Navigating Green Construction and Energy Initiatives is an authoritative, insider's perspective on the strategic thinking behind implementing more sustainable building and energy practices throughout the United States. Featuring state and municipal environmental and energy directors from across the country, this book provides a broad yet comprehensive overview of the efforts being made to invest in renewable energy and green infrastructure, as well as the challenges of promoting green development, including educating communities, renovating older buildings, financing improvement programs, and offering incentives for adopting new practices. These leaders articulate the finer points of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System and address the benefits of and obstacles to meeting these standards. From achieving commercial and citizen buy-in for new policies to budgeting for projects today that will improve environment quality for tomorrow, the authors share their success stories and offer advice for continued improvement of energy conservation and efficiency efforts. The different niches represented and the breadth of perspectives presented enable readers to get inside some of the great minds in government today, as these experts reveal the secrets behind creating a greener nation. Inside the Minds provides readers with proven business intelligence from C-Level executives (Chairman, CEO, CFO, CMO, Partner) from the world's most respected companies nationwide, rather than third-party accounts from unknown authors and analysts. Each chapter is comparable to an essay/thought leadership piece and is a future-oriented look at where an industry, profession or topic is headed and the most important issues for the future. Through an exhaustive selection process, each author was hand-picked by the Inside the Minds editorial board to author a chapter for this book. Chapters Include: 1. Gina McCarthy and Bryan Garcia, Commissioner, State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection; and Program Director, Center for Business and the Environment at Yale University Building Green States Through Green Buildings 2. Susie Marbury, Energy Efficiency and Green Building Administrator, New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department Making Green Development a Possibility and a Priority 3. Robert M. Balzar, Director, Conservation Resources, Seattle City Light The Economic Challenges of Developing Local Sustainability 4. Joseph Doria, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Staying Ahead of the Game in Sustainable Practices: The Greening of Affordable Housing 5. Paul Pelosi Jr., President, City of San Francisco Environment Commission Attracting Innovation and Lowering Emissions through Efficient Market Pricing 6. Thomas C. Dorr, Former Under Secretary of Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture Restructuring Government to Handle New Green Policies 7. Roya Stanley, Director, Iowa Office of Energy Independence Making Green Efficiency a Priority and an Attainable Goal 8. James W. Hunt III, Chief, City of Boston Environmental and Energy Services Building the Foundation for a Twenty-First Century Sustainable City Appendices Include: Appendix A: Boston Green Building Zoning Article 37 Appendix B: Boston Wind Zoning Article 88