Phipps Center for Sustainable Landscapes

I made my first visit to the new Center for Sustainable Landscapes building at Phipps which is set to open in July(see video to the right).

It's one of the greenest buildings in the world, meaning it's net energy zero. Can you imagine a modern building and campus that actually makes more energy than it uses? It's also net zero water. Rainwater is captured and stored on site. Waste water is collected, filtered and reused in several ways including watering plants. It's heated and cooled with geothermal wells and there are a plethora of other fascinating environmentally friendly components to the project.

This is all part of the master plan of executive director Richard Piacentini and don't let anyone tell you differently. When asked he'll talk about teamwork and all the help involved with the project but without his vision there would be no Leed certified Welcome Center, Tropical Forest or this "living building."

Richard continues to push Phipps a little further towards sustainability each day. From the small things like eliminating water bottles to the biggest in the form of the Center for Sustainable Landscapes.

What's going on at Phipps is an example for not only Pittsburgh, but the world to see.

Click on the link above to learn more about the new building and campus.

Don't forget the Summer Flower Show is going on too, here's a link to a fun video of the show-

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/video/7324290-summer-flower-show-blooms-at-phipps-conservatory/