Dear Journal Reader,

A sustainable future hinges upon broadening our ideas about the built environment to address energy use, site development, water conservation, materials use and healthy indoor environments. Southface Energy Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council are actively working to accelerate this change in perspective. That is why we were pleased to recently recognize Southface as one of only four “Regional Affiliates” across the country. The USGBC is also proud to play a prominent role in Southface’s Greenprints: Sustainable Communities by Design Conference in 2003.

The USGBC is leading a national consensus for producing a new generation of buildings that deliver high performance inside and outside. Council members work together to develop products, resources, policy guidance and educational and marketing tools that support the adoption of sustainable building. Members also forge strategic alliances with key industry and research organizations and federal, state and local government agencies to transform the built environment. Southface’s Regional Affiliate status is one such alliance.

The USGBC’s LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a tool for designing and building high-performance, green buildings. In the first two years since the LEED™ rating system was established, nearly 40 buildings have been certified and about 600 more have registered their intent to achieve certification after construction is complete. Atlanta’s first LEED™ registered buildings have been highlighted at past Greenprints conferences, and 2003 will continue this tradition with tours and panel sessions among owners and construction and design teams.

LEED™ seeks to do more, however, than just produce green buildings. It seeks to recognize industry leaders, increase consumer awareness and competition for green building, establish market value and transform the marketplace. Our inaugural USGBC International Conference and Expo in November was one way to accomplish this, and partnering with Greenprints and Southface is another.

Southface will continue to provide quality learning sessions at Greenprints in 2003. The USGBC curriculum leadership is contributing to an introductory LEED™ track for the conference, and Greenprints attendees will help evaluate new USGBC training modules and faculty. Many of you have requested more LEED™ educational programs from the USGBC. We are already discussing with Southface an expanded slate of USGBC LEED™ workshops, in addition to those at Greenprints, for 2003.

Southface played an important role in our recent conference and expo, and the USGBC is happy to return the favor by partnering with Greenprints 2003 and continuing the dialogue. I hope to see you in Atlanta in February.

Christine Ervin President & CEO, U.S. Green Building Council