Now in its second year, the EBie Awards from Urban Green Council, USGBC New York, are a nationwide juried competition for people working in Existing Buildings who have made great strides in improving environmental performance but whose accomplishments may otherwise go unheralded. Like the Oscars, there are multiple awards – but instead of Best Actor (or Best Key Grip) we have categories like Shine A Light On Me for the best lighting retrofit, and The Reformed Drinker for water savings. It’s...

Our mission: To transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. There are many exciting events coming in 2013. Get involved by becoming a member, and stay connected to the latest happenings via Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

This summer, the Emerging Professionals National Committee launched a new member initiative with the goal of 5,000 new Emerging Professionals by December 2015. An Emerging Professional (EP) is anyone out of school, under 30, with an interest in sustainability. EPs are the energetic and dynamic leaders of tomorrow’s green building movement, and are a key component to the succession planning and sustainability of a USGBC chapter. See what EPs are up to on Twitter using the hashtag #USGBCEP! To...

Following the devastating Haitian earthquake in 2010, USGBC committed to building a LEED Platinum orphanage in Port-au-Prince, providing a safe, healthy and positive future for the children of Haiti. To date, nearly $734,000 has been raised towards the building of the orphanage. Recently, USGBC Emerging Professionals took on the cause, leading fundraising initiatives across the US to help meet the million-dollar fundraising goal. USGBC Emerging Professionals are a dedicated group of young...

Are you interested in becoming a LEED Fellow? Your time is now. The U.S. Green Building Council call for nominations of qualified applicants is now open for the 2013 class of LEED Fellows. What does it take to be a LEED Fellow? Nominees must have: Held a LEED Professional credential for eight or more years A LEED AP with Specialty credential in good standing Ten years of professional green building experience Nominators must have: A LEED AP with Specialty credential in good standing Ten...

Your friendly reminder from USGBC to vote in today's historic election.

Between September 3 and October 4, 2012, USGBC members participated in the annual election of the USGBC Board of Directors. Five directors were elected, each for a three-year term and representing the perspectives listed below. At its recent meeting, the Board additionally appointed two directors and two directors were elected by the Board to serve as Chair-Elect and Secretary. Please join USGBC in welcoming these elected directors to the 2013 Board! Facility Management & Operations...

When it comes to language in technical material like the LEED rating system, users from novice to expert may find themselves asking the question, “What exactly are they talking about?” Words you use in everyday conversation may appear in places where their contextual meaning isn’t exactly clear. The new USGBC.org is up to the task of defining these words. Next time you’re viewing a credit in the new LEED credit library, try out the green switch in the top right labeled “Glossary.” When you...

Dear friends of USGBC, As we embark on the new year and reflect on the landmark green building accomplishments of 2012, I’d like to take a moment to also look back on 2011, a year that laid the groundwork and set the bar for many of our community’s successes to date. USGBC received audits and data covering the 2011 fiscal year this summer and in the following annual report, we’d like to share these findings with you. Reflecting holistically on 2011 gives us important insight to the future, and...

by Rick Fedrizzi & Kimberly Lewis, USGBC The devastation left behind in the wake of Hurricane Sandy is tragic and sobering, and we’ve been working to stay in touch with our chapters who were in the path of the storm. At Urban Green in Lower Manhattan, all the team is safe though some remain without power. The office hopes to reopen next week. At the New Jersey chapter in Morristown, the office has power but there are issues related to getting the gas turned back on. Everyone is safe, and...

The passing of former USGBC board member and visionary green building leader Malcolm Lewis is a painful reminder that while we pass through this earth in a blink of time, we can choose to leave a lasting legacy. Alex Wilson at BuildingGreen captures Malcolm with the warmth and insight we always look to Alex for and with his permission, we share his thoughts with you. - Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC Our friend and mentor, Malcolm Lewis, has passed away. Malcolm...

You know the problem – you want to know about a LEED credit, so you search through the USGBC website and dig up a PDF of the rating system. After scrolling through you find the credit you’re looking for and go to work. But wait – does this credit have addenda changes? What version is this? Where’s the LEED Online form? Isn’t there a guidance document? What do the reviewer tips say? And where’s that reference guide I bought? More digging, more searching, and who knows if you got it all? We have...