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An Iowa Municipal Facility Demonstrates Exemplary Performance
2008 Evergreen Awards First Place Winner. The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities Office and Training Facility demonstrates exemplary energy and water conservation.
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Announcing the Winners of the 2013 RA Design Awards
Our jury panel of four architects reviewed more than 600 projects during two days of judging and selected 34 entries as worthy of a 2013 Residential Architect Design Award.
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Growing Up Green
Vegetated roofing is experiencing a growth spurt across the U.S. Projects have been appearing on federal buildings in the nation’s capitol; on commercial projects as far west as California; and on various buildings in our nation’s heartland, where Chicago boasts the largest area of vegetated roofing in North America with about 4 million square feet (371600 m2). With President Barack Obama’s focus on the environment, green roofs likely will continue their upward climb. The benefits of vegetated roofs, such as sound insulation, possible reduced heating and cooling costs, the potential to reduce or eliminate roof drains, aesthetics, habitat for birds and insects, and food production make them a sustainable choice for urban environments. The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Van- couver, British Columbia, Canada, grew herbs, flowers and vegetables on its 2,100-square-foot (195-m2) acces- sible roof and saved $30,000 per year in food costs, according to Toronto-based Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. The GRHC “Third Annu
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