Bill Foley
Advertisement
Bill Foley
Securock Gypsum Roof Boards
Bill Foley
This week we are featuring William “Bill” Foley, a passionate advocate in the green roof community and has worked in the construction industry for over 25 years. He has worked with numerous companies in the industry and has remained a valued member of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. Bill promotes water and energy-efficient design employing green roof infrastructure, combined green roof photovoltaic systems and other technologies related to sustainable infrastructure. He has authored several articles appearing in Applicator magazine (published by the Sealant Waterproofing Restoration Institute), Interface magazine (Roofing Consultants Institute) and the Living Architecture Monitor. Since 2003, Bill has been directly involved in the advancement of green roofing through project specification, design consultation and installation oversight.
In 2009, Bill earned certification from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEB) in PV Solar. He also passed the Green Roof Professional (GRP) certification test. In 2013, he earned his LEED™ Green Associate designation. His ongoing industry association affiliations include DVGBC, ASLA, Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and GSI Partners of the Sustainable Business Network in Philadelphia.
Today, Bill works with Securock Gypsum Roof Boards, Roof Boards are recommended for green roofs beneath roof membrane to protect against puncture and to support roof traffic.
Why did you decide to become a GRP?
I taught the Green Roof Professional (GRP) training series courses 101, 201 and 301 before the fourth course on horticulture was added to complete GRP. After a few years, the 101 and 201 courses were merged to create the existing three GRP classes. I was actually one of the first professionals to take the GRP exam when it first started and become a Green Roof Professional.
How has it enhanced your career?
My career has revolved around roofing, waterproofing and then green roofing. Green Roofing became a passion and has lead to at least three positions in the industry with employers (Tremco, ZinCo-USA and USG) and also as an LLC consulting in green roof construction, Enviro-plane Consulting, LLC.
What is your favourite part of your job?I love seeing a project well done and completed. I expect many of the best projects I have supplied materials and consulting expertise for will outlive me and provide a welcoming biophilic place for people to be absorbed and nurtured.
How does the GRP designation contribute to your work? My belief is that the GRP is not a substitute for experience, but it shows that a practitioner in green roofs are a student of the business. We are not all landscape architects or designers but even those professionals learn a great deal about the underlying structure of roofs, structure, safety, construction, estimating and other considerations. GRP is also a community of like-minded people that value sustainability supported by green infrastructure and symbiotic design that blends the built environment with the natural world.
What advice would you provide to someone interested in pursuing a similar career path to yourself?The focus in my career began with the construction of the built environment and that is a satisfying career. Being able to also fulfill my personal goals of making the environment cleaner and less polluted was an important evolution for me. If you enjoy what you do and the outcomes positively affect people what more can you ask?
What trends about green infrastructure/sustainability make you excited for the future?
The idea that Cities and government agencies are codifying stormwater management and urban heat island reduction is exciting. When working in DC years ago, I would never have thought, early in my career, that my first contact on projects would be working with Civil Engineers and environmental agencies. We have come along way since I joined GHRC, 19 years ago.
What do you see the role of green infrastructure in resilience and the COVID-19 recovery?
Indirectly. Food security, open spaces and a greater respect for our environment and climate change could result a worldwide understanding that we cannot continuously destruct rain forests and build sprawling suburban neighborhoods. Many modern diseases evolve from environmental destruction and imbalance. Predator loss that controlled mice that carried Lyme Disease ticks lead to more infected deer and eventually spread to humans. When we upset that natural balance this can result in the spread of new viruses and bacterial infections.
What does your employer think about having a GRP on staff or projects?
My current employer needs more awareness of GRP's and GRHC. Our industry, roof boards as a component to better roof design has enjoyed the support of GRP training in the Waterproofing and Drainage Module. Our products are mostly sold through Roofing Manufacturers under private label agreement and many of those companies do support GRP. Names include but not limited to Carlisle, Firestone, Siplast, Sarnifil, Tremco, Johns Manville, GAF, Henry, Kemper, Fibertite, Flex and many others.
Advertisement
Green Roof Professionals are industry recognized as having the most extensive knowledge of green roofs due to the rigorous training and exam process. The GRP training series and exam is available online through the Living Architecture Academy. Learn more about Green Roofs for Healthy Cities or how to become a Green Roof Professional.
