February/March 2009
Executive Director's Corner
C O N T E N T S
Executive Director's Corner: Crossing The Potomoc
LEED: Fort Carson Building Awarded First Army LEED Gold
Neighborhood Development: LEED Neighborhood Development in Colorado
Recyling News: Some Thoughts on Recycling Old Office Furnishings
Sustainable Development: Creating a Sustainable Future
Getting Green Done: Forgive Me Father, I Don't Have the Money
Sustainable Strategy: Creating Effective Collaboration and Leadership Tactics
Executive Director's Corner: Major Speaker Announced for May Conference
Metro Branch Update: Denver Metro Branch is Looking for Volunteers
VISION
Promote responsibility for Colorado's environmental legacy.
MISSION
Advance and promote sustainable planning, design, construction and operation of the built environment through education, improving industry guidelines, policy advocacy, and information and resource sharing.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dana Kose, Chair
Universal Development Company
Jim Bradburn, Vice Chair, Chair Elect
RMH Group
Megan Christensen, Secretary
US LendLease Communities
Sebastian De Atucha, Treasurer
3BY
Clay Benson, Director at Large
Mortenson Construction
Mike Lowell, Director, Advocacy
US GSA
Bobby Molinary, Director, Membership
Julie Edwards, Director, Education
Oz Architecture
Matt Arabasz, Director,Northern Colorado Branch
RB+B Architects, Inc.
Joshua Radoff, Director, Resource Development, and Communications
YRG Sustainability Consultants
Bethany Trumble, Director, Southern Colorado Branch
Farnsworth Group, Inc.
Liz Sharrer, Director, Metro Branch
Holland & Hart
Mike Kolesar, Director, Emerging Green Builders
Facilities Engineering Associates
Deb Kleinman
Executive Director,
USGBC Colorado Chapter
Colorado Building Green is the official newsletter of the U.S. Green Building Council – Colorado Chapter, and is published bi-monthly. If you are interested in submiting a story, ideas or other information for publication, please contact the editor at dgloffreda@msn.com
Green Economic Development
Crossing the Potomac: USGBC Colorado Executive Director Goes to Washington
By Deb Kleinman, Executive Director, USGBC Colorado Chapter
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Recently, I traveled to Washington to join over 2,500 people from around the country at the Good Jobs, Green Jobs 2009 National Conference. The gathering was coordinated by the Blue Green Alliance, and supported by a wide range of organizations, agencies, and academic institutions including the USGBC. Flying into Washington, DC past the Monument and the Mall, I stared through the window thinking about the intense hopes and fears of so many Coloradoans at this particularly poignant moment in our history.
During the weeks leading up to my trip, the economic news had continued to worsen. In January, Governor Bill Ritter announced enormous and painful cuts to the state budget. Unemployment in Colorado continued to rise, hitting a five-year high 6.1% in December 2008. Colleagues and friends of the Colorado Chapter have been emailing our office almost daily, trying to rebound from being laid off from jobs that a year ago felt very secure.
While not as hard-hit as some parts of the country, many believe that Colorado has yet to recover from the recession of 2001-2002. Current deep cuts to education, health care, transportation, and other critical state and local services are that much more painful because these budgets have remained extremely tight during the past six or seven years.
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There can be no question that decisions made at the national level – whether in the political or financial halls of power – has an enormous impact on the resiliency and sustainability of local communities and their state government here at home. However, frequently these decisions are based on the constrained perspectives of those who spend their days within the boundaries of the District.
It is critical for Coloradoans working at the local and state levels to communicate with political and financial decision makers in DC and elsewhere about what is working and what is not, and how broader policies and investments can have the greatest impact on the ground here in the rocky mountain west.
A strong sense of independence and a pragmatic approach to problem solving are both characteristics deeply embedded in the western psyche, illustrated by the leadership shown by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and others in focusing national attention to the transition to the New Energy Economy and its rich potential to create a more sustainable Colorado. But Colorado can’t do it alone, and particularly in these challenging times we need the partnership, support, and help of our friends in Washington.