KEY POINTS:
The Department of Conservation has a new head office that uses 40 per cent less power and 60 per cent less water than a conventional building.
The "ecologically sustainable" building has natural ventilation, automatic opening windows, light sensors, a wind generator on the roof to supplement lighting, and toilets, sinks and dishwashers that use water collected on the roof.
Prime Minister Helen Clark, Building Minister Clayton Cosgrove, Conservation Minister Chris Carter and Environment Minister David Benson-Pope visited the leased building in central Wellington yesterday.
Helen Clark said the building was New Zealand's first fully refurbished five-star ecologically sustainable building.
"Through the design of its new building DoC is showing how sustainability can be achievable and practical," she said.
"The building's retrofit has the double benefit of living up to long-held conservation values and being an operational cost saver."
Mr Cosgrove said the Government was proposing changes to the Building Code to improve the energy efficiency of new houses and buildings.
The changes would cover better insulation of walls, ceilings, and floors, and double-glazing.
"For commercial buildings, proposals include improved lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems," he said. "The Government is also looking at making it easier to install solar heating systems."
