Green Clubbin'

Nightclubs with a green conscience are sprouting up in major cities. San Francisco's successful Temple nightclub has expanded into an "eco-conscious 'edu-tainment' complex." Which begs the question: Can you really go wrong with some alcohol, strategically placed LED lighting and sustainable bamboo walls? At least that's what owner Jon Bakhshi is asking by opening his new nightclub, Greenhouse, in New York City's SoHo district (Green Inc). It'll be the first club of its kind to seek LEED certification and is a 6,000-square-foot, bilevel venue furnished with recycled or recyclable materials and equipped with low-flow toilets, waterless urinals and an HVAC system.

Easing into the idea of sustainable partying, the club offers both organic and regular alcoholic fare such as 360 Vodka. The management is also buying energy credits to offset the establishment's consumption. While upfront costs have not been cheap, the hope is that the concept of combining environmental consciousness with weekend fun will grow with the club's success. 

The USGBC reports that buildings account for 72 percent of electricity consumption, 39 percent of energy use and 40 percent of raw-material use in the U.S. According to the Energy Star website, if the hospitality industry were to reduce its energy use by 10 percent, it could save upwards of $285 million.  

--Hannah Buoye