Architects name 10 best 'green' buildings - Environment - MSNBC.com: "WASHINGTON - The best environmentally friendly buildings in the United States include the Whitney Water Purification Facility, in New Haven, Conn., by Steven Holl Architects, which provides water and includes a public park and sanctuary for migrating birds, a visitor center in Texas, and a house in California, the American Institute of Architects has announced.
In presenting its 'Top Ten Green Projects,' the group celebrated the best examples of sustainable architecture and environmental design.
'What few people realize is that buildings have the greatest impact on climate change — more than transportation and industry — because they consume so much electricity and natural gas, and they're all powered by power plants that themselves produce carbon emissions,' said AIA spokesman Scott Frank.
Frank said the winners show that a lot of energy-efficient design innovations do not add a lot to the cost of a building, especially when spread over the expected lifetime.
He noted that there were 95 entries in this year's competition, compared with 54 entries last year. Started 11 years ago, the competition has drawn between 40 to 50 submissions in the past.
Click on the link above for the full list of winners."
