• The federal government is taking the notion of building green very seriously, so builders have to know what officials want.
• Rather than a certification – LEED silver or gold, for example – government now wants details on what energy savings and other benefits in your design will reduce its total ownership costs.
• Lower lifetime costs can more than offset what the owner has to pay in higher design and construction costs.

From the article:

Green construction is not the “Wave of the Future” in federal government construction contracts – it is here now. ...