Among the many green features of Fieldston's new middle school is its green or vegetative roof. Actually, there is an upper and a lower green roof, both covered with vegetation that provides insulation in the winter and reduce heat in the summer.

Eagle TV, a student news show, interviewed experts in October about green roofs in general and the exciting projects being conducted on the upper and lower green roof . The experts included Matt Palmer, professor at Columbia, who is leading a project on the teaching roof, and Stuart Gaffin,  of Columbia University Center for Climate Systems Research, who is leading the project on the upper roof. Also interviewed were members of the Fieldston science faculty and students (including seniors wearing pajamas for Pajama Day) who were busy putting in the new plant material.

The green roofs were installed back in August as these photographs
http://www.ecfs.org/files/fieldston_greenroof_installation.pdf demonstrate.The upper roof features a weather station that will measure reflectivity and temperature on a green roof, compared to a black roof. The green roof on the third floor, accessible for teaching purposes, will  be the site of a longterm study project examining the feasibilty of using native plants on green roofs.