Is there a bright spot in this recession? Related to buildings, particularly, one would be hard-pressed to find one as most new construction markets have either slowed considerably or stalled completely. Given the downturn, more building owners and …
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Project Spotlight: Erie High Charter School Celebrates LEED Gold As Students Use the School as an Environmental Learning Lab
This month, Erie High Charter students, educators and the building and design team celebrated the school’s designation as the first LEED Gold certified high school in the state of Kansas.
Thanks to close collaboration between the local design/construction team and the students of the school, the students were instrumental in doing much of the work to obtain LEED Gold. PBA Architects, Crossland Construction and high-performance building system designers Henderson Engineers worked directly with the students who continue to use the school itself as an environmental learning lab.
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Announcing the 2011 Center for Green Schools UTC Fellows
The Center for Green Schools and United Technologies Corporation are pleased to announce that the 2011 Green Schools Fellows have been selected for placement at Boston Public Schools (BPS) and Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD). Phoebe Bei…
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USGBC Urges Restored Funding for Critical Data Program
Today USBGC along with more than 70 organizations, companies and advocacy organizations sent a letter to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees urging that Congress restore funding for the Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), …
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IGCC Undergoes Second Round of Public Hearings
I spent a little more than two days in Dallas this week at the public hearings for the International Green Construction Code. You, too, can tune in and watch them online. You may want to have the reference material handy and – unless you find this stuff as interesting as I do – some toothpicks for your eyelids and a big cup of coffee.
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Green Education Foundation and the Center for Green Schools Announce the Sustainability Education Clearinghouse
Clearinghouse offers K-12 educators a tool to share and access free green education resources
Washington, D.C. (May 18, 2011) — Green Education Foundation (GEF), along with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, announce the launch of its Sustainability Education Clearinghouse, a free online tool that provides K-12 teachers with the ability to upload and share sustainability focused lessons with one another.
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Government Summit Highlights Accountable, Results-Based Government
At USGBC’s 9th annual Government Summit last week it was as clear to all in attendance that governments at every level are leading by example in building sustainability. Among the signs of progress was Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announcing an incr…
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Sen. Carper Announces Act to Improve Federal Buildings
With the backdrop of USGBC’s eighth annual Government Summit, Senator Tom Carper (DE) announced the introduction of the Reducing Federal Energy Dollars Act of 2011, which aims to improve the operations of owned and leased federal buildings.
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Maryland Legislation Enables Broader Fundamental Protections through Green Building Code
When Governor Martin O’Malley signed MD HB 972 into law today, Maryland took a critical step toward completing the backbone of the green building policy puzzle.
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A Step Toward Utopia: Green Building in Australia and New Zealand
I am doubly blessed and privileged to have both a green job and a globally focused role at USGBC. The increasingly world-wide green building community is making the planet feel a lot smaller and more hospitable these days to those committed to the miss…