USGBC's 2009 Federal Summit Convened Today in Washington, DC
May 15, 2009

The U.S. Green Building Council's annual Federal Summit convened yesterday for a daylong exchange of ideas on how to best meet the goals of increased sustainability in existing buildings and communities to significantly impact the environment and economy. High level officials from throughout the federal sector, including Senior White House Advisor Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, discussed topics such as leveraging the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to achieve environmental goals, implementing technical solutions to meet the energy efficiency goals set out in Energy Independence and Security Act and updates on LEED and other USGBC activities. The summit took place at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

"Green building and retrofitting is at the top of the legislative agenda, and now is the time to work together toward the common goals of advancing green building and improving our nation's economy," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chair, USGBC. "The Federal Summit provides a unique opportunity to discuss critical issues and the leadership role of the federal government in mitigating climate change."

The 2009 Federal Summit marks the launch of USGBC's new Federal Green Building Leadership Award program. According to the USGBC, for nearly a decade, the federal government has pioneered the use of LEED and innovative green building initiatives to lead by example in advancing the sustainability of the built environment. Kevin Kampshcroer, acting director, office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings for the U.S. General Services Administration, and Mark Ginsburg, senior executive, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for the U.S. Department of Energy, were recognized for their outstanding leadership in and dedication to green building.

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