Within the last couple months, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. and Vornado/Charles E. Smith released their shiny new design for what could be Washington D.C.'s first LEED Platinum office building.  The 365,000 sf building is planned for the corner of 17th and H Streets, NW, a prime location just two blocks from the White House.  Designed by Gensler, 800 17th Street / PNC Place will have an Eco Lobby featuring a three-story climate wall that radiantly cools the lobby with flowing water. 

Read more »

• How To: Demystifying residential wind power.
• Businesses find gold in green design.
• Taking it easy on the planet with eco-rentals.
• Is prefab housing ready for the primetime?
• Boston’s biggest property owner going all green.
• New geothermal technology could tap 120,000 MW of energy.
• Have you ever thought about living in the trees?
• New rays of hope for solar power’s future.
• Eight steps to building a green roof.

*WIR = Week in Review; a Saturday showcase of excellent links.

This solar cell tree charger by Vivien Muller is kind of interesting.  You can use it to recharge your cellphone, camera, or whatever, because it has 54 tiny photovoltaic panels and an internal battery that stores energy.  The modular parts are connected and can be rotated infinitely creating a different tree for your favorite sunny spot at home.

Read more »