I'm going to make a semi-wild guess here and say:
"Is it underground?"
and
"Does it have a garden growing on the roof?"

Perhaps it uses electricity gathered from the air matching a negative charge from the earth and a positive charge from the ionosphere to create an alternating current.

Or I could just be dreaming of my dream-home hahahaha.

I think it could be a building in Vancouver. I remember David Suzuki talking about it some years ago. I think it gets its climate conditioning from subterranean rocks.
Am I close?

Melbourne, Australia!

They probably use a system with a water tank stored under the ground; in the winter it's warm enough to help heat the buidling and in the summer it helps to cool it.

Am I going to be censored now?! :P

Here's a project that got my attention after watching a documentary on National geographic:

http://scraphouse.org/

Not an office-building but it used lots of 'waste' materials from office building projects, like all of the glass windows...

I myself would very much like to have a whiskey barrel office. Sounds weird? It's already been done at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland:

http://patriciaritsemavaneck.name/patricias-photo-gallery/?file=DreamHouses/barrell1.gif

I think geothermal air conditioning systems are used in the building.
These are systems that run pipes 200-300 feet deep in a ground loop
and cycle water through the building and the ground to stabilize the
temperature. Automated L.E.D. lighting and high efficiency water facets
in the rest rooms are a couple things I can think of to help with
electric and water. L.E.D. lighting is so efficient, a few solar panels
can keep lights working for long periods of time - using a rechargeable
system.
Thinking of Global warming and solutions to help, and seeing much short
sightedness with a majority ignoring the application of solutions we have
today. For example...Runners and bicyclist know that if you become thirsty
during a exercising session - then you are too late in replenishing your
system without probable adverse effects of cramping or exhaustion. I feel
the earth has been becoming thirsty - and we humans have stalled while
continuing to move at a snails pace - reforming to save the earth.
We are in for some serious cramps. The idea that comes to mind then - is
how to build these sustainable buildings and make them durable enough to
make it through severe weather patterns due to the whiplash of events that
are likely to occur because of our ignorance for so many years. Protecting
solar panels from wind damage or tornadoes is a challenge. Collecting the
run off water from the roof/solar panels can be used in items not being
used by humans directly - such as the geothermal system.
Maybe I should have been a conservationist, but my heart hurts too
much to constantly live the part and witness the wastes produced by
various companies and ways of living.
I am hopeful that some companies that "see green, in going green" will be
able to change the markets so that efficient products are affordable by all.
We all need to move quickly from our wasteful ways to more conservative
processes. However, I wonder if the greed of "seeing green in selling green"
will prevent real change due to everyone having to make more money to afford
to "go green". It's still better than the alternative.
Mark, thank you for being you. In fact for all the good that you bring.
You deserve a gift. If I could, you would show up at the show in one of these:
--> Tesla Roadster

Sincerely,

Wes

Mark,

I believe it's the new Bank of America's NY headquarter's building. Ralph

Singapore, and some other Asian cities, have some awesome architecture. It's exotic enough that it's appeared in several science fiction movies (eg: Ultra Violet.)

Superb insulation and air circulation will handle most of the savings you mention. Based on the designs though, I'd guess that there's something a little more exotic going on.

We're looking forward to your "The Death of the Unsustainable Office Building" pdf. :)

Mark, would that be in Beijing, China? A fifteen acre residential complex using extensive geo-thermal wells? Just a guess.
The rest of the world seems to be inovating green tech answers to our fossil fuel addiction faster and with much more enthusiasm than the United States.
It is a slap in America's face! I've installed more solar-electric and solar-thermal heating systems than most americans have ever heard about. It is because of this lack of understanding of the importance of renewable energy that I have launched my own web site hoping to inform more people about the benefits of alternative sources of heat and power.
With the advent of "net-metering", solar is no longer just for the "off-grid" market.
I am thrilled to see this kind of interest in your newsletters and on your web site. Fantastic!

Carl Glick, http://www.carlthesolarguy.com

Hmmm, I don't know about this building, but I have a friend who owns the house like this. The electricity and heat is providing by solar energy, the water drops from the sky (rain) and the used water goes to the filters again and it is used as "washing" water. The house climates itself with the help of just a bit of power ... So I will just say: Finally!!!! some business buildings starting to save us some energy ...

Oh, and, well, clever you didn't reveal the place yet ---- you assured we'll be in expectation of the second part! Bravo!

Have a great day and thanks for the articles. I love to read them as they're short and to the point.

Greetings from Slovenia!

Tatjana

Hi Mark, Great article.
I'm one of many that 'doesn't' think this amazing planet of ours 'needs' saving. I do however think we should be doing everything in our power to benefit from the natural resources and wonders of nature that are all around us, as we develop the planet into a more habitable, human friendly place to live.

This building has obviously benefitted from the input of 'intelligence' rather than the 'desire' of some infamous architect looking for 'cool points' in the fashion & design industry.

Better use of the already plentiful 'natural' resources is the way to go. The planet has, and will always look after itself. If we damage it too much, it will simply 'dispense' with us.

Thankyou,

Pete.