US Business goes green with new buildings
The new Bank of America Tower will stand as one of the world's most environmentally responsible high-rise buildings. This is an example of how a company can create jobs and also protect the environment. More building like this will provide the safest and cleanest environment for employees and lower fuel consumption by using solar power.The high rise incorporates innovative, technologies that will make the building one of the world's newest most environmentally responsible office buildings. In the US there is a U.S. Green Building Council to promote energy efficiency in new construction.
Buildings are something of an energy-efficiency blind spot in Australia. Public attention tends to focus largely on automobile companies and mileage, but houses and skyscrapers consume more energy than cars. I don't know the numbers for Australia, but according to the US Energy Department, residential and commercial buildings account for 40 percent of total energy consumption in the US, versus just 28 percent for the entire transportation sector.
From today's Dow Jones Market Watch: An article on "green buildings," including a preview of the eco-friendly Bank of America building going up in NYC.
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