"These goals have the potential to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and save our industry billions of dollars," Kurt Padavano, the international chairman and chief elected officer of BOMA, told reporters Tuesday at the Hearst Tower, a green building in New York which houses publisher Hearst Corp.'s headquarters.

Commercial buildings emit about 18 percent of the greenhouse gas produced in the United States, Padavano said.

Brian Schwagerl, vice president for real estate and facilities planning at Hearst, said the US$500 million building, which opened late last year, uses 26 percent less power than typical office buildings and 10 percent less water. Most of the building is shelled with specially made windows that flood the interior with natural light while reflecting heat, which cuts energy needed for lighting and cooling.

Schwagerl said the building was trying to cut consumption of power even more. "All of that is just money that goes straight into our pockets," he said.

BOMA officials said they are working with former US President Bill Clinton's climate initiative to spread awareness in ways to cut greenhouse emissions and energy use.