USGBC-NCC Silicon Valley Visits NASA Sustainability Base

Contributed by Ron Fong, P.E., LEED A.P.

USGBC-NCC's Silicon Valley Branch recently got the insider view of the LEED Platinum NASA Sustainability Base at the Ames Research Center in Mountain View. The N232 building has been deemed the greenest Federal building in the world, and recently opened as a 50,000 square foot, two-story office building designed to not only house staff, but also demonstrate and test the application of NASA space science to earth-based problems and test new marketplace energy efficiency technologies.

NASA Sustainability base has architectural features reminiscent of NASA Space Heritage. These are faux solar panels like those used at Tranquility Base on the moon.  The building is curved in an arc like a crescent moon.

“In space, all systems are closed-loop and self-sustaining. Why can’t they be on earth too?” asked Dr. Steve Zornetzer, Associate Center Director for NASA Ames.

USGBC-NCC's Super Heroes Awards Gala

By Sonya Ringer, Marketing & Membership Intern, USGBC-NCC

On Wednesday, May 23, green building super heroes and their fans gathered together at San Francisco’s InterContinental Hotel (LEED Gold Certified!) for USGBC-NCC’s annual Super Heroes Awards Gala. The Gala, which drew 400 attendees this year, served as an opportunity to celebrate the contributions made by leaders in green building and sustainable practices. The Gala was also the official kick-off event for the Road to Greenbuild, an initiative to drum up excitement and momentum for Greenbuild 2012, the conference and expo which San Francisco will be hosting this November.

The evening began with a lively VIP reception, followed by dinner. The award ceremony got underway as dessert was served.

The ceremony began with the award for Outstanding Community Organization. This award recognizes non-profit organizations that demonstrate a profound impact on their communities through commitment to sustainability and social equity. This award was given to First Community Housing, an organization that focuses on creating and remodeling housing, so that it is both affordable and sustainable. Jeff Oberdorfer, Executive Director of First Community Housing, accepted this award.

USGBC-Northern California and President Clinton Launch New Initiative!

Six initial participants – Adobe, Genentech, Google, Prudential Real Estate Investors, SAP and Zynga – commit to a 20 percent reduction in energy, water and waste in just two years

By Ashleigh Talberth, Director, Special Projects, USGBC - Northern California Chapter

For more information on how your firm can get exposure in the lead-up to Greenbuild through this initiative, please contact ashleigh@usgbc-ncc.org

USGBC- Northern California Chapter (USGBC-NCC) and the USGBC launched the California Best Buildings Challenge on Friday, June 8th, at the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America), a meeting focused on finding solutions that promote economic recovery in the United States.

President Clinton and USGBC President, CEO and Founding Chair, Rick Fedrizzi, joined vice presidents from three of the six inaugural commitment participants, Genentech, Google and Prudential Real Estate Investors (PREI®), on stage to announce the Challenge during a plenary of the popular event that draws more than 900 business, non-profit and media participants.

"This is a huge deal. It's a lay down economically. It's a lay down in the fight against climate change. And in our fight to become both more energy efficient and energy independent," said President Bill Clinton.

Inspired by the White House’s Better Buildings Challenge and President Clinton’s pioneering work to promote sustainable building, the California Best Buildings Challenge is going further faster to advance green, resource efficient buildings that help businesses save money and stimulate job creation.

The California Best Buildings Challenge consists of industry-leading firms with a strong California presence that have committed to reduce their building energy, water and waste by 20 percent in just two years. Adobe, Genentech, Google, PREI, SAP and Zynga have stepped up to kick off the Challenge, collectively committing five million square feet of building space from their portfolios.

President Clinton Announces the Launch of California’s Best Buildings Challenge at 2012 Clinton Global Initiative America

Contributed by Jason Hartke
Vice President, National Policy
U.S. Green Building Council

Add six companies…five million square feet of collective real estate…and one challenge. Stir.

What do you get?

A recipe for something remarkable – not just better buildings, but best buildings. In other words, California’s Best Buildings Challenge.

Yesterday, six major leading companies – Adobe, Genentech, Google, Prudential Real Estate Investors, SAP and Zynga – stepped up to the Challenge, a commitment to achieve not just a 20 percent reduction in energy but also in water and waste.

The kicker? They’re doing it in 2 years.

President Clinton announced the Challenge at yesterday's CGI America conference

USGBC and its Northern California Chapter launch the California Best Buildings Challenge at CGI America Meeting

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and USGBC’s Northern California Chapter (USGBC-NCC) will launch the California Best Buildings Challenge at the closing plenary event of the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America), a meeting focused on finding solutions that promote economic recovery in the United States. President Clinton and USGBC President, CEO and Founding Chair, Rick Fedrizzi, will join three of the six inaugural commitment participants, Genentech, Google and Prudential Real Estate Investors (PREI®), on stage to announce the Challenge during the closing plenary of the popular event that draws more than 900 business, non-profit and media participants.

Inspired by the White House’s Better Buildings Challenge (BBC) and President Clinton’s pioneering work to promote sustainable buildings, the California Best Buildings Challenge consists of industry-leading firms with a strong California presence that have committed to reduce their building energy, water and waste by 20 percent in two years. Adobe, Genentech, Google, PREI, SAP and Zynga have stepped up to kick off the challenge, collectively committing five million square feet of building space from their portfolios. 

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