There are many, many things Justin Timberlake and I have in common.   For example, we’re both working extremely hard on bringing sexy back.   And, we both know every single N*Sync song by heart.   We both are big on environmentally-friendly action.   Also, we both love golf.   Now, some might quibble at this last similarity, as Timberlake is known to be a “good” golfer, while I am known to be “absolutely godawful,” but that’s neither here nor there.

Regardless, Memphis Daily News reports Timberlake has combined the last two parts of that list with the money he’s made from the first two parts on that list to help create the United States’ first LEED-certified golf course.   The course, Woodstock Hills outside of Memphis, is going to be PGA Tour quality, while still being greener than your regular golf course, if you catch my drift.   Cause, there’s lots of grass on a golf course…and when things are environmentally sound they’re called “green”…and…well…you know what?  Let’s steal a Timberlake quote from ecorazzi on this one and get back on track.

After we had the golf course we said why don’t we refurbish it and make it even nicer for the community. Then I asked questions about what we could possibly do, and we found out we could actually make it a green course. So when it’s finished this summer it will be a Platinum LEED certified green course. The first in the United States of America, so that’s pretty exciting that you could take all that land and make it eco-friendly.

PLATINUM certified.

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In Danville, California, a construction company is building a tract of green luxury homes - so green, in fact, that there’s a Prius waiting for you in the garage if you buy one of these properties.   Clarum Homes is building 10 homes all valued around $2 million, and are being certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a set of standards from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Contra Costa Times tells us that, “The homes use solar power, with solar hot water heaters, special heating and cooling systems, Web-based irrigation controllers and a host of other features.”  And, did we mention, they’re just throwing in a Prius?  This kind of reminds me of how these days Ticketmaster gives you a free iTunes download if you buy a ticket.   Sure, we’ve tacked on 168% in convenience fees, but here’s a 99 cent download.

Regardless, the fact that there’s enough of a demand for these homes in the top one percent is a good thing.   And, somehow, I doubt there’s actually a lot of similarities in paying $32 for a $13 concert ticket, and $2 million for a 3,600 square foot home.   Anyhow, you can takepart here to learn some various ways you can green your home, just in case you don’t have the money to drop on a luxury home/Prius combo.

There’s good news afoot for green buildings despite a U.S. housing slump, says Venture Beat, which outlines $12 billion in revenues in the green building industry last year. The figure is estimated to top $42 billion by 2015. What does it mean? The building industry is definitely going green, despite the up-front costs of getting LEED certified. In fact, a report from Frost & Sullivan indicates that soon almost 25% of all new construction in the United States will be LEED registered projects. This increase in LEED certified commercial projects is good news for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and their goal of carbon neutrality in all new construction by 2030.

takepart and check out the AIA’s top 10 green buildings in the U.S.

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