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PNC and real-estate developer Vornado/Charles E. Smith are in a joint venture to build the first Platinum-level certified, green building in Washington, D.C. The 12-story building will adhere to the U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard.

This article provides a clear explanation of what distinguishes reliable and unreliable green certification labels.  It lists several reliable certification programs and other resources helpful to the green consumer.

Interview by GenitronSviluppo design webmagazine with sustainable product designer Taylor Welden. Discusses sustainable product design practices, the potential future of design and our Planet, and features a variety of eco-design projects (from backpacks to steam-powered vehicles).

A local Seattle company, Walk Score, has just launched a new service to calculate the walkability of your neighborhood.

"It’s a question often heard from sustainability devotees who have been keeping an eye on the growth of the green housing market, yet still find themselves priced out due to the amount of up-front investment that is required when building green. But the subject of affordability has finally entered the green building dialogue.

 This article reviews waterfree, dual flush, automatic dual flush toilets.  The automatic dual flush have smart tech that knows it its a #1 or #2!

Operators of executive office suites are paying extra to go green these days, hoping both to cut costs and woo small-business customers wanting an environmentally friendly workplace.

A look at our newly finished 85% recycled glass counter top and bamboo panels for our commercial lobby desk.

A die-hard fan takes issue with JM's newest environmental initiative.

Early on in our design process we decided to use either a low or no-VOC paint.  The paint that we selected is Sherwin Williams Harmony.  The paint meets the GS-11 standard and qualifies for LEED certified projects.  Yes, it’s good for the environment (reduces smog and ozone pollution) but even more important it is good for your health.  Workers are more productive in non-toxic environments, less prone to illness, and employees feel that their employer cares about their personal health.

LEED does not rate only the completed project, but the entire building process: whether the materials are recycled, how much waste is produced, how well the building will save energy in the future, and how much impact the building has on its surrounding environment.

LEED certified buildings are currently receiving federal subsidies which offset the cost of the required energy system commissioning and processing fees. In my opinion this makes the entire LEED process well worth it, but many are still not convinced… until now.

There's a big difference between going through the LEED program and saying your building might be able to meet LEED green building standards.

Additional details about maintaining air quality during the demolition stage.  Thinkspace is seeking LEED-CI certification and is writing a blog with details about the green tenant improvement project.

The Thinkspace project in Redmond, WA is using HEPA filters during the demolition stage of the tenant improvement build-out.  Thinkspace is seeking LEED-CI certification.