Seeking Graduate Student to Study Integrating Green Roofs and Photovoltaic Panels
The Kadas Green Roofs Ecology Research Center, University of Haifa, Israel, seeks a highly motivated graduate student (PhD, possibly MSc), preferably with background in community ecology and interests in green roof ecology, to conduct thesis research on the integration of photovoltaic panels and green roofs. A short description of the proposed study is pasted below. Some information about this Center can be found at http://evolution.haifa.ac.il/index.php/research/research-centers/kadas-green-roofs-ecology. Interested candidates should send their curriculum vitae, a short statement of research interests including how your current background fits with this research project, and contact information for at least three referees to Prof. Leon Blaustein ([email protected]) with a cc to Ms. Limor Dvir ([email protected]). Preferred starting date is between August and September 2013. Semester begins October 2013. TITLE: Integrating Bio-diverse Green Roofs and Photovoltaic systems ABSTRACT. Roofs can provide green opportunities – both solar photovoltaic (PV) technology for clean sustainable electrical energy and green roofs for mitigating storm runoff, reducing energy expenditure for heating and cooling buildings, and providing habitat for flora and fauna in a landscape otherwise depauperate of natural habitat. The latter benefit has received very little research attention. Green roofs and roof-mounted PV systems should not be considered competing roof options but rather, if placed together, should interact to improve the performance of both systems. Green roofs reduce roof temperatures and should thus improve the electricity-producing efficiency of PV panels. PV panels should reduce solar radiation and evaporation and increase solar radiation heterogeneity, consequently providing a wider range of niches for plants and animals yielding higher diversity and biomass in a hot, dry environment like Israel. Such benefits to green roofs and PV electrical production should be further increased by irrigation. Although tap water is scarce and expensive in Israel and elsewhere, irrigation of green roofs with gray water, should not only increase PV efficiency but also provide a water pollution abatement solution. While theory suggests all this to be the case, few studies worldwide and none in hot and dry environments have assessed such integration of green technologies. We propose to experimentally assess the integrative use of PV panels, green roofs and gray water irrigation for multiple environmental benefits including increased biodiversity and increased clean energy production. Leon Blaustein Director, Kadas Green Roofs Ecology Center Head, Community Ecology Laboratory Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary & Environmental Biology Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905 Israel Tel. 972-4-8240736 (office); 972-4-9998881 (home) Cell: 054-268-8290; Institute Fax: 972-4-8246554 http://leonblaustein.wikidot.com http://evolution.haifa.ac.il/index.php/research/research-centers/kadas-green-roofs-ecology Chief Editor, Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution http://israelsciencejournals.com/eco.htm e-mail: [email protected] "He [Rabin] knew that those who starve peace, feed extremism." -Shimon Peres speaking at Rabin commemoration 7 Nov 09
