Eco-friendly projects are sprouting up all over Florida now,partly because the early examples of green building have showedthat it really does save money over time. Plus, government edictsare promoting a green future in a state historically noted for itslove of concrete and cavalier attitude toward the environment.

In July, Governor Charlie Crist—acknowledging that Florida, withits 1,350 miles of coastline, has the most to lose from rising seasof any state—issued several executive orders with mandates forenergy conservation, including one which calls for all state-ownedbuildings to be LEED certified and new buildings to strive for LEEDcertification at the highest level. Crist has also directed thestate's department of community affairs to convene the FloridaBuilding Commission to revise the Florida Energy Code for propertyconstruction, which is part of the state's building regulations.The 2007 code, which is about to be adopted, will take affect inlate 2008. But the Governor wants to increase the energyperformance of new construction by at least 15% beyond thosestandards.

"I really think Charlie Crist's orders are a big deal," saysChristina Newburgh, president of the Florida Capital Region chapterof the US Green Building Council and an engineer intern at BarkleyConsulting Engineers Inc. in Tallahassee. However, she concedesenforcement will not be easy because it will require tax revenues,so residents might fight it. The USGBC has seven chapters in thestate.