Now that we've got a foothold, tenuous though it may be, in recovery, it seems the talk is once again turning to sustainability. (We were all too busy trying to keep our heads above water during the downturn to worry about green things, unless a tenant asked, and no one was leasing anyway, so...)

But this column isn't really about energy efficiency. It's more a rant against the apparent need of government to insinuate itself into the workings of the private sector. In preparation for this month's cover story (as well as for the Shape of Things to Come panel I'll be moderating at BOMA's Every Building Show in Seattle this June), I've spent a lot of time with the good folks of that group. And the effort to educate/cajole/stop-dead-in-their-tracks legislators before they wreak havoc on this industry is ongoing.

And it's not just BOMA. It's a united front of representative lobbying groups, such as the Real Estate Roundtable, NAREIT and a full alphabet soup of other DC-based associations representing your interests, both on Capitol Hill and at the local level.

So the Obama Administration comes out with a Better Buildings Initiative (and we appreciate the plug!), despite the fact that the industry is self-policing and already has a program that's actually more aggressive in terms of energy goals and timeframes. Your tax dollars at work.

Invading hordes of industry professionals have been storming the Hill over the past few years in the heated Battle of Carried Interest, and while our community has its legislative advocates, they seem mostly to be elected officials who previously ran private-sector businesses and so, they get it. Educating those who never held a "real" job is the challenge apparently. (Is community organizer a paid position?)

By the way, you'll want to read outgoing BOMA chairman Boyd Zoccola's personal view of Carried Interest and the impact any legislation will have on his business. Does Congress know the difference between a building and a hedge fund? Apparently not, but there are people out there trying to get the message across.

It's a noble but controversial fight. How much should the crowd inside the Beltway sit on your shoulder? More important, while the groups are fighting for your interests, what are you doing?