From the Editor
When I traveled to Las Vegas two years ago for the International Roofing Expo (IRE), sustainability was the topic of discussion.

Manufacturers had lavish displays showcasing vegetative roofs — the hot product at IRE 2009 — and photovoltaic systems also garnered some attention. Whether I visited an exhibitor booth or attended an educational session, sustainability was the underlying theme of the conference.

Two years later, at the same show in the same city, the message clearly had shifted. While sustainability was still an important topic of discussion at IRE 2011 in February, durability was the buzzword on the show floor.

Interestingly, durability has been a primary tenet of roofing manufacturers’ marketing message for years. But as the green building movement made its way through commercial and institutional facilities and grabbed the attention of facility professionals, sustainability dominated most discussions of roofing.

But managers never lost sight of durability, especially with big-ticket items, such as roofing. And it was clear at IRE 2011 that long-term performance is again at the top of managers’ priority lists when specifying roofing systems and components. Managers not only are looking to specify long-lasting, durable systems. They also are trying to revamp maintenance programs and specify products that will extend their roofs’ lives, avoiding capital-replacement projects.

Of course, long-term performance dovetails nicely with sustainability, as the most sustainable roof is the one managers do not have to replace. I imagine that point could be the key message at next year’s show — long-lasting roofs that accomplish sustainability goals. That kind of roof is the best of both worlds.

— Chris Matt, Editor

Green Strategies
Metal Roofs and Equipment Installation
Standing-seam metal roofing systems have proven to be a durable, sustainable, reliable, and environmentally responsible option for institutional and commercial facilities. Unfortunately, the process of mounting rooftop equipment and ancillary mechanicals can sabotage these systems and the maintenance freedom they offer maintenance and engineering managers.

In the News
IFMA Announces Sustainability Credential
Facility professionals can earn the Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP) credential by participating in the International Facility Management Association’s (IFMA) SFP Credential Program, which offers training and assessment materials in three course areas: strategy and alignment for sustainable facility management; managing sustainable facilities; and operating sustainable facilities.

Green Multimedia
Strategies for Specifying Vegetative Roofs
Tim Pennigar, a project manager in the engineering and operations department with Duke University Health System in Durham, N.C., discusses the biggest challenges related to retrofitting a conventional, existing roof with a vegetative system.