Rising energy costs, competition for tenants and potentially higher profits are driving an increasing number of commercial real-estate developers to go green. They're making big and small changes, from installing energy-efficient light bulbs, dual-flush toilets and automatic light sensors in buildings to using recycled materials during construction.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), and National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) today unveiled the United States National CAD Standard (NCS) Version 4.0, the first update to the Standard since 2005.

The latest edition, designed for owners, architects, engineers, contractors, facility managers, code officials, manufacturers, and suppliers, adds the following improvements to Version 3.1:

A current, widely used National CAD Standard is an essential part of NIBS cooperative effort with AIA, CSI, and the buildingSMART Alliance to ensure an open, interoperable information format and communication environment including integration into the new National Building Information Model Standard (NBIMS) that will serve both the building community and the general public,� said NIBS President David A. Harris, FAIA.

NCS Version 4.0 will benefit a wide range of industry stakeholders:...