The short answer is that green building standards and mandates are happening now. It may not be as sweeping as many would like, but we think the incremental changes are very reassuring. Indeed, the amount of public and private support that seems to exist (both voluntary and mandated) to increase sustainability policy is impressive and seems to be growing. The Obama administration surely helps this cause.

For instance, Colorado, a state that is progressively green, recently announced that its legislators are working on a plan to develop Boulder as the first "Carbon Neutral City" by 2012. Boulder already has mandatory green building standards in place and carbon taxes on residents and businesses.

In Berkeley, California, commercial properties being sold or renovated are required to install a variety of energy conservation measures for HVAC equipment, water systems, lighting, commercial refrigeration equipment, motor-driven equipment and the building envelope.

In Arizona, all state-funded buildings constructed after February 11, 2005 must be developed to receive at least 10% of their energy from renewable energy sources. Renewable energy resources may include solar, wind, or use of thermal energy from biomass fuels for heating and/or cooling. Also, all new state-funded buildings in Arizona must meet at least the "silver" Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED*) standard.

In Oregon, Senate Bills 79 and 80 require energy efficient buildings and cap GHG emissions, respectively. SB 79 directs the Oregon Department of Energy to create an energy-efficiency rating system for nonresidential buildings. Jill Gray, Sen. Jackie Dingfelder's chief-of-staff, said the bill was created to increase efficiency standards by allowing consumers to see how energy efficient their businesses are. Similar to the way car dealers reveal energy efficiency by having mph information available to consumers. SB 80 would place a yearly limit on greenhouse gas emissions businesses are allowed to produce. The bill would allow utility companies and industries to then buy and sell the amount of pollution they can emit under the cap, creating a market.

It's important to note, however, that the "happy talk" isn't limited to Birkenstock-wearing, Prius driving Oregonians or Berkeley beauties. Across the United States, the private sector is starting to acknowledge, accept and act on the real possibility that there are strong return on investment (ROI) opportunities in sustainability.

Indeed, in Florida, major real estate developer Kitson & Partners announced on April 9th, 2009 a landmark agreement with electric utility Florida Power & Light to build the world’s largest solar photovoltaic power plant at Babcock Ranch, Florida, creating the world’s first city powered by solar energy. The Babcock Ranch development will cover an area of 17,000 acres and will consume less power than the proposed Florida Power & Light on-site solar facilities will produce, allowing it to become the first city on earth powered by zero-emission solar energy. According to Kitson, the new development will start the city on a path to create 20,000 permanent jobs.

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