Like Kermit says, it’s not easy being green. It’s not easy building green, either. My son has a degree in Construction Management and is interested in green design. He’s having a hard time finding an entry-level job in this field, but it seems like a very useful career in the long run. 7 billion human beings generate a lot of construction; we need to be wiser about how and what and where and when we build because it makes a huge impact on our environment. That’s common sense. What does it look like when that is taken into consideration? It takes time. It takes money. It takes intelligence and skill. So, “forget it” is the conclusion many construction companies take. Fast, cheap and easy…up goes another WalMart with a parking lot the size of an inland lake.
I’ve visited two LEED certified buildings here in Wisconsin. (click on the links to read about their energy-saving and environmentally responsible features) The Schlitz Audubon Nature Center was certified on the Gold level. It houses a pre-school, among other facilities. The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center was certified on the Platinum level. Built where Leopold died while fighting a brush fire, it houses office and meeting spaces, an interpretive hall, an archive, and a workshop organized around a central courtyard. I took some pictures for my son at the Aldo Leopold Center, and this prompt is the perfect opportunity to post them and share!
Low profile
Entrance
Water wall
scillagrace 
Kudos to your son. We NEED green construction, but I’m sure it’s terrifically difficult to get going. Wish I could afford to build a green home:)
Thanks for the encouragement!
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I completely agree with Elena,… tell him to keep on keeping on.. the world will catch up..
Here’s hoping it catches up in time for him to pay off his student loans!
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I love what your son is trying to do. We need people to be more concerned with environmental issues and less concerned with only the bottom dollar. It sickens me to see beautiful pieces of land or old buildings with loads of character demolished to make room for one more super store. Augh! Kudos to you and your son.
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I sure wish the ideology could translate into a paycheck for him. We’ll keep at it!
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I agree with all the praise for your son’s efforts! It’s super important that we start designing cities around the environment, not the environment around cities… If that makes sense?
Complete sense…and that’s how our village ancestors did it!