Pasadena's "EcoHouse" will soon be built and become the first home in the US to have earned Platinum certification for water and energy efficiency by the U.S. Green Building Council. The 1,975 square foot three-bedroom, single-level Pasadena EcoHouse includes solar components, energy-efficient systems and appliances, minimal neighborhood impact and respect for the historic value of the community. The design: "can easily be duplicated on almost any buildable lot" according to architect Robert Mechielsen.

DOE issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the research, development, and demonstration of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). The FOA offers up to $90 million over 4 years, of which $40 million will go toward research and development projects for the technologies needed to commercialize EGS and $50 million will go toward demonstration projects that stimulate existing unproductive geothermal reservoirs.

The owners of Battersea Power Station, the London landmark that two developers tried and failed to revive in the past 25 years, proposed an $8 billion project to turn the 38-acre site into 8 million square feet of offices, shops and homes as well as a six-acre public park. Alongside Battersea Power Station's smokestacks, which provided a fifth of London's electricity supply in the early 1950s, the owners aim to build the world's largest solar-driven ventilation system. The 300-meter high glass and steel chimney would eliminate the need for air conditioning in the offices and ground-floor shops. The developers will seek planning approval from local authorities in 2009.

The Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion in Grand Rapids will provide West Michigan's widest, most advanced array of outpatient cancer services within a single, healing environment according to an article by WWJ Newsradio. The six-story pavilion took more than two years to complete and cost approximately $92 million. The Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion is expected to be the first Spectrum Health building to earn LEED certification from the United States Green Building Council.

According to an article by the New York Times, small, LEED certified homes have become the new trend in high end homebuilding. However, some argue that the rating system is rigid and cumbersome, something that has been heard across the country as green building slowly ceases to be a do-gooder's hobby. More than 1,500 commercial buildings and 684 homes have been certified but just 48 homes have received the platinum ranking.  Frances Anderton, the Los Angeles editor of Dwell magazine, longs for the day when LEED recognition was irrelevant. "Architects should be offering a green building service," she said, "without needing a badge of pride."