There are at least 49 bills undergoing congressional consideration that would promote green buildings across the United States. The proposals address sustainable construction through tax breaks, the establishment of new programs, and other mechanisms. In this edition of Green Building Insider, we have created profiles for all of this legislation, providing bill summaries, status information, and other key details. As the year progresses and the 111th Congress approaches adjournment, we intend to focus on those measures that have the best chance of passage. Stay tuned!

Also in this issue of GBI, the World Green Building Council and International Union of Architects have signed a memorandum of understanding, the comment period for six Standard 90.1-2007 addenda soon will close, there are several new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design developments to report, John Jurewicz examines the demand for "sustainable technicians," seven communities will receive assistance under the Sustainable Design Assessment Team program, and a National Institute of Standards and Technology official has given GBI additional details about a new guidance document promoting improved building indoor air quality.

President Obama earlier this month recommended funding increases for the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Program (BTP) -- a program whose mission is to "change the landscape of energy demand in homes and buildings" -- but even if the proposed boost is granted, BTP may continue to face substantial obstacles.

"A major economic factor which creates significant challenges for BTP performance goals is the current state of the housing market," Obama stated through DOE in his fiscal 2011 budget request. "With new home starts down, efforts to demonstrate new technologies and design packages are significantly more challenging. The impacts of these challenges are currently being assessed and have the potential to require BTP to reconfigure annual performance metrics to reflect the longer timeline needed to achieve net-zero-energy-building goals." Details of Obama's proposed FY'11 green-building budgets for DOE and three other federal agencies are provided in this edition of Green Building Insider.

Bryan Jackson Probes the Implications of White House Executive Order 13154 and California Gubernatorial Executive Order S-3-05.

More stringent limits scheduled to take effect next month.