New building to get Juneau's first green roof

From The Associated Press, Monday, August 2, 2010:

A transportation center under construction in downtown Juneau is getting a first for the city: a green, living roof.

Green roofs contain plants as part of the structure.

Landscape architect Christopher Mertl said the idea is to make something attractive and environmentally sensitive.

Trays of sedums and native Alaska sea thrift cover about 1,000 square feet of the roof.

Mertl said the plants could survive heavy rains, droughts and heat conditions without caretaking. He says the plants would be relatively independent and save in maintenance costs.