The USA’s first certifiably green gasoline station sports a futuristic metal canopy covered in shiny triangles of uncoated, recyclable stainless steel. The rooftop holds 90 solar panels and a collection system that gathers rainfall to irrigate drought-tolerant plants nearby. The underside is outfitted with low-energy lighting. Dubbed Helios House by British oil giant BP, the eco-friendly station at the corner of Robertson and Olympic boulevards replaces a slightly run-down Thrifty station that served customers from Los Angeles (USA) and nearby Beverly Hills. The new gas station was built with earth-friendly design, using such materials as farmed wood and less-polluting paint. Members of the station’s “green team” will check the tire pressure on customers’ cars and advise that properly inflated tires boost gas mileage. They will give out energy-saving tips, printed on recycled paper embedded with flower seeds that sprout when the card is planted in the ground. While its customers pump gas BP will show eco-vignettes and green videos on screens built into the fuel dispensers. The oil company is considering adding biodiesel and alternative fuels to the site, as well as selling carbon offsets to customers who want to make up for their fuel use. BP declined to disclose how much it cost to build Helios House, but said the price was in line with conventional construction.
