U.S. Conference of Mayors, U.S. Green Building Council urge Congress to support Green Schools Legislation

June 19, 2009 (Washington, DC) – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) urges Congress to commit additional research funding to evaluating the environmental, economic and health benefits of green schools,  and endorsed the recent passage of the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act Passes.  H.R. 2187 authorizes billions of dollars to support school repair, renovations and modernization projects in school districts nationwide.

USGBC also commends USCM for its leadership in passing a green schools resolution, showing its unwavering support of greening America’s schools.  At its 77th Annual Meeting in Providence last week, USCM adopted the “Make Green Schools a Reality” resolution, which supports building, repairing and making operations and maintenance improvements to schools throughout the U.S. by using tools like the LEED green building rating system.

“The U.S. Conference of Mayors has been a strong supporter of greening America’s schools, and the green schools resolution takes one giant step in the direction of enhancing the learning environments for America’s students, teachers and administrators that go to school every day,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC.

USGBC has been working towards brightening the future of America’s school children and educators through the development of the National Green Schools Campaign, which is committed to promoting and supporting federal, state and local initiatives that advance the green school building movement, including support of the Congressional Green Schools Caucus, and USGBC’s "50 For 50" Green Schools Caucus Initiative and Mayors' Alliance for Green Schools. 
For more information on green schools, including USGBC’s LEED for Schools Green Building Rating System, visit www.buildgreenschools.org.

About the U.S. Green Building Council
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.

Contact: Ashley Katz
Communications Manager, USGBC
202.742.3738
akatz@usgbc.org