As we look forward to what promises to be an incredible 2012 - with USGBC’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo
coming to San Francisco November 14-16 – I’d like to report on the
Chapter’s achievements during 2011, and provide a preview of the
exciting Road to Greenbuild.
2011 Year in Review
2011 was another great year for USGBC-Northern California Chapter (NCC).
The Chapter’s growing leadership role in California and the United
States reflects the region’s innovative culture and global green
leadership.
NCC and our members have a lot to be proud of:
- NCC is home to approximately 70 million LEED Certified square feet, nearly 6% of the total LEED square footage in the United States.
- The Chapter’s region has 12,000 LEED AP’s, or ~8% of all AP’s in the country
- San Francisco is rated Northern America’s Greenest City.
- The World Green Building Council awarded San Francisco its prestigious Government Leadership Award for Excellence in City Policy for Green Building.
- California’s wide range of breakthrough green public policies lead the nation. Other states look to California for the latest trends – as they say – “as California goes, so goes the country”. From upholding the landmark climate change bill AB32, setting ambitious goals for renewable energy and energy efficiency, greening of the building codes and so much more, California continues its green leadership, even in the face of a challenging economic and budget situation.
Impact - NCC Programs
Founded in 2003, the Chapter has grown to be one of the largest and
leading USGBC Chapters in the USA. NCC includes most of the northern
part of the state – from Monterey Bay, up through the Bay Area, and east
to the Sacramento area. Our mission to be a thought leader, educate the
industry, and advocate for sustainable public policy was realized in a
variety of ways this past year, including:
Education
- Events: NCC hosted or co-sponsored 150+ events throughout Northern California. Between LEED credentialing and energy efficiency workshops, conferences, monthly Branch events, and special events, about ~4,500 attendees received education and benefited from professional networking opportunities.
2011’s 8th Annual Water Conservation Showcase was the most successful ever, drawing about 800 people for a day-long set of sessions, vendor exposition, and plenary sessions. Special thanks to co-sponsors PG&E and East Bay MUD.
- GreenerBuilder 2011 built on 2010’s first green building conference geared to the trades to include sessions for AEC’s. The conference attracted 500 professionals who attended sessions ranging from introductory green building, the future of LEED, building codes, to net zero energy and a compelling Executive Panel discussion. Special thanks to our general contractor partners, presenters, executive panel, sponsors, and exhibitors.
- NCC provided more than 40 GBCI continuing education units.
Membership and Branches
- NCC has approximately 25,000 constituents on our mailing list and 1,300 dues paying Chapter members. Help us reach our 2012 x 2012 membership goals by joining now and telling your colleagues and friends about the benefits of membership.
- NCC welcomed its 5th Branch, the San Francisco Bay Bridge Branch, which joins the Diablo East Bay, Monterey Bay, Capital, and Silicon Valley branches in putting on innovative monthly programs, membership networking events, expos and special events.
Advocacy
California Advocacy
In 2011, NCC played a leading role in the California Advocacy Committee
(CAC), aka USGBC California, which represents the eight California USGBC
chapters of Northern California, Redwood Empire, Central California,
California Central Coast, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Orange County, and
San Diego. NCC Board Member Dennis Murphy chairs the committee.
2011 California highlights include:
- USGBC California tracked 75 California legislative bills.
- Two of our three sponsored bills, AB930 Gordon, Redwood City
–California Building Standards Commission Sustainability) and SB128,
Lowenthal, Long Beach – School facilities funding: high-performance
schools) were signed into law by Governor Brown. In addition, seven other bills we supported were signed into law.
- Organized a USGBC membership Lobby Day at the state capitol in May.
- Continued its work in support of the Building Codes Education Coalition, and many other issues throughout the year.
Regional Advocacy
Within the Chapter, in addition to its 2011 work on CalGreen, green
schools, and green homes, this year NCC completed a major restructuring
of Chapter-wide advocacy committees:
- Formed or re/formulated four Policy Sub-Committees: Sustainable Neighborhoods, Green Schools, Green Residential, and a new Sustainable Healthcare committee
- Recruited 8 new industry-expert Committee Co-Chairs, and 80 new volunteers from throughout the Chapter to work on the committees
- Held a kick-off retreat on December 15th, where 2012 plans were presented and refined. Watch for some significant developments this year!
This reorganization and planning process has been recognized by USGBC national as a national exemplar of best practices.
Special thanks to outgoing Committee Chairs: Suzanne Nolan for her many
years of dedicated and outstanding service as the Chair of the previous
incarnation of the Local Advocacy Committee, and to outgoing Green
Schools Committee Founding Chair Pauline Souza for her leadership on the
Chapter’s and state’s green schools initiatives.
The Road to Greenbuild
As probably everyone knows, Greenbuild International Conference and Expo
is coming to San Francisco in November 2012. Naturally, this Greenbuild
promises to be the biggest and best in history – we expect more than
35,000 people from around the world to attend. USGBC was founded here in
1993, we’re one of the largest green building markets in the world,
California’s policy leadership, and Silicon Valley and the bay area’s
innovative culture makes it the proto-type region for creating the
future - and everyone loves San Francisco. So fasten your seatbelts – the eyes of the world will be upon us!
As USGBC-NCC gears up as the Host Chapter for Greenbuild 2012, we’re
honored to have a distinguished Host Committee Co-Chaired by Lynn Simon,
President of Simon & Associates, and Andrea Traber, Principal of
Kema’s Sustainable Buildings and Operations Group (and former NCC Board
President). Upwards of 100 stellar members volunteered to serve on 6 Greenbuild Host Sub-Committees. The Host Committee has begun its planning and will be hard at work for the rest of the year.
The Greenbuild 2012 Conference in San Francisco represents a powerful
and unique opportunity to broaden and build support of USGBC’s mission
and vision. NCC is working with USGBC to develop a multi-faceted
campaign to support and enhance the success of the Conference, expand
the green building constituency, and highlight Northern California and
the State’s green leadership.
This Road to Greenbuild will feature a series of events and programs
throughout the year, culminating in a fantastic Greenbuild Conference in
November. We’ll be working with many of our partners, reaching out to
new constituents, and engaging thousands of members in this exciting
conference.
Thank You
Our accomplishments are made possible by the work of hundreds of
passionate and brilliant members, the Board of Directors and Branch
Leaders, a highly dedicated and talented staff, a host of volunteer
committee members, Chapter annual sponsors, event and conference
sponsors, and our many partners, friends and allies.
As a non-profit, membership organization, we are mission-driven, not an
industry association. The thousands of people who propel this movement
and chapter forward share 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.”
Thank you all very much for your incredible contributions, and for
caring enough about creating a healthy and sustainable planet to give
your heart, minds, passion, time and money to help realize USGBC’s
vision: “Buildings and communities will regenerate and sustain the
health and vitality of all life within a generation.”
Dan Geiger
Executive Director
USGBC-Northern California Chapter
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