• New commitments have brought about 300 million square feet of publicly owned space into the federal government's Better Buildings Challenge program.
• The Obama administration, which is pushing the effort through the Department of Energy, said 36 states, local governments and school districts have joined recently.
• In a related note, the Treasury Department said it has issued tax guidance that will let make it easier for state and local governments to access low-cost financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

From the article: "The Obama administration announced 36 new states, local governments, and school districts have joined President Obama's Better Buildings Challenge. These new commitments total nearly 300 million square feet in job-creating building energy upgrades, equivalent to more than 130 Empire State Buildings. ..."