Maine governor expands green wood definition
Woodworking Network
Maine Gov. Paul LePage has signed an executive order requiring any new or expanded state building construction to use an expanded set of "Green Building" standards as part of its design, construction, operation and maintenance. Maine is the national leader in privately owned certified woodlands. The Governor's order broadens the kind of certified "green" wood products that can be used in state building construction and thus supports Maine's forest-products industry.More

Pentagon spending bill signals new step in LEED fight
ProSales Online
A just-passed bill promoting a more expansive view of green building certification programs at the Pentagon is generating cheers among lobbyists opposed to an exclusive embrace of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED system and a "bring it on" attitude from the USGBC. It also marks the start of what's likely to be a boisterous half-year debate on how Washington pursues green building.More

Albuquerque, NM rolls back energy code
The Associated Press via Bloomberg Businessweek
Albuquerque city councilors have narrowly agreed to roll back the city's strict energy code, which was intended to make the city a leader in energy conservation. The council voted 5-4 along party lines to abandon the code in favor of the less strict — and less costly — state code. Republicans supported the rollback, saying it will make Albuquerque more builder-friendly. More

Green construction poses more dangers, CU-Boulder study finds
Daily Camera
A new study led by a University of Colorado engineering professor shows that green construction poses more dangers than traditional projects — partly because workers are more likely to be cut on recycled construction materials or fall while installing solar panels. Matthew R. Hallowell, an assistant professor in CU's department of civil, environmental and architectural engineering, led the study, which reviewed construction projects built to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification. More

Treasury Building earns a green honor
The Washington Post
Folks at the Treasury Department deal with a lot of green — and now they officially work in a green building. Department officials will announce that its 142-year-old headquarters, located next to the White House, has earned a LEED Gold certification, making it the oldest building in the world to earn the distinction. More

10 strategies for LEED Platinum
Green Building Pro
West 27th Place, a USC student housing community, has just received a LEED Platinum rating—the highest level of sustainability possible from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). It is one of a handful of Platinum certified developments in Los Angeles and one of the only student housing projects in the nation achieving this milestone. More

Home from Iraq, veterans seen as perfect candidates for green jobs
The Atlantic
As the United States withdraws all remaining troops from Iraq this month, thousands of veterans are entering the job market, and many are finding opportunities in the green industry — from manufacturing to leadership to service. Despite the 8.6 percent unemployment rate, the U.S. has a labor shortage in skilled technical manufacturing. More

Huge growth for LEED retrofits
Green Building Pro
LEED-certified existing buildings are outpacing their newly built counterparts, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). As of this month, square footage of LEED-certified existing buildings surpassed LEED-certified new construction by 15 million square feet on a cumulative basis.More