The Clinton Library Earns a LEED Platinum Designation

Not all of us get the opportunity to build green from scratch, and sometimes it leaves us feeling late to the party--or at least underdressed for the occasion. But you don't have to build new, or even remodel, to live green, as proved by the Clinton Library in Little Rock, Arkansas, which has just been awarded Platinum Certification under the LEED standards for existing buildings.

The library achieved Silver Certification in 2004, but chose to push ever onward, with the guidance of the Leonardo Academy, which bills itself as a "think and do tank." The Academy helped the library reduce waste, budget energy credits and improve its consumption habits for everything from energy to light bulbs. A green roof is currently under consideration.

President Clinton himself recently called for a new global carbon emissions reduction treaty. He also cited the green building movement, and LEED, as "the biggest economic opportunity that our country has had to mobilize and democratize economic opportunity since World War II." His foundation, via the Clinton Climate Initiative, has committed $5 million to retrofitting schools, as well as striking deals with the Sears Tower and the Chicago Merchandise Mart to begin green retrofits--the idea being to lead by example.

So even if that big remodel is years away, you can take the President's cue and green up your home and your lifestyle in hundreds of little ways--it's better to start now, even if that means starting small. And if you're looking for ideas as to just how you can do that, you've come to the right place. Pay a visit to our workshop areas for ideas on all kinds of projects you can start right now.