PITTSBURGH, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- As Pittsburgh struggles to find solutions to its ever-growing energy needs and its continued sewage overflow into the region's rivers, local businesses can play a role in helping to save energy, clean the rivers and beautify downtown by building green roofs.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the region's largest health insurer, joined other local businesses as a catalyst for Pittsburgh's environmental change today as it unveiled a 22,000-square-foot green roof on its Fifth Avenue Place facility in downtown Pittsburgh. The green roof, located three stories above the street on a terrace at the corner of Liberty Avenue and Fifth Avenue, will reduce the company's energy usage by an estimated 12 percent and will use most of the 37 inches of average annual Pittsburgh rain in the roof instead of sending it to the local storm water system.

"Highmark should be commended for its leadership in demonstrating how we can solve multiple regional issues including storm water runoff, energy performance of existing buildings and reduce the overall warming effect of 'heat islands' on the surrounding environment by the installation of green roofs," said Rebecca Flora, Green Building Alliance Executive Director. "Green roofs provide all of these benefits, plus, they last longer and provide aesthetic appeal. This green roof installation provides added evidence of Greater Pittsburgh's commitment to green solutions and a green economy."

According to John Schombert, executive director of 3 Rivers Wet Weather, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of Southwestern Pennsylvania's water resources, sewage overflow into the region's rivers can be triggered by as little as one-tenth of an inch of rain. An average Pittsburgh rainfall is one-quarter of an inch.

"At least half of the recreational season from May through September, the waterways are contaminated with polluted overflows," said Schombert.

Schombert also noted that sewage overflows expose Pittsburghers to disease-causing organisms, which is a public health risk.

"At Highmark, we're committed to environmental initiatives because we know that creating a healthier environment also helps to create healthier communities and healthier people," said Phyllis Barber, Highmark sustainability coordinator. "By installing this green roof, we are able to cut down on the company's energy usage and use rainfall instead of sending it into our local systems. We encourage other local businesses to consider green roofs in their building planning so that together we can make a measurable impact on the health of our rivers and our residents."

Highmark's extensive green roof system is made from a waterproof roof membrane, some 180 tons of growth medium and 25,000 plants. The growth medium and plants were added at varying depths over the roof -- from six-inch fields to 18-inch mounds -- to represent a flowering meadow with colorful hearty plants, such as sedum, aster, day lilies and grasses. The green roof replaces a previous 20-year-old roof and is expected to last a minimum of 40 years. The roof is not accessible to the general public or to Highmark employees, but it can be viewed from a variety of downtown office and residential buildings adding green and color to the downtown Pittsburgh skyline.

Highmark worked with a design-build team to develop the green roof including CentiMark Corporation, a Pittsburgh commercial roofing company acting as the prime contractor; Graves Architects, Inc., a Pittsburgh architectural firm acting as project consultant; Lichtenfels Nursery, Inc., a Johnstown-based company providing consultation and plantings; and Oxford Development Company, acting as construction manager.

Highmark's commitment to environmental leadership includes a variety of sustainable, eco-friendly, green business projects that are aimed at creating a healthier environment and healthier people. These include the operation of a Silver LEED certified Data Center near Hershey, Pa., paper and utilities conservation initiatives and the use of certified green seal cleaning supplies in Highmark's facilities.

As one of the state's leading health insurers and with nearly 70 years of community involvement, Pittsburgh-based Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield serves 3.1 million members. The company's mission is to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania. A recent study states that Highmark's positive impact exceeded $2.5 billion. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield employs more than 5,000 people in the region and provides the resources to give its members a greater hand in their health. Highmark Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.

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SOURCE Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield