My Submission to NatGeo’s “The Green Effect”

Alright friends, family, readers – I need your help!  I have submitted an entry idea to National Geographic’s contest “The Green Effect.”  I am asking that you head on over (http://greeneffect.nationalgeographic.com/idea/2343/) and rate my project idea!  Thanks so much!

With $20,000 I would install an intensive greenroof system on the roof of the new Gloucester County College (Sewell, New Jersey) campus building that is set to be constructed within the coming year. As a student at GCC I have been working this year with my Environmental Science professor to implement this idea. We have given three presentations to students, faculty, and staff explaining the concept and its advantages, collected several signatures petitioning our college’s president to act, and set meetings with the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders. 

This small step would make a big difference because it would give students at GCC their first taste of green building and their first example of how our environment can be bettered through creative means. 

The construction of the greenroof system would create jobs for engineers, designers, and manufacturers, as well as those who would maintain the garden throughout each year. 

Some positive environmental effects that a greenroof would have on my campus are: 
1) a major reduction in polluted storm-water runoff 
2) the pulling of up to 5lbs/m2 of particulate matter from the air per year 
3) enormous reductions in our heating and cooling needs 
4) the ability to grow herbs and vegetables to be sold locally 
5) an interactive, outdoor classroom for science classes 

My small school needs this! I believe that initiating this idea would set a major precedent in my community regarding conscious building!