White light/white heat

The New York Times featured a story today on the energy benefits of white roofs. The article speaks to the savings that white roofs produce in hot climates, while acknowledging that they are not a panacea; in cities like Minneapolis and Detroit, scientists suggest that white roofs can actually lead to increased energy bills since they reflect light (and heat) during cold winter months.

While I can't refute evidence on the suitability of white roofs in northern climes, I certainly can speak to the benefit of green roofs. The beauty of the green roof is that it buffers temperature extremes, whether hot or cold. If you're skeptical, plug "green roof energy savings" into Google Scholar and see what comes up. (Start with these: "Analysis of the green roof thermal properties and investigation of its energy performance" by Niachou et al. and "The effects of rooftop garden on energy consumption of a commercial building in Singapore" by Wong et al.).

I'm not sure why the author didn't think it appropriate to include green roof information in the article, but I sure wish that there were a comment section on this one...

Musings on urban blight

First, a photographer interested in documenting the Gowanus Canal, something that I had thought about doing before I realized he'd already done it. I don't have the evidence with me here on this computer, but the similarity in some of the pictures we've taken is kind of eerie.

Second, SF-based designers who want to make something of their city's empty lots. Kind of reminds me of my backyard garden.

More culture

A slight diversion from the strict science of water resources management, but fascinating nonetheless and, I believe, instructive in getting the public to contemplate the human relationship with the environment.  

Last night, I caught a fascinating segment on Maya Lin's "Systematic Landscapes," (click on the second icon from the left) now on exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C.  Perhaps a reason to catch the southbound bus.  Check the video below, and more here.

Innovation station

While perusing the Environmental Defense webpage today, I found a very cool Innovations Review section wherein ED examines new and interesting products and techniques that make sense from both the business and environmental perspectives.  Since managing watering operations in my very small garden can prove exceedingly tricky, my favorite innovations focus on managing water more efficiently by accounting for weather patterns and soil moisture.  But there's also an exciting bit about Iowa soybean farmers practicing "adaptive nutrient management" -- using aerial imagery, GPS, yield-calculating combines, and off-season meetings -- to optimize fertilizer application and balance expenditures on fertilizer with improvements in yield.  I strongly encourage you to check out the remainder of the innovations, here.

Adopting another perspective

I read this interesting Op-Ed in the New York Times today en route to a stream restoration course hosted by the New Jersey branch of the AWRA.  Although some may find the idea of studying water from an artistic perspective to preserve the resource to be counterintuitive, I strongly believe that an interdisciplinary approach to understanding water resources will be crucial to mankind's ability to successfully protect these resources.  In fact, to the dismay of some on the journal's staff, I lobbied (successfully, obviously) to include this article in the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Forum journal when I was submissions editor of the publication during graduate school.