Only 18 projects are LEED certified in the state by the US GreenBuilding Council, and of those a mere three are retail, said LonniePeterson, chairman of Orlando-based Cuhaci and Peterson Architects.However, there are currently 250 green projects in Florida in theworks, and many of those have retail components, he says.

And for good reason. Commercial buildings account for 65% of thecountry's waste and 70% of its electricity use. "The automobilesand the gas-guzzling SUVs are not the only culprits," saidPeterson, whose firm has worked on a number of sustainableprojects.

But green project aren't always easy to get off the ground. Toget a building LEED certified, developers must earn points fordifferent criteria. Those can include the constructing near publictransportation, implementing a storm water management plan andreducing light pollution. Of a possible 48 points, developers mustearn 23 to gain certification.