The LEED question is especially interesting to me because Berklee’s debating this for their new building. I’m still not sure what they’ve decided.

• To LEED or Not to LEED – Today’s Campus. The conclusion seems to be that LEED certifiable isn’t good enough, because without third-party verification it’s not as rigorous.
• What Makes Housing Really Green? Location, Location, Location… – Sustainablog. Living “within a quarter to a half a mile of a transit stop … produces the greatest energy savings for a home.”
• Eastern Cougar Is Declared Extinct, With an Asterisk – New York Times. My mom will be very disappointed by this. She’s convinced she’s seen like a thousand mountain lions in her life.
• Don’t End Agricultural Subsidies, Fix Them – New York Times. Bittman says what everyone’s thinking. How is this not happening already?
• Should I buy milk in glass, plastic, or cardboard containers? – Slate. “Refillable glass was found to use about half as much energy during its life cycle than either plastic or gable-top cartons.”
• In Praise of Processed Food – Words to Eat by. Yes! I’m not about to become a housewife so we can make all our food from scratch.
• 15 Time-Saving Food Prep Tips – Cheap Healthy Good. I have to keep posting stuff like this as a daily affirmation.
• Once a Villain, Coconut Oil Charms the Health Food World – New York Times. (Thanks, Sophie!) Apparently coconut oil can stand in really well for butter in vegan recipes.
• Regulation Lax as Gas Wells’ Tainted Water Hits Rivers – New York Times. Hydrofracking sounds like something from Battlestar Galatica.

As always, send along any interesting green news that you see this week.