To kick this off, we’ll start from far afield, in the Vatican where it was announced earlier this week that not taking care of the environment is a sin.

That’s right. Along with gluttony, lust and greed, you can get in trouble for building an energy-hogging house, throwing away construction debris rather than recycling it, or flying your private plane to the Cannes Film Festival.

To see the new seven deadly sins (14 deadly sins doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it?) visit The New York Times.

The Associated Press says Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, was asked by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano what, in his opinion, are the “new sins.”

He answered that they are violations of human behavior like not taking care of the environment, use of mind altering drugs and genetic experiments.

The Vatican, for one, has photovoltaic panels on its roof, has planted trees and is working to reforest a site in Hungary, according to a February address of the United Nations General Assembly.

In that address, Msgr. Celestino Migliore, representing the Vatican, says, “Sustainable development provides the key to a strategy that harmoniously takes into account the demands of environmental preservation, climate change, economic development and basic human needs.” He also says green markets should be developed and clean technology supported.

So how about it? Is the Vatican overstepping its bounds here, considering its large landowner status? Or is this the only way green building will become mainstream?

Welcome to the Daily Journal of Commerce Green Building Blog! I’m Katie Zemtseff, environmental reporter here at the DJC. It turns out there’s so much going on in the Pacific Northwest related to green building, both in events and news, that there just isn’t enough time to investigate it, cover it, and get it to you, trusty reader. So, we are entering the new age with this, our green building blog. Feel free to post comments, events, or subjects, and I’ll let you know what forums, workshops, trainings and news is popping up, that doesn’t quite make it into the print edition.

This blog is here to focus on green building issues in Seattle, the Pacific Northwest, and anywhere that might interest you. That means it is focused on green building, but will often meander to other related subjects. Welcome!