Green Building takes off

[greenman3610]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17152700/

CHICAGO/NEW YORK - When it opens next year, the 54-story Bank of America Tower in New York will be the most environmentally friendly office building in the United States.

It will produce most of its energy at an on-site cogeneration plant. It will capture and reuse waste water and rainwater. And it uses recycled materials in its construction.

The building is the latest in a trend toward office buildings that use less energy and cause less global warming. But developers say that trend is being held back by insufficient government support.

[Tin Man]

1. It can fly, too?

Sorry... I couldn't resist.

[WinkyDink]

2. One local bank I use is a Green Bank. All re-cycled materials for walls and desks;

rainwater for their water requirements; solar heat.

It's a PNC bank in Easton, PA.

[PLF]

3. Can any building that size really be called green given the amount of resources

and energy used to build it?

[SoCalDem]

4. and it's shape looks like the rain will not exactly "collect" on it

I guess that's where all those bank fees go:)

shiny !!!

[pnwmom]

5. Yes. What's the alternative? Using really big tents?

Most businesses cannot function by having everyone work from home, and having everyone using lots of heat and power in their individual homes every day isn't a great alternative anyway.

[PLF]

6. not calling it green

It's just a matter of how you define green I suppose.

[SCDem]

7. Well then greener

Building and houses emit more greenhouse gasses than do our cars. They've been let slide for too long. I think it's a great start