15 Top Green Buildings

Starting the week off with a bit of light-hearted humor is, in my opinion, the best. So, I jumped over to Grist for some playful eco-humor. For those of you not familiar with Grist, from their "About Grist" section:

"Let's face it: Reading environmental journalism too often feels like eating your vegetables. Boiled. With no butter. But at Grist, we believe that news about green issues and sustainable living doesn't have to be predictable, demoralizing, or dull. We butter the vegetables! And add salt! And strain metaphors!"

"Grist: it's gloom and doom with a sense of humor. So laugh now -- or the planet gets it."

Now that's funny. :-)

On August 10th, Grist submitted their 15 Green Buildings List and found some great inspiration for those that are currently working on green buildings. Here's their top five, and I encourage you to head over there and read the rest:

1. Center for Interactive Research on Sustainability, Vancouver, BC, Canada: "Scheduled to open in 2008, it will feature 100% day-lit workspaces, greenhouse-gas neutrality, and on-site treatment of solid and liquid wastes, and it will serve as a state-of-the-art living laboratory where sustainable building systems can be researched and assessed in action."

2. California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters, Sacramento, CA, US: "Completed in 2001, its eco-aspects range from recycled-content ceiling tiles to under-desk worm-composting bins -- and the savings from its green features amount to a cool $1 Million a year." (Worm composting? Umm... cool. But... eww.)

3. CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Center, Hyderabad, India: "HQ for the Indian Green Building Council, inaugurated in 2004, was the first building outside the US to earn a LEED platinum rating. It collects rainwater, relies on natural lighting, makes use of solar power, and consumes 55% less energy than a conventional structure."

4. Lewis and Clark State Office Building, Jefferson City, MO, US: "Nearly 75% of the materials used to build it came from within a 500-mile radius, and 50% of the construction waste was recycled. The facility collects rainwater and uses it in toilets, and solar PV cells on the roof provide a portion of its power needs."

5. Swiss Re Tower, London, UK: "Europes first green skyscraper features 40 stories of fabulous, pickle-shaped fun. Fondly known as the Gherkin (and, one might assume, a few less-publishable nicknames), the aerodynamic headquarters of reinsurance company Swiss Re uses 50% less energy than a traditional office building and features gardens on every sixth floor for air purification."

If those weren't inspiring enough, be sure to visit Grist for the rest of the list.

And, until next time... Laugh now. Or the planet gets it. :-)