While the trend is nascent, dozens of "net zero" and "near net zero" developments have sprung up across the U.S. in the past five years.  To reach zero energy use, a building needs to produce its own power through solar, wind, geothermal, etc.  A bigger shift toward net zero construction will occur as the cost of constructing net zero buildings decreases.

Copenhagen -- outline for sustainable forests (CNN)

Scandal triggers UK climate science probe (The Wall Street Journal)

After Copenhagen (BBC)

Copenhagen: Money left on the table, no treaty, zero innovation (Zdnet)

While LEED certification is becoming increasingly common, the construction industry is still in “the infancy stages” of implementing truly sustainable building practices.

Pacesetting green regulations, increasing demand for alternative energy and technologies, and sizable procurement budgets are generating enormous economic opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs, manufacturers, builders and investors.

Model Green Lease 2010
By redesigning the economic incentives of the traditional lease, suitable construction and operating standards can cut energy use by 30 to 50% over comparable buildings. 

Daly City approved a green building law which conditions building permits on meeting Build It Green or LEED minimum standards.

The International Code Council's International Green Construction Code (IGCC), which is the first-ever integrated green code for traditional and high-performance commercial buildings, is set for release in March.  All 50 states and over 20,000 U.S. jurisdictions use the International Codes. 

The North Carolina Green Business Fund will provide $8 million in stimulus money for small businesses focused on biofuels, green building, or environmentally clean technology and renewable energy.

Building owners in Washington, D.C., will begin measuring energy use of commercial properties in January, 2010 and must publicly disclose energy ratings by 2012 giving tenants and buyers an easy-to-understand way to compare the energy consumption and operating costs of buildings.

The Southern Nevada chapter of NAIOP is developing a series of sustainable building prototypes that address the region's unique climate demands.  NAIOP assembled a team of developers, architects, engineers, contractors and real estate professionals to create high-efficiency building models including office, industrial and retail.