The “Green Roof Project” at Central Bank: Protecting the environment and rationalizing the consumption of energy

The Lebanon Central Bank launched at its headquartyers in Hamra last week the “Green Rooftops project” in collaboration with CEDRO-UNDP.  Central Bank issued a statement saying that this pilot initiative was funded by Central Bank and the UNDP which share is actually originated from the Spanish government and channeled via the Lebanon Recovery Fund.  The statement added that a local company designed the green rooftop with the help of international experts.  The rooftop surface total area is 834 square meters and was planted with vegetation that is both aesthetic and creates an isolation which helps decrease energy consumption by 10%,
The governor of the Lebanon Central Bank, Riad Salameh, noted that the Central Bank is seeking to introduce a financing programme which will develop the environmental sector in Lebanon using an economic efficiency approach as this sector can help to create new employment opportunities especially since it represents 2-3% of the total GNP.  Salameh added that this sector will have a direct impact on all other economic sectors notably tourism.  Salameh further added that Lebanon needs to import USD 6 billion worth of energy per year to cover local demand and thus, this project can save up to 10 to 20% of demand, will improve the balance of payments considerably, will also contribute to improving the environment and to reducing health expenditures.

Source: Al-Diyar 3 Juy 2014