MIPS Project Detail:
Company
Company Description:
Smart Slope LLC develops locally produced, low-carbon-footprint, geographically scalable vegetated retaining walls and growth media to support plant growth in living roofs and living walls. The company produces the Smart Slope retaining wall system, which provides similar benefits on steep slopes to that of living roofs. Part of the Smart Slope offering is engineered growth media to maximize structural volume over time, with optimal retention and drainage during storm events. While the media in walls does not share the light-weight requirement of roof applications, all other desired characteristics are the same.
MIPS Project
Alternative Substrate Blends for Greenroof Media
Project #
5020
|
MIPS Round
50
|
Starting Date:
Aug 2012
MIPS Project Challenge:
The goal of this MIPS project was to investigate media components for green roofs that do not require energy intensive manufacturing processes.
Project Scope:
Through this MIPS project, researchers planned to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative substrates for green roofs, including crushed brick from local demolitions, scoria (which does not require kiln firing), crumb rubber and other components that can be acquired with minimal embodied energy. Researchers were slated to test these materials in various combinations to determine their effectiveness in supporting plant growth, water retention/ transmissivity, long-term structural integrity, and carbon footprint.
Results:
While most substrate mixes tested in this project were not used, reclaimed brick from local building demolition was proven feasible and is now in use. Additionally, one novel base-component was utilized based on this research and a novel green roof design was developed because of it.
Smart Slope has generated $2 million in sales and $600,000 in total support from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The company has created two new jobs and retained ten.
This MIPS project was supported through funding from DNR. Smart Slope received $80,000 in funding from the Mtech-managed Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund, also supported by DNR.
Principal Investigator:
Andrew
Ristvey
Extension Specialist
Project Manager:
Michael
Furbish
President and Founder
Technologies:
Environmental Technology / Science
