How Smart Stormwater Roof Drains Earn Envision Credits
Table of Contents Show
Introduction - How Civil Infrastructure Can Capture Stormwater and Envision Credits Simultaneously
Cities today face growing pressures from climate change, rapid urbanization, and aging infrastructure. Sustainable, resilient solutions are no longer optional—they are essential for future-proofing the built environment. Certification systems like the Envision Rating System, developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), have become key tools for ensuring that infrastructure projects deliver measurable community, environmental, and economic benefits.
Urbanstrong’s Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System responds directly to these demands. This innovative system helps buildings retain, detain, and optimize stormwater management on-site, dramatically easing burdens on city sewer systems. Moreover, it creates public educational opportunities and valuable datasets that appeal to researchers, policymakers, and sustainability advocates alike.
By aligning advanced stormwater management with Envision credit achievement, Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention Systems transform rooftops into active, high-value infrastructure assets. In this blog, we explore how Urbanstrong’s solution not only helps projects earn important Envision credits but also contributes to broader resilience, transparency, and sustainability goals for urban environments.
What is the Envision Rating System?
The Envision Rating System is a sustainability framework developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). It is designed to help infrastructure projects—such as transportation systems, wastewater treatment plants, energy facilities, and public spaces—become more environmentally, socially, and economically responsible.
Unlike building-centric frameworks like LEED, Envision takes a holistic approach to civil infrastructure, evaluating not just the structures themselves, but how they interact with and contribute to the surrounding environment and community. It was developed through a collaboration between ISI, which was founded by ASCE, APWA, ACEC, and the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Suitable for infrastructure of all types and scales, the framework is used to assess projects for sustainability across 64 indicators, called credits.
The Envision framework evaluates projects across five main credit categories:
Quality of Life – Measures how a project benefits the community, including access, mobility, public health, and aesthetic value.
Leadership – Focuses on team collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
Resource Allocation – Examines efficiency in the use of materials, energy, and water, and the reduction of waste.
Natural World – Considers protection of natural habitats, air and water quality, and ecosystem services.
Climate and Resilience – Assesses a project’s ability to endure and adapt to climate change, extreme weather, and other future risks.
Projects are scored based on performance in each category and can achieve one of four certification levels: Verified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. Envision also encourages continuous improvement and rewards innovation, making it an evolving tool for designing the infrastructure of the future.
What is the Smart Roof Drain Rooftop Stormwater Retention System?
Urbanstrong’s Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System is a groundbreaking, AI-enabled rooftop solution that integrates stormwater detention, blue roof infrastructure, and building data systems into one modular package. Designed for urban buildings, especially in high-density cities like New York, the system captures and intelligently automatically controls stormwater directly on flat commercial rooftops without requiring excavation or underground tanks.
Phases of the Smart Drain Rooftop Stormwater Retention System - Collection, Evaporation and Release
Key Components & Features of the Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System:
Automated smart valves that respond to rainfall and regulatory requirements to control water flow
Leak detection system that triggers an automatic roof flush if any system faults or damage occurs, ensuring the roof’s waterproofing is maintained
Optional sensors for tracking ambient temperature, humidity, wind speed, and barometric pressure
Cloud-connected dashboard that offers real-time insights into system performance, water storage levels, and stormwater activity
Self-sufficient power system through battery and solar energy, ensuring the system operates without relying on the building’s electricity
Unlike traditional stormwater management methods like cisterns or underground retention tanks, the Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System is:
Space-saving – no need for underground installations
Cost-efficient – about 40–50% more cost-effective compared to conventional systems
Multi-functional – integrates seamlessly with green roofs, solar panels, integrated-solar-green-roofs and rooftop amenity decks
Smart Drain Rooftop Stormwater Retention System sensor and control valve boxes installed on a hotel in Saint Louis, MO
The Smart Roof Drain’s real-time responsiveness allows it to store rainwater during a storm, hold it on the roof surface, and gradually release it afterward—thereby preventing flooding, easing the load on aging combined sewer systems, and improving overall water management.
Which Envision Rating System Credits Can the Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention Roof System Help Projects Earn?
