New Delhi: The UK’s greenest diplomatic building, the British High Commission building in Ottawa, Canada, was formally opened at a gala reception by newly-appointed North America Minister Stephen Doughty, a UK government release stated.
This is part of Doughty’s first visit to Canada since the UK General Election in July. Minister Doughty was joined by the High Commissioner of Canada, Susannah Goshko, and senior figures from the Canadian Armed Forces.
The building features reclaimed materials, an energy-efficient design, and reduced water consumption, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to achieving its 2050 Net Zero goal. The building has several features that aim to reduce its environmental impact, including the diversion of 98% of construction waste away from landfills, the use of wood salvaged from the Ottawa River, and stone from the original residence coach house into the new design.
Due to the building’s ability to operate at a lower cost thanks to its energy efficiency rating, it is hoped that this will have a positive impact on its sustainability. One of the aims also includes a reduction in the volume of water consumed which will be helped by environmental features being incorporated into the landscape design, including native and drought-resistant vegetation that mitigates the need for irrigation.