The green roof on the new Brushaber Commons was installed this week. The roof is one of only a handful of its kind in the Twin Cities area and is covered with just under 4,000 square feet of sedum, a drought-resistant plant material.

Green roofs have many benefits including noise reduction, water conservation, habitat creation, and fire prevention. They also extend the life-expectancy of the roof and reduce the heat island effect, resulting in reduction of air conditioning during the summer months.

“The green roof is a pragmatic solution to several issues but is also a symbolic statement about our commitment to stewardship of the environment,” said Bruce Kunkel, vice president for campus services.

Bethel used Bachmann’s Green Roof system, which was installed by Mickman Brothers. Berwald Roofing created the substructure and the waterproofing that was necessary before the installation.