Urbanstrong’s Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System plays a significant role in helping projects achieve various Envision credits by aligning with sustainability goals across multiple categories. Below is an overview of how the system contributes to each Envision credit:
1. NW2.2 – Manage Stormwater
The Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System is designed to manage stormwater effectively by reducing runoff, controlling water flow, and improving stormwater quality. With its ability to detain up to four (4) inches of stormwater and optimize evaporation processes, it meets and exceeds stormwater management best practices. This capability helps to reduce the burden on municipal drainage systems and minimizes the risk of flooding in urban areas, making it an essential tool for addressing stormwater management concerns.
Managing stormwater right where it lands, on rooftops, can significantly reduce combined sewer overflows into our public waterways.
2. NW1.1 – Preserve Ecological Function
The Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System, when paired with vegetative roofing, significantly contributes to restoring and maintaining natural water cycles. It enhances urban biodiversity by integrating green infrastructure solutions that support local plant and animal life. This integration is vital for creating sustainable urban environments that are resilient to climate impacts and ensure the long-term health of urban ecosystems. By fostering natural processes like water infiltration and evapotranspiration, Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention Systems play a critical role in preserving ecological function in dense urban settings.
3. RA1.2 – Use Recycled, Reused, or Renewable Resources
One of the key environmental benefits of the Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System is its use of recycled materials in the construction of its components. This reduces the overall material demand and environmental impact compared to traditional stormwater management systems that require large amounts of raw materials and heavy construction. Additionally, by eliminating the need for extensive excavation or the installation of bulky underground tanks, Smart Roof Drain helps save valuable resources and supports more sustainable building practices.
4. LD3.1 – Provide for Stakeholder Involvement
The Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System’s real-time environmental data provides an important tool for engaging stakeholders in a building's sustainability efforts. This system offers transparency by allowing tenants, operations teams, and other key stakeholders to monitor the system’s performance. Having access to up-to-date stormwater retention and system health data fosters a more informed and collaborative approach to sustainability. Stakeholder involvement is crucial for ensuring that sustainability goals are met and that there is clear communication between all parties involved. This dynamic interaction not only boosts operational efficiency but also promotes greater awareness of the importance of sustainable infrastructure.
5. LD3.3 – Conduct Public Education and Outreach
The installation of public-facing dashboards displaying real-time performance data is a unique feature of the Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System. These dashboards, placed in lobbies or community centers, allow the public to observe key metrics such as water retained, energy savings, and overall system efficiency. This educational tool helps make sustainability more tangible for building occupants and visitors, fostering a deeper understanding of environmental challenges. Additionally, the visibility of this data can inspire action and awareness in the wider community, contributing to public education efforts on climate resilience and resource conservation. Through this feature, buildings earn credits for fostering environmental literacy and promoting sustainable practices.
6. CR2.1 – Assess Climate Threats and Vulnerabilities
With the growing threat of climate change, cities face increasing risks from flooding and extreme weather events. The Smart Drain Rooftop Stormwater Retention System helps buildings mitigate these risks by providing an efficient, scalable solution for stormwater retention. By storing rainwater on rooftops and controlling its release, the system reduces the likelihood of flooding and combined sewer overflows (CSOs), which are a common issue in urban areas. In regions like New York, where climate change is expected to bring more intense and frequent storms, Smart Roof Drain’s resilience-focused design supports adaptation efforts. This directly aligns with Envision’s criteria for assessing and addressing climate vulnerabilities, earning the system credits for enhancing climate resilience.
Education Credits & Policy Impact of the Smart Rooftop Stormwater Management Dashboard
Urbanstrong’s dashboard technology takes rooftop stormwater management far beyond compliance—it transforms buildings into dynamic contributors to sustainability education and climate policy advancement.
Lobby dashboard showing stats about the performance of the building’s Smart Drain Rooftop Stormwater Retention System.
The Dashboard of the Smart Drain Rooftop Stormwater Retention System displays:
Precipitation totals and stormwater retention metrics – detailing how much rainfall was captured and how much was evaporated or detained.
Year-to-date performance comparisons – providing an easy visualization of cumulative stormwater management achievements.
Leak detection status and alerts – showcasing real-time rooftop integrity to ensure water retention does not compromise roofing systems.
Ambient rooftop environmental data – including optional metrics like temperature, humidity, wind speed, and barometric pressure for a comprehensive environmental picture.
The Dashboard’s Impact on Public Education and Awareness:
Installing a dashboard in a building lobby turns passive building performance into an active teaching tool for tenants, employees, and visitors.
