The desire to reward green projects implies a need to track them. And that has led to the creation of new monitoring and counting systems in the form of certifications and accreditations. Armed with those forms of recognition, government agencies as well as private stakeholders are then able to offer rewards and incentives both for projects that involve public funding and for private projects that may be subject to local permitting, compliance or other regulatory or community oversight. The most robust and rapidly growing program that captures at least some significant portion of green building activity is the LEED certification program administered by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
The LEED certification program has grown very quickly since its inception in 2000. Accounting for approximately 30% of all green building projects - and growing at approximately 30% annually - government agencies have been major buyers of green buildings and associated materials. Government agencies tend to mandate green building standards for themselves and for projects they fund before they mandate (if ever) green building standards or incentives for any private entities they may have regulatory influence over. Although government's share of total green building projects will eventually decline over time as non-governmental owners pick up steam, government projects will continue to help drive the industry as more and more agencies establish programs and mandates to meet green building goals. Also driving the government green building market will be the obsolescence and reconstruction of government buildings, many of which are approaching the end of their lifecycles.
Twelve federal agencies have adopted internal programs or policies that promote green building practices under the LEED system. These programs will surely grow and expand to other agencies in the future. As a tax, license, permit and fee-collecting entity, the federal government is also in an excellent position to create incentives for private sector green building - via LEED or any other program. Although the USGBC's LEED program was originally catalyzed in part by a federal grant, there are currently no federal-level programs intended to encourage LEED adherence. Twenty one states have programs in place that require LEED participation for state agencies or state-funded construction. In addition, Maryland, Nevada, New York and Oregon offer incentives (tax reductions) for LEED projects and/or buildings.
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