As the green building revolution gains momentum, you have almost certainly come across green roof technology and seen how beautiful and functional it can be. There are now many options available when selecting a green roof manufacturer or designer or installer, which can make things confusing and more expensive than they need to be.
As a pioneer in sustainability throughout its history, Weston Solutions, Inc. (WESTON) recognized early on the value of vegetated roofs, but also the needless complexity and cost. As a result, they invested in developing and providing the GreenGrid green roof system - the industry's first truly modular solution. Now, WESTON is combining a decade of experience in the green roof industry with over 50 years of design, engineering, construction, consulting, sustainability and science expertise to provide a uniquely integrated resource for both green roof materials and related services.
Unlike other green roof system manufacturers, green roof specialty contractors, roofing or landscape contractors, or waterproofing manufacturers, WESTON has all the necessary in-house capabilities to see a green roof project from start to finish and beyond, using any combination of services in design, engineering, construction, and ongoing operations and maintenance. WESTON's deep bench strength of 1,800 employee owners across the country and internationally bring deeply diverse disciplines together in ways that make the company particularly adept at providing integrated solutions.
When you are considering a green roof project, particularly from an owner's perspective, you want to count on one firm to be responsible for successful execution of a project you can be proud of. In support of that goal, you'll start with WESTON's design services in horticulture, agriculture, landscape architecture, site programming, and BIM. With experts in real estate, site development and programming, energy, and water resources at your fingertips, addressing real problems, like stormwater runoff, for example, becomes just another part of your green roof project, and you don't need to bring in yet another consultant or contractor. Just as important, WESTON offers workable, practical designs that maximize savings and minimize environmental impact. So if a green roof is not the best solution to your underlying challenge, you do not need to begin again, and can rely on these experts to package the best solution, not simply a product.
Assuming a green roof does make sense for your project, the next step is incorporating the G4 Zero-Edge GreenGrid system into the design. The G4 represents the fourth generation of the first modular green roof system in North America and was designed to maximize stormwater retention, provide beautiful aesthetics, and maintain the benefits of true modularity. A pre-vegetated system, GreenGrid is delivered to a project site up to 95% matured for an instant green roof requiring less upfront maintenance and a photo ready ribbon cutting on day one.
GreenGrid is available in multiple depths to accommodate virtually every performance goal as well as enhanced aesthetically driven designs. WESTON's relationships with institutions of higher education and other research organizations also means that when selecting the GreenGrid system, third party, system specific performance data is available to help you make decisions and evaluate ROI.
A variety of accessory products from finishing touches like edge treatments, pavers, and lighting to functional elements including irrigation and monitoring stations that work with and enhance the function and aesthetics of a green roof can also be included.
WESTON takes it beyond design, engineering and materials with implementation of these great design and engineering green roof solutions. WESTON provides full service general contracting, installation/implementation, construction management, and/or owner's representation.
Building operations and maintenance services complete WESTON's integrated green roof offering. With turn-key startup and operations support through ongoing maintenance contracts, you can be sure your installation is optimized provide long term high level performance.
With a culture of shared risk and reward with clients, WESTON has also developed a number of business and financial support solutions to help make projects viable where they may otherwise be capital constrained.
Additionally, when talking about a green roof, the conversation often expands to encompass broader sustainability goals. Developers and property owners needing other services related to this integrated green roof offering can also turn to WESTON to provide related services such as sustainability planning and implementation, solar and other alternative energy solutions, environmental solutions, demand management, and traditional consulting. Ultimately, WESTON is focused on working with you as a partner to solve your environmental, specialty construction and green development challenges, unlike any other company, and particularly unique in the green roof industry.


Jared Markham is GreenGrid National program manager for Weston Solutions, Glastonbury, Conn.