A Thanks to LEED Credential Holders from Rick Fedrizzi, CEO & President, USGBC ...

USGBC Palm Beach Branch Celebrates County's LEED Projects

Volunteer Corner

The US Green Building South Florida Chapter is a volunteer-governed and a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization.  Our volunteer family is our lifeblood.

To learn about volunteer opportunities, click here.  To
learn about the programs
offered at our five Branches,
click on the Branch of interest below:

~ Treasure Coast Branch
~ Palm Beach Branch
~ Broward Branch
~ Miami-Dade Branch
~ Keys Branch

Chapter Hot Topics

~ Check out our lineup of webinars (free to Chapter members), workshops (discounted to Chapter members), test-prep classes (discounted to Chapter members).

~ Click here to access a list of LEED Certified projects in South Florida through January 8.  We're up to 137, and that doesn't include residential or any Certified projects in South Florida whose owners/teams elected to keep that status confidential.  In 2011, 50 LEED Certified projects achieved that prestigious accomplishment -- our region's biggest year.  Congratulations South Florida and all companies that had even the smallest hand in the continuing market transformation!

~ One of the highlights of the Chapter's Annual Meeting of Members was a snappy Green Trivia Challenge.  We had many requests to post the questions -- click here to test your knowledge.  The first winner of the annual Green Trivia Award Cup was Kyle Abney, former President of the Chapter.  The Cup will reside in Kyle's possession for a year and then, a la hockey's Stanley Cup, will be passed to next year's green-trivia champion for a year.  To learn more about the trivia contest and the meeting, including pictures, click here.  To access the answers to the quiz, click here.

~ Paul Carty (right) is the President of the USGBC South Florida Chapter.  To learn Paul's background and to review what the other volunteer Directors' bring to the leadership table, click here.

~ The Princeton Review and the USGBC have again teamed up to generate a unique, free guidebook saluting the nation's most environmentally responsible green colleges.  The Guide to Green Colleges profiles 322 institutions of higher education in the USA and three in Canada that demonstrate commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation. The 232-page book is the only free, comprehensive guide to green colleges.  To secure this free resource, click here.  Visit the Chapter's Green Schools page here.  

~ Click here to access an excellent article titled Case for Green Buildings Grows Stronger for Owners and Occupants.  

~ One Billion Square Feet of LEED Certified Green Building Projects Worldwide ... another release from the USGBC.

~ Two USGBC documents -- 1) Green Buildings for Cool Cities ... ; and 2) Greening the Codes ... Access via the Chapter's Advocacy website page here.

Advocacy Updates

~ Click here to read the blog by USGBC’s Legislative Director Bryan Howard on the confusing actions of Congress to legislatively handcuff the Department of Defensive, making it harder for it to build the highest performing LEED certified buildings. 

While Congress is holding back the Department of Defense, the Department of Treasury is LEED-ing by Example in building green with the recent LEED certification of its Headquarters in Washington D.C. Click here to read how the iconic Treasury building earned LEED EB: O&M Gold certification.

If you are interested in getting involved with the USGBC South Florida Chapter's advocacy efforts, contact Glen Hadwen or Doug Coward.  Visit the Chapter's advocacy website page here.

Prepare for LEED AP and
LEED GA Exams

Click here to learn how to prepare for the LEED AP and GA exams: USGBC courses, reference and study guides and other tools.  Learn more regarding LEED in South Florida here.

See the top of this column for links to the Chapter's educatoinal resources that can help you pass the LEED GA and/or LEED AP exams.