15 Years of Green Buildings are Better

GreenGabEpisode16_060216Hope Gribble of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) – Missouri Gateway Chapter joins us to gab about 15 years of Green Buildings are Better in the St. Louis Metro. This a resource packed half hour so be sure to check out the links at the bottom of the podcast notes to check out the many resources we gab about.

15 years ago, 15 St. Louis area volunteers formed one of the first six USGBC chapters in the country, and there were a handful of LEED Certified buildings. Now, the area has over 300 LEED Certified buildings and the chapter offers a wide variety of programs and resources with the help of over 150 member volunteers from over 500 members in the chapter. The USGBC chapter in the St. Louis area has a wonderful partnership with the Missouri Botanical Gardens and their sustainability arm, EarthWays Center.

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As a mission-based 501C(3) organization, the USGBC and its members serve its mission of transforming the built environment. This is a different idea than a trade association, such as the Home Builders Association, which exists to serve its members. This mission-based service has helped to grow the programs offered to its members and the community. Both Marla and Tony have been long time members of the USGBC.

One of the programs offered to the community is the Green Schools Quest. From the USGBC – Missouri Gateway Chapter web site, “The Green Schools Quest is a challenge issued by the U.S. Green Building Council-Missouri Gateway Chapter to public and private schools within the chapter’s territory (Missouri and southern Illinois) to devise and implement, with the help of green mentors, the most creative, effective and no or low cost sustainable practices for their schools.” 45 school and mentor teams participated in the 2015-16 Green Schools Quest, with 35 of these schools submitting results of their projects for review by an impartial panel of judges. The ingenuity and initiative the students showed in their projects is impressive.  Check out their projects.

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The Sustainability Institute for Educators is an annual program offered to educators to help incorporate sustainability into their entire organization. The 3-day workshop offers educators tools to bring sustainability into their curriculum, operations and practices.

For more information about U.S. Green Building Council – Missouri Gateway Chapter, visit their website at http://www.usgbc-mogateway.org/.  You can find Hope at hope.gribble@mobot.org.

Resources from USGBC on today’s podcast

U.S. Green Building Council – Missouri Gateway Chapter Green Schools Quest: A Project Based Challenge http://www.usgbc-mogateway.org/green-school-quest/

Brief descriptions of each 2015-16 Green Schools Quest project submission:   http://www.usgbc-mogateway.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/GSQ-2015-16-Submission-Summaries-with-Winners.pdf

101+ Ways to Green Your School  http://www.usgbc-mogateway.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/101-Ways-to-Green-Your-School-2015-16.pdf

Sustainability Institute for Educators http://www.webster.edu/sie

USGBC-MGC Faith Based Initiatives http://www.usgbc-mogateway.org/faith/

Green Buildings Are Better / USGBC-MGC 15 Year Anniversary http://www.usgbc-mogateway.org/green-buildings-are-better/

U.S. Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org/

LEED http://www.usgbc.org/leed

Center for Green Schools http://www.centerforgreenschools.org/

Learning Lab (K-12 Curriculum) https://learninglab.usgbc.org/

Every week on iTunes and The Everyday Green Home Podcast, get the gab with us as we share what we’ve done, as well as tips for greening up your home, your job, your family and your life! Get in on the gab for why green matters – to you, your family and friends and your community.

For more information about the show email us at:  Marla at marla@thegreenhomecoach.com or Tony at tpratte@thesoundroom.com.

I’d love to speak at your next event – for ideas check out my speaking information.  Thank you and have a blessed day.

Get in on the gab for why green matters – to you, your family and friends and your community.