The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is changing its certification process for green buildings through its LEED program. LEED 2009 will reorganize the commercial rating systems by altering its points structure by consolidating, aligning and updating them into one umbrella system. "The entire process will be flexible to adapt to changing technology, account for regional differences and encourage innovation" according to a USGBC press release. The certification process has been criticized for being too rigid, cumbersome and demanding, for being too costly, and for awarding points illogically. More than 1,500 buildings have received LEED certification since the program was introduced in 2000, and more than 11,000 are seeking certification.

Albuquerque's green building code is getting national attention from opponents, according to the Albuquerque Journal. A coalition of national industry groups and local companies has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block much of the code's energy-efficiency requirements. The plaintiffs say the city regulations are pre-empted by federal law. The ordinances comprising Albuquerque's green building code are the only ones of their kind in the country. The city has postponed enforcement of the code.

The City of Portland and the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland have been working to design a green building pilot program in order to development local industry and increase public awareness of green building. The pilot will facilitate the construction of green homes that exceed the current building code requirements for energy efficiency. The Energy Trust of Oregon, Energy Star and Earth Advantage will partner with the city on the project.

Toronto's Mayor David Miller took a dig at the province for not moving quickly enough to incorporate LEED standards into the Ontario Building Code, according to the Daily Commercial News and Construction Record. Miller said LEED-H (for homes) "as a minimum requirement for any development in the city of Toronto is certainly something we'd like to do". The city recently broke ground for a $100-million "Evergreen project", a mix of 206 low- rise townhouses and single family homes seeking LEED-H certification.