Mary Vogel, principal of PlanGreen in Washington, DC,

Mary Vogel, principal of PlanGreen in Washington, DC, helped prepare the Green Building Act of 2006, which the DC Council approved in December. If signed by the mayor and approved by the US Congress, the act would require new District-owned projects, such as schools, to meet green building standards by 2008. By 2012, every new commercial building over 50,000 sq. ft. would have to use construction methods that are considered environmentally sound. Supporters say construction costs would rise 2 to 4 percent, while opponents say they would jump 11 percent.