If only all buildings could be like the still under construction California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. In the building world, there exists light green (like Kermit the Frog) buildings up to what we like to call spinach green. The Academy seeks to obtain that dark green spectrum with the highest LEED rating - Platinum. Hopefully, when it opens in ’08 the Academy will join an elite group of LEED Platinum buildings in the country. When finished, it may very well be the largest LEED Platinum building in the world.
A lot of buzz (and we’re not talking mosquitoes) surrounds the living roof which will prevent approximately 2 million gallons of rainwater per year from becoming storm-water runoff that eventually leads to the ocean and pollutes the sea and other ecosystems.
The building will go solar as well with 60,000 photo voltaic cells in the roof that will supply about five percent of the new Academy’s energy needs, and prevent the release of more than 405,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
Just remember boys and girls to watch your carbon footprint and eat your spinach.
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