Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Onorato Announces New Green Initiative

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato announced today plans to turn half of the county office building's roof into an 8,400 sq. ft. garden. The roof garden will reduce the cost of heating and cooling for the building, reduce storm water runoff and will increase the value of the county office building. Onorato also announced the conversion of the four planters in the county courthouse courtyard. The planters will become rain gardens with water being directed from four downspouts.

The two projects are a part of Onorato's Allegheny Green initiative. He expects the courtyard project to be done by the end of the summer because the county will be undertaking the project on their own. The roof garden is going to send out a request for proposals soon and Onorato expects that project to be completed before the end of the year. Onorato said he got the idea for the project when he looked out a window of the Grant Building during a meeting.

The garden is not expected to be open to the public or employees that work in the building.

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