Around here there's a big push for a LEED certified "green hospital." But they want to build it on formerly-prime ag land, and included in the redevelopment was a high end subdivision (that is now having trouble being filled up with people). All this activity is taking place on the outskirts of city limits, with the city limits expanded to incorporate it, giving the development projects access to city sewer, water, street maintenance and police services at a time when budgets are being cut back and fees for services are going up.

Meanwhile, it turns out that because the hospital is new, it must comply with gargantuan though well intended building and ventilation standards that mean it will use MORE energy than the current hospital! And these same standards require automation of nearly everything so that windows can't be opened manually, for example. Without electricity the place will be useless it seems, and yet part of the reason for having a hospital here is that in case of disaster we are isolated. Well, couldn't a disaster take out power for an extended period? Yes. So how much back up power exists? Three days of diesel. Any plan to use renewable energy? No, too expensive.

Furthermore, all the existing doctors offices, which cluster around the current facility might need to be relocated to another set of yet to be built buildings since doctors here follow their patients in the hospital. But until then doctors are expected to drive back and forth, umpteen times per day.

In the discussions with the design team I brought up "boundary of analysis" and was basically told that they only assess within the project property itself.

So much for "green."