In today's world, when a group of people in a community set out to create a new building, or improve an existing one, the crucial question each of must ask ourselves and each other is  - "In 10 years, 20 years, 50 years will this building be part of the solution, or will be part of the problem?"

The most recent issue of The Bridge, the quarterly publication of the National Academy of Engineering, features an in-depth review of "Building Materials, Energy Efficiency, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" - co-authored by Serious Energy's CTO and former VP of Policy & Programs - a timely piece in light of the American Clean Energy and Security Act that calls for the U.S. to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020, and by 83% by 2050. Energy-saving building measures are central to the bill, currently awaiting approval from the Senate after the House passed the bill last week.

The San Jose City Council meeting, the country’s first mandatory green building policy was enacted. The Council just voted to amend Title 17 of the San José Municipal Code to add a new Chapter 17.84 to establish Green Building Regulations for Private Development to include LEED (Silver or better) for commercial and Build it Green’s (BIG) Green Point Rated (for residential) rating systems as the mandatory green building standards for the City of San José. This is a great step in the right direction, and we congratulate the city for leading the way for stringent green building control. Straight from tonight's meeting agenda: