51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú

Washington Nationals LEED-certified stadium Photo: M.V. Jantzen, Flickr Creative Commons

Plant-covered roofs. Recycled steel baseball stadiums. Sun-powered office buildings. No, it’s not science fiction. It’s green design and it’s happening across the country, at businesses, universities, even in individual homes.

In this , Features Editor Rene Ebersole culls some of today's most exciting and inspiring designs of places to live, work, play, and learn.

51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú office, LEED-certified Photo: FXFOWLE Architects

"The days when buildings simply sat there sucking down vast amounts of energy are almost over," Ebersole writes. "Today’s best houses, schools, restaurants, and arenas sip their megawatts, while catching rainwater, sparing resources, and preserving green space—without sacrificing style, or fun."