In an effort to spur green legislative initiatives across the country, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released "Advancing Green Building Policy in the States: 2011 Victories from Alabama to Wyoming."
In an effort to spur green legislative initiatives across the country, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released "Advancing Green Building Policy in the States: 2011 Victories from Alabama to Wyoming."
Roger Platt, USGBC's senior vice president of global policy and law, said the report is "a goldmine of creative approaches to driving a green economy where super efficient buildings become the norm rather than the exception." Often, these buildings incorporate green forest products, including wood flooring.
Legislative highlights include:
- Maryland enabled the adoption of a national model green building code by all local governments across the state.
- Colorado provided incentives for homeowners to improve both the energy efficiency of their existing home and also to purchase a "highly efficient new home," such as one that is LEED certified.
- California enacted the nation's first statewide mandatory green building code, dubbed CALGreen, On Jan. 1.
- Connecticut established the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority to authorize private capital for clean energy projects.
- Nevada enacted legislation that rewards manufacturing facilities that build to and beyond LEED Silver significant one-year tax abatements.
For more information on USGBC's advocacy and public policy work, visit
www.usgbc.org/government.