Stanford University recently unveiled an eco-friendly building that will use less than half the energy and a tenth of the water that a similarly-sized building would, according to University officials. The $118 million, 166,000-square-foot building was built in accordance with Stanford’s own sustainability guidelines, and the University will not seek certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The University ultimately decided to use its own guidelines to regulate the construction of the building due to several problems it had with LEED, including the price of certification, estimated at $100,000, which officials say could better be used to equip the building with better technology.

Every two years, the California Energy Commission (CEC) releases an integrated energy policy report in which it makes recommendations for energy policy in the state, including changes to Title 24, the energy efficiency portion of the building codes. In its 2007 report, CEC recommends adjusting Title 24 to require net-zero-energy performance in residential buildings by 2020 and in commercial buildings by 2030. According to Panama Bartholomy of CEC, the commission does not need new legislation to incorporate these goals and is already moving to put them in place. “The 2008 standards will get us closer to these recommendations,” he said, referring to the Title 24 update currently moving through the state’s rulemaking process.

Applied Materials Inc. has entered into a $1.9 billion solar equipment deal with an unnamed company, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Sources believe that the customer could be Moser Baer India Ltd. of New Delhi. The factories are collectively expected to produce an annual output of solar photovoltaic modules capable of generating electricity on a gigawatt scale according to the filing. With the current project capacity of 40 MW, the new expansion will take the total manufacturing capacity to over 600 MW by 2010.

The International Code Council (ICC) will unveil a certification program to ensure that code officials understand the application of green building technologies. The group, which creates codes used to build residential and commercial buildings, also wants to ensure that green buildings are safe. Most U.S. cities, counties and states use the safety-related International Codes developed by the council, it said. The certification will test an official's knowledge about the dominant green building rating systems, such as LEED, Green Globes and National Green Building Standard for residential construction. The council is creating a committee of experts versed in green business practices to develop the certification.

The ACE USA insurance company has introduced coverage allowing policyholders to use green building methods when repairing or rebuilding damaged property, joining a number of other companies that offer similar programs. The stand-alone ACE Green Building Restoration policy would cover any damaged real property, and is available for banks, manufacturing facilities, universities and colleges, retail stores and other industries. With a typical limit of $25 million, the coverage would allow improvements to heating and cooling systems, insulation, roofing and windows, and changes such as new carpets to improve indoor air quality.

Pythagoras Solar Inc., a solar energy startup developing photovoltaic technology, has completed a $10 million series A financing round, led by Israel Cleantech and is aiming to grow into the world market. Pythagoras Solar will use the funds for Israel-based R&D and global commercialization of its technology and products that are claimed to be able to change the economics of solar power. Pythagoras has an R&D center in Israel and a U.S. office in San Mateo, California.