August 2008: Stormwater Infrastructure — Policy, Research, and Practice

The Green Building Forum is held on the third Wednesday of each month (except December) @6:30 PM and features presentations by green building practitioners followed by discussion. The events are always free and open to the general public. Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 Reception: 6:00pm (refreshments courtesy of Hafele Americas) Presentation 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Location: Hafele Showroom at Madison Square Park (25 E. 26th St.) The August 20th forum presented by GreenHomeNYC will focus on water issues in New York City, such as stormwater run-off and combined sewer overflows. NYC’s leading umbrella organization on stormwater infrastructure, S.W.I.M., will frame the discussion with an overview of water issues, followed by a more detailed review of Local Law 5 of 2008 and the green roof tax abatement. Local Law 5 requires the City to adopt a stormwater management plan by the end of the calendar year. The green roof tax abatement, also known as SO7553, passed the State Assembly and Senate in June 2008. It provides for an abatement of $4.50 per square foot, up to $100,000. Following the review of these legislative changes, EDAW’s Ecological Design division will present on their cutting edge research and design endeavors in the metro area. AIA Continuing Education Credits will be available for this session. The forum presenters will be representatives of NRDC, Sustainable South Bronx, and EDAW. Session Objectives:

1. To understand key stormwater infrastructure issues facing NYC, including policy preventing or supporting best management practices.
2. To understand Local Law 5 of 2008, which requires the City of New York to approve a stormwater management plan by the end of the year; particularly to review the technical requirements to be included in the plan.
3. To understand the Green Roof Tax Abatement passed by the NY State legislature in June 2008, in particular the definition of green roof, the amount of the abatement, the requirements to obtaining the abatement.
4. To engage in discussion and review of cutting-edge urban experimental ecology research.
5. To broaden understanding of stormwater infrastructure issues such as stormwater run-off coefficients, green intensive and green extensive roofs, blue roofs, tree pits, combined sewer overflows, etc.