Good for Enviros, Chore for Landlords

"The $819 billion stimulus bill that passed a vote in the House on Jan. 28 would help landlords invest in alternative energy systems for onsite power generation, but the plan's other green components are aimed at homeowners, federal buildings, schools and new product development.

Commercial property owners who want government assistance or at least tax breaks to offset the cost of better insulation, power-saving light fixtures or high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning can appeal to city and state government programs, which will receive block grants under the stimulus program. The programs funded by those grants will vary by location, [vice president of advocacy at the Building Owners and Managers Association International Karen] Penafiel says.

'With the block grants to the states, there may still be opportunities at the state level to direct some of that money to energy efficiency in buildings,' she says. "There's a lot of discretion for the mayors on how to spend that funding."