US Green Building
Chapter - Phoenix,
AZ
USGBC and Arizona Chapter Vision:
Vision: Buildings and communities will
regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation.
USGBC and Arizona Chapter 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.
Why build green
(sustainably)?
Building to
sustainable principals is an embracement of building a quality building with
well thought out site selection and building placement, acknowledgement of the
eco system where the building will reside, thought to materials and resources
used in construction and/or renovation, and considered avoidance of the
introduction of toxic materials in the building process. Green buildings use less water, create less
lanfill waste, and consume less energy than traditional building methods require. Green buildings are healthier places to live
and work in. Free from toxic paints, carpets and pesticides, green buildings
have cleaner indoor air quality, better daylighting, and connect occupants with
the world outside the building.
Although green
buildings may cost more up front, quality construction and appropriate
materials pay for themselves through reduced utility bills, lower maintenance
costs, higher productivity rates, occupant satisfaction and increased re-sale
values. A vegetative roof, for example, may last 40
years, while a typical slate roof in Arizona
needs replacement in half that time.
In addition to offering
a safe and healthy work or living environment, green buildings are kinder and
less invasive to their environment and to the planet as a whole. The U.S. Green Building Council embraces the
triple bottom line: Sustainable
buildings are good for the people who occupy them, they are profitable for
their owners, and they are gentler to our planet.
____________________________________________________________________
Sixteen years ago
(1994), a small group had a vision to work and live in healthy buildings. They
formed the U.S. Green Building Council to create and promote sustainable
building.
In late summer
2001, a small group in Arizona
organized to explore becoming a chapter of the USGBC. Ultimately this group petitioned
to become the third group in the nation seeking chapter status. There are now more than 78 chapters,
affiliates and organizing groups throughout the US.
Among the original Arizona founders were:
-
John Guenther, City
of Surprise
-
Katherine Hammack,
Ernst & Young
-
Oscar Covarrubias,
The Green Choice
-
John Eisele, KBK
Innovations
-
Ben Meche, Sundt
Construction
-
Charles Popeck,
Green Ideas Environmental Building Consultants
-
Sue Sylvester,
Adolfson and Peterson Construction
-
Tom Tahmassian, ATT
Consulting
-
Steve Andros, SASC
Southwest
-
Mark Wilhem,
Greenbuilt-Consulting
-
Mick Dalyrmple,
Desert Moon Productions
-
Tom Rogers,
Northern Arizona University
-
Dan Osterman, Sundt
Construction
Anthony Floyd, Jerry
Yudelson, Stephen Reed, Vint Atkinson, Harvey Bryan and Chuck Burke added their
talent, expertise, and support so that the Arizona Chapter flourished. Today, there are four branches in the state,
with an expansion map anticipating as many as 10 branches. Current chapter membership
is over 1,200 individuals all interested in learning about and practicing sustainability
in all phases of construction.
The Arizona chapter accomplishes
our mission by creating, offering, or producing consistent high quality educational
programs for our members, for the public, and community organizations. Drawing
on our experienced membership we can cover a broad array of topics regarding
sustainable practice and policy, and on specific LEED (leadership in energy and
environmental design) informational topics.
Branch monthly
membership meetings are open to anyone interested in sustainability. Members network
at these monthly meetings, and inform each other about the latest advances in
green technology and best practices. The chapter continually seeks new ways to
increase membership, and to engage members in the work of the chapter. Members benefit their own professional
development as they pursue learning through the chapter. A natural extension of the educational aspect
of the chapter is the organic sharing of new information and collective
knowledge within their companies, their neighborhoods, and their networks.
|
|
Chair/President
|
Key Benchmarks
|
2001
|
Organizing Goup
|
|
|
2002
|
Organizing Group
|
|
|
2003
|
Articles Filed,
501(c)(3)
|
Katherine Hammack
|
Founding Sponsors
Sought
|
2004
|
Provisional
Chapter
|
Dan Osterman
|
Transition to new
elected Bd
|
2005
|
Provisional
Chapter
|
Charlie Popeck
|
Major Growth in
Membership, first hired staff
|
2006
|
Provisional
Chapter
|
Mark Wilhelm
|
Chapter Challenge
Grant Winner, continued rapid growth
|
2007
|
Full USGBC
Chapter
|
Mike Quinn
|
Beginning of
Transition to Branches under 1 Chapter
|
2008
|
3 Branches
|
Nora Grace Calato
|
First year of
Branch Operations
|
2009
|
4 Branches and
Greenbuild
|
Bonnie Richardson
|
Welcomed a new
Branch and Greenbuild Host
|
2010
|
|
Rich Michal
|
|
|
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