The Seattle Green Factor: Seattle's New, Green Landscape Requirements

"Landscaping can be much more than a pretty face on urban development.

That's the idea behind pioneering new construction rules Seattle lawmakers recently approved to encourage builders to construct "green roofs," "vegetated walls" and other features that clean the air, insulate buildings and ease the burden of Seattle's wet climate on the city's drains and creek beds. ...

City officials say the initiative -- modeled after standards in Berlin and Sweden -- is probably the first of its kind in the nation. ..."