Page 10 - CooperatorNews NY April 2021

10 COOPERATORNEWS — APRIL 2021 COOPERATORNEWS.COM WeatherTight is your Commercial Roofing Specialist Seamless For many applications, a liquid, single monolithic membrane covers the entire roof, with no seams or joints (the source of most leaks in flat roofs). Lightweight Typically weighs around 50 lbs/sq ft, versus 800 lbs for a built-up roof and 100 lbs for ballasted single-ply roofs. Flexible Polyurethane foam can be sprayed onto virtually any surface, irregularly shaped roofs and protrusions pose no detriment to installation. Sustainable Foamed roofs require a minimum of upkeep, create little waste and feature an indefinite lifespan. Every layer increases your bottom line! The heating and AC loss you have been experiencing in your commercial building can be significantly reduced with one of our energy saving roofing systems! WeatherTight Systems’ completely air-tight roofing systems seal in your building’s cool air and heat. SPF (Spray Polyurethane Foam) roofing TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) roofing MB (Modified Bitumen) roofing EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer) roofing Flat Top or sloped Tile roofing Metal Roofing Systems HERE ARE THE STATS We Offer the Following Services For a FREE quote, call us at (973) 890-7663 (New York/New Jersey). Visit weathertightroof.com owners to seek out alternative renewable en- ergy sources, it does not require that buildings gal hassle as well. convert solely to solar sources—though many are adopting solar as part of their overall plan. Th e success of solar energy depends to a great extent on the orientation of the building to direct sunlight. Alimonti explains that it’s not mandatory. “Not every building has the expo- sure for solar,” she says. “It may not face the right way, something may be in the way—like another building, etc. So it can’t be required. But the analysis of its usefulness should be ap- proached from a holistic view.” Resident Buy-In Goldner points out that a great unknown variable in the overall equation is how much residents understand and participate in re- ducing emissions. He stresses the importance of resident education. “Because 70-80% of electricity is used within apartments—and is outside of management control—residents must understand their own part of the build- ing’s carbon footprint. Th e building will pay a carbon penalty for them if they don’t change their energy consumption habits. We need to try to eff ect that change inside individual apartments as well.” In the fi nal analysis, reducing both costs and emissions in your building will be a gar- gantuan eff ort over many years. It will involve both a fi nancial and personal commitment from shareholders and unit owners. Local Law 97 takes the option out of participating. It’s the law, so preparing now will not only save energy and money, but a whole lot of le- n A J Sidransky is a staff writer/reporter with CooperatorNews, and a published nov- elist. PREPARING... continued from page 2 continued on page 11 PLANTS... continued from page 1 suit certain plants. … We should let go of the idea that we need fussy, high-maintenance, exotic plants in order to have a beautiful gar- den.” Tom Lupfer, owner of Lupfer Landscap- ing in Lyons, Illinois, and member of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), says that an integrated landscape approach will also become a more sustain- able system. Where plants are dying or struggling, he says, pests tend to prolifer- ate, which increases the need for chemical applications. Th is has further negative con- sequences for the health and vitality of the landscape. “When you put down herbicides, for example,” says Lupfer, “you kill not only the harmful elements, but many of the ben- efi cial microbes that foster life and growth in the soil. Th e soil becomes barren, in a way, and has to be supplemented artifi cially, which means more chemicals.” As with any organic system, the less need for interven- tion, the better. Native plants are more likely to thrive on their own in the conditions nat- ural to the region, requiring fewer chemi- cals, less watering, and less impact. Th e National Wildlife Federation has launched a Native Plant Finder on its web- site: www.nwf.org/nativeplantfi nder/. En- ter your zip code, and fi nd all the fl owers, grasses, trees, and shrubs that are native to your area. Go for Low Maintenance A sustainable landscape is one that mini- mizes use of non-renewable resources, ac- cording to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Th e less we can apply chemi- cals, fertilizers, pesticides, and even water to our manicured environments, the better it is for both our planet and our pocketbook. Not only does overuse of these elements have negative eff ects on the environment and our health, but it’s expensive. Th e move to a sustainable landscape need not be immediate, nor need it be an extreme overhaul of an existing plan. “Th e whole goal of moving toward sustainability is to subtly change it into a more vibrant-looking landscape and create a healthier environ- ment,” Lupfer says. “It should be a process of transitioning from a traditional landscape to a more sustainable one. A healthier land- scape means that plants don’t need as much attention, since they are growing as they should and are not affl icted by disease and don’t need artifi cial food to keep them alive and fl ourishing.” One quick and easy way to save green by going green is to control irrigation. Lupfer estimates that watering plants and grasses only as needed, rather than using a timer or other automatic schedule, can save 60% to 70% on water bills. Th ese savings can re- ally add up over time, and require little to no initial fi nancial output. “You don’t have to put in new systems or spend any money up front,” he advises of this practice. “Th is is something everyone can do right now.” sun and shade, make better use of otherwise dead space, and account for seasonality—a particularly important consideration in the face of climate change and the severe weath- er events it can bring to all regions. Similarly, making use of plants native to the region where they’re being planted has both maintenance and sustainability ben- efi ts. Landscaping experts advise that native plants are already adapted to local climate and soil conditions, and therefore require less watering, fertilizers, and pesticides than non-native vegetation. According to Ellen Sousa, author of Th e Green Garden: Th e New England Guide to Planning, Planting and Maintaining the Eco-Friendly Habitat Gar- den, the best bet is to “choose plants suited for your particular site conditions, rather than trying to change your conditions to