For immediate release
OTTAWA, June 6, 2006 - Ottawa residents and visitors may be used to seeing green rooftops on the Parliament Buildings, but Ottawa's downtown core now has a new type of green roof: a living one.
Public Works and Government Services Minister, Michael M Fortier today officially opened the green roof on the CD Howe Building, a federal office building located at 235 Queen Street.
"Planting trees, shrubs and grass on office buildings is very beneficial for the environment," said Minister Fortier. "They reduce the amount of energy required to heat and cool the building, reduce greenhouse gas and sulphur dioxide emissions, and improve air quality."
When government officials and the building owner, Tempest Management Corporation, realized the roof on the 29-year-old building needed to be replaced, they decided to do something different. Rather than just replace the roof, they wanted to do something that would benefit the environment. Over thirty percent of the rooftop is now covered in shrubs and plants.
"I'm very pleased with the results of this project," said Minister Fortier. "We've created a space that is environmentally friendly and is a pleasant place for people working in the building to visit. This roof will certainly be a model for future roof renovations at government office buildings and it is an important symbol of the new Conservative government's commitment to greening its operations."
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For further information, please contact:
Nicole Babin
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Fortier
(819) 997-5421
Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
(819) 956-2315
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Backgrounder
Official Opening of Green Roof at 235 Queen Street, Ottawa
An Environment Canada study demonstrated the numerous benefits "greening roofs" can have on the environment. For instance, greening roofs can reduce heat sink effects, help save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide and improve air quality.
When PWGSC determined in 2001 that the roofing membrane on the CD Howe Building at 235 Queen Street in Ottawa needed to be replaced, officials decided that not only should the new roof provide the best long-term value and benefit to the building and tenants, it should help minimize the building's impact on the environment. It was decided that not only would a green roof meet these goals, it would make the building a model for future roof renovations at government-owned office buildings.
The new green roof project involved planting shrubs and plants on more than 30% of the building's rooftop. In addition to the environmental benefits, the green roof is more attractive than typical roofs on government office buildings, and provides a tranquil green space for building occupants to enjoy.
The CD Howe Building green roof will be officially opened on Tuesday, June 6 at 11:00 a.m.
