McMansions Make Way for Green Pads

When it comes to building green, a LEED rating is the ultimate cachet-- but they're tough to get, the New York Times reports. And homes approved by the Leadership in Energy and Evironmental Design council tend to be small and pricey, with one platinum-certified four-bedroom house in California on the market for $2.8 million. Still, cities and homebuilders alike are jumping on the bandwagon.

The council will be reviewing 10,250 new home projects this year, up from 3,100 in 2006, and cities like Los Angeles are incorporating LEED standards into their projects. But mandatory on-site inspectors can cost up to $22,500, and the paperwork is endless. “You’re happy when you’re released from the US Green Building Council’s Abu Ghraib,” said one builder. (More green stories.)