The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) was selected to join the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) annual meeting, making its Commitment to Action to help students jumpstart their careers in green building and sustainability through the USGBC Students program. The meeting was attended by more than 1,300 college students, 100 university presidents and leading non-profit organizations, social entrepreneurs, and youth leaders.
USGBC’s goal is to partner with student leaders to launch 200 new USGBC Students groups at institutions of higher education in the U.S. over the next 5 years.
“Students are the best source of energy to drive innovation and advance practical solutions to the most-important challenges of our time – global climate change, resource and energy dependence and threats to human health,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC. “The commitment made at the annual CGI U meeting will work to empower students to advocate for greening their own campus and arm them with the tools they need to initiate and support sustainability projects.”
As part of the USGBC Students program, the commitment will work to recruit engaged students and inspired green building professionals, and equip them with resources and training for advancing green building and sustainability projects on campus. Students will assist with building audits, educational programs and LEED green building documentation. The LEED green building rating system is USGBC’s primary tool for green building design, construction and operation.
Students who participate as active members of LEED project teams are eligible to apply for LEED professional credentials, an important accreditation for students who want to pursue careers in green building.
“We were pleased to welcome the U.S. Green Building Council to the third annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University,” Robert S. Harrison, CEO of the Clinton Global Initiative, said. “USGBC has recognized the transformative power that young people, working together, can have on the world. We look forward to seeing the results of USGBC’s commitment unfold over the next five years.”
CGI U, built on the success of the Clinton Global Initiative, engages university students, organizations and administrators to make commitments that address global issues with practical, innovative solutions. Its third annual meeting was held April 16-18, 2010 at the University of Miami in Florida. All attendees were asked to make a Commitment to Action – a comprehensive, formal plan to address a specific problem around the world, in their community or on their campus.
