GOVERNMENT WORKS TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT

Annual greenhouse gases have been reduced in new government buildings in an amount equal to taking 600 cars off the road each year, and water conservation projects will result in a reduction of 78 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water annually. Both are part of a larger strategy by the Government of Saskatchewan to reduce its environmental footprint.

"I'm proud our government is showing leadership by being greener and reducing government's environmental footprint," Government Services Minister Laura Ross said. "I hope this will encourage all Saskatchewan residents to consider being greener in their daily activities."

Four new government buildings were built to high performing criteria - and two more buildings are in design. The buildings:

• Release approximately 3,200 tonnes less C02 per year and save $352,000 annually in utility costs (the equivalent of taking 600 cars off the road);
• Use 38 per cent less water, and future projects will further reduce water usage by a total of 195 million litres (equivalent of 78 Olympic-sized swimming pools);
• Reuse or recycle 70 per cent of construction waste and divert 7,000 metric tonnes of waste from the landfill; and
• Are 39 per cent more energy efficient than a building built 10 years ago.

Government Services is working on third party certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) to acknowledge six government buildings as environmentally designed and has already received certification from Building Owners and Manger's Association Building Environmental Standards (BOMA BESt), acknowledging 10 buildings as environmentally managed.

Government Services has worked with ministries across government to enhance environmentally friendly practices as well. These activities include:

• Diverting 42 per cent less waste from the landfill due to enhanced office recycling;
• Using green cleaning products and moving to day-time cleaning to reduce energy and lighting usage;
• Introduced a project to green the Central Vehicle Agency (CVA) fleet; and 
• Established new space standards to reduce government's overall space.

"When we worked with Government Services on the Regina Provincial Correctional Centre, we were pleased with their innovative ideas and the benefits of the environmentally friendly design," Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Corporate Services and Public Safety Director Nick Surtees said. "We're not only projected to save $150,000 per year, but also reduce our impact on the environment by reducing our energy use by 38 per cent and our water use by 28 per cent annually."

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For more information, contact:

Robin Campese
Government Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5959
Email: robin.campese@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-531-7532