For Immediate Release: March 25, 2009
Media Contacts: Emma Filar, Marketing & Communications Associate
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2009 Honor Award Visionaries in Sustainability: News Release
S. Richard Fedrizzi and the U.S. Green Building Council named as first of Museum’s “Visionaries in Sustainability” Award Recipients
WHAT
USGBC; Fedrizzi selected for prestigious 2009 Honor Award – More Sustainable Design, Building, Community Development Visionaries to Follow
The National Building Museum will recognize several Visionaries in Sustainability for their leadership, commitment, and achievements in green building and design, workforce development, and business practices during its annual gala on June 4, 2009. The Honor Award was established by the Museum in 1986 to salute those who have significantly improved the built environment. Typically the award is given only to one honoree or organization. However the Museum's selection committee determined that because a sustainable built environment can only be achieved through a diverse community, the Museum would expand its selection to include elected officials, associations, business leaders, and private advocates. Collectively, the recipients of the 2009 Honor Award have had an extraordinary impact in the greening of America.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and its President S. Richard Fedrizzi were announced today, March 25, 2009, as Museum's first honoree. Founded in 1993, USGBC is transforming the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated. Its LEED program is the most widely used green building certification program in the nation. USGBC is also working internationally to establish common green building practices with governments throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia. The non-profit association is composed of more than 19,000 organizations from across the building industry that are working to ensure that structures are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. In the U.S. alone, there are more than 2500 LEED certified structures.
"We founded the USGBC with the radical idea that our built environment should nurture instead of harm, restore instead of consume, and save money instead of waste it," said S. Richard Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. "Little did we know at the time that the green building revolution we envisioned would become a cornerstone of the economic recovery effort, creating millions of green jobs and saving energy and money in the process. The National Building Museum has long been an inspiration to us for all their work to advance how buildings can better serve people, and we're deeply honored by this award."
Chase Rynd, executive director and president of the National Building Museum said that USGBC will be honored for "their unparalleled leadership for 15 years in the promotion of sustainable building practices; their exceptional achievement in establishing and integrating green building standards; and their demonstration of the environmental, social, and economic value of green building."
The National Building Museum will announce additional Honor Award recipients in the weeks leading up to the June 4 gala, to be held in the Museum’s historic Great Hall. Fedrizzi will accept the prize during the ceremony and present his vision about the future of green building.
WHEN
Thursday, June 4
MEDIA CONTACTS
Marketing and Communications Department, 202.272.2448, ext. 3548
Taryn Holowka, U.S. Green Building Council, tholowka@usgbc.org, 202.828.1144
EVENT INFORMATION
Contact Tasha Passarelle, tpassarelle@nbm.org, 202.272.2448, ext. 3112
BACKGROUND
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.
