Welcome to the South Florida Chapter of the USGBC — a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to educating and promoting the benefits of sustainable, energy efficient buildings. Join us in transforming the way our buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, providing an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life of our citizens, children and visitors.

  

Emerging Professionals Plan Greening Our Community 

Join the USGBC Student Groups and Emerging Professionals from South Florida on February 15 and learn how the youth of Miami is taking action to make our community more sustainable.   To learn more and register, click here.  Click on the video below, also, and find out how you, too, can make a difference!




USGBC Palm Beach Branch Celebrates County's LEED Projects

During its recent program, the Palm Beach Branch of the USGBC South Florida Chapter debuted an impressive display of all 40 LEED Certified projects that have been built in Palm Beach County through 2011. To review the PowerPoint of each project's details, click here.  

The display is now available for public perusal at the Palm Beach Branch's display at the South Florida Fair, in the Conservation Tent, from January 13-29.  To volunteer at the USGBC booth (and earn LEED CMP hours and free admission to the Fair), click here.

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

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

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.


 

Chapter Hot Topics

~ Check out our lineup of educational webinars (free to Chapter members), workshops (discounted to Chapter members), test-prep classes (discounted to Chapter members) and more! Click on the images above to learn more.

~ The USGBC South Florida Chapter is looking to fill a new staff position -- Director of Development.  To see the job description and learn how to apply, click here.

~ 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!




Above, Diane Sullivan and Gloria Lopez pose
during their volunteering efforts at the
Palm Beach Branch's booth at the
South Florida Fair. 
To learn more, see copy at left.

~ 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.

~ The USGBC South Florda Chapter's GalaVerde was, once again, a sensational success.  To learn more, including award winners, 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 308 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 220-page book is the only free, comprehensive guide to green colleges.  To secure this free resource, visit our Green Schools page here.

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

~ Check out a new report issued during the last Greenbuild -- Building Performance and Occupant Satisfaction Tied to Green Investment.

~ 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.
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Upcoming Chapter Events

06 Feb 2012 9:00 AM • The Old Course at Broken Sound in Boca Raton
08 Feb 2012 6:00 PM • Calvin Giordano & Associates, 1800 Eller Drive, Suite 600, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33316
15 Feb 2012 6:00 PM • Calvin Giordano & Associates, 1800 Eller Drive, Suite 600, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33316
15 Feb 2012 6:00 PM • Miami-Dade College Wolfson Campus -- Building 7000, Room 7128 (on the ground floor)
16 Feb 2012 8:30 AM • Trane Miramar Office, 2884 Corporate Way, Miramar, FL 33025 (see Directions in copy)
16 Feb 2012 5:30 PM • Broward County Convention Center - First Floor: Rooms 118/119 (Outside Exhibit Hall B , in the B/C Lobby)





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More Resources

~ LEED in South Florida

~ South Florida's Green Certified Homes

~ Green Building Jobs and Dollars (report)

~ Find a Green Job -- The USGBC Career Center connects our members (employees and recruiters alike) with employment opportunities, including green jobs.  Locally, the South Florida Chapter is looking for a Director of Development.  To learn more,click here.