Almost every day, the author learns about new green buildings from press releases. One example is that of Arizona State University's new Biodesign Institute, a soaring, "uber"-chic, high-performance, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified center. However, the author maintains that such buildings are undoubtedly a step up from their fossil-fuel-guzzling brethren, and the research being done at Arizona State and other "going green" colleges is important. As the threshold of sustainable building lowers, and materials and expertise become more affordable, these buildings begin to feel like static interference rather than true progress. Here, the author argues that progress in sustainable buildings means more than just using the proper hardwoods. It requires changing how Americans think about architecture and energy.