The California Assembly Natural Resources Committee passed AB 2112, the Residential Buildings Zero Net Energy Bill. The bill will require all new residential buildings to be net zero energy by the year 2020. The term "zero net energy building" describes a building that implements both energy efficient design features and clean onsite energy generation that combine to result in no net gas or electricity purchases annually. AB 2112´s next test will be in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

A bill to extend the renewable energy credits for businesses has passed in the U.S. Senate. This bill allows companies who are going green to still receive tax credit for starting new projects through the end of 2009. This program was set to expire at the end of 2008. The bill will move on to the House of Representatives next, where it is also expected to pass.

Santa Monica expanded its green building guidelines to all new buildings, including single family homes. The ordinance would require the owners of all new buildings in the city and those undergoing substantial renovations to use at least five green construction materials and submit a sustainable checklist, as well as landscape and irrigation plans. The new ordinance must be approved on second reading.

The Dallas City Council adopted a resolution for the implementation of the citywide green building program and an ordinance establishing the green building program. The proposed ordinance incorporates the recommendations of the task force into the Dallas Development Code. The program will consist of two phases. The first phase, to be implemented in 2009, requires that homebuilders construct their homes to be 15 percent more efficient than the base energy code. The second phase, beginning in 2011, requires all homes to be built to either the LEED standard or the Green Built North Texas standard.

New standards for the energy and water efficiency of buildings were announced in British Columbia. Houses under five stories and small commercial and industrial buildings will have new insulation requirements. Builders will be required to use a combination of different building materials and techniques to achieve an EnerGuide rating of 77. High-rise residential buildings and larger commercial buildings must meet the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers 90.1(2004) standard. The government is aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 33 per cent below 2007 levels by 2020.

Recent analysis in Seattle shows that environmentally certified homes sold for 4.8% more and stayed on the market for 24% less time than comparable homes sold in 2007. Since it began tracking environmentally certified homes, 19.8% of new homes in Seattle sold on the Northwest Multiple Listing Service were environmentally certified. Environmentally certified homes include those certified by Built Green, Energy Star or LEED for Homes. From September 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008, 168 environmentally certified single-family new homes were sold in the City of Seattle out of a total of 848 new homes sold.

The Canada Green Building Council is collaborating with commercial property owners in development of a new building performance tracking and management model. Building performance baselines will be integrated into the next generation of the green building rating system, to be launched in Canada in spring 2009. The project currently involves 44 buildings across the country.

A US survey finds almost a third of US workers would be more inclined to work for companies with strong green credentials over a higher salary. The survey of more than 2,200 adults carried out by market research firm Harris Interactive found that 36 percent would be more inclined to work for a "green" company, while 59 percent believe their current employer should be doing more to improve its environmental performance. The report also found that younger employees are the most likely to want to work for firms with strong green credentials, suggesting that the issue will grow in importance as the baby boomer generation begins to retire.

Jones Lang LaSalle is establishing a Sustainability University to help provide green training in the real estate services sector, as well as increase its LEED and BREEAM-accredited professionals to 500 by the end of 2009. The company will establish a Sustainability University where clients and employees can pursue accreditation for LEED and BREEAM and receive training in strategies for development, management and leasing of green buildings.

New York City and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the opening of the third New York City Green Building Competition. The national competition seeks projects and ideas that promote the New York City as cultural and sustainable center. Design projects are encouraged to employ the tenets of green building construction and end-of-life considerations, anticipate post-occupancy concerns, and complement the community in which they reside.