| The desire to reward green projects implies a need | | | | non-governmental owners pick up steam, |
| to track them. And that has led to the creation of | | | | government projects will continue to help drive the |
| new monitoring and counting systems in the form of | | | | industry as more and more agencies establish |
| certifications and accreditations. Armed with those | | | | programs and mandates to meet green building goals. |
| forms of recognition, government agencies as well as | | | | Also driving the government green building market will |
| private stakeholders are then able to offer rewards | | | | be the obsolescence and reconstruction of |
| and incentives both for projects that involve public | | | | government buildings, many of which are approaching |
| funding and for private projects that may be subject | | | | the end of their lifecycles. |
| to local permitting, compliance or other regulatory or | | | | Twelve federal agencies have adopted internal |
| community oversight. The most robust and rapidly | | | | programs or policies that promote green building |
| growing program that captures at least some | | | | practices under the LEED system. These programs |
| significant portion of green building activity is the | | | | will surely grow and expand to other agencies in the |
| LEED certification program administered by the United | | | | future. As a tax, license, permit and fee-collecting |
| States Green Building Council (USGBC). | | | | entity, the federal government is also in an excellent |
| The LEED certification program has grown very | | | | position to create incentives for private sector green |
| quickly since its inception in 2000. Accounting for | | | | building - via LEED or any other program. Although |
| approximately 30% of all green building projects - and | | | | the USGBC's LEED program was originally catalyzed in |
| growing at approximately 30% annually - government | | | | part by a federal grant, there are currently no |
| agencies have been major buyers of green buildings | | | | federal-level programs intended to encourage LEED |
| and associated materials. Government agencies tend | | | | adherence. Twenty one states have programs in |
| to mandate green building standards for themselves | | | | place that require LEED participation for state |
| and for projects they fund before they mandate (if | | | | agencies or state-funded construction. In addition, |
| ever) green building standards or incentives for any | | | | Maryland, Nevada, New York and Oregon offer |
| private entities they may have regulatory influence | | | | incentives (tax reductions) for LEED projects and/or |
| over. Although government's share of total green | | | | buildings. |
| building projects will eventually decline over time as | | | | |