Manitoba goes all out to make buildings green

The Government of Manitoba has directed that all new buildings funded by the province have to meet or exceed the LEED silver standard for environmentalism.
LEED is an internationally recognized rating system for certifying “green” buildings. It ranks buildings according to factors such as their water usage and energy efficiency.
Manitoba’s policy is believed to be one of the most aggressive in North America. The government is currently undertaking consultations with engineers, architects, contractors as well as building owners, provincial departments, crown corporations, etc. on the new policy. It expects to issue a report early in the new year.
Dave Chomiak, Minister of Energy, Science and Technology in Manitoba, announced:
We are meeting with dozens of stakeholders over the next three months as we implement this bold new policy. … This is the next step in a vision that is important for the environment, good for our health and will deliver long-term benefits to taxpayers because of the dramatically reduced energy costs green buildings provide.”