Green on the inside

An article in The Independent today describes a prison in America that is aiming to cut carbon as well as crime. The Coyote Ridge Corrections Centre in Connell, Washington, has just received the gold LEED award (the first prison in the world to do so) from the US Green Building Council for a 21-unit extension that means it can now house almost 2,500 prisoners. The green credentials of the revamped facility will save Washington State's Department of Corrections hundreds of thousands every year and, according to some experts, could have a massive impact on the prisoners' behaviour too by improving what is described as the 'balance between security and a human environment'. That last quote is taken from the book Prison Design, which also says that it's important to have 'buildings that will facilitate positive activities with staff and prisoners'. 
Complex social engineering aside, the sustainable achievements of the building are impressive. Simply by removing all the grass and replacing it with gravel has cut the prison's water use by a quarter, that's a saving of 5.5m gallons every year. I don't imagine a site landscaped entirely with gravel looks particularly attractive but, let's face it, it's not Kew Gardens, it's a prison.