Green roofs are quite common in Germany and other parts of Europe, as well as in Asia; however, few or only limited studies evaluating their benefits have been conducted. The Denver facility’s EPA evaluation will likely be one of the most thorough evaluations ever undertaken.
Though construction was not complete at the time, the building was open to
conduct special tours for show attendees. The facility, which aims to earn Gold
certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, was constructed with a
variety of environmentally friendly and energy-saving products and materials.
Photovoltaic panels and wind turbines were installed to help generate
electricity, and the top of the building features a green roof.