This is an article I wrote for The Washington Post back in August 2006 that looks at public green buildings around the area. The good news is that many more have been built in just the year since I wrote the article including the Sidwell Friends middle school, which was completed in September 2006. Know more? Email me at sachacohen [at] comcast dot net.
Bethesda Goes Green
Today was the kickoff event for Bethesda Green, a “living business model that will sustain the current and future development of Bethesda by reducing the community’s environmental footprint.” Held in the newly renovated Bethesda Theatre, the event drew well over 200 people (and that’s during a workday, mind you) to talk about ways in which Bethesda can serve as a model for sustainable communities around the country.
Seth Goldman, founder and CEO of Honest Tea started off with a personable and inspiring account of his company’s humble beginning and astounding recent growth. After that, there were speakers representing the government as well as Mike Mielke from the Sustainable Business Network and David Feldman of the Livability Project.
Plans for Bethesda Green include more sustainable transportation (bike racks, paths, smart bikes), more collection bins and recycling, green business guides and certification, green buildings and roofs, and more renewable energy products like the current efforts to turn the leftover grease from Bethesda Row restaurants into biodiesel.
goinggreendc.net 