Ecolog:
For a different kind of "green" roof, go to 33.511108,-117.752868 in
satellite view and look at both the vertical and street views. This roof was
restored to the indigenous ecosystem late in the last century and requires
no irrigation or maintenance (it is entirely self-sufficient) other than a
bit of cleanup now and then.
WT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Leon Blaustein" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 3:13 AM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Seeking Graduate Student to Study Integrating Green
Roofs and Photovoltaic Panels
Seeking Graduate Student to Study Integrating Green Roofs and Photovoltaic
Panels
The Kadas Green Roofs Ecology Research Center, University of Haifa, Israel,
seeks a highly motivated graduate student (PhD, possibly MSc), preferably
with background in community ecology and interests in green roof ecology, to
conduct thesis research on the integration of photovoltaic panels and green
roofs. A short description of the proposed study is pasted below. Some
information about this Center can be found at
http://evolution.haifa.ac.il/index.php/research/research-centers/kadas-green-roofs-ecology.
Interested candidates should send their curriculum vitae, a short statement
of research interests including how your current background fits with this
research project, and contact information for at least three referees to
Prof. Leon Blaustein ([email protected]) with a cc to Ms. Limor Dvir
([email protected]). Preferred starting date is between August and
September 2013. Semester begins October 2013.
TITLE: Integrating Bio-diverse Green Roofs and Photovoltaic systems
ABSTRACT. Roofs can provide green opportunities – both solar photovoltaic
(PV) technology for clean sustainable electrical energy and green roofs for
mitigating storm runoff, reducing energy expenditure for heating and cooling
buildings, and providing habitat for flora and fauna in a landscape
otherwise depauperate of natural habitat. The latter benefit has received
very little research attention. Green roofs and roof-mounted PV systems
should not be considered competing roof options but rather, if placed
together, should interact to improve the performance of both systems. Green
roofs reduce roof temperatures and should thus improve the
electricity-producing efficiency of PV panels. PV panels should reduce solar
radiation and evaporation and increase solar radiation heterogeneity,
consequently providing a wider range of niches for plants and animals
yielding higher diversity and biomass in a hot, dry environment like Israel.
Such benefits to green roofs and PV electrical production should be further
increased by irrigation. Although tap water is scarce and expensive in
Israel and elsewhere, irrigation of green roofs with gray water, should not
only increase PV efficiency but also provide a water pollution abatement
solution. While theory suggests all this to be the case, few studies
worldwide and none in hot and dry environments have assessed such
integration of green technologies. We propose to experimentally assess the
integrative use of PV panels, green roofs and gray water irrigation for
multiple environmental benefits including increased biodiversity and
increased clean energy production.
Leon Blaustein
Director, Kadas Green Roofs Ecology Center
Head, Community Ecology Laboratory
Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary & Environmental
Biology
Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905 Israel
Tel. 972-4-8240736 (office); 972-4-9998881 (home)
Cell: 054-268-8290; Institute Fax: 972-4-8246554
http://leonblaustein.wikidot.com
http://evolution.haifa.ac.il/index.php/research/research-centers/kadas-green-roofs-ecology
Chief Editor, Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution
http://israelsciencejournals.com/eco.htm
e-mail: [email protected]
"He [Rabin] knew that those who starve peace, feed extremism."
-Shimon Peres speaking at Rabin commemoration 7 Nov 09
