Every year, buildings are responsible for 39 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, use 71 percent of the nation's electricity, and account for 70 percent of all landfill waste. Green buildings can significantly reduce greenhouse emissions and energy dependence, by using less energy, water, and natural resources and creating less waste.

In Boston, a new code requires all new construction over 50,000 square feet be LEED certifiable (note the suffix), which is a little like saying that buildings must be greenish. The code's stipulation of certifiable is a missed opportunity, a weak gesture by city leaders to promote sustainable development in Boston.

In 2004, Mayor Thomas Menino and the Boston Redevelopment Agency formed a Green Building Task Force to study how green