A recent seminar on the LEED certification process noted a growing cadre of consultants who specialize in helping developers, architects and tenants gain an official stamp of approval from the United States Green Building Council through its LEED certification program. "Going green used to be part of just a handful of organizations' mission statements, but now it's become part of everyone's agenda," said Ashley Katz, communications director for the Green Building Council. "That has, of course, increased the need for sustainability consultants." Midway through 2008, 1,705 buildings have been LEED certified.

M.Landman Communications Consulting has lists all Northern California building projects that have achieved LEED certification. In late August 2008, 112 LEED certified projects were listed on the chart. The listing is updated monthly, and is primarily compiled from the information that is provided in the searchable Certified Projects database at USGBC.org.

Philadelphia-based electric and natural gas utility (PECO) unveiled plans for a 45,000-square-foot living roof atop a section of PECO headquarters. The green roof is part of the utility's five-year $15.3 million initiative to become more environmentally friendly. When completed, the living roof will be the largest on an existing building in Pennsylvania. The living roof is expected to absorb 60 to 70 percent of the estimated 1.5 millions gallons of rainwater that fall on the roof annually.

New green prefab homes called "weefabs" are being marketed by kitHAUS as a "room-away-from-home" for the inlaws, a quiet office or a TV room in the backyard. While many green prefab homes on the market are beautiful and innovative, and push the boundaries of green practices, most designs may not be cost-effective. Weefabs are breaking this trend due to their low cost.  Most of models can be purchased without having to take out a new mortgage.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that starting January 1, 2009, it will no longer oversee the actual certification of buildings applying for LEED status. That process will be taken over by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), an autonomous organization that already manages the LEED professional accreditation program.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, nearly 1,000 school buildings have met or are seeking LEED certification, with applications growing at a rate of more than one per day. LEED certified and registered school space will exceed 100 million square feet as the school year gets underway, according to USGBC. LEED certification provides parents, teachers and communities with a "report card" for school buildings - verifying that a school was built to meet the highest level of energy and environmental performance.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it will invest up to $24 million to develop solar energy products that are aimed at accelerating the penetration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States. The Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems (SEGIS) projects will provide critical research and development (R&D) funding to develop less expensive, higher performing products to enhance the value of solar PV systems to homeowners and business owners. These projects are integral to the Solar America Initiative, which aims to make solar energy cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity by 2015.

The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) formed a partnership with Australia and Iceland to develop enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), a largely untapped renewable energy source. The three countries signed the charter of the International Partnership for Geothermal Technology (IPGT) to explore policy and technical aspects of EGS, such as deep drilling and geothermal energy conversion. The U.S., Australia and Iceland will identify, research, develop and deploy projects. The partnership could be expanded to include more member countries.