 |   How green was my roof Skyscrapers and other enormous buildings are environmental horror shows. So you might think that Chicago -- birthplace of the skyscraper and home to nine of the world's 100 tallest buildings -- is like a City of the Eco-Damned. Not so. The Windy City has plenty of proof that it's building a foundation on building green. Find out more (it will blow you away).
And read what one of the first LEED experts has to say about Chicago's green building success.
 post-crist-ianity Florida's governor race pits Alex Sink (D), a former banking executive comfortable talking energy efficiency and cleantech business plans, against Rick Scott (R), a largely unknown hospital-chain owner who supports offshore drilling but hasn't made his positions clear on many other green issues. For a state that's failed to live up to its clean-energy potential -- and a state uniquely vulnerable to climate change -- the differences are significant. Find out more.
 Slumming it Architects and urban designers Pavlina Ilieva and Kuo Pao Lian say they aren't out to sugarcoat the poverty and misery found in the favelas of Rio or the barrios of Mexico City. But they suggest that those who live in the planet's most economically privileged enclaves could learn a lot by looking at these places with an open mind. Read more.
 The last living puppy Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid dropped a hint last week that he may still try to get a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) into the Senate energy bill. According to Reid, there are two Republicans open to supporting it. Does it have a shot? Is there one tiny green puppy left that congressional Republicans won't stomp on? David Roberts explores.
 Food soldiers Growing numbers of folks involved in raw milk and other alternative foods are refusing to abide by government edicts and shutdown orders. Here's what to expect if you join the ranks of the resistance.
 Darwin at dinner If variety is the spice of life, we Homo sapiens are the spiciest of species. Stephen Hale calculated that in just 24 hours, he consumed 53 species spanning four biological kingdoms and five continents. Here's why our diet biodiversity matters.
 A win-win A new alliance between sports and the green community has America's pro leagues urging teams to solarize their stadiums. Some teams are ahead of the game. L.A.'s Staples Center boasts a photovoltaic system that has cut the arena's electric bill by $100,000. Read more.
 sorry, we just can't say it Reaction to BP's report from its internal investigation of the Gulf explosion has been almost all negative. Some critics wonder what the slew of bad decisions says about how things get done on those huge rigs in the ocean. Plus, a green lobby closes shop, and China blacks out energy users. Read more.
 veg-icilious def If peanut butter is chock full of peanuts, and PETA is chock full of vegans, then the only logical conclusion is that PETA Butter is chock full of vegans, no? Read more.
 Big picture analysis The New York Times' recent recap of the current science behind bisphenol-A's dangers suggests that scientists are waiting for results from a two-year, government funded study to confirm what they already believe. Get the story.
 Yolks on me It's like Easter in September on Steph Larsen's farm, where "free range" seems to mean "free to lay your eggs anywhere but in your nice, spacious coop." Read more.
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