Rendering of Rilea Group's LEED gold seeking office building.

What does  a bank branch in Tampa and a 35-story office building in Miami have in common?  They are both seeking to alter how new buildings are designed and created in Florida.

Community First Credit Union in Lakeland, Tampa  is developing what should  be the state’s first zero-net energy commercial building. The branch will receive all necessary energy (and then some) through a roof-mounted solar array. Combine this with a low flow plumbing and a rain water reuse system, and you have a great model for all small service buildings to come.

In Miami’s  Brickell submarket, Rilea Group is developing what could be the city’s first LEED Gold office tower, a 35-story high-rise.  75% of construction waste from the  600,000-square-foot project is being recycled, and 35% of the building’s electricity will come from off-site renewable energy sources.

Big and small, Florida is really taking this sustainable building idea seriously.  Lets hope this is more than just a trend and developers continue to commit to green building.