Issues & AdvocacyLocal Leaders - Green Building Programs

Heifer International Headquarters, AIA/COTE 2007 Top Ten Green Projects award recipient. Polk Stanley Rowland Curzon Porter Architects Ltd., Little Rock. (Photo by Timothy Hursley.)

A Study of Green Building Programs in Our Nation's Communities

The Local Leaders Report examines the current state of green building laws in American cities as of 2007. Since 2003 the number of cities with green building programs has increased greater than 400%, due to a concerted effort by local political leaders, officials, architects and others within the design/building industry, and grassroots support. The primary goal of this analysis is to provide a tool for communities as well as other levels of government that seek to design green building programs in the future. It is based on research conducted by the AIA on all American cities with a population greater than 50,000 (661 communities) to spotlight the growth and effectiveness of green building policies.

The report includes:

• Introduction - the methodology and organization of the study, and defines commonly used green terms. 
• Study Findings - the typical path to a green building policy, the state of green building nationwide, the regional distribution of programs, current trends, and additional survey responses. 
• Case Studies - the best practices of green building programs throughout the country, focusing on Portland, San Francisco, Scottsdale, Chicago, Austin, and Atlanta. 
• Cities Pushing Ahead - the future of green building and looks at current far-reaching programs that have either just recently begun or are now coming online in the DC-to-Boston corridor, California, and the Pacific Northwest. 
• Conclusion - recommendations for continued greening and offers a final analysis.

These are exciting times for the green building industry and our nation's local leaders in sustainability have been pushing forward with inventive policies that seek to meet our nation's environmental challenges. The future is green, and the breadth of experience displayed by these cities should be useful for all levels of government as they move forward on green building initiatives.

Local Leaders in Sustainability Contents

• Front Matter
  Contents / Executive Summary
• Introduction 
  Methodology & Organization / Definitions
• Study Findings
  Typical Path to a Green Building Policy / Nationwide / Regional Distribution of Programs / Trends / Additional Survey Responses
• Case Studies
  Portland / San Francisco / Scottsdale / Chicago / Austin / Atlanta
• Cities Pushing Ahead
  D.C.-to-Boston Corridor / California / Beyond Platinum: The Living Building Challenge
• Conclusion
  Recommendations for Continued Greening / Final Analysis
• Green Building Program Quick Reference Matrix
  
• Full Report