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Making Architecture More Efficient - A growing trend is to recondition or redevelop buildings incorporating "living roofs," which can reduce energy expenditures up to 50 percent. The redeveloped Ford Motors complex outside Detroit has a living roof with 11 acres of vegetation that help both purify the building's water and provide natural air conditioning. Living roofs are one of the lowest cost ways to improve energy conservation. Thermal windows and smart thermostats, that automatically heat or cool depending on the presence of people, are also becoming increasingly popular in architect designs.

Architects Designing Healthy Hospitals - Architects are designing more single rooms in hospitals with better ventilation systems and air filters to reduce the spread of infection. Two million people suffer annually from infections acquired while in the hospital, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Private rooms, good ventilation, and multiple hand-washing stations are major means to reduce the spread of infection. Researchers found an 11 percent reduction in infections in facilities with single-bed rooms compared to those with multi-bed rooms.

Home Buyers Look to Reduce Climate Control Costs - Home buyers increasingly want architects to design green features in their homes. Common green features include extra insulation, tankless water heaters, double-glazed windows, and sustainable flooring. Home buyers want energy efficiency more than larger square footage; game rooms and in-law suites are becoming less desirable, especially given the weak housing market.