65%: Reason Sufficient in Itself to Require Green Skylines

From yesterday's Chicago Tribune:

Structures that are at least four stories high gobble 65 percent of the nation's electricity .... Instead of relying on piecemeal approaches such as installing a rooftop garden or solar panels here or there, California and many other states now require that all new government buildings be certified as "green," or eco-friendly. Officials also are stepping up efforts to set an example for the private sector. California is considering granting preferences to private owners of more eco-friendly buildings when renewing leases for government offices.

Mandating that organizations that accept federal funds desegregate and guarantee gender nondiscrimination has created more equitable organizations. Following suit with green building regulation is better than waiting on the "free" market to reform its generally low environmental standards.