USGBC brings together educators from throughout the country to share stories, address the challenges of integrating green buildings into education programs, and support one another in these efforts. With nearly 500 educational institutions as members, USGBC convenes faculty from these institutions and provides support resources to utilize green buildings as the context for learning. USGBC invites member and non-member educators to participate in national summits, regional institutes, and online community forums.
Greening Your Campus and Curriculum
Greening the Campus, Indianapolis, Indiana Pre-Conference Workshop, September 20th, 1:00 to 5:00 PM
Using LEED for Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance as a Tool for Student Engagement
With the growth of green building and operations across the higher education community, students are looking for opportunities to plug into their campus greening initiatives. Due to this demand, there are great opportunities for capturing this energy and using it to create a green curriculum for hands on learning both in the classroom and beyond.
This workshop includes:
- Identifying processes for utilizing the rating system as a framework for increased student engagement in campus greening – through both curriculum integration and co-curricular opportunities.
- Presentations from a student, faculty, and an administrator illustrating successful campus examples.
- Concrete ideas and prepared actions for how to increase student engagement, further campus sustainability initiatives, and utilize resources that USGBC offers in support of such efforts
An Integrated Approach to Greening your Campus: Strategies to Engage your Campus Community and LEED in the classroom: Tools for preparing tomorrow’s Green Associate
Green California Community College Summit. October 5th-7th, in Pasadena California, at the Pasadena Convention Center.
Monday (workshop)
An Integrated Approach to Greening your Campus: Strategies to Engage your Campus CommunityUsing the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Rating System as a guide, this workshop will explore strategies and opportunities for engaging diverse members of your campus community in sustainability projects.
Attendees will:
- Hear about the rich educational opportunities for students entering the green workforce, including a clear path towards attaining green building credentials, such as the LEED Green Associate and LEED Accredited Professional.
- Understand the dynamic relationship between curriculum integration and green building initiatives on campus, where tracking energy performance and gathering critical data can be used to for research, education, and pushing building initiatives forward.
- Hear case studies from other institutions and share stories of their own campus efforts.
Wednesday (presentation)
LEED in the classroom: Tools for preparing tomorrow’s Green Associate
With the Green Building Certification Institute launch the entry level credential, the LEED Green Associate, educational opportunities are abounding to fill the demand created by the new green economy for a foundational understanding of sustainability and green building concepts and strategies. USGBC is working to support students and educators in gaining familiarity with core concepts of sustainable design and stay current on new technologies, innovation, and application of concepts.
This presentation will highlight:
- Opportunities to integrate USGBC’s LEED curriculum resources into your curriculum
- The 200-level, LEED Core Concepts and Strategies online course
- Avenues for paring these educational materials with other available resources including webinars, case studies, field visits to green building projects in your community.
Past Events
Growing a Green Community: Ideas for Inspiring Your Students to “Grow” into Green Citizen
National Building Museum & USGBC Headquarters, Washington D.C.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Educators from the National Building Museum and U.S. Green
Building Council for led a hands-on teacher workshop investigating how to
incorporate environmental issues into classroom curriculum. The day
began with an introduction to environmental education and an
exploration of sustainable communities through the National Building
Museum’s Green Community exhibition. After lunch, teachers explored the U.S.
Green Building Council’s headquarters during their first educational
tour for educators! This guided tour allowed educators to
investigate how to use the built environment as a tool for learning.
“The Educator’s Summit was amazing. Two words: LIFE CHANGING!! My students and I came away with some amazing insights and passions for our next steps as well as being truly inspired by those who were there.” –Grace Eason, Professor, University of Maine-Farmington
The 2008 USGBC Educators’ Summit brought together nearly 175 participants, representing education audiences ranging from kindergarten to graduate school. The summit launched USGBC’s efforts to provide relevant, professional development opportunities for educators. Attendees identified the tools and resources needed to support curriculum reorientation toward green building and sustainability. Networks were forged between educators and institutions pursuing common goals. Find more resources from the 2008 USGBC Educators' Summit, including Debra Rowe's keynote presentation, and the full proceedings from roundtable discussions session.