io9
Could this parking garage in Santa Monica, California, become the first certifiably "green" parking garage in the U.S.? LEED, a green building organization that awards certifications to structures that are demonstrably eco-friendly, says it may grant its certification to the garage any time now.
According to Inhabitat, there's good reason to call this building green:
A solar photovoltaic array on the roof provides shade for top level parking and on-site renewable energy. The materials used in construction were recycled and finished with low-VOC paints and finishes. The building envelope utilizes low-e glazing to decrease heating and cooling loads and the mechanicals are energy efficient. A storm-drain water-treatment system helps reduce tainted runoff from directly entering the hydrosphere and greywater harvesting provides for landscaping and on-site facilities.True, but I'd rather turn that pretty, environmental building into some kind of breezy, stacked camping ground or hotel than give it to stinky cars.
First LEED Parking Garage [Inhabitat]
Comments
Glad they are giving back to the city with Crazy Lights! Yay LEED!
blah blah blah LEED certification blah blah blah
I guess next we're going to have closed air parking garages that suck the exhaust fumes into store tanks to be treated.
Im kinda confused. Is this made full of win, or full of FAIL?
@Simpsons-Movie-ruled: All I know is that your exhaust from your car is full of STALE!
Oh the irony. Sure, it was built green, but it won't be used green. How much time to people waste in those damned things with their engines running just sitting in dreaded parking lot traffic? I suppose it "cancels out" automobile pollution, while looking insanely cute and a little tacky.
I think it'd suit much better as some artsy-cute eco-friendly all-organic restaurant.
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