ARLINGTON COUNTY

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ARLINGTON COUNTY | PACIFIC GARDEN MISSION

Arlington County, VA - Department of Public Works Garage

When Arlington County, Virginia made a commitment in 2003 to use environmentally friendly “green” technologies to minimize the impact of buildings on the environment, the county included commercial, residential and public buildings in the initiative. By 2005 Arlington had been named one of the “Top Ten Green Roof Cities in North America” by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a nonprofit association whose mission is to increase the development of the green roof industry across North America. In 2007, Arlington County officially adopted the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System™ as a way to measure the energy and environmental performance of buildings in the county.

That same year, when a new roof system was necessary for the existing Department of Public Works vehicle storage and maintenance garage, Arlington County Construction Manager Richard Krumenacker, P.E., looked to Viridian Systems to recommend a new roofing system. The Viridian sales representative had developed a solid working relationship with the county over a five-year period, beginning with a roof inspection of the Arlington County fire station.

Since that time, the county had relied on Viridian Systems for numerous inspections and to provide project specifications on many county buildings.

“Working with Arlington County has been a positive partnership for the county and Viridian for several years,” the Viridian sales representative stated. “Arlington County decision makers share Viridian’s goal of incorporating environmentally sound construction into as many projects as possible.”

The Department of Public Works’ vehicle garage was in dire need of a roof system, as the existing membrane and insulation had failed to the point that the metal decking beneath became visible.

Krumenacker met with the Viridian sales representative to discuss the project and explained that despite the building’s age, the county wanted a complete roof replacement to gain at least another 10 years of service rather than tearing the building down. In addition, all roof replacements in the county were required to be “cool roofs” or reflective in nature. After reviewing the existing roof, Viridian supplied the specifications for the job, including roof design, bid proposal form, safety factors, limits and requirements for the contractor, and the products.

Adhering to the county’s requirement that all roofs on county buildings be white to decrease heat island effect, the Viridian sales representative recommended a 2-ply modified bitumen heat welded roofing system that meets ENERGY STAR® requirements. The membrane and white roof coating supplied by Viridian provided the solar reflectivity and superior emissivity necessary to meet the county’s environmental standards. The roof system also offers excellent impact and tear resistance, reducing the frequency of tearoff, which consumes landfill space with construction debris.

The total roof size was 200 squares or 20,000 sq. feet and, although warranted for the 10-year period the county required, the new system is designed to last 15 to 20 years with proper maintenance. The design of the roof includes excellent slope resulting in quick drainage and adds to the expected life.

“I know this system will give them the performance they required for the entire 10 years and beyond,” stated the Viridian sales representative. “It will also provide the county with the desired energy savings over that 10-year period.”

In addition to county buildings, Arlington County’s green building programs include a unique incentive program for commercial buildings and the Green Home Choice program for residential properties, which has become a model for other localities across the nation.

Viridian Systems is a leading provider of quality roofing and building preservation, alternative energy, HVAC, and remote energy management solutions designed for sustainability, maximum life cycles and operational effectiveness. Backed by decades of experience, Viridian applies a unique performance-oriented approach to identify problems and provide the best solution to meet clients’ needs. Many Viridian products are environmentally preferable and carry Energy Star® ratings, Cool Roof Rating Council ratings and can contribute to achieving LEED® certification. Viridian Systems is the industry benchmark for service excellence, delivering world-class Sustainable Solutions Built for Life.

Date: 2007
Location: Arlington County - Department of Public Works
Project Size: 20,000 sq. feet - Project Type: Government

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