Over the past 10 years Roof services has been involved in many projects which include a “Green Roof” component. These ranged from the use of increased insulation with reflective membranes and the installation of solar panels or garden roofs. Roof Services, having years of expertise in Green Roof installations and sustainable roofing practices,
realized that there was a great deal of misinformation regarding “Green Roofing”. Often we would hear about projects that included garden roofs as the only green roof component. While garden roofing is a large component of green roofing, it is by no means the majority of green roof applications. This misconception of building owners and the lack of understanding by the Construction and Design communities was the catalyst for the creation of the Long Island Green Roof Alliance.
The mission of the Green Roof Alliance is to promote awareness and opportunities in the green roof industry as well as being a resource to building owners and design firms for green roofing. The organization was formed in early 2010 with the objective to identify green roofing projects and promote them to the public. In addition to educating the public the Alliance wanted to develop into a “hands on” resource for the green roof industry.
The Long Island Green Roof Alliance members recognize that there are green roof applications which reach far beyond the installation of plants or garden roofs on roof surfaces. These additional opportunities include things like:
· Increased insulation thickness.
· Increased energy efficiency.
· The benefits of layering the roof insulation.
· The use of reflective coatings or membranes.
· Photovoltaic cells to generate electricity.
· Solar hot water systems.
The many benefits of garden roofing (storm water run off retention, reduction of Heat Island Effect effect, rainwater purification, the consumption of Co2 and creation of oxygen, not to mention the psychological & emotional benefits) combined with the items above are a clear indication of the far reaching benefits of Green Roof Applications.
The Long Island Green Roof Alliance is made up of industry professionals that touch all the major components of the Green roofing industry. We feel that it was imperative that all areas of the green roof industry be represented on the board.
Long Island Green Roof Alliance Executive Board
Ralph Plotke- Roof Services
Ralph Plotke has been involved in the roofing industry for over 20 years and plays an active role the Green Roof industry. He has been installing and designing green roofs for years. These include well-insulated roofs and reflective roof membranes as well as plants and terrace systems. As the inaugural president of LIGRA, Ralph is committed to promoting the benefits of green roof installations.
Judy Fairbanks- Skyline New York
Judy is a sales & marketing professional and events industry veteran. As VP of Sales & Marketing for Skyline New York, Judy continues to empower businesses that rely on event marketing to build relationships with their customers. As a graduate of the Landmark Education Curriculum for Living, the LI Green Roof Alliance was initially created as Judy’s community service project.
John Rocchetta- Green Logic
As the Regional Director for GreenLogic Energy, John is organically guiding the green energy movement. GreenLogic is committed to sustaining the beauty of our local environment, providing the highest quality and most cost-effective alternative energy solutions for homeowners, businesses and government. Offerings include premium solar, geothermal, wind and green pool heating products to help consumers upgrade their home or build a new one.
James McKeough- TS Associates
Jim is the Vice President of TS Associates, Inc. , servicing the commercial roofing industry since 1996 as a manufacturer’s representative firm specializing in “Division 7” Products (Roofing and Waterproofing). Jim is an expert in coaching builders on how to optimize a project using the best manufacturer to address any given job specification.
Amy Norquist- Greensulate
Amy Norquist is the Founder & President of Greensulate LLC, a leading edge provider of design, engineering, installation and maintenance services in the Green Roof Systems and sustainable building industry. Prior to founding Greensulate, she spent three years as Deputy Director of the multi-million dollar Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries overseeing major green and sustainable building initiatives. Amy and the Greensulate team are recognized leaders in the research and commercial application of Green Roof Systems.
John Tanzi (AIA)- BHC Architects, LLP
As a Senior Associate at Beatty Harvey Coco Architects, LLP and with over 25 years of design and construction experience, John continues to foster BHC’s commitment to incorporating sustainable design concepts into every project. With a keen knowledge of “green” design and over two decades of experience in architecture, John brings invaluable expertise to each project. In addition to being a keynote speaker on “Green Design” at School and Library conferences, he also managed the design and construction of the first “Green” School in New York State to conform to the standards of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (NY-CHPS) – East Hampton High School.
John Garvey- Capital One Bank
Currently a Senior Vice President with Capital One Bank, John has been involved in the commercial banking industry for over 35 years. He has been very active in Economic Development activities on Long Island since the late 1970’s. He was the former President of the Long Island Development Corp. and is currently a member of the Regional Loan Committee of Empire State Certified Development Corp., an organization that originates SBA 504 loans throughout New York State. John is an expert in a wide range of financial services which can help small and mid-sized businesses grow and prosper.
Jim Paduano- BWD Group, LLC
With over 30 years of industry experience in insurance brokerage, risk management and safety, Jim has a keen understanding of the insurance issues faced by businesses who are considering going green. BWD Group LLC is one of the largest privately held brokerage firms in the United States and provides a comprehensive range of innovative insurance products and risk management services.