Governments across the country are increasingly turning to “smart growth” as smart policy, and a new study reveals the dollars and cents behind these policy decisions. In Smart Growth America’s latest report, Building Better Budgets: A National Examination of the Fiscal Benefits of Smart Growth Development, SGA compiles the first national survey on the local government savings from smart growth measures.  Smart growth is encouraged in site-related credits in LEED, and...

In 106 days, Team Capitol DC will be presenting Harvest Home, an off-the-grid showcase of all things sustainable in Irvine, California for the Department of Energy’s bi-annual Solar Decathlon from Oct. 3-13. Team Capitol DC is a joint effort of the Catholic University of America (CUA), George Washington University (GW) and American University. CUA leads with architecture and design, GW covers landscape and engineering and American is on point for communications and...

Here’s our weekly collection of green building clips: New Vikings stadium unveiled, Star Tribune. Check out this slideshow of renderings for the striking LEED stadium planned for Minneapolis. LEED is changing the built world for the better, The News Journal. A LEED AP writes in the Wilmington, Del., newspaper on the transformative power of the green building rating system. NPR Has Bees on Its Roof, but Isn’t in It for the Honey, Washington City Paper. NPR’s new headquarters in...

The first LEED Gold spring training facility is setting records! Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, spring training home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies, set single-game attendance records this past spring. Now in its third season, the combined attendance climbed to 300,000 D-backs and Rockies fans, the third-highest ever for a two-team complex. Not only have fans been rolling in, so have the accolades. Named 2011 Ballpark of the Year, the...

As a resident of Idaho’s Wood River Valley, which encompasses the cities of Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley, I have been involved with and impressed by the commitment of several local jurisdictions that have adopted above-code ordinances. As co-chair of USGBC’s Build Better Codes campaign for 2013, I am doing what I can to share my expertise and my community’s story, and also to support the many code advocacy efforts across USGBC’s chapter community. Blaine County adopted...

Many people are becoming more conscious about staying green while they travel. TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, offers a few easy tips for travelers who want to curb their carbon footprint, without sacrificing comfort, relaxation or fun! Book a nonstop flight.  The fewer planes you need to reach your destination, the lower your carbon footprint. Also, choose an airline that participates in a recycling program. Choose greener transportation.  Once you get to your...

As we continue leveraging the cultural influence of sports to advance green building, we’re taking to social media to engage players and fans alike. Join the Center for Green Schools (@mygreenschools) for a twitter chat with the Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) and Green Sports Alliance (@SportsAlliance). We’ll be celebrating the sustainability initiatives of sports organizations and encouraging our followers to partake in their own.  Log onto twitter May 23 from 4-5 p.m. EDT...

So far this year, USGBC chapters have organized Advocacy Days in 20 states where they take their cause to the capitol, challenging state legislators to support green public policy for the betterment of their districts and their state. I love that picture: well-intentioned groups practicing democracy in its purest form, demanding that their state representatives demonstrate leadership in the critical arenas of economic development, environmental stewardship and the health of their people who...

LEED v4 is more than just credits and requirements. With this update, USGBC has taken a deeper look at the tools and resources that support the program. We've reached out to the marketplace for feedback on what’s working and what’s not the so we could make improvements that help these tools operate as designed. The information we’ve gathered through conversations with LEED practitioners, the LEED v4 Beta program and even in public comment periods has helped us identify ways to...

Water is a limited resource, essential for life. Just as we recognize the value of water, it is important to recognize the value of natural systems to store and maintain clean, fresh water and to sustain biodiversity and wildlife. Water Blues, Green Solutions is a Penn State Public Media initiative that combines the power of video, radio and outreach educational resources to encourage education and awareness of “green infrastructure” and the use of environmentally friendly...

This week, the Center for Green Schools honored 10 teachers who are leading the way in environmental education. Our brand new "Trailblazing Teacher" award aims to honor teachers across the country who are working to bring sustainable learning into the classroom and their students' lives. We were flooded for applications for this award, and were humbled by the incredible work educators are undertaking to introduce creative ways to incorporate environmental components into their classrooms...

Have you ever wondered what happens between the last public comment period and ballot? There are quite a few steps involved in closing the development process (when rating system changes are made based on marketplace feedback) and opening ballot. To understand the process, you first have to understand the role of the LEED Steering Committee (LSC). This is a diverse group of volunteers and USGBC staff who manage and guide the evolution of LEED. They’re involved in every step of the...