USGBC co-sponsors Face It webcast

Press release:

U.S. Green Building Council to Co-Sponsor Nationwide Carbon Webcast Focusing on Global Climate Change

Face It Webcast to be Broadcast Live at 9:00 AM on January 30, 2008 Washington, DC (January 28, 2008) — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) will co-sponsor a nationwide webcast on climate change, called Face It, hosted by Architecture 2030, a research organization that focuses on the role of buildings in global climate change. The educational webcast will cover Architecture 2030's approach to halt global warming and will unveil two new student competitions worth a total of $20,000 in prize money. "Buildings account for 39% of all CO2 emissions in the U.S., and building green is an immediate and measurable solution to mitigating climate change," said Michelle Moore, Senior Vice President of Policy & Public Affairs, USGBC.

"Educating the construction leaders of tomorrow is a core part of USGBC's mission, and our support of Architecture 2030 in this essential webcast is a critical part of that." The Face It webcast will be broadcast live at www.architecture2030.org at 9:00 AM EST on January 30, 2008, with video available later for download on the site. This webcast kicks off the Focus the Nation simultaneous educational symposia to be held across the country on January 31, 2008. Focus the Nation is a national effort to engage students, faculty, administrators, citizens and government officials in discussions to address global warming.

In addition to sponsoring the Face It webcast, USGBC is hosting a series of online Carbon Reduction educational seminars aimed at assisting building industry professionals and business and organizational leaders who want to reduce the carbon footprint of their building projects or organizations. USGBC is partnering with climate change experts including the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, World Resources Institute, and CTG Energetics, Inc., and media partner Stamats Commercial Buildings Group to bring the series to computers across the world. To register for a Webinar, visit www.usgbc.org/carbon. The online Carbon Reduction educational seminars are part of USGBC's eight-step agenda on climate change that was announced in late 2006:

• The 50% CO2 reduction goal — All new commercial LEED projects are required to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% when compared with current emission levels.
• Increased energy reduction prerequisites in LEED — All LEED projects must achieve at least two energy and optimization credits.
• Implementation of a carbon dioxide offset program — This program is currently under third-party review with the anticipated launch of a pilot program in spring 2008.
• Continuous process improvement incentives — All LEED for New Construction and LEED for Core and Shell buildings that reach certification are automatically (at no cost) registered for LEED for Existing Buildings.
• Pushing the envelope on performance — Certification fees are now rebated for LEED-Platinum buildings.
• A carbon-neutral USGBC, which was achieved at year-end 2007.
• Portfolio Performance Program — The long-term goal of this program is to recognize companies for high environmental performance across their portfolios.

### About USGBC The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since UGSBC's founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 13,000 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org), and a network of 72 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.