Although Portland has some good examples of retaining existing/historic structures in LEED-certified projects, the most egregious misuse of LEED green status occurs in projects where usable, culturally valuable buildings are demolished to make way for "green" new construction. In some cases where increased density is imperative for the continued urban viability of an area this might be justifiable. But in many cases, the net result is at best an environmental wash, at worst, a cultural and urban loss no different from any other ("non-green") tear-down and an environmental downgrade. The non-replaceable value--material and cultural--already invested in our historic structures has to be considered if one is to accurately assess the sustainability of a building an, more importantly, a neighborhood and a city.

This upcoming presentation in Portland by Donovan Rypkema (September 15th at The Nines Hotel) should be an interesting look into the phenomenon of "green-washing" cultural and resource destruction:

http://www.visitahc.org/content/sustainabl…