20 Stunning Photos Of The World's Most Sustainable Buildings

Proving that green can be gorgeous, these 20 buildings are marvelous examples of sustainability that will drop jaws as well as carbon emissions. From giant wind turbines to living roofs, check 'em out and celebrate low-impact architecture with high-minded design. 

Cambridge, Massachusetts
Green attributes: Prismatic louvers to deflect too much heat from the sun; vegetative roof to reduce stormwater runoff. 

Manama, Bahrain
Green attributes: An unprecedented pair of 42-story wind turbines.

Santa Rosalia, Guatemala City
Green attributes: Uses heat-repelling concrete foundation; built around trees; uses recycled materials. 

San Francisco, California
Green attributes: Built with low-emitting materials; uses wind turbine power.

Ksiazenice, Poland
Green attributes: Built into the existing terrain for low environmental impact.

Melbourne, Australia
Green attributes: Gas-fired cogeneration plant to reduce carbon emotions; T5 light fittings which consume less energy.

Glen Jean, West Virginia
Green attributes: Water cleansing system; photovoltaic panels; wind turbines.

Seattle, Washington
Green attributes: Geothermal heating and cooling; solar panels.

Syracuse, New York
Green attributes: Natural gas-powered turbines; biomass; steam-fueled electricity.

New York City, New York
Green attributes: Insulated floor-to-ceiling windows for natural light; reusable rainwater-capturing system, constructed from recyclable materials.

San Francisco, California
Green attributes: Over 60,000 photovoltaic panels; 2.5-acre green roof; natural light in 90% of the building.

Vancouver, Canada
Green attributes: Green roof is home to many indigenous plants; recovery rainwater system for irrigation; habitat for fish built into building’s foundation.

Whistler, Canada
Green attributes: Built around surrounding trees; uses recycled wood.

Hamburg, Germany
Green attributes: Solar panels on the roof; low-energy light bulbs; geothermal heating.

Madison, Wisconsin
Green attributes: Green roof to curb stormwater runoff; geothermal heating and cooling.

Shanghai, China
Green attributes: One third of interior is public green space; powered with wind turbines; built with a high percentage of recycled materials.

Los Altos, California
Green attributes: Living green roof; 915 rooftop solar panels; built from 95% recycled materials.

Manchester, UK
Green attributes: Has computer systems that recycle waste heat and rainwater harvesting; passive solar building design.

Nanyang, Singapore
Green attributes: Living green roof.

Portland, Oregon
Green attributes: Rainwater collection tank; radiant heating and cooling; elevators that generate electricity when descending.

Ali Drucker is a staff writer for Supercompressor. She, too, generates electricity. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.