This is going to be a cool development when it’s complete.  Slated to be the #1 highest scoring LEED building in the world by a fair margin (meaning: Platinum Certification at 64-66 points), Independence Station is 35% complete and should beat Oregon’s strict energy code by about 74%.  Steven Ribeiro, developer and principal at Aldeia Development, energetically remarks on his project: "This retro-futuristic, mixed-use building will run on 100% renewable energy, primarily vegetable oil and the sun."  Sounds good to me. 

Here’s a list of some of the green features planned for Independence Station:

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The Tulane School of Architecture Green Build program set about to research, develop, and construct an inventive and experimental prototypical house.  A green house.  Made in a factory.  Specifically for post-Katrina New Orleans.  Students first researched everything from construction processes to materials selection parameters.  Above all, access to materials, affordability, and sustainability ruled the day.  In the end, Tulane Green Build came up with a design for a 1,200 sf home with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. 

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We featured GreenMobile® last year when we blogged about the Lifecycle Building Challenge winners.  GreenMobile® was a winner in the Professional Unbuilt category.  Now, mounting success upon success, Michael Berk, creator of the concept, has a prototype in the works to be unveiled in March 2008.  Can’t wait to see that!  GreenMobile® was awarded $5.8 M from FEMA to further develop the prototype and roughly 80 units are in the pipeline right after that prototype comes through. 

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The Vento Residences has earned North America’s first LEED Platinum* certification for a multi-family residential project.  Located in Calgary, Alberta and built for a price of $8 million, this multi-use urban infill project has 20 two-story townhouse suites that are situated above retail space.  Interestingly, the development was coming online at the same time as several other developments in the area and sold out quickly at a slight premium in price (compared to the competition).  Purchasers identified with the dark green units and bought them up in a heartbeat.

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Previously we wrote about High Street Philadelphia, which is a super-green, mixed use community being developed by home(scale).  They sent me some new renderings pictured above and below, and the hope is that they’ll be able to see this project to a reality.  High Street is aiming for LEED Platinum certification, the highest designation bestowed by the USGBC, and will feature 51 carbon-neutral residential units, 3 commercial units, a cafe and organic grocery, and underground parking. 

Units will feature high design and contemporary materials from such brands as Duravit, Hansgroghe, Schiffini, and Fisher Paykel.  They will be offered at affordable prices, or "work-force pricing," too.   It’s going to be an excellent, net-zero energy development with courtyards, photovoltaic power, solar hot water, LED lighting, efficient systems, green roofs, bio-mass filtration, and access to the Philly CarShare program. 

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