U.S. Green Building Council Announces Recipients of 2011 Leadership Awards
Annual awards recognize industry’s green building leaders and visionaries
Washington, DC – September 22, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has named the recipients of its 2011 Leadership Awards, recognizing organizations and individuals who signify vision, leadership and commitment to the evolution of green building design and construction. The awards will be presented at the Leadership Luncheon, sponsored by Otis Elevator Company on Thursday, Oct. 6 during USGBC’s Greenbuild International Conference & Expo held in Toronto. The 2011 awards recognize leadership achievement in the private, public and non-governmental organization (NGO) sectors.
“This year’s Leadership Awards winners represent the future of green building – and based on their accomplishments, the future is looking very bright,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC. “As the most influential green building leaders in the world, their achievements are bedrock to our mission of transforming the built environment.”
Wells Fargo Bank was recognized for its Organizational Leadership in the Private Sector. As longtime users of LEED, Wells Fargo is a participant in the newly launched LEED Volume Program for Operations and Maintenance, committing to pursuing high-performance for banking and office locations across its portfolio.
“Wells Fargo is honored to be recognized for our commitment to the environment and our communities,” said Bob Chlebowski, Executive Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank. “This recognition by the USGBC helps validate our existing efforts and provides encouragement for the future.”
Anthony E. Malkin of Malkin Holdings was recognized for his leadership in the private sector. Through his real estate business, Malkin has been a leader in existing building energy efficiency retrofits, including the recently certified Empire State Building.
“LEED Gold for Existing Buildings is a great accomplishment for the World’s Most Famous Office Building and our team of the Clinton Climate Initiative, Johnson Controls Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle, and the Rocky Mountain Institute,” said Malkin. “I thank USGBC for showcasing our effort to create an example from which the world can learn, and share this award with the team.”
The Council on Environmental Quality was recognized in the Organizational Leadership in the Public Sector for its commitment to advancing the President’s environmental agenda through policy and initiatives.
“The way we build has a significant impact on our economy, our security, and the health and prosperity of our communities,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. “President Obama has committed the Federal Government to leading by example toward a 21st century clean energy economy that grows American jobs and protects the health and environment of our communities. We at CEQ are proud to join leaders and innovators like those at the U.S. Green Building Council in promoting a built environment that supports a healthy and prosperous future for America.”
The Honorable Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City, was recognized for his leadership in the Public Sector. Through PlaNYC, Mayor Bloomberg’s long-term sustainability plan, New York City has adopted some of the most aggressive green building legislation in the country, including requiring ongoing energy efficiency upgrades in existing buildings. As chair of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Mayor Bloomberg is strengthening the ability of the largest cities around the world to adopt and implement similar, innovative sustainability policies.
Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas (DCMCCT) was recognized for its Organizational Leadership in the NGO sector. As the first LEED Platinum hospital in the world, Dell Children’s is making a difference every day to the children, staff and visitors who enter, inspiring a world that will benefit from high-performance healing environments.
“Dell Children’s is honored to be the recipient of the 2011 Leadership Award,” said Bob Bonar, president and CEO of Dell Children’s Medical Center. “Being a green hospital is not just about respecting the environment, it also has a profound measurable effect on patient healing.”
In the Individual category, Kelly Caffarelli, president of the Home Depot Foundation, was recognized for her Leadership in a Non-Governmental Organization. Through her leadership, Caffarelli enabled USGBC to fully engage the affordable housing community in the development of LEED for Homes. Currently, nearly 50% of LEED-certified housing units are affordable.
“When we first started working with USGBC, there was no model for green building standards in affordable housing,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president, The Home Depot Foundation. “ Today, almost 50 percent of LEED-certified homes are in the affordable housing category, and that means hundreds of thousands of families have lower energy bills and maintenance costs, better air quality and more peace of mind.”
Deutsche Bank AG was recognized with the inaugural International Leadership Award. With a company-wide goal of carbon neutrality by 2013, Deutsche Bank has worked to reduce its corporate footprint and while providing the tools and resources to help others do the same, through investing in alternative energies and low-carbon technologies. This past year, the company earned LEED Platinum for its own headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, which is designed to reduce water consumption and CO2 emissions by 74% and 89% respectively.
