We've got a couple of stories for you this week about green buildings that are not being as green as promised. Here's one from Spokane, Washington, and another from the other side of the globe in New Zealand. There's also a new branch of law they're calling LEEDigation. Google it. You'll probably see ads from these firms on TV pretty soon.

ConEd just did a study and found a benefit to having crops grow on your roof that few have considered in the past. It has to do with cities and lots of rain. I clamored around a green roof in Chicago once. It was lots of fun!

So Timothy Adams puts some solar panels on the roof of his home, which happens to be in one of those planned communities. A neighbor objects, and that leads to a lawsuit. Mr. Adams responds with this. I know, it's about principle (he says), but what do you think those billboards cost? And you wonder why orthodontia costs so much.

Once again, count your blessings the next time you take a hot shower and think about what the folks in Russia have to put up with when it comes to plumbing and heating. The big question, as always, is who will pay to fix all of this old stuff? Good question.

Here's a solution to that problem. Just bring the indoor temperature to 135 degrees. But you might not want to hire this guy do the job. Hey, I've seen some old steam systems that could do this on their own!

That's the advice the folks at this U.K. church would give when it comes to asbestos. Something you might not think of when you're working on that next church job.

Considering that I spent the price of a small house so that our daughter, Kelly, could get a fine education under the Golden Dome of South Bend, Indiana, I was delighted to read this story about what the Domers are up to when it comes to turbines. Nice to see a wind turbine going up on campus for a reason other than to appear green to prospective students. Now if they could just do something about that football team.

Hug your kids.