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Stuck at the financing stage for our LEED house in Houston

Well, it has been quiet on the blog, as we are a bit stuck, not being able to meet anyone's conditions for a building loan at the moment.
There are several issues which we are working on to fix this, including trying to find someone who can appropriately value a LEED project, saving additional funds for our downpayment and trying to find a lender who does not have new regulations that are, in our opinion, beyond the reasonable. Our hope is that we will be able to initiate building within the next few months.

Philosophically, it is a somewhat sad state of affairs when two people with 99.5% credit rating, secure income and the ability to do something for the local economy cannot get a loan, particularly as the banks should be eager to loan, and the building industry should be eager to build.
This is especially regrettable, because we are aware that if we were proposing to build the standard 4,500 sq ft house going up in our neighborhood, made from the least expensive substance, overlaid with a thin veneer of glitz (marble counterops, wet bar, jacuzzi etc) we'd be financed already. Instead we are trying to build a responsible, 3,200 sq ft house with low energy costs and durability, and can't get it done. The reason is that the valuation is dependent on comparable properties, and these say that small houses are worth less. In ten years, I predict, this will have changed - more reasonable sized houses (3,200 sq ft is not small by any objective, needs-based or even global assessment) with good energy characteristics will be highly sought after.

We remain optimistic that we will be able to execute, and when we do, we will certainly select a financing partner who understands what we are trying to do, wants to act locally for the good of the community, economy and ecosystem. Drop me a line if that sounds like you.