No More Dirty Dancing.(The Good Life; NIGHTLIFE)(sustainable design of nightclubs)

Byline: Joanna Nikas and Sangwon Yoon

Throughout the Earth Day festivities this week, environmentalists and ecofriendly scenesters can celebrate knowing their late-night partying won't interfere with their green lifestyle. Nightclubs all over the world are reinventing themselves as ecosensitive dance spots, incorporating renewable or recycled materials and conservation-minded facilities. They're a far cry from the heedless excess of the '90s club scene--but that doesn't mean they're spartan. "Just because a club goes green does not mean it can't be luxurious," says Jon Bakhshi, owner of the New York City nightclub Greenhouse.

At Greenhouse, everything from the dance floor to the decor has been carefully selected to preserve the environment and promote conservation. The club's decor is a nature lover's dream; the walls are covered with moss, and the restrooms are reached through a tunnel lined with rainforest plants. The floor is made of bamboo that has been certified as a renewable resource; indeed, only 20 percent of any given bamboo forest is hand-cut at a time, ensuring that the habitat is not unduly decimated in the service of all those grooving Louboutins. The bathrooms use low-flow sink faucets and waterless urinals developed according to strict new Environmental Protection Agency standards, which save nearly 114,000 liters of water a year compared with standard club facilities. Lighting in nightclubs is already dim, but Greenhouse uses LED fixtures, which further saves on energy costs. The bartenders' uniforms are made by Edun, the organic-cotton company founded by U2's Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, whose mission is "trade--not aid." The club's celebrity clientele includes Jay-Z, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mary-Kate Olsen and Kevin Spacey, who come to show their green streak and sip cocktails made of organic vodka.

In Los ...