August 5, 2008 WPI installs "Green Roof" Play video

(Danica Pecirep, NECN: Worcester, MA) - Twelve hundred pallets of plants were lifted by crane and placed on top of a building at Worcester Poly Tech. no, it's not a roof top garden, it's Worcester's first living green roof.

The green roof helps mitigate storm water run off- when the water hits the roof from the rainstorm, the water goes through the green roof and gets absorbed by the green roof so it reduces run off.

It's all part of a new dorm that includes the latest in green technology. Neil Benner is the project manager of the construction company WPI hired to get it done.

It also provides added insulation during hot weather or cold weather.

The green roofing system was first developed in Germany in the 1960's. Over the last ten years its popularity has grown across the globe. And WPI's new building isn't just a dorm....you could say it's also a working classroom.

A team from our civil engineering department are working with a professor and his students on monitoring the volume of storm water and quality of storm water that comes off various sections of the roof.

College officials say the building is proof that WPI is committed to protecting the environment.