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Renewal: California Academy of Science re-opens.
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Photo by Tim Griffith
I talk alot about shopping and consumerism, but there are alot of eco-stylish ways to pass the time that don't include bargain hunting and label reading. One of my favorite things to do in this beautiful city is go walking in Golden Gate Park and a jewel has triumphantly returned to the park as the California Academy of Sciences re-opens.
The interior is decked out with a four story rainforest, a coral reef, a swamp, a natural history museum, and a colony of south African penguins. But the part that I am excited about is outside and literally above all that. The roof is a living green roof (this is me about to eco-geek out)!
They took their time planning this beauty out with not only native plants to Northern California, but also made sure they were all drought though, resistant to the salt spray from ocean air, and will self propagate, making this a very sustainable and eco-sexy roof-top garden. The rolling, hill-like, roof top can be viewed from a special roof top deck.
Not only does the roof look good, but it actually does good. The roof lowers the interior temperature about 10 degrees. It collects rain water that would otherwise go into our sewers and drains and over-work our water treatment plants. Ultimately the roof may be able to provide a habitat for two endangered butterfly species.
The roof isn't the only green aspect of this new building. The Academy has achieved platinum LEED building certification through implementing passive heating and cooling, solar panels, radiant floor heating, denim insulation and renewable and recycled building materials throughout.
It's a beautiful eye opening re-opening and instead of charging another alpaca scarf to your already over used credit card, go spend a few hours learning about something that really matters.
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