Ben Morgan
Northern News Services
Published Friday, July 25, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - On top of the Greenstone Building a patch of moss, weeds and even grass is being encouraged to grow.

It's part of a concept called sustainable design - an approach to construction that aims to reduce a building's environmental impact.

A green roof is a roof covered with vegetation planted over a waterproof membrane.

Four stories above Franklin Avenue on the rooftop of what is touted as one of Canada's most energy-efficient buildings, a green roof lined with engineered soil is collecting airborne seeds and growing a patch of natural insulation.

"This roof tempers water, it filters water and it grabs water and you can use it," said Vince Barter, project manager at the Greenstone Building. "Instead of a roof that is just dealing with water, the green roof utilizes it. By having a green roof we're mimicking the landscape of a natural environment, so it actually reduces heat loading, which reduces a building's cooling requirements."

The building's manager, Jennifer Marchant, said the Greenstone is a gem for sustainable design; a showpiece for energy efficiency.

"The federal government decided it wanted to have an energy-efficient sustainable design for the North specifically to show that these kinds of buildings are practical, sustainable, and that they work in this environment and they do work," said Marchant.

The entire building is built with a concept of energy efficiency in mind.

"In my office, we'll go the entire day without turning the lights on," said Barter, who added the philosophy at the Greenstone even influences the behaviour of the people who work there.

He said if someone feels cold they put a sweater on before reaching for the thermostat.

"It is a change and people have to learn that change. It does affect their behaviour," said Marchant.

She said she even feels better at the end of day.

"Your body adapts better in natural light," she said.

She is convinced that working in natural lighting helps people dealing with seasonal affective disorder, a common problem in Arctic regions.

"This building is designed specifically for the North - it works," said Marchant. "If it works here, it'll work in Iqaluit; it'll work in Alaska; it'll work in Russia."

She said she thinks future commercial building in the North should take some of the fundamental principles from the Greenstone building and recreate them.

"Invariably, sustainable design and energy efficiency has to be done now - there's no ifs, ands, whys or buts. You cannot put up a new building and not consider this."