ISU installing Student-Funded Green Roof atop Memorial Union

Project illustrates the student body's commitment to sustainability

AMES, IA / April 9, 2012 - Students are helping turn Iowa State University's Memorial Union's roof green, both literally and figuratively.  In a bold move that echoes the origins of an Iowa State University landmark student center, ISU's Government of the Student Body (GSB) has agreed to allocate funds from the mandatory student activity fee to help install a green roof that had been planned for the center, but had not previously been funded. On April 13th, volunteer students from ISU's Landscape and Horticulture Clubs and the Green Umbrella organization will install an 855-square foot green roof under the supervision of LiveRoof® Certified Installer Central States Roofing of Ames.  The project promises to be both educational and functional:  providing hands-on experience with a leading green technology, while reducing the university's operating expenses and storm water runoff.  In addition, this LiveRoof® Hybrid Green Roof System project, grown by Roof Top Sedums of Davenport, Iowa, will instantly add a beautiful habitat to what until now has been a barren rooftop.  ISU's Memorial Union was built in the 1920's entirely through private donations from students, alumni and other supporters as a memorial to Iowa State students and alumni who died in World War I.

The Memorial Union project was the brain-child of ISU senior Miles Thompson of Cedar Rapids, who studies green roof technology under ISU Horticulture Lecturer Jennifer Bousselot, of DeWitt, IA.  Thompson so enjoyed working on another green roof on campus that he sought out and advocated for other suitable green roof sites at ISU.  When he learned that a green roof had been planned for the Memorial Union, but funding hadn't been approved, he took it upon himself to bring the issue to the GSB, which allocated funds from student activity fees to finance what MU couldn't.  "I just really wanted to make a difference and turn this into a teaching opportunity for fellow students and a lasting testament to the importance that ISU students place on sustainability."   Lecturer Bousselot adds, "The passion these students have for this project is powerful.  I'm so impressed with what they've been able to make happen for ISU."

The colorful mix used in ISU's latest project features hardy, drought-tolerant groundcover plants, which display a variety of colors and textures, even during the fall and winter months.  Besides being beautiful, the green roof's vegetation soaks up rainfall and reduces storm water runoff.  The green roof helps reduce rooftop temperatures during summer, thereby protecting and extending the life of the roof membrane.  Green roofs are estimated to double the life of roofing materials and they work as insulation to reduce heating and cooling costs.  In addition to using plants that are well-established in soil specially engineered for the extremes of a rooftop environment, the LiveRoof® System also features a patent-pending hybrid design combining the best features of all green roof systems. The LiveRoof® System reduces labor costs to maintain compared to most systems, and because the established plants thrive  as their own living mulch.

This project is particularly meaningful to Roof Top Sedums founders Roxanne Nagel and Teresa Nelson.  Both are ISU alums; Nagel graduated with BS in Horticulture ('99) and Nelson with a Bachelors in Landscape Architecture ('87).  Nagel adds, "We're honored that the institution that helped instill our passion for the environment will now use this product to teach the next generation about green roof technology."

Des Moines, April 12, 2012–AARP thanks the Iowa Senate for supporting Iowa's largest workforce -Direct Care Workers, by funding and including language to professionalize Direct Care Workers in the Senate HHS Appropriations Budget, Senate File 2336.

"AARP thanks the members of the Iowa Senate who voted for improving and supporting Iowa's largest skilled workforce so that Iowa is prepared to care," said Kent Sovern, AARP Iowa State Director.

A task force made up of members of Iowa's direct care workers as well as industry providers has spent more than two years developing the recommendations on how to better support Iowa's Direct Care Workers.  SF 2336 establishes core state standards for training, creates career pathways for advancement and specialization, and creates a Board to oversee these professional standards.  Currently, Iowa has professional oversight boards and requires qualitative credentialing for all plumbers, hair stylists, massage therapists and a host of other occupations, but does not require a similar credentialing for all direct care workers.

"This most recent direct care support language passed in the Iowa Senate is the product of extensive negotiations and input from stakeholders in all corners of long term care," said Sovern.  "AARP commends the Iowa Senate for giving Iowa's direct care workers the recognition and professional status they want and deserve, and for insisting upon minimum training standards for paid caregivers for various Iowans and in various long-term settings."

With an estimated 73,000 direct care workers in Iowa, these paid caregivers make up the largest segment of Iowa's workforce.  Moreover, demand for direct care services is high and growing.  Iowa will need an additional 12,000 direct care workers by 2012.  High turnover is a persistent challenge.  This legislation elevates the profession by offering all Iowa's direct care workers portable training and credentials.

AARP hopes the Iowa's Representatives will also support this language and funding to continue to be a national leader in better serving Iowa's long-term care needs.

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

CARBONDALE - In advance of Tax Day, Lt. Governor Simon will fulfill her promise to release her annual tax returns and financial statements from her senior staff. Simon says making the information public empowers taxpayers to learn if she or her staff hold any conflicts of interest. This is the second consecutive year the Lt. Governor and her staff will make the disclosures.

TIME: 10 a.m. media availability

DATE: Friday, April 13

PLACE: Lt. Governor's office, IDOT District 9 headquarters, 2801 Murphysboro Road, Carbondale