major focus. "We are probably the first company that I know of to set a mini- mum biodiversity green standard. Our formula is that in a biodiverse green roof will have a minimum of 11 species of plants in at least five different genera in four different plant families. This helps keep pollinators happy throughout the seasons. When we make pollinators happy, we make songbirds happy." Catastrophic weather events are today a reality, and while green roofs remain one of the answers to help combat the effects of atmospheric rivers, for example, preconceptions surrounding green roofs are still acting as a stumbling block to the industry. According to Rick Buist, president of Bioroof Systems Inc., the perception of green roofs has evolved significantly. While they were once seen as a novelty, they are now regarded as a crucial performance tool. In particular, he says the area of stormwater management is becoming dependent on green roofs that can detain water during peak flow storms to pre- vent overflowing of insufficient storm sewer infrastructure – a problem faced by most major urban centres throughout North America. "When storm sewers overflow, they flood the sanitary sewer system and drive effluent into our natu- ral waterways. This has all kinds of negative effects on the environment, from fish stocks to algae blooms ruining lakes and beaches," he explains. Buist has committed his firm to supplying the hard data required by civil engi- neers to be able to use green roofs as part of their rainwater solutions for building sites. "This can mean serious benefits for developers who are often forced to com- mit their usable site plan to holding tanks and other infrastructure. If green roofs can deal with the peak flow at source [the roof], reductions in cisterns, holding ponds, and such can turn into major savings." He adds that the benefit does not stop at the developer, as green roofs have already been shown to cool buildings, create pollinator corridors, and beautify the exterior of the building. "It's essentially a win-win all around," Buist says. "Developers save costs, governments save infrastructure, and the environment is improved over the urban landscape." FROM ROOFS TO WALLS Ginkgo Sustainability, which specializes in both living roofs and living walls, announced it has recently been recognised due to its collaboration efforts with two of 2022's winners of the Governor General's Medals in Architecture 2022. The first winner, The Idea Exchange Old Post Office, is located in Galt, Ontario, and involved a green roof installation. The project goal was to transform a dilapidated heritage post office into Canada's first "bookless" library. Ginkgo Check out our line of proven modular green roof systems and accessories at LiveRoof.ca, or call us at (800) 875-1392. LiveRoof Ontario.indd 1 LiveRoof Ontario.indd 1 2023-02-20 10:19 2023-02-20 10:19 June 2023 ANNUAL INDUSTRY FEATURE: Waterproofing Book your ad space now:  |  Dan Chapman 604.473.0316

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