All photos and words courtesy of Chris Svetlik
Earlier this month, the building housing the Finnish Embassy was awarded the US Green Building Council's LEED gold star certification, making it the first embassy in the US to do so. To gain the coveted certification, the embassy underwent renovations including strategic climate control which efficiently coordinates heating/ventilation/AC; a free cooling system; more efficient light fixtures; rigorous recycling policies; the installation of water-saving toilets, etc. etc.... which resulted in usage decreases of 50% for electricity and 65% for gas.
While this all may seem terribly mundane, the Nordic expat community was EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT IT. On Wednesday the Finnish Embassy and the Pink Line Project threw a party to celebrate the achievement, and I have never seen anything remotely approaching the enthusiasm shown by the 50+ crowd on the dancefloor. Old bodies, suddenly spry and agile, bounced, thrashed, gyrated, and flailed to no end. Finns, forever young.
In typical Finnish Embassy fashion, the party was done up big with an extensive buffet of Finnish foods and confections. The Pink Line Project supplied the entertainment for the evening: Grammy-nominated musician Christylez Bacon, video DJ John Bowen, an artsy photobooth, and a performance by the City Dance Ensemble.
God loves a cheerful giver.
Gold for Finland. Silver for Poland. Bronze monkey for Honduras.