On Thursday, the EPA proposed ozone standards between 0.060 and 0.070 parts per million, compared with 0.075 ppm under the Bush Administration.  The EPA estimates the new standard may produce health benefits worth $13 to $100 billion.  The cost of complying may range from $19 to $90 billion and manufacturers, oil companies and utilities would bear most of these costs.  Some cities may lose federal highway funds for failing to reduce vehicle ozone emissions.

Related:  Union of Concerned Scientists agree   
Lung Association pushes for .060 ppm

For a list of federal tax incentives that can help builders, architects, owners, etc, for designing, remodeling or constructing energy-efficient residential and commercial buildings, click on the headline.

Zpryme's report says commercial and residential green building markets should grow nearly 146% from 2009 to 2013 with the market reaching $128.6 billion by 2013.  Public facilities and education are leading 2009 green building activity at 30% and 24% of green building activity, respectively.  Commercial green building accounts for 20% of the 2009 activity, followed by health care at 11% and industrial and R&D, both 5%.

The top ten green building trends for 2010 are: 1. Green walls; 2. Living buildings; 3. Green retrofitting; 4. Indoor air quality; 5. Green neighborhoods; 6. Green modular; 7. LED lights; 8. Environmental labels; 9. Performance counts; and 10. Updating community and homeowner association rules.

Related: The top ten in green building in 2009 (Greentech Media)

Pike Research believes $200 billion in smart-grid spending will occur worldwide from 2008 through 2015.  Key smart grid goals are (1) improving reliability and security; (2) improving operating efficiencies and costs; (3) balancing power generation supply and demand; and (4) reducing the overall electrical system's impact on climate change.

Businesses grew greener from 2000 to 2010. 

Related:
Top 10 green building products of 2009 (examiner.com)
19 green building innovations of 2009 (Jetson Green)

The USGBC provided the following updated statistics:  LEED commercial projects totaled 12,290, retail projects totaled 4,398; and higher education projects totaled 3,000.

The Environmental Defence report card gave Canada poor grades for policies to promote green buildings.  The report evaluates Canada's codes, policies and programs.  Four of the 14 jurisdictions reviewed received failing grades, and none received higher than a C plus.  The Commission for Environmental Cooperation found that buildings in Canada consume 50% of Canada's natural resources, 22% of all energy used and contribute to a quarter of landfill waste.

China has a record of new buildings under construction and is using the LEED certification to demonstrate its commitment to green initiatives.  Hundreds of new buildings will earn LEED Gold and China's first LEED Platinum is expected soon.

Sierra Nevada Brewing in Chico, California was certified as a Platinum Sustainable Business by the Sacramento Sustainable Business Program.  The Brewery, which is LEED certified, took voluntary actions to conserve energy, prevent pollution, reduce solid waste, conserve water, and has one of the largest private solar arrays in the U.S.

The ITC Hotel Royal Gardenia in India is the worlds largest LEED Platinum hotel using cutting edge technology and is a model of environmental stewardship.

Stirling Capital's one million-square-foot industrial distribution in Victorville, CA, earned LEED Gold.  The building consumes 48.5% less energy than a baseline facility.

A new $50-million facility at Western Washington University earned LEED certification using solar shading, natural ventilation and heat recovery, and energy and water efficiency.