With March Madness kicking off tomorrow, I thought it would be fitting to recognize one of the top seeds in green building, among states that is. Yes, the usual suspects like California and Maryland and Illinois are up there. But this year’s top seed is Virginia. Earlier this week, we had an event at the amazing LEED Gold Police Headquarters in Alexandria to celebrate a green building milestone for the Commonwealth of Virginia. This unusual suspect in green building was recognized as one of the...

I find myself in one of the most amazing cities in the world as I write this. And I’m here, ironically, to talk to the people of this city about, of all things, cities. Delhi, India is undergoing one of the most stunning physical and social transformations in the history of civilized man. A gigantic urban network that was once marked by an almost mind-numbing sprawl of ghettos and man-made blight, and a city that was once defined by a deeply rooted and centuries-old caste system – a social...

The USGBC Maryland Chapter, under the leadership of Mary Pulcinella, Executive Director, and Nate Robb, Chair, Board of Directors, recently hosted a group of 25 green building enthusiasts for a tour of the Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility at the National Institute of Standards & Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland. In January, the facility received the chapter’s Wintergreen Award. The LEED Platinum facility is a laboratory for the study of energy and water use, enclosed in the...

A few weeks before the USGBC Charlotte Region Chapter’s annual holiday event last December, the Emerging Professionals Committee had a grand idea: In the giving spirit of the season, why not take leverage the event’s popularity to gather donations for a local school? USGBC Emerging Professionals are a dedicated group of young professionals who work to create a network of leaders in the field of sustainability. They work closely with chapter leaders to grow professionally through hands-on...

With nearly 30 years of commercial real estate facility management experience, Al Skodowski, Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Transwestern, became chair of USGBC's Board of Directors this year. Read on to get his take on the green building movement, and his plans and goals for his position as board chair. What inspired you to begin a career in sustainability? Sustainability takes me back to when I first started working as a line engineer with Hyatt Hotels in the early 80s. Working...

Pittsburgh has long worked to overcome its reputation as a steel town. The city has made great progress over the years; it now ranks #14 nationally for the number of LEED-certified buildings, places at the top of many “Most Livable Cities” lists, and boasts an impressive collection of universities with leading sustainability initiatives. The recently launched Pittsburgh 2030 District seeks to continue that momentum and ensure that the city remains a competitive place to live, work, learn, and...

This month, Raymond Higa was recognized as one of USGBC’s Above and Beyond Volunteers, volunteer leaders whose contributions have lead to outstanding achievements. 

When USGBC Hawaii sought to design and plant a new garden at Queen Kaahumanu Elementary School for the 2012 Green Apple Day of Service, they called a local landscape design company for help. Ray Higa not only offered his company’s services, but also assisted in sourcing the planting materials, pricing them, and coordinating their...

We’re changing a few things up in 2013 – and one of them is how we communicate with you. Update your subscriptions #1: We’re saying goodbye to newsletters and hello to digests. These will arrive monthly and are tailored to your channel choices on usgbc.org. Make sure to choose the digest option to hear from us regularly. TIP: Did you know that these updates are also available on your reader? Subscribe to your favorite RSS feeds on USGBC.org. #2: We’re giving you more options – and making...

What's your name, title at USGBC? Judith Webb, APR, SVP, Marketing & Strategy Where are you from? I’m a Georgia girl – grew up in Atlanta, lived in Chicago for about five years in the 70s, and San Antonio, for about five years in the 80s. Then went home to the ATL in 1987 where I’ve been ever since (except of course when I’m in DC). How long have you worked at USGBC? Started consulting with USGBC in 2003 doing media training. I came on staff full time in 2010. What's your typical day like...

Detroit Public Schools (DPS) is developing a comprehensive Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) to reduce costs, benefit communities, boost student achievement and prepare students for jobs. The SMP has six focus areas: Energy Management, Waste Management and Recycling, Indoor Environment, Outdoor Environment, Transportation, and Student Nutrition. DPS has also recently completed the construction of seven new schools pending LEED certification.

 To help implement the SMP and provide resources...

By popular demand (and given the data-heavy requirements of EBie submissions) the entry deadline is now Tuesday, March 12 at 11:59 p.m. ET. So there's still time to submit your project—and potentially walk the green carpet as an EBie Finalist on June 19 at the Hard Rock Café Theatre in NYC! A few notes about submissions: All projects must be completed in 2011. However they may have a start date prior to 2011. The "Before Period" is the 12-month period prior to the Project Start and the source...

USGBC Emerging Professionals from the Georgia Chapter galvanized around the idea of “Green Gives Back” this year with a fundraiser to support the Project Haiti Orphanage and Children’s Center. Using the theme of “Green Gives Back: Flavors of Haiti,” Emerging Professionals and volunteers from the chapter’s Savannah branch organized a Haitian themed gala, collaborating with ten local restaurants to provide tastings of Caribbean-inspired dishes, an art auction featuring original art by Haitian...