The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has partnered with Sierra Club’s Cool Cities campaign (Cool Cities) to promote the development, advancement and implementation of green building policies in 2009. The partnership will power over 400 local campaigns of Cool Cities and USGBC’s national network of 78 chapters to allow city residents, business owners, municipal employees and elected leadership to support their cities to exhibit their commitment to sustainable and energy efficient buildings.
In today’s economy, giving municipalities the tools to become more energy efficient and sustainable is a win-win, said Carl Pope, Sierra Club’s Executive Director. Not only does the community get the environmental benefits, but implementing these solutions can create jobs and save money.
USGBC and Cool Cities will also collaborate to develop grassroots resources including joint policy recommendations and best practice models to demonstrate the diversity and scope of policies and incentives that are currently in place across the nation.
Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chairman of the USGBC welcomed the partnership, “Across the country, mayors of cities big and small are demonstrating their commitment to transforming our buildings and communities. The fact that over 900 mayors—representing over 81 million Americans— have endorsed the US Conference of Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement—speaks to the importance of their leadership on climate change. Mayors know that meaningful green building policies are a foundation of this work.”
As of December 2008, 112 cities from Albuquerque, New Mexico and Alexandria, Virginia to Boston, Massachusetts and Bowie, Maryland, are using various LEED initiatives. There are currently 2,319 LEED projects registered to local governments.