The CIA Goes Green

The move toward green building is more than a distant dream. It's clearly a trend, on its way to becoming the norm in new construction.

Need evidence? Here's Exhibit A: The newest buildings housing the Central Intelligence Agency in northern Virgina are LEED silver- and gold-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

In addition to planting vegetation on the roof to slow storm runoff and reduce energy consumption, the structures use 20 percent recyled materials in their construction and waterless urinals in the restooms to reduce water consumption. The CIA is also promoting the use of public transportation, bicycles and carpooling.

Its first green buildings opened last year, and another is now under construction.

Each of these steps will reduce the carbon footprint of the office buildings, and keep pollutants out of rivers and streams. All of this is good for the health of the ocean.

So, add the CIA to the roster of green building advocates, a line-up that includes Wal-Mart (among many others).

Just up the road from us in Monterey, the new California Academy of Sciences building aims to be "the greenest museum on Earth."

Begs the question: What's stopping the rest of us from doing this much -- and more?