{{short description|University of Toronto research facility}} The '''Green Roof Innovation Testing Lab''' ("GRIT Lab") is a University of Toronto research facility at the John H. Daniels Faculty for Architecture, Landscape and Design.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2018/06/30/the-height-of-cool-battling-the-heat-from-u-of-ts-experimental-green-roof.html|title=The height of cool: Battling the heat from U of T’s experimental green roof|date=2018-06-30|website=thestar.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref> The only facility of its kind in Canada,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hoag|first=Hannah|date=2015-08-27|title=How cities can beat the heat|url=http://www.nature.com/news/how-cities-can-beat-the-heat-1.18228|journal=Nature News|language=en|volume=524|issue=7566|pages=402|doi=10.1038/524402a|doi-access=free}}</ref> the GRIT Lab tests and researches the environmental performance of green roofs, green walls, and solar photovoltaic technologies in Canada to help mitigate climate change.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/Technology/2015/6/Ongoing-monitoring-of-green-roof-construction-needed-says-U-of-T-1008374W|title=Ongoing monitoring of green roof construction needed, says U of T - constructconnect.com|date=2015-06-17|website=Daily Commercial News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>
The GRIT Lab is run by a team of landscape architects, civil engineers, building scientists, and biologists from the U of T Daniels Faculty, including Director Liat Margolis as well as professors Robert Wright, Dr. Ted Kesik, Dr. Brent Sleep and Jennifer Drake.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yongestreetmedia.ca/innovationnews/grit20140820.aspx|title=Vegetation and solar panels, all on the same roof|last=Dotan|first=Hamutal|website=www.yongestreetmedia.ca|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/work/research/green-roof-innovation-testing-laboratory-grit-lab|title=Green Roof Innovation Testing Laboratory (GRIT Lab)|website=Daniels|language=en|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>
Related industry partners such as Tremco, Bioroof Systems, and Sky Solar, as well as government agencies including the City of Toronto, and other academic institutions are also involved in the project.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/toronto/university-of-toronto-lab-tries-to-perfect-the-greenroof/article35230140/|title=University of Toronto lab tries to perfect the green roof|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>
== History == The GRIT Lab was established in 2010 on the roof of the Daniels Faculty at 230 College Street in Toronto by the Daniels Faculty's Centre for Landscape Research.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadianarchitect.com/u-of-ts-green-roof-innovation-testing-laboratory-launches-new-website/|title=U of T's Green Roof Innovation Testing Laboratory launches new website|date=2013-05-08|website=Canadian Architect|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref> The opening of the lab came after the City of Toronto introduced a by-law in May 2009 that required all new developments in the city larger than 2,000 square meters to incorporate a certain percentage of green roof space.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gbdmagazine.com/2013/25-grit-lab/|title=The Nitty-Gritty of Green Roofs - gb&d|date=2013-12-27|website=gb&d magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>
Operations began in 2011 to monitor the performance of the city's recommendations.<ref name=":1" /> This is done by testing the effectiveness of various green roofs, green walls, and solar photovoltaic technologies in the Toronto climate.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> The experiments aim to reveal the optimal construction of green roofs and how to maximize environmental performance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://research2reality.com/energy-environment-nature/how-going-green-can-fight-floods/|title=How Going Green Can Fight Floods|last=Reality|first=Research 2|date=2015-02-18|website=Research2Reality|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>
In addition to testing, the lab also offers private educational seminars to related organizations and those interested in green-thinking.<ref name=":4" />
To date, the GRIT Lab consists of 48 boxed plant testing beds, a variety of green walls, and its own weather station.<ref name=":0" /> Data is regularly collected on soil moisture, flow rates, temperature, rainfall, humidity, solar, and wind to determine which combinations can produce the greatest cooling and stormwater benefit.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" />
In 2013, a website was established to share the results of the lab's research with the public.<ref name=":3" />
In 2017, the lab moved from College Street to the fifth floor roof of the Daniels Faculty's new home at 1 Spadina Crescent.<ref name=":0" /> The new lab at 1 Spadina focuses on both testing the absorptive qualities of green roofs, as well as the effectiveness of cisterns or holding tanks at keeping rainwater out of storm sewers and the ground.<ref name=":4" />
== Awards == In 2013 the GRIT Lab received an Award of Excellence from the American Society of Landscape Architects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asla.org/2013awards/394.html|title=ASLA 2013 Professional Awards {{!}} Green Roof Innovation Testing (GRIT) Laboratory|website=www.asla.org|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>
==References== <references />
== External links == * http://grit.daniels.utoronto.ca/
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Category:Laboratories in Canada Category:Research institutes affiliated with the University of Toronto Category:2010 establishments in Ontario Category:Environmental research institutes Category:John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design