The Greening of Southie

What happens when you’re asked to build the city of tomorrow… today? Set on the rugged streets of South Boston, The Greening of Southie is the story of a revolutionary Green Building, and the men and women who bring it to life. From wheatboard cabinetry to recycled steel, bamboo flooring to dual-flush toilets, The Macallen Building is something different––a leader in the emerging field of environmentally friendly design. But Boston’s steel-toed construction workers aren’t sure they like it. And when things on the building start to go wrong, the young development team has to keep the project from unraveling. Funny and poignant, The Greening of Southie is a story of bold ideas, unlikely environmentalists, and the future of the way we live. (from The Greening of Southie website)

An interesting film from a more interesting premise. Apparently this is the "cutting edge" building of the future. But.... what they do not emphasise here - the cost of shipping all these new-fangled materials to Boston for construction. A key issue - although the building is "green" and cheaper, the cost over the life of the building for the materials will not be paid for in money saved. Not counting the ripping up of the first round of bamboo floors from China. I was glad this was shown on Sundance - I had heard about it but didn't want to buy it. I'd like to look into how these building options can be sustainable.