USGBC opened LEED 2009 for public comment. LEED 2009 is a new version of the rating system that measures key environmental and human health impacts. The new version is coupled with expanded third-party certification and LEED Online enhancements. Changes include an initiative to integrate LCA (lifecycle assessment) into LEED credits. The complete memo can be viewed here.

Primarily because of its green features, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) named the Del Sur community in San Diego, California,"Mixed Use Development of the Year." The 3,000-home, 1,800-acre community, which is 20 percent complete, will save over 100 million gallons of water and over five million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year when finished. These electricity savings are equivalent to nearly 9,000 barrels of crude oil.

California environmentalists are disappointed with the Building Standards Commission (BSC).  The California Progress Report indicates that rather than adopting stronger, industry-wide rules as environmentalists hoped, BSC only modified a few energy conservation and public housing rules in amendments to the 2007 California Building Standards Code, and its draft Green Building Standards.

eBay announced San Jose's largest solar installation with a system that spans 60,000 square feet atop multiple buildings. The system will have 3,248 solar panels in a 650-kilowatt system that will supply 18 percent of the power for e-Bay's San Jose campus, saving eBay about $100,000 in electricity in its first year of operation. Also, through a special deal with SolarCity, which installed the e-Bay system, employees will be able to implement solar energy in their homes through a SolarLease financing option.

The Government of Australia earmarked $90 million for its Green Building Fund in the 2008-09 Budget. The Green Building Council of Australia advocated that governments provide more green incentives for the property sector.

Middle East developers are increasingly pursuing more sustainable developments, according to an article by AME info. Masdar in Abu Dhabi is the obvious example, with its plans to be a zero waste, carbon neutral city. The $15 billion project is years away from completion but in the mean time, there are plenty of buildings that fall into the sustainable bracket under construction or in the final phases of design. Examples include the Bahrain WTC which includes three wind turbines which will generate 15% of the building's energy needs. In addition, the Dubai Lighthouse is considered even more energy efficient, having attained Platinum LEED status.