Another move forward on the green front, as 29 separate roofs at Minneapolis's Target Center are replaced with an energy-efficient green roof.
Minneapolis city officials were out in force at Target Center yesterday to unveil the first green roof on an arena. The home of the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) is now covered with the fifth-largest green roof in the United States (at 2.5 acres) and the first on an arena.
Basically, a green roof is a covering utilizing a layer of dirt, an extensive drainage system and plant to capture stormwater and regulate extreme temperatures both in summer and winter. The Target Center green roof is projected to capture nearly 1 million gallons of stormwater runoff annually, diverting it from a straight path to the Mississippi River.
Planted on the roof: a variety of sedums and Minnesota prairie plants, including Columbine, Prairie Coreopsis, Wild Strawberry, Dotted Blazing-Star, and Lupine. In addition, the roof will sport lupines to target the Karner Blue Butterfly, a federally listed endangered butterfly.
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