“As a global corporate citizen, we recognize the responsibility we have to ensure that our business operations are not only sustainable but that we also create awareness and influence others to do the same,” said Jeff Baer, Head of Global Logistics Services, Deutsche Bank. “We remain excited about the possibilities that lie ahead to make the buildings we occupy as environmentally friendly as possible through leading edge practices and with key industry bodies.”
This year’s President’s award was given to Greg Kats, President of Capital E and Venture Partner with Good Energies, and to Lynn Simon, Simon & Associates, Inc. The award is given in acknowledgement of a distinguished career and exceptional contributions to the green building movement.
Through his green building research, Greg Kats has helped codify the value of green building, and add clarity to common misconceptions around cost. Kats is the principal author of the most widely cited study on the cost and benefits of green buildings, and is a longtime member of the USGBC community, having served on both the LEED Steering Committee and on the Energy & Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group.
“USGBC has been a big part of my life since 1995, so this award means a great deal,” said Greg Kats. “Because of USGBC and LEED, our communities are becoming stronger, and we have created a powerful way to respond cost-effectively to the urgent global reality of climate change. For me, there could be no greater honor than being a part of this great movement.”
Regarded as a leading authority in the green building industry, Lynn N. Simon, President of Simon & Associates, Inc., a green building consultant firm she established in 1994, has a rich history of service within the USGBC family, Simon has served as LEED Faculty for over 10 years, and as Chair and member on many USGBC committees.
“My long history and involvement with USGBC has so greatly enriched both my professional and personal life,” said Lynn Simon. “I cannot imagine another community of colleagues who are as committed to making the world a more sustainable place that those I have met at USGBC!”
Jayni Chase, Chair of Green Community Schools, a program of the MGR Foundation, was honored as the first recipient of the Center for Green Schools Excellence award for her work as a pioneer in transforming schools into sustainable places to learn, work and play. Jayni is one of the original leaders of the green schools movement, and serves as a valued member of the Center for Green Schools’ Advisory Board. She has been a true champion in making green schools a reality for the millions of Americans who go to school every day.
“Environmental education must happen in ALL of our communities and it needs to happen NOW,” said Jayni Chase. “I hope to spark generations of young environmental leaders, preparing them to eagerly tackle the problems we face today and in the future.”
The Center for Green Schools Excellence award, presented by Otis Elevator Company, will be presented to Chase by Otis President Didier Michaud-Daniel.
2011 Leadership Awards Recipients:
• Organizational Leadership in the Private Sector: Wells Fargo Bank
• Individual Leadership in the Private Sector: Anthony E. Malkin, Malkin Holdings
• Organizational Leadership in the Public Sector: Council on Environmental Quality, the White House
• Individual Leadership in the Public Sector: The Honorable Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City
• Organizational Leadership in a Non-Governmental Organization: Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas (DCMCCT)
• Individual Leadership in a Non-Governmental Organization: Kelly Caffarelli, The Home Depot Foundation
• International Leadership Award: Deutsche Bank AG
• President’s Award: Greg Kats, Capital E, Good Energies; and Lynn Simon, FAIA, LEED AP Simon & Associates, Inc.
• Center for Green Schools Excellence Award by Otis Elevator Company: Jayni Chase, Green Schools Advocate
About U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 79 local affiliates, nearly 16,000 member organizations, and more than 167,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. GDP from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.
About Greenbuild The U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild International Conference & Expo convenes the industry’s largest gathering of representatives from all sectors of the green building movement. Three days of extensive educational programming, workshops, a vast exhibition floor and ample networking events provide unrivaled opportunities to learn about the latest technological innovations, explore new products, and exchange ideas with other professionals. Greenbuild is the three time recipient of IMEX Green Meetings Award and the 2011 show will be held on Oct. 4-7, 2011, in Toronto, Canada. This past year’s conference in Chicago, Ill. drew more than 28,000 attendees and featured more than 1,800 exhibit booths. Visit www.greenbuildexpo.org for more information.
Contact:
Ashley Katz
Media Manager, USGBC
202.742.3738
