For Immediate Release: May 20, 2009
Media Contacts: Emma Filar, Marketing & Communications Associate
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2009 Honor Award: A Salute to Visionaries in Sustainability
A Mayor, an Activist, a Non-Profit, and a Multinational: the Elements of Environmental Success?
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Four million square feet of green roofs, 31,000 high performance buildings, 11 million metric tons of carbon saved from the atmosphere: over the past few years a lot of interest about the environment has been generated, but the National Building Museum’s 2009 Honor Award recipients have produced actual—and remarkable—results.
S. Richard Fedrizzi and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC); Mayor Richard M. Daley and the City of Chicago; Majora Carter; and Louis Chênevert and United Technologies (UTC) have changed the nation’s environmental landscape. The Museum is recognizing their progressive leadership on environmental issues, as well as their significant accomplishments in improving sustainability within the built environment and local communities. Collectively, their work has had a direct impact on the environmental performance of buildings, infrastructure, and transportation systems around the country.
For example, in the ten years since S. Richard Fedrizzi and USGBC created the LEED® program, it has become one of the most universally accepted certification programs in green building and changed the course of the industry. Today more than 5.6 billion square feet of commercial construction space is involved with the LEED program. The LEED building revolution translates to something of an energy revolution: studies have shown that LEED-certified buildings use less energy than a structure not subject to LEED performance metrics. This is a potentially monumental energy savings if one considers that nearly 40% of energy consumption in the United States is attributed to buildings. USGBC’s work also includes promoting the economic benefits of building green. The non-profit’s network of more than 100,000 LEED accredited professionals espouses that environmentally sustainable design and building can reduce operating costs, increase the value of the real-estate, and increase rent and occupancy ratios.
“The USGBC’s vision is a built environment that nurtures instead of harms, restores instead of consumes, and saves money instead of wasting it,” said Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “When communities are well-designed, planned, and built, when all the pieces are smartly integrated, our communities greatly enhance the quality of our lives and can go a long way toward helping us heal our planet and build a stronger, healthier society.”
Likewise, Mayor Richard M. Daley has transformed the City of Chicago. Daley’s 20 years as Mayor have translated into a green boom in the nation’s third largest city: 15 million square feet of municipal buildings have been retrofitted for energy efficiency; more than 7 million square feet of vegetation has or will be planted on the city’s rooftops; 500,000 trees have been planted across Chicago’s renewed public and park spaces; and significant investments have been made in sustainable transportation options including 120 miles of new city bicycle lanes. Most importantly, in 2008 Chicago launched its Climate Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy to combat climate change that enlists businesses, residents, and government in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The city’s goal is aggressive: an 80% reduction below 1990 emission levels by 2050. Chicago’s research shows that more than 70% of its emissions come from buildings and infrastructure—a problem tackled adeptly in the plan. Chicago’s commitment to a prosperous and sustainable city is not solely environmental. As Chicago commemorates the 100-year anniversary of its Daniel Burnham City Plan, residents have benefitted from decades’ of investment in great architecture, development of civic space, and public art—ensuring Chicago’s place as one of the most culturally-significant cities in the world.
“In Chicago we have long appreciated that cities are no longer the enemies of the natural environment; rather they’re leading the way in preserving and protecting it. Since I have been mayor, my goal has been to make Chicago a shining example of how a large city can live in harmony with its environment and as a result, be a better place for all its residents. I am confident that if we address the climate change challenge together, with creativity and boldness, then cities will continue to lead the world in designing a path to a more secure future,” said Daley.
Driven by a straightforward, yet profound philosophy, Majora Carter is determined to make change happen. "You shouldn't have to move out of your neighborhood to live in a better one," said Carter, who in the late 1990’s led the design of the South Bronx Greenway: a plan for storm water management, active living, positive local economic activity, congestion alleviation, and recreation along the South Bronx waterfront. Carter also spearheaded the creation of Hunts Point Riverside Park, the first South Bronx waterfront park in more than 60 years. By 2001, she had founded Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx), where she launched one of the country's first and most successful urban green collar job training and placement systems. SSBx also formed a coalition called Storm Water Infrastructure Matters (SWIM) which led to the passage of a $4.50/square foot green roof tax abatement in NYC as well as other laws that opened the door for greater reliance on horticultural infrastructure. Carter’s commitment to achieving sustainable communities reaches far beyond the South Bronx. A year ago, she founded The Majora Carter Group, LLC to maximize social and economic returns on environmental solutions worldwide. Carter’s entrepreneurial approach solving environmental and economic problems attracted her first client: Elizabeth City, and North Eastern North Carolina. The Majora Carter Group is working with the state university and local governments to develop a green economic strategy. The plan is to create rewarding career paths in the expanding area of climate change adaptation and mitigation. Ultimately, the 21-county region will be positioned to benefit both from the new skills of its workforce as well as the new green economy.
UTC is leveraging its leadership role as one of the largest suppliers to the building industry to make sweeping energy and environmental changes in its business practices as well as the performance of building and infrastructure systems worldwide. Louis Chênevert oversees the seven UTC businesses—including Carrier, Otis and UTC Fire and Security—subject to the company’s stringent environmental goals that address waste, water, air quality, and energy. Since 1997, the company, 37th on the Fortune 500 list, has recorded a 22% overall reduction in energy use and 50% reduction in water consumption—a significant impact considering the company has more than 100 million square feet of real estate worldwide. UTC’s products reinforce its energy and environmental objectives: one innovative new commercial cooling technology delivers superior performance while using 40% less energy than today's requirements, while an elevator employs gearless magnet motors that consume up to 75% less energy than the conventional model. UTC is using its environmental expertise to influence a global shift in corporate social responsibility. UTC leads the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Energy Efficiency in Buildings project to develop a road map to achieve zero net energy buildings all over the world, and UTC is also a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. UTC also sponsors the Sustainable Cities Design Academy, in collaboration with the American Architectural Foundation.
“Buildings today account for nearly 40% of the world’s energy use; at UTC we offer products and services capable of dramatically reducing a building’s energy needs,” said Chênevert, UTC president and chief executive officer. “From our regenerative elevators and energy efficient heating and cooling systems to our energy audit and service companies, UTC has the technology and expertise to increase the efficiency of buildings today and to transform the energy needs of future buildings. By improving efficiency without sacrificing performance, we help our customers do more with less.”
The National Building Museum’s Honor Award ceremony will be held in its historic Great Hall on June 4, 2009. The Honorable Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will deliver the keynote address. Fedrizzi, Daley, Carter, and Chênevert will make remarks about their vision for a sustainable future during the event which will be attended by leaders in the building arts and sciences industry and government officials.
The Honor Award was instituted in 1986 to recognize achievements in our nation’s building heritage and to highlight those devoted to quality in our built world. Previous honorees include Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Cindy and Jay Pritzker, DuPont, Related, and The Associated General Contractors of America. This will mark the 22nd presentation of the National Building Museum's most prestigious award.
The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution dedicated to advancing the quality of the built environment by educating people about its impact on their lives. Through its exhibitions, educational programs, online content, and publications, the Museum has become a vital forum for the exchange of ideas and information about the world we build for ourselves. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448 or visit www.nbm.org. Connect with us on Twitter: @BuildingMuseum and Facebook.
