If you crane your neck up towards the western facade of Portland’s main Federal building today, you’ll see nothing but 18 stories of concrete and glass. But if plans go ahead as expected, by 2013 you could look at the same building and see a sprawling garden over 200 feet tall — full of blooming flora that changes with the seasons.
The General Services Administration has proposed the $133 million renovation in an effort to “green” the building, which would become “one of the more energy-efficient high-rises in America, possibly in the world,” according to James Cutler, whose architecture firm is leading the design work.
Although costly, the renovation would ultimately provide significant energy cost savings — an estimated $280,000 annually. Once equipped with the vertical garden, the building would use 60 percent to 65 percent less energy than comparable high rises, and solar panels could provide up to 15 percent of its power needs.
[Via: The New York Times]
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Very nice to see the vertical garden.How can I implement it own my home?