An interesting article over at worldchanging, looking at a progamme being piloted by USGBC (US Gren Building Council) to … allow large companies to design, build and certify a green prototype facility–and then replicate that design all over the country.

It’s ideal for large retail operators with buildings that are more or less the same from city to city–companies like Starbucks, Lowe’s and Best Buy, all of whom happen to be participating in the pilot program

said Brenda Mathison, Best Buy’s director of environmental affairs. “The reality is that 60 percent of all energy use in the United States comes from commercial buildings, and we decided to take action on that.”