If you work with LEED, you’re familiar with FSC, and if you read good books and magazines, you’ve probably seen both SFI and FSC.  FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) both certify and provide labels for wood and paper products.  Consumers look to these for comfort with regard to environmental impact and sustainable harvesting of wood, but after you read Monte Paulsen’s five-part series on the topic for The Tyee, you may not be so sure about what’s going on.

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The Fourth Annual Green Building Survey, published by Allen Matkins, CTG, and Green Building Insider, was just released.  It’s quick and to the point with some interesting perspective on the attitude of design and construction professionals.  That is, green construction and design remains a top priority, while LEED certification may not necessarily carry the same weight.  The survey was conducted in February 2010 and received over 1,600 responses. 

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Sacred Heart Schools' new Michael J. Homer Science and Student Life Center in Atherton broke some records recently.  It's the first school to obtain LEED Platinum certification under the LEED for Schools program and the first school in San Mateo County to use fruits and vegetables from an on-site organic garden for food service in the school cafeteria.  It's also designed to use 69% less energy than a typical school and features some incredible green features. 

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It's been through several years of remodeling, but the Natural Home Show House is now complete.  The word show house, though, is kind of a misnomer because the project includes two connected homes.  One is on Nevins Street and the other is on Pacific Street in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.  They both have distinct styles and both anticipate receiving Health House and LEED certifications.

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Developer Steve Blanchard set out to build one of the greenest homes in Orange County, and he may just have accomplished that.  In fact, this home, the Costa Mesa Green Home, is the first custom residence in the OC to receive LEED Platinum certification.  Although 5,000 square feet in size, the home exceeds California Energy Code by 40% and isn’t expected to generate an electricity bill outside of standard add-on fees.

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