Today, the AIA released its list of the 2007 COTE Top Ten Green Projects, projects that showcase excellence in sustainable design principles and reduced energy consumption.  On May 3, these ten projects will be honored at the AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in San Antonio.  The jurors were the following leaders in the sustainability field:  David Brems, FAIA, Gillies Stransky Brems Smith PC; Alisdair McGregor, PE, Arup; John Quale, LEED AP, University of Virginia School of Architecture; Traci Rose Rider, LEED AP North Carolina State University; Anne Schopf, AIA, Mahlum Architects; and Susan Szenasy, editor-in-chief, Metropolis.  It’s likely that I’ll take a slower approach to some of the more modern of the following, but for right now, here are links to each of the ten projects that were selected. 

• EpiCenter, Artists for Humanity – Arrowstreet Inc. (Boston, MA)
• Global Ecology Research Center – EHDD Architects (Stanford, CA)
• Government Canyon Visitor Center – Lake/Flato Architects (Helotes, TX)
• Hawaii Gateway Energy Center – Ferraro Choi and Associates (Kailua-Kona, HI)
• Heifer International – Polk Stanley Rowland Curzon Porter Architects, Ltd. (Little Rock, AR)
• Sidwell Friends Middle School – Kieran Timberlake Associates (Washington, DC)
• Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse – Morphosis & DLR Group (Eugene, OR)
• Whitney Water Purification Facility – Steven Holl Architects (New Haven, CT)
• Willingboro Master Plan & Public Library – Croxton Collaborative Architects, PC (Willingboro, NJ)
• Z6 House – LivingHomes, Ray Kappe (Santa Monica, CA)

Congratulations to everyone for this recognition and for their contribution to the greener building environment.  Anyone have a favorite or comment? 

1. If Your Toilet was Installed Before 1994, it probably Accounts for 40% of Household H2O…Dual Flush Toilets are Newest Way to Save Water. 
2. Patagonia’s LEED Gold Distribution Center Gets 50% Real Property Tax Abatement of Next 10 Years, Proves that Nevada is Only State to Offer Green Building Incentives.
3. New York’s Home Performance with Energy Star Program has invested $100 million to Improve the Energy Efficiency, Comfort, Health, and Safety of More than 13,600 Homes. 
4. For Earth Day, William McDonough Asks us to Celebrate the Abundance of Solar Income and Commit to Cradle to Cradle Principles. 

I just wanted to kick out a shout to the blog Eikongraphia and Michiel van Raaij for working hard to compile a list of the Top 25 Architecture Blogs on the internet right now.  I’m pleased to announce that Jetson Green occupies the #9 position on the list.  Without having perfect access to all sorts of information, it’s difficult to make a list of top blogs and not receive some criticism, but I think Michiel did a good job.  Here’s a list of the Top 15 Architecture Blogs:

    1. BLDGBLOG
    2. Things Magazine
    3. Pruned
    4. Archidose
    5. Plataforma Arquitectura
    6. Tropolism
    7. Dezeen
    8. Edgar Gonzalez
    9. Jetson Green
    10. Subtopia
    11. Eikongraphia
    12. Anarchitecture
    13. Noticias Arquitectura
    14. Mirage Studio 7
    15. Brand Avenue

If you’re an architecture fan, feel free to drop by any one of these quality sites.  I have many of them plugged into the feed right now.  But I must admit, I’m not an architect.  I am a construction and design enthusiast.  I hear architects say all the time, "Developers should go to architecture school."  Jetson Green is my form of research and school–the more I blog, the more I learn, and I rely on emails, comments, and trackbacks to understand the important principles relating to the architecture of sustainability. 

::UPDATE:: The list was revised to separate out individual and collaborative blogs.  Jetson Green moved up to #7 on the individual blogs list.  The above list is still the first attempt. 

I take my oldies to 1/2-Price when I’m done, it’s better than trash.  You?