When Lake County Surveyor George Van Til looks out his office window in the Government Complex in Crown Point, he sees a second-story, flat roof people use to walk from building to building.
But if Van Til gets his wish, the rooftop area could be converted to a rooftop garden, which would include plants, a walking path, a pond and picnic tables.
Van Til thinks it could become a reality as soon as this fall, if his office can raise the $100,000 necessary to cover the costs of the project.
Across the area, government agencies and private businesses are trying to find new, innovative ways to "go green" and become more economically friendly by adding solar panels, rooftop gardens, and wind turbines to conserve resources.
Van Til said a federal mandate to improve water quality and educate the public is only one of the reasons for wanting to add the garden.
"Leading by example is important, and we're hoping we can prove this is cost-effective, too," he said.
Van Til said if the rooftop is old and leaking and if it was repaired, it would probably cost tens of thousands of dollars. Adding a rooftop garden would make it useful and educational, and could help reduce heating and air conditioning costs. He thinks the majority of the cost of the rooftop garden could be acquired through grants and private donations. The remainder of the cost could come from water quality fees.
He envisions repurposing the outdated satellite dish into a pond, and adding tables and benches made from recycled materials.
"We've gotten a good response, and we're pushing ahead vigorously," he said. "We're really excited about it."
Other groups also are finding ways to incorporate environmentally friendly features into their projects.
The Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau has been looking into adding a wind turbine to its Welcome Center off of Kennedy Avenue.
Erica Scherringa, public and community relations manager, said the group has been investigating how it would fit into the location and what it would cost. She said the organization was looking into grants to fund the project.
"There are a lot of different things that go into it," she said. "It's still in the investigative stages."
The restroom facility near the visitors' pavilion at Chesterton's Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve has a "green roof" planted with native plants and drought-resistant succulents. Portage's Lakefront Park Pavilion is being planned using environmentally friendly materials including a green roof, wood and recycled brick.
Valparaiso has an Energy Task Force to look at the ways the city can reduce its energy use, and it expects to issue its first report within the coming months.
Governors State University has been using a solar thermal panel system on its roof for about a year, and the program has been very successful, said Mike Sullivan, the school's assistant chief engineer. The fuel from the panels has been used to heat the swimming pool and two parts of the building. The panels have generated more energy than expected, and bathrooms in two other buildings could be added.
"It's heating the showers in the locker rooms, and if it wasn't working, we'd hear about it," Sullivan said.
