On Thursday, Seattle-based Rushing hosted an open house for its new workspace. The mechanical and electrical engineering, and sustainability consulting firm, has moved to the third floor of 1725 Westlake Ave N., and is currently awaiting a LEED platinum certification for commercial interiors. In case you missed it, I’ve got some photos of the space - and the event - for you below.

Inside view of the space

Rae Anne Rushing in her new office

The ceiling

A wall of the different LEED points the space has targeted

Rushing also made handy little booklets that outline all the credits Rushing (again hopefully) achieved for LEED platinum. Each page in the booklet explains what Rushing did for each credit. For example, under Energy Use Measurement and Payment Accountability, the boooklet says Rushing installed submetering equipment to measure and recod gas and electricity use in the space. It also says a lease was negotiated where energy costs are paid by Rushing, and not paid in base rent.

Close up view of a couple LEED points

The food you missed!

It’s that time of year, where the world… wants your money. That’s right, it’s December. And if your in-box is anything like mine, a disproportionate amount of e-mails recently have been requests for donations. They come from everywhere: from large think tanks to the long lost cousin in Kenya you didn’t know you had. But whoever’s sending, everyone wants your money.

Everyone, that is, except for the two organizations hosting their end of year parties

This could be you!

tomorrow night. Once again (as I’ve complained about before) everyone in green plans the same things at the same time.

So, on Thursday, Dec. 11, both the Cascadia Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Seattle Great City Initiative will host parties.

Here are the details:

The Cascadia party is at Cascadia’s HQ at 410 Occidental Ave S. near Pioneer Square. It will feature a slide show of Washington projects that have achieved LEED certifications. Also, there are free drinks and light refreshments. I went to Cascadia’s holiday party last year and had a blast, though it seems like this is a scaled down version. RSVP here.

The Great City party is at Paddy Coyne’s during Happy Hour, beginning at 5 p.m. The initiatve has asked attendees to RSVP so they know how much food to order. RSVP to Michael McGinn at michael.mcginn@greatcity.org.

Party hardily, green readers!

It never fails to amaze me that all green building people will somehow decide to host all their events on the same day or in the same week, making for something that I call green insanity. This week, my friends, is no exception.

Today (Monday): In case you missed it, the Puget Sound Partnership published

These events will keep you running!

its much awaited Action Agenda that outlines the health of Puget Sound. There was a huge brouhaha at the aquarium this afternoon. To reach the huge report, click here or read my article in the DJC tomorrow. To read my past writings on the agenda, click the Puget Sound tag below.

Tuesday: Noel Harding “artist and urban innovator” will speak as part of Transformational Lecture Series. His lecture will discuss art’s role in raising public awareness. The talk is free and begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Seattle Central Library. More info here.

Wednesday: The Northwest Environmental Business Council is hosting a luncheon at McCormick & Schmick’s Harborside restaurant about environmental issues during the state Legislature’s 2009 session. State Senator Dabbie Regala of Tacoma, Jerry Smedes of Smedes & Associates and Rep. David Upthegrove, D-Des Moines, will speak. It costs $35 for NEBC members and $48 for all others and runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more info, click here.

Thursday: The Master Builder’s Association of King and Snohomish Counties is hosting a sustainability breakfast that looks like classic green fare. It’s called ‘Integrating Sustainability into Your Business Planning’ and features Brenda Nunes giving the environmental case, Carolyn Hope giving the social and economic case and Cheryl Isen speaking about ways to leverage and promote sustainable practices. It’s at the MBA Housing Center in Bellevue from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and costs $45 per person. More info here.

Then, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Triad Associates in Kirkland, the Associated Builders & Contractors’ Green Council  hosts a free roundtable discussion on green roofs. Wondering about ’em? Patrick Carey of Hadj Design will tell you all you need to know. More info here.

Later in the day, at 5:30 p.m., Tom Paladino of Paladino & Co., will speak about the triple bottom line and creating abundance through green building. This also, is part of the Transformational Lecture Series. It’s free and is at the Tacoma Public Utilities Auditorium. More info here.

Still later in the evening (if you want a really busy day) David Dicks, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership, will discuss the projects and programs outlined in the action agenda and how they will be funded. Hosted by People by Puget Sound, it costs $6 for PSP members and $8 for nonmembers. IT is at REI at 7 p.m. For more info, call (206) 382-7007.

And heck, if you want to keep running, the Cascade Land Conservancy is hosting its annual holiday party for King County today from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Refreshments and appetizers will be served, and there is no RSVP required. It’s at 615 2nd Ave, Suite 600 in Seattle. Click here for more.

And that, my friends, should keep you busy!

Environment meetings are interesting but they can tend to be a tad dry. To make them a little more interesting, some groups are adding… well alcohol, to make the party rock.

The only problem? Both these parties are on the same date of July 17!!! What a time to get your eco-groove on.

The Northwest Environmental Business Council hosts a rooftop mixer from 5 to 7:30 on the seventh floor outdoor deck of K&L Gates. This party promises hobnobbing with NEBC board of directors, NEBC members and other colleagues. It also features two drinks per person and hors d’oeuvres by Pyramid Catering. It costs $35 for NEBC members and $45 for non members.

That same day from 5 to 8 p.m., there’s the Seattle Great City Initiative’s Summer Street Scene Party. This one is at the South Lake Union Discovery Center and features food and drink from local companies, local musicians, an “urban design corner” of locally designed sustainability projects, exhibitors on alternative energy and transportation choices, and a “street for people” competition” (click here for more on that).  As far as I can tell, this one is free.

Unfortunately, like I said, both are on the same day so you’re going to have to choose one… unless you’re a particularly active party-goer. Sadly, I won’t be at either as I’ll be on vacation that day, so if you go, tell me how it went!

If you, like me, can’t make it to either, there’s also monthly Greendrinks, which on July 8 only will be hosted in multiple locations. To see if green people are gathering at a bar in your Seattle neighborhood, click here.

Happy eco partying and networking!

If so, the Northwest Environmental Business Council is hosting a pub mixer tonight called “Tax Day Blues??? Not Here!” at the Great Nabob from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The mixer will offer networking, food and spirits with other members of the environmental community. It’s late notice but NEBC events always tend to have a handful of last minute sign ups. It costs $35 for non members and $48 for members. The Great Nabob is at 819 Fifth Ave. N. in Seattle. For more information, visit the NEBC Web site here.