The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) board of directors voted recently to support the request from the Christina Lake Chamber of Commerce for gas tax funding from electoral area C for the purchase and application of the sedum/moss living roof for the Christina Living Arts Centre.The roof, which was completed in 2011, has allowed the centre to keep expenses low and to continue to be a first rate green facility.“That was among the final touches for the welcome centre and part of the leed construct,” said Grace McGregor, RDKB Area C director. “They borrowed money to complete that. What I’m doing is paying that back for them because it comes under what you can use gas tax money on.”Bob Dupee, chair of the Christina Lake Arts and Artisans Society and project manager for the construction of the arts centre, said having the living roof is at the centre is hugely beneficial.“The sedum/moss is designed to withstand a lot of temperature extremes, droughts, and that kind of thing,” he said. “It upped the value of the roof. When we get flash rain storms in the summer, instead of the roof just pouring off water like it did–it just absorbs water. It’s like a big sponge.”Dupee said the roof helps regulate the temperature of the arts centre, keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter.“It adds a thicker layer of insulation in the winter,” he said. Dupee said the building operates at a low cost with all the energy efficient projects within its walls and above.“If you’re investing money into a project initially, what you want to do is put the money in places that will save you money in the long run,” he said. “If you look at the electric bill there compared to your average building of that size, it’s probably half of what you would normally be paying.”