Green clubbing

Looking for a place to ring in what we all hope will be a greener new year? New York night club entrepreneur, John B. has opened what may be the city's first LEED certified nightlife destination. 

Greenhouse, located on SoHo's Varick Street, uses high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and an LED (light emitting diode) lighting system that the owner says will use just over 3 percent of the energy of a standard lighting installation.

All of the materials used to furnish the venue - from the upholstery on the banquettes to the coasters on the tables are eco-friendly: a bamboo dance floor, fabrics and wall coverings made from recycled materials, and Forestry Stewardship Certified wood. 

At the recycled glass bar you can imbibe 360 Vodka, an eco-friendly liquor packaged in a reusable bottle.

The bathrooms, which incorporate waterless urinals and a rainwater collection system for flushing its water saving toilets, are stocked with Kiehl's Aloe Vera Biodegradable Liquid Body Cleanser, the first beauty product to receive Cradle to Cradle certification.

Greenhouse purchases 100% wind-powered electricity and has instituted a carbon-offsetting program to counter the energy used in the club's construction and in it's day-to-day operation. 

While Greenhouse may be the first green club in New York, it's not the first in the world, or even necessarily the greenist. Surya, a dance club in London features a piezoelectric dance floor that generates 60% of the building's electricity by capturing the kinetic energy created by dancers' movements. The club also features organic drinks, and if you can prove you walked, biked or took public transportation to get there, the club will waive the entrance fee.