Rolls-Royce is being held up as an international example of a firm using environmentally friendly building practices.

The companys headquarters on the Goodwood Estate, near Chichester, has a surface covering of shrubs and plants, making it the biggest green roof in Europe.

Now other firms are being urged to follow suit.

A world conference on green roofs will be held in Switzerland in September.

The Goodwood factory was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners, the architectural firm which created the Eden Project in Cornwall.

Researchers have argued that as well as benefiting the environment, green roofs provide insulation that can reduce heating and air conditioning costs.

The World Green Roof Congress will take place in Basel on Thursday and Friday, September 15 and 16.

For further details, go to www.greenroofcongress.ch For more details about green roofs, log on to the web site www.livingroofs.org
April 14, 2005