June 8, 2009 (Washington, DC) – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and its President, CEO and Founding Chairman, Rick Fedrizzi, were recognized with the National Building Museum’s 2009 Honor Award at its annual gala. The award acknowledges leadership on environmental issues and the significant accomplishments made in improving sustainability within the built environment.
“It’s an honor to be recognized amongst many visionary leaders in the sustainability moment, and by an organization that has exhibited continued leadership within the built environment,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair of the USGBC. “The green building movement offers an opportunity to respond to the most-important challenges of our times, and we remain single-mindedly committed to delivering on our vision of green buildings for everyone within a generation.”
The Honor Award was established by the National Building Museum in 1986 to salute those who have significantly improved the built environment. Other honorees included Mayor Richard M. Daley and the City of Chicago; Majora Carter; and Louis Chênevert and United Technologies (UTC). The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and planning.
Read Rick Fedrizzi’s remarks.
Watch the 2009 Honor Award: Visionaries in Sustainability Video.
About USGBC
The Washington, D.C.-based 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 78 local affiliates, more than 20,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 100,000 LEED Accredited Professionals, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to soar to $60 billion by 2010. The USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.
Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.
