Living Green

The World of Coca-Cola is more than just a good place to grab a strange-tasting soda from a remote part of the globe.

The downtown Atlanta attraction also has been certified environmentally friendly by a Washington-based group that promotes the development of green buildings, Coca-Cola Co. announced Wednesday.

The World of Coke, a celebration of Coke's history and global brands, relocated in May 2007. The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the World of Coke building a gold rating, the second-highest certification.

The World of Coke uses 40 percent less water than standard buildings because of special faucets and fixtures. About 20 percent of the construction materials were recycled or environmentally friendly.

Almost 90 percent of construction waste was salvaged, reused or recycled. The cups in the "Taste It" lounge, an area that offers visitors beverages from around the world, are made from fully compostable cornstarch.