USGBC founder David Gottfried’s super green home received a total of 106.5 points and LEED Platinum certification, but this home, The Sage, just received 110 points.  It’s the highest score west of the Rocky Mountains and the first LEED Platinum home in Eugene, Oregon.  Designed by Arbor South Architecture, PC, The Sage is a demonstration home for the firm.  It’s meant to give clients and the broader public an idea of what can be achieved through sustainable design and green building.  Take a look inside, it’s beautiful.

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Three years ago, Macalester College decided to build a new home for its Institute for Global Citizenship (IGC), a program that educates students to become global citizen leaders.  The building, Markim Hall, which was named for Mark and Kim Stricker, was designed to attain LEED Platinum certification as a way of reflecting the program's commitment to global leadership.  Currently, there are 12 college campus buildings in the country that have achieved platinum-level certification, and Markim Hall is one of only two campus buildings in Minnesota designed to earn LEED Platinum certification. 

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According to a press release issued yesterday, the juggernaut USGBC just announced the Platinum certification of its new Washington D.C. headquarters in the Foggy Bottom district.  It’s the first project to obtain certification under the latest version of LEED, and the two-level, 75,000 square foot space triples the size of the USGBC’s previous Platinum location.  The light, airy, and modern design features a number of recognizable furniture pieces, and some of the following noteworthy green elements:

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The last time we mentioned Green Hammer Construction, it was in regards to a nice green renovation, which just so happens to be for sale right now.  These days, the company has just finished building another green home that’s located in West Linn.  The 1,867 square-foot residence is waiting for LEED Platinum certification, an amazing feat even considering the fact that approximately eighteen other homes in Portland have already received the designation.  In some cities, high performance green design and construction is fast becoming the standard.  Here are some of its green features:

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The Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL), which officially opens on July 16, 2009, is at the bleeding edge of green building.  It's located on the 195-acre campus of the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, an education and retreat center.  Not only is it on track to achieve LEED Platinum, it may be the first building in America to meet the requirements of the Living Building Challenge.

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