Wall Spitzer said the Executive Mansion in Albany would serve as "a highly visible symbol" of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to reduce energy consumption statewide 15% by 2015. She detailed other initiatives launched by the Spitzer administration, including financial incentives for homeowners to meet green criteria in building or renovating homes and a LEED program for all new construction and major renovations managed by the state's Dormitory Authority.

However, Wall Spitzer said, sustainability is not limited to greening individual buildings but also entails managing growth. "Our current land use patterns, commonly known as sprawl, are unsustainable," she said. "The consequences are dire." Wall Spitzer added that development of greenfields upstate has far outpaced population increases, and noted that in the 2006 elections, voters nationwide overwhelmingly approved state and local transportation and land conservation ballot measures. She linked the concept of smart growth to the "I Live New York" initiative she launched last year to help attract and retain the state's next generation of talent.

Unger

Gupta noted that much of the technology used to green buildings "has been around for 20 years," and added that "the only way you can scale up very quickly is with market forces." Brodsky, whose company has undertaken a variety of initiatives across its portfolio, warned that "taking the moral high ground" is not enough, particularly in setting an example for developing nations that have yet to embrace green practices. "If we're not taking steps that result in progress, the movement has no legs."