What Has 30,000 Square Feet, 60,000 Plants, and One Scary Ladder?

That would be Ed Dreiband's green roof. Ed is a friend and morning workout-at-the-gym cohort. With his wife Ina, he owns NorthWest Honda in suburban Baltimore. Until 2006, the dealership was in a 1950's-era building across busy Reisterstown Road. When they started to plan for a new building, Ed wanted to incorporate "green" features. "We all share this planet," he says, "and if we don't take care of the planet it is not going to be here."

I got a first-hand look at this amazing roof one day last week. It seemed simple – just go out to the building, talk with Ed, take a few pictures, and post it to Active Rain for the Buildings and Eco-All Stars groups. Ha!

Ed greeted me and said, "Are you sure you want to do this today?" Sure, why not? "Do you want a jacket?" Nope, I love cool weather.

So he led me back to a bare metal ladder that went straight up to a heavy metal hatch. It's the only way to the roof other than a fireman's ladder or a helicopter. Ed went first and secured the hatch open. As I climbed up, I realized why he asked about a jacket; it was a brisk, breezy 40 degrees and completely exposed. Brrrr….

But the view of the roof was amazing, and I got busy with my camera. The roof is covered by almost 60,000 plants that are able to withstand sun, heat, cold, and being watered only when it rains. The design benefits both the building, by moderating the need for extra heating and cooling, and the environment. The plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, plus they filter rainwater so that what eventually drains into the Chesapeake Bay is cleaner and healthier for marine life. And because of the size of the building, Ed's obligation to meet storm water management regulations was covered by the installation of his living roof.

Ed didn't stop with the roof; he made sure that many of the systems in this new building were eco-friendly. Most of the heat needed for the building is generated by a furnace that burns recycled car oil. Instead of sending car wash water right down the drain, the dealership reprocesses and recycles 2,500 to 3,000 gallons a day. Sensors throughout the building turn lights on and off as people enter and leave rooms, and external "photoeyes" read the amount of available light and turn on lighting as needed.

Now Ed, Ina, and a staff of 200 enjoy a building that is light, bright, and environmentally friendly. At the same time, Ed is gaining national recognition for his innovative approach to incorporating so many green features in a car dealership and service facility. While he expects to recoup the financial investment over time, to Ed the investment in the planet's future is more important. A recent article quoted Ed: "I have grandchildren, and many of the people on my team have children. We want to leave them a healthy environment. We only have one earth. We all share it."