Even with all the talk about organic gardens and farmers markets, we didn’t see this one coming! The White House will undergo a number of renovations to improve waste and energy efficiency in an effort to become LEED-certified. Think the building is way too old to be renovated? Not so, says Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and President of the U.S. Green Building Council, who says that “LEED certification of the White House is absolutely possible and viable.”

Upcoming changes to the building will include:

• Implementing computerized energy management systems
• Automatic light sensors that turn off when a room is empty
• Low flow water valves
• Paints and sealers with low or no VOCs
• Window films to lower UV rays and save energy

Read more at Sierra Club Green Home.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

Remember way back in March when Michelle Obama broke ground at the White House garden with a group of Washington D.C. fifth-graders? Now, the Obamas have taken another, even bigger step towards promoting local, sustainable food–this time, with an entire farmers market!

Fresh Farm Markets, a nonprofit group that operates several farm markets around the Washington and Maryland area, recently won approval to set up a market on Vermont Avenue near the White House. White House officials have not commented on the amount of their involvement in the project, however, the co-director of Fresh Farm Markets says that the Obamas “support the idea of farmers markets.”

The market kicks off this Thursday, with weekly runs on the same day until October 29th.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer