Milwaukee Public Library & City of Milwaukee receive
Public Policy Forum Award for Effective Use of Technology
The Milwaukee Public Library worked with the City of Milwaukee's Office of Environmental Sustainability, We Energies, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and Focus on Energy to create a green roof on 30,000 square feet of the Central Library annex. Watch the Public Policy Forum Award presentation below.
Why a new roof?
To replace the existing roof which was installed in 1986.
Why are we going green? MPL is working with the City’s Office of Environmental Sustainability and other public and private agencies to create an environmentally friendly, energy efficient structure that can be enjoyed for years to come. The Library is adding solar electric panels to the green roof which will generate about 36,000 kilowatt hours per year.
Where is the money coming from?
$950,000 = City of Milwaukee Capital Budget
$250,000 = Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Grant
$100,000 = City's Energy Challenge Fund for Solar Electric System
$130,000 = We Energies
$60,000 = Focus on Energy
Who is doing the work?
Architect: Hammel, Green & Abrahamson (HGA)
Contractor: F.J.A. Christiansen Roofing Co., Inc., a Tecta America Company
How does it work?
A green roof uses a watertight membrane, protective layer, insulation, a filter layer, soil and vegetation to create a roof system.
This project will provide both short- and long-term benefits for Milwaukee residents. In the short-term, replacing 30,000 square feet of traditional non-porous roof with a vegetative system will reduce polluted stormwater runoff, urban heat islands and improve air quality. Long-term, Milwaukee will benefit from reduced costs for water treatment systems and infrastructure.
Stormwater runoff reduction lessens the load on MMSD sewers, lowering the risk of flooding and reducing combined sewer overflows into Lake Michigan.
The above links to drawings and plans outline what the green roof will look like, including installation of photovoltaic cells that will convert solar energy into direct current electricity, and the various types of plants that will be used. The walkways allow for maintenance access. The observation deck will be used for educational tours.
