The greenest building is the one that isn't built

As a statement out of context - the title is preposterous! As urbanites, our population density mandates that buildings be built as there simply aren't enough caves to go around! However, allowing the title to serve as a "stretch" goal for pushing the envelope towards net zero impact, consider the "Living Building Challenge" a philosophy, advocacy tool and certification program that addresses development at all scales and tests green buildings against the most rigorous performance standards in the world. The seven performance areas are: site, water, energy, health, materials, equity and beauty. A building cannot receive full certification until it has operated at demanding levels for at least one year. The Living Building Challenge insists that a building be useful and healthy while minimizing its impacts on the earth. Its design must not only be beautiful, of necessity, it is regional, taking advantage of sun, rain and wind instead of fighting to overcome them. For more information visit: https://ilbi.org/lbc/standard Exemplary of a Living Building is the Bullitt Center, which claims to be the greenest commercial building in the world. Its expansive, visually arresting roof captures sufficient solar energy to power a six-story building in cloudy Seattle. The roof is also a collecting basin to capture rainwater to store seasonally in a huge cistern. This functional design provides a strikingly beautiful architectural signature for the building, and is as regionally appropriate to Seattle as adobe walls are to the Southwest. For more information: http://bullittcenter.org/ Nadine Cino, LEED Accredited Professional, is the CEO & co-inventor at Tyga-Box Systems, Inc., New York, N.Y.