The green movement has had a lot of support throughout the years, but without the collective efforts of various organizations it would not have grown to be the movement it is today. That’s why events such as the upcoming USGBC annual Federal Summit, to be held by the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington D.C. on May 18 and 19, are so valuable to progressing green initiatives.
The Summit is brings together city, state, and federal government officials, industry leaders and experts from nonprofits to discuss experiences and share ideas for developing sustainable buildings in the public sector. At the Summit, attendees focus on topics such as sustainable return on investment (SROI), different approaches to “greening” existing buildings, and how to incorporate renewable energy systems. The U.S. Green Building Council’s government sector manager, Melissa Gallagher-Rogers, outlines some of the key offerings of the summit here (http://www.nlc.org/articles/articleItems/NCW042610/USGBCarticle.aspx).
As public sector organizations have to contend with a different set of concerns than private organizations, such as political considerations, compliance requirements and public benefits, it is vital for these professionals to share their successes to foster the development of sustainable initiatives in public buildings. With so many great minds coming together and the climate for sustainability, we are sure to see good things come out of this year’s Summit.