Smart Surfaces Crusader: How One Man Is Changing Buildings to Save the World

In 2000, Dale’s eyes were opened to the climate crisis. While watching the coverage of Gore/Bush presidential election, he became intrigued by the discussions about climate change and environmental issues. After doing extensive research, he found himself shocked by the current state of the planet and exasperated by the lack of action being taken. “I just thought, why isn’t someone doing anything about this? If we want to continue to live on this planet, we need to change how we do everything,” Dale said.

He began at home, swapping his car for a low-emissions road bike in most cases including taking his daughter cross town to her various extracurricular activities. He began composting all his food waste and replaced the grass of his lawn with more sustainable plants. He then went about implementing policies at work. As the Owner of Green Rock Apartments, Dale made it his mission to expand his business in 2004 and make his now 146 units sustainable as well.

Dale offers all his tenants incentives to follow the low-emissions policy of Green Rock Apartments. For instance, tenants who purchase an electric car are given free parking for the rest of their current lease and half off if they renew. “One of the largest contributors to climate change is human garbage dumps so I provide incentives for my tenants to not throw food or anything that can be reused away,” Dale explained.

Currently, he is about halfway through working to replace the asphalt or concrete of the parking lots at his buildings. After reading about using recycled plastic grids that are laid over rocks or bark for stabilization, he found that he could meet the city’s parking lot weight requirements with this more porous surface. His new recycled plastic grid absorbs rainwater, reducing pollution, runoff and flood risk. Using clover to fill in the plastic grid which is laid over crushed gravel, French drains and recycled pavers, this parking surface also lowers temperatures through evaporative cooling. “It’s a process but when it is done it is gorgeous and you can park any car up to 5000 pounds per square foot without worrying about settling. There are no problems with snow removal or maintenance, and it is so much cooler than black asphalt,” Dale explained.

For a quick fix, Dale suggests painting over any asphalt with special heat reflective asphalt paint that reflects instead of absorbing UV rays. “It’s still not as sustainable as the porous surfaces I have been implementing but it is better than the blacktop,” he continued.

Dale’s buildings feature things like privacy coating on the sides of his buildings’ windows, which reflects 80% of the UV heat. The coating, which can be found at your local hardware store, is something that can easily be added to any home. Energy efficient doors and windows also keep heat and air pollution out.  

One of the biggest oppositions to implementing environmentally friendly changes is that they cost a lot more money. But Dale is the first to tell you this isn’t true. In fact, he funds and completes many of his renovations himself and is insistent that after a short time they pay for themselves. For instance, because of Dale’s changes, after 10 years, all Green Rock Apartment’s buildings are electric bill free. “That includes the use of heat pumps, laundry machines, dryers, water heaters, etc. All those items have been zeroed out with my new solar panels, efficiency upgrades and smart surfaces. I don’t have any electric bills on any of my buildings most of the year,” Dale exclaimed.

“People make excuses not to change, which is frustrating because global warming is going to require a much bigger payment than implementing these small adjustments,” Dale explained. “So, the real question is, what is your life and our children’s future worth to you?”

So where should you start? Dale says it’s easy. “Just be curious, do some research and start changing what you can. Doing nothing is not an option. No one is going to save the world for you.”