20 October 2014 Landscape and Irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com
We're entering an innovative time for green infrastructure:
energy-generating roofs, vertical forests, net zero water and
more. Leading-edge research, design and policy discussions
around the topic of net zero water innovation will fill the rooms
and corridors of the Omni Hotel at CitiesAlive in Nashville this
year (Nov. 12-15), where the theme of the event is Water: The
Key to Everything Green. As we approach the conference, Steven
Peck, president and founder of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities,
spoke to three water and green infrastructure leaders to provide
a sample of what to expect at CitiesAlive: Warren Gorowitz, vice
president of sustainability at Ewing Irrigation; Lynda Wightman,
industry relations manager at Hunter Industries; and Jeffrey
Bruce, owner of Jeffrey L. Bruce & Company.
Peck: What does the theme Water: The Key to Everything
Green mean to you?
Wightman: Water is our most valuable resource. Without it,
we can't exist. Water keeps our green environments alive and
thriving. By being stewards of this valuable resource, we can
direct our future in many ways.
Bruce: Most of the
ecosystem benefits derived
from green infrastructure
are directly attributable
to water. As the world's
most precious resource, I
would expand the theme
to say Water: The Key to
Everything. Considering
the challenges society is
facing with degradation
of natural systems, our
only course of action is mitigating the impacts with green
infrastructure, which requires a much wiser use of water.
Peck: What are some of the challenges the water industry is
facing with regard to wise water management and its ability
to support green infrastructure development in cities?
Gorowitz: Green infrastructure development often requires
out-of-the-box thinking. Our water policies in many cases are
ancient. Alternative water sources will be integral to the future
Warren Gorowitz, Lynda
Wightman and Jeffrey Bruce
discuss water and green
infrastructure innovation
■ IntervIewed by Steven Peck
On the Roof with
Leaders in Water Innovation
Jeffrey Bruce
Photo
By
Steven
Peck
/
the
RiSe
of
Living
ARchitectuRe
Lynda Wightman
Warren gorowitz
Photo
PRovided
By
gReen
RoofS
foR
heALthy
citieS
/
hunteR
Photo
PRovided
By
gReen
RoofS
foR
heALthy
citieS
/
eWing
Green Roofs
