Have An Influence on Your Future – Join USGBC

Since its founding nearly 20 years ago, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has evolved into one of the most influential organizations for the construction industry. Its goal is to utilize its members’ collective energies to transform the marketplace and it has certainly done just that. Construction companies worldwide are shifting their business toward green building, with 51 percent of respondents to a survey by research firm McGraw-Hill Construction saying they expect more than 60 percent of their work to be green by 2015.

The new LEED v4 is due to be balloted by the membership this June. Only USGBC members in good standing as of March 31 can vote. By becoming a member, our industry can have an influence on the updates to the family of LEED documents and the USGBC as a whole. Joining the USGBC has never been easier or more affordable. The new membership structure features four dues packages: Organizational, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Each package has a distinct price point and its own set of benefits. This change is intended to help broaden the base of green building supporters and open the door to new members by removing the barrier to entry. Membership starts at just $300 for the Organizational package, though at that level you will not be able to enjoy certain discounts.

While only organizations and businesses can join at the national level of USGBC, influence is strongest at the local level. There are 77 local chapters of the USGBC nationwide where individuals can join and participate. The local chapters are where you can promote your interests, network with allied professionals and learn about green-building policies.