The Best Green Buildings in 2013, According to AIA

On Earth Day, April 22nd, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) released their annual list of the "Top Ten Green Projects" for 2013. The organization's Committee on the Environment (COTE) selected this year's winners, which are projects that exhibit excellent sustainable design. The projects will be honored at AIA's National Convention and Design Exposition in Denver in June 2013.

The top ten green building projects on AIA's 2013 list included:

1. A New Norris House

Location: Norris, Tennessee

Green Features: Less than half the size of a median house at 1008 square foot, daylighting, passive design, no-VOC paint

2. Charles David Keeling Apartments

Location: La Jolla, California

Green Features: On-site wastewater recycling, green roof, and building envelope that minimizes temperature changes and naturally ventilates

3. Clock Shadow Building

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Green Features: Brownfield redevelopment, on-site geothermal system, passive building strategies

4. Federal Center South Building 1202

Location: Seattle, Washington

Green Features: "Net zero capable", ENERGY STAR score of 100, beats ASHRAE 2007 by 40%, innovative geothermal heating and cooling system, reclaimed composite wood

5. Marin County Day School Learning Resource Center and Courtyard

Location: Corte Madera, California

Green Features: 95% daylighting and natural ventilation, thermal storage for heating and cooling, wood studs, uses less than half the energy of California's building code

6. Merritt Crossing Senior Apartments

Location: Oakland, California

Green Features: Cool roof, on-site solar PV and solar thermal, daylighting, natural cooling system, high walkability and transit-friendly

7. Pearl Brewery/Full Goods Warehouse

Location: San Antonio, Texas

Green Features: LEED Gold, 100% potable water use for landscaping eliminated, rainwater harvesting and graywater recycling, high efficiency ductless mini-split system, daylighting and innovative ventilation

8. San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Headquarters

Location: San Francisco, California

Green Features: Designed for LEED Platinum, daylight harvesting and energy efficient lighting design, solar and wind, on-site gray and blackwater treatment, will exceed California's energy efficiency requirements by 55% (estimated)

9. Swenson Civil Engineering Building

Location: Duluth, Minnesota

Green Features: Green roof, stormwater filtering and retention, 73% of land is pervious

10. Yin Yang House

Location: Venice, California

Green Features: Net zero, passive cooling with cross-ventilation and thermal chimney, green roof, stormwater retention, natural light and ventilation