A report released today by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) said the Obama administration is authorized to take on a more active role in greening the nation’s multifamily and commercial properties.

“Using Executive Authority to Achieve Greener Buildings: A Guide for Policymakers to Enhance Sustainability and Efficiency in Multifamily Housing and Commercial Buildings” was prepared by Van Ness Feldman Law Firm and sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, the Real Estate Roundtable, the Energy Foundation and others.

It concluded that the current administration has the executive authority to use more than 30 existing federal programs worth $72 billion to enhance energy efficiency in commercial real estate.

“As an early adopter of green buildings and the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification system, the federal government has been a leader in bringing green buildings to cities and towns across America,” said Roger Platt, a senior vice president with the USGBC.

“This new report unveils an even larger opportunity for the Obama administration to increase our nation’s energy efficiency, while creating thousands of jobs and saving taxpayers money,” he said.

Reforming appraisal and underwriting practices at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, improving performance standards applicable to federal buildings and leases, and using Small Business Administration funding mechanisms to support small business energy- efficiency investments were among the ideas presented in the report.

According to the report, no new legislation would be required and no new funds would have to be sought to implement such options.

The USGBC created the LEED program, a building certification system intended to promote and recognize the design, construction and operation of green buildings.

According to the council, more than 32,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, encompassing more than 9.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.