News

GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE™ WELCOMES REPRESENTATIVES FROM EPA, ASHRAE, AIA AND AGC TO TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

PORTLAND, OR (May 18, 2006) — The Green Building Initiative (GBI) has taken another step toward establishing the Green Globes™ environmental assessment and rating system as an official standard under the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), by confirming the final members of its technical committee. Required under its ANSI-approved procedures, the 30-member committee operates separately from the GBI board of directors and staff, and represents a balance of users, producers and interested third parties.

"As the first green building organization permitted to develop, maintain and withdraw American national standards, we're very excited about the caliber and diversity of individuals that have come together to guide Green Globes through the ANSI process," said Ward Hubbell, executive director of the GBI.

Chaired by Wayne Trusty of the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, the committee is responsible for developing, maintaining, approving and achieving consensus on the Green Globes standard for the design and construction of environmentally sustainable buildings.

Following is a list of the GBI technical committee members within their respective categories:

USERS
Greg Bergmiller
S/L/A/M Collaborative

David Collins
American Institute of Architects (The Preview Group, Inc.)

Chris Dixon
Mithun Architects

Steven Hubert
Buchanan Partners

Dru Meadows
The Green Team, Inc.

Robin Rogers
Otak Architecture, Engineering and Planning

Gordon Shymko
G. F. Shymko & Associates Inc.

Tom Taylor
Vertegy, an Alberici Enterprise

Eric Truelove
The Renschler Company

Ronald Lee White
Virginia Department of General Services

GENERAL INTEREST
Harvey Bryan, Ph.D.
Arizona State University

John Carmody
Center for Sustainable Building Research, University of Minnesota

William Coad
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

Helen English
Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC)

Jean Lupinacci
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Kirsten Richie
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)

Paula Schenck
University of Connecticut Health Center

Carl Smith
GREENGUARD Environmental Institute

Douglas Sordyl
American Concrete Institute

Angela Tin
American Lung Association of Illinois

PRODUCERS
Peter Birkbeck
Icynene Inc.

Kenneth Bland
American Forest and Paper Association

David Born
Dow Chemical Company

Gregory Crawford
Steel Recycling Institute

Michael Gardner
Gypsum Association

Norman Kummerlen
Moen Incorporated

Matt Stewart
DAP Products Inc.

Christine Subasic
The Masonry Society

Michael Thompson
Trane

David Viola
Plumbing Manufacturers Institute

The committee has scheduled its first in-person meeting for May 24-25, 2006 in Washington, DC. The meeting is open to the public. At the initial technical committee meeting, the GBI plans to develop appropriate sub-committees, which will also be opened to the general public to submit applications to participate.

To RSVP for the meeting or to express interest in participating in a sub-committee, please contact Susan Herbert by Tuesday, May 16, 2006, at sherbert@terrachoice.ca. For more information about the GBI technical committee, visit www.thegbi.org.

ABOUT THE GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE: The mission of the Green Building Initiative is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches. A not-for-profit education initiative, the GBI is supported by a broad cross section of organizations and individuals with an interest in residential and commercial construction. For more information on the Green Building Initiative, please visit www.thegbi.org.