Last Thursday, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the launch of the second annual New York City Green Building Competition. It all went down at Solar 1, a green-designed facility located under the FDR Drive. (An environmentally friendly structure located under the FDR - who knew?) According to a press release from the city, "competitors explore designs that incorporate less toxic building materials, reduced water and energy consumption, planning for transportation and vehicle alternatives, improved air quality, incorporation of the City’s land and streets to promote environmentally beneficial growth, and general preservation of natural ecosystems."

Last year, winners included the Queens Botanical Garden, the Roosevelt Avenue/74 th Street Station Rehabilitation, the Brooklyn Ice House, the 2nd Avenue Subway and the Studio 27 Regenerative Row House.

(photo credit: Queens Botanical Garden)