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MSP Newsletter

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Green Roofs: Beauty and Functionality
September/October 2008
What is a green roof? In a nutshell, green roofs are vegetated roof covers which include plants, growing media, a waterproofing layer, and drainage. There are two types of green roofs: intensive and extensive. With a soil depth of a foot or more, intensive green roofs can sustain a wide range of plant species, but require substantial structural elements to support the weight, and require more maintenance. An extensive green roof has a much shallower soil depth (usually only 2 to 4 inches deep) and is planted with hardy, drought-resistant plants.
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Geothermal Systems Use Renewable Energy
June/July 2008
Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources which release greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. A movement is currently under way to find alternative, renewable energy sources that will relieve our dependency on fossil fuels, reducing our carbon footprint while still meeting our ever-increasing energy needs. One alternative source that can reduce energy consumption in a structure is a geothermal system. Geothermal systems use the temperature of the...
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Small Spaces, Big Ideas: Turning Unused Property into a Community Asset
April/May 2008
It’s a common problem for municipalities: There’s a piece of land that they own. Maybe it’s left over from a recent redevelopment, or they’ve just acquired it somehow over the years. It’s just sitting there, not really doing anything. It’s too small to sell, but too big to ignore. The question is … how can we put it to good use? What would be the best way to use it for the benefit of the community?...
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Rain Gardens: A Sustainable Design Solution
November/December
Now, more than ever, sustainable design (or green design) can make a significant impact toward reducing the depletion of our natural resources and improving quality of life in communities and workplaces. Producing a sustainable development involves careful analysis of a variety of interconnected issues. One example of a beneficial (and beautiful) sustainable design feature is the rain garden (or bio-swale)...
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