Real-time metrics offer a clear, visual demonstration of how green infrastructure supports urban resilience, aligning with Envision and LEED Education Credit requirements.
Building owners can host tours, educational sessions, or workshops around the dashboard, deepening community engagement.
The Dashboard’s Impact on Research and Policy:
Universities and environmental researchers gain access to highly valuable, granular data on urban stormwater management and microclimate impacts.
Policymakers can reference live performance data to inform updates to local green infrastructure policies, building codes, and sustainability incentives.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Urbanstrong’s Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System is ideal for flat or low-slope roofs typically found on urban high-rises, commercial centers, schools, hospitals, parking garages, and industrial facilities. It is particularly beneficial where traditional stormwater management options like underground cisterns are impractical or prohibitively expensive.
-
Absolutely. The Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System is designed to be compatible with both solar PV installations and/or vegetative green roofs. The ambient air beneath the solar panels will be kept cooler thanks to evaporative cooling from the retained stormwater. This will in turn increase the solar panels’ electricity production efficiency. And green roofs enhance evapotranspiration rates, further reducing stormwater volume. Feeling greedy for both? Consider installing an integrated solar-green-roof system and enjoy the synergistic benefits of both systems.
-
In most cases, no additional reinforcement is necessary. The system is typically designed within standard rooftop live load parameters, equivalent to accommodating typical snow loads (about 20–35 pounds per square foot). However, Urbanstrong’s engineers always conduct structural assessments to ensure rooftop safety and compliance.
-
Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System are best suited for single-ply roofing membranes such as PVC or KEE, which are heat-welded and capable of tolerating ponding water. Systems are compatible with most modern waterproofing assemblies that allow for controlled temporary water detention.
-
The Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System dashboard collects comprehensive data including:
Volume of stormwater retained and released
Real-time flow rates during storm events
Environmental conditions such as rooftop temperature, humidity, wind speed, and barometric pressure (optional)
Health of waterproofing membranes through leak detection algorithms
Historical performance trends This data empowers building operators to make informed maintenance and operational decisions.
-
Yes. The Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System dashboard can be configured for public display, either in building lobbies, reception areas, or even online via a secure portal or app. This transparency builds tenant trust, boosts building marketability, and qualifies the project for public education credits under Envision and LEED frameworks.
-
The Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System is designed for low maintenance. Typically, only biannual inspections (spring and fall) are required. Sensors and valves are monitored remotely, and the system will alert maintenance personnel to any anomalies such as blocked drains, valve failures, or leaks.
-
Urbanstrong's Smart Roof Drain Stormwater Retention System is designed to help building developers, designers, and civil stormwater engineers comply with New York City's stringent stormwater management regulations, particularly the Unified Stormwater Rule (USWR). Retention-First Approach: The USWR emphasizes retaining stormwater on-site to reduce runoff into the city's sewer system. Urbanstrong's system detains water on rooftops, aligning with this retention-first strategy. Smart Drainage Technology: Equipped with smart drains and real-time monitoring, the system controls the timing and rate of water release, ensuring it doesn't exceed the sewer system's capacity during peak flow periods. Integration with Green Infrastructure: The system can be combined with green roofs or solar panels, supporting compliance with Local Laws 92 and 94, which mandate sustainable roofing systems on new constructions and major renovations. SWPPP Compliance: By managing stormwater effectively on-site, the system aids in meeting Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) requirements, crucial for construction and redevelopment projects.
About The Author
Alan Burchell is the Principal of Urbanstrong, an award-winning firm specializing in sustainable rooftop solutions. A professional engineer, LEED-AP, Fitwel Ambassador and certified Green Roof Professional, Alan holds a degree in mechanical engineering and a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University, with a focus on Sustainable Water Management.
For over a decade, Alan has been at the forefront of designing and implementing Solar-Integrated Green Roofs to tackle advanced rooftop stormwater management challenges. His extensive experience spans all seven continents, where he has worked as an environmentalist, project manager, speaker, and sales engineer. This global perspective enables Alan to address critical energy and water management issues, helping building owners reduce costs while complying with local codes, enhance sustainability, and boost property values.
Contact Alan today at aburchell@urbanstrong.com or 215.480.2210 or book a 15min chat directly in his calendar here.
