Federal influence on sustainable real estate practices in the private sector is poised to increase considerably as government officials begin implementing measures from the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, signed into law by President Bush in December.

The bill, which also set new national fuel economy standards for automakers, paints a clearer picture going forward on federal interest in "greening" the U.S. building stock.

For instance, it allocates more than $1 billion of federal funds over the next decade to catalyze the private sector around improving energy efficiency in buildings, and establishes the Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative, which sets a national goal of carbon neutrality in all commercial buildings by