One of the best things about our today’s society is that it seems that we finally get the importance of nature in our lives and we struggle to integrate it as much as possible, daily, in everything we do. Years ago, there were only polluters, massive garbage and chemicals leaks and spills, polluting cars and people that did not care about recycling. Nowadays, thanks to numerous campaigns group bookings as well as loads of taxes and laws imposed by governments in the entire world, we finally get to see the green as it once used to be, green and not gray.
In this process of self consciousness and self awareness, an important role had the construction and the spread of the so-called green buildings. No, I don’t refer to green painted walls and some grass plot thrown near a big building, I’m talking about real cost effective that take the best out of nature and integrate it. Everything from solar panels, natural shading, green roofs, ultra-efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems that use alternative sources of energy to make you comfortable in your own house – this is what green constructions is about.
Thanks to the LEED-certified buildings and structures, estates from across all America can benefit from credits and run for the greenest buildings in the country. Below is a list to what we can think of the greenest buildings in the United States:
1. Yale University Sculpture Building and Gallery
The building is the winner of a 2008 green project contest and it achieved platinum LEED certification for the struggle of conserving features like rainwater, natural ventilation, as well as recycling materials, reclaimed cedar and growing own products.
2. Almaden Tower, San Jose, California
The Adobe Systems is the first corporation to be awarded the platinum LEED rating, setting an example to all other businesses. The company started making gradual changes since 2001 by investing millions to implement projects regarding conservation and sustainability. Due to their efforts and devotement, the entire Adobe System complex, including the Almaden Tower, has succeeded reducing water usage by 22% and natural gas consumption by 41%.
3. Banner Bank Building, Boise, Idaho
As strange as it might seem, a Bank headquarter can be one of the greenest constructions in the country. Among other green-related features, the building offers inside bike storage and shower stalls to encourage employees to sustain green causes. The building itself was made out of 40% recycled materials and its back-up generations run on used vegetable oil.
4. Lusby Tiny House
The Tumbleweed Tiny House Company was based with the purpose of building small area houses with few consumption and resources usage. It only costs you around $170 to heat the house for the entire winter and the construction make use of plenty energy-efficient and recycled materials.
5. Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles
The apartment and office complex is the home of one of the greenest buildings across the country. It uses passive cooling thanks to the Southern California specific climate and the day lighting really narrows down the need for electric lights.
6. Kiowa County Schools, Greensburg, Kansas
After a tornado nearly destroyed the entire town in 2007, its reconstruction took advantage of all green technologies. The K-12 school is a living proof that natural ventilation, alongside day lightning and wind energy is the right solution to keep a place harmless to nature.
7. Lance Armstrong Foundation, Austin, Texas
The Foundation is situated in an old, restored warehouse. The construction used 88% recycled materials from the old building and is a gold-certified LEED building.
8. Global Ecology Research Center, Stanford, California
9. Helios House Gas Station, Los Angeles, California
10. OS House, Racine, Wisconsin.
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