Archbold Biological Station, Florida’s renowned center for ecological research, conservation, and education, announced today that it has been awarded LEED® Platinum certification for its new Frances Archbold Hufty Learning Center and Adrian Archbold Lodge. LEED, established by the U.S.Green Building Council USGBC, is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings, as verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED Platinum certification is the highest standard achievable.

Dr. Mary Hufty, Chairman of the Board of Archbold Expeditions, expressed her “great appreciation for the design and construction team who stayed focused throughout, meeting the goal of LEED Platinum, and providing an exceptional campus for future generations.” Sebastian de Atucha, Treasurer, added that “the Board is thrilled to have met the vision of providing a world showcase for green construction.”

An online retailer focused exclusively on sustainable home lighting, Luxalo announces new incentive program, participation in New York City design forum

LuxaloPro provides discounts for designers, architects and builders.

Just four months after the launch of Luxalo, Alcove Brands, LLC has announced the launch of LuxaloPro, an incentive program for interior designers, architects, and custom builders who utilize the site for clients’ lighting needs. The program includes ongoing trade discounts on all goods, with no sales thresholds or minimums to maintain, in addition to a $25 store credit for every $500 spent on the site on a lifetime basis. LuxaloPro, which is free for qualified home professionals, also aims to assist those looking for custom or hard-to-find lighting solutions for their clients. For more details, visit http://www.luxalo.com/pro.

These Mountain Laurel Handrails from Rustic Wood Railing make Greenspiration Home appreciate nature in about a dozen different ways.  Not only do the sinewy limbs remind us of a forest and the interesting shadows that one casts, they are bound to beckon you outdoors where you can experience nature more fully from a porch or deck.

Greenspiration Home was delighted to make Mountain Laurel Handrails our first American Made Pick-of-the-Week for 2012.  Not only are they beautiful (and so, so unique!), they are made from a rapidly renewable resource, the fast growing Mountain Laurel (Kalmia Latifolia) that is common in the Appalachian Mountains range from Georgia to Maine.  In fact, James Pader, owner of Rustic Wood Railing in Franklin, NC, tells us that most of the limbs he uses to create these rails is actually salvaged from land clearing.  He’s never had to travel more than about 80 miles to gather the material!

U.S. Green Building Council releases list of top U.S. states for LEED-certified projects in 2011

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its 2011 list of top 10 states for LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita, based on the U.S. 2010 Census information.  The District of Columbia leads the nation, with more than 31 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2011, with Colorado being the leading state, with 2.74 square feet per person in 2011.

Other top states include Illinois, Virginia and Washington, with 2.69, 2.42 and 2.18 square feet of LEEDcertified space per person, respectively.  The top LEED states per capita, including the District of Columbia:

LEED gold certified project “demonstrates that historic restoration and green building principles go hand in hand”

A beautiful 19^th century Italianate farmhouse, once the home of a Georgia governor, has been restored and awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. One of 18 historic structures on 173 acres of land known as Hardman Farm, the property is situated just outside the North Georgia mountain town of Helen.

The team of Garbutt Construction, which served as design-builder, and architecture firm Lord, Aeck & Sargent, partnered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to restore the farmhouse, which was built around 1870. As the $2.1 million restoration took shape, in several ways it became a true historic preservation project.

Hardman Farm was owned in the early 20^th century by physician, entrepreneur, farmer and former Georgia Governor Lamartine G. Hardman, who used the property as a summer retreat and for experimental farming techniques. Research indicated that the most significant period of occupation was approximately 1915 to 1925, so this was the timeframe selected as the period of interpretation for the house restoration.

McGraw-Hill Construction and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) have renewed their alliance to share green building news and analysis through GreenSource Magazine and GreenSourceMag.com. Through this agreement, which began in 2006, GreenSource will continue to be distributed to 14,000 USGBC members. The two organizations will also work together to produce thought-leadership pieces about sustainable design and construction.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the release of the third installment in a series of four 50% Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDGs). This latest guide will help architects, engineers, and contractors design and build highly efficient retail buildings, helping to save energy and cut store operational costs. The 50% AEDG series provides a practical approach for designers and builders of retail stores, and other major commercial building types, to achieve 50% energy savings compared to the building energy code used in many parts of the nation. These commercial building guides support President Obama's goal to reduce energy use in commercial buildings 20% by 2020. The Advanced Energy Design Guide for 50% energy savings in retail buildings is now available for download.

What does it mean to 'Be Green?' Does it mean recycling when you can? Does it mean turning off your water when you brush your teeth? Does it mean low flow commodes and low VOC paints? Does it mean conditioned crawl spaces and instant hot water heaters?

The answer is yes to all of them. Being 'Green' can be about smarter use of utilities or it can be about the use of more responsible building materials. It can also be about better land use practices or mass transit. In other words, being 'Green' can mean a lot of different things....all of which are generally good things.

VLK Architects has received LEED® Silver Certification for Commercial Interiors (CI) for its Fort Worth office from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the USGBC’s leading rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient and high performing buildings.