Winter 2011
Featured Stories
Recap from Durban: Good COP, Bad COP
From the experience of Jason Hartke, Vice President, National Policy, USGBC
Like on any of the nighttime dramas, we watch time and time again how yet another police duo utilize the classic good cop/bad cop routine. Well, in my final blog from Durban, I leave you with my own Good COP/Bad COP.
Let's play GOOD COP first: A Deal is Struck
The good news is that we have an agreement to create a legally binding deal by 2015, a Durban Platform for Advanced Action . Significantly, and thanks to our stalwart U.S. negotiators – Todd Stern and Jonathan Pershing – the framework for that agreement will include all countries. That is a significant departure from the old paradigm the created a firewall between developed and developing countries. This Durban agreement will now include all major emitters – like China, India and Brazil. On Sunday afternoon, following what was the longest COP in history, Pershing said it is "a major step forward on climate change." He continued, "It's the most constructive collective action in a decade." The bad news is that the details won't be finalized until 2015.
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Local Officials Gather to Find Common Ground on Green Schools
On Nov. 29, state legislators, key decision makers and USGBC chapter members from across the South and Midwest convened at Richardsville Elementary School in Kentucky, the nation's first net-zero energy school, for a "Common Ground" event to discuss the success of the green schools movement in the region and the best practices that can be applied to their own communities.
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See photos from the event »
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Leadership Abounds: President Obama, President Clinton and Green Building Leaders Join Forces to Commit to Energy Efficiency
Last week from the White House Old Executive Building it was like a different planet -- outside the white walls, D.C. politics continued to swirl, but for one moment we found something we can all agree on. I sat there as President Obama and former President Clinton joined forces to make three huge announcements on energy efficiency in buildings. First, that the federal government will be investing big time in energy efficiency, to the tune of $2 billion dollars that will ultimately be returned to taxpayers many times over through lower operating costs. Second, that the private sector will do the same, as companies respond to the President's Better Buildings Challenge with their own $2 billion dollar investment covering $1.6 billion square feet of commercial building space. Last but not least, the IRS and Treasury will finally revise the guidance on the under-utilized 179D tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings.
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Read Rick's blog on Huffington Post »
Find out more about the Coalition »
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2011 Advocacy Roundup
We want to know about your advocacy successes in 2011. Email us your best advocacy campaigns and efforts from this past year to get highlighted.
Greenbuild 2012 Call for Proposals Now Open
USGBC is now accepting proposals for presenters and topics for Greenbuild 2012 next November in San Francisco.
Submittal Deadline: Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, 4:59 p.m. EST
Call for Proposals: Find out what's new at Greenbuild 2012 (including 60 minute sessions and rapid fire talks), review our submittal guidesand then submit your proposal. Submitters will be charged a $25 processing fee per submitted proposal. 100 percent of the fee proceeds will be donated to the Greenbuild Legacy Project.
Greenbuild Green Jobs Summit 2012 Call for Proposals and Reviewers
The third annual Green Jobs Summit will be taking place at this year's Greenbuild on Nov. 14, 2012. The Summit will provide a forum to develop a shared plan of action for accelerating the creation of green jobs in a clean energy economy. We are currently seeking education proposals on this important issue, as well as volunteers to review submissions.
Submit a proposal (select "green jobs") »
Call for Reviewers: USGBC is also seeking peer reviewers to evaluate session proposals for educational sessions at Greenbuild 2012. Please review the requirements, policies, and scheduleand then sign up to be a reviewer.
HUD Grants
Earlier this year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) named the winners of the FY2011 Community Challenge Planning Grants, awarded to cities seeking to update local master plans, zoning codes and building codes. This award aims to promote mixed-use development, affordable housing, the reuse of older buildings and structures for new purposes with the goal of promoting sustainability at the local or neighborhood level. This is an opportunity for the green building community to get involved and look for ways to build relationships, advocate and be a strong resource for local officials in their community.
Check to see if your city received a 2011 Community Challenge Planning Grant.
What are you and your USGBC chapter doing?
Find out more information »
Membership
Join: Membership in USGBC enables you to connect to a vast network of green building knowledge, gain access to unique marketing opportunities and provide your workforce with affordable education to keep them on top of the latest trends in the industry.
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