USGBC-NCR Advocacy Committee Mission Statement
The USGBC-NCR Advocacy Committee promotes LEED as the standard for public and private green building design in the region through education and advocacy initiatives.
The Chapter covers three political entities with state-level status (Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia) and numerous local jurisdictions (cities, counties, and school districts). Therefore, the goals and objectives of the committee need to take into consideration the policy formation procedures, interests and challenges of the various state and local governments. These approaches range from mandatory adoption of LEED standards for public and private buildings (Washington, DC) to state-level mandatory LEED standards for public buildings and incentives for the private sector (Maryland) to referencing LEED energy performance standards for state buildings (Virginia).
Sub-committees work in the three respective states. These sub-committees work under the guidance of the region-wide objectives, as well as develop their own objectives, in collaborations with other USGBC chapters and related organizations.
The Advocacy Committee Chairperson coordinates region-wide efforts and the sub-committee work in the three main jurisdictions. The Chair will work with the Executive Director to promote and maintain an effective chapter-wide Advocacy Committee, including encouraging at least one committee member to attend an annual Advocacy training seminar sponsored by USGBC. Also, the Advocacy Committee Chair updates the chapter board of directors on advocacy efforts in the region
REGION-WIDE OBJECTIVES
Objective 1: Maintain and build relationships with green education, planning, and advocacy organizations in the chapter region
-Participate in MWCOG IGBG Meetings; coordinate sustainability education and advocacy efforts with AIA-COTE-DC, AIA-COTE-NoVA, Virginia Sustainable Building Network, GreenHome, and others.
-Support and promote participation on Green Tie Affair each year to strengthen ties with other related organizations.
Objective 2: Serve as a resource on the LEED rating system and sustainable design to local governments and organizations
- Link with USGBC National to update regional green building policies successes. Work with national to bring the LEED-registered and certified building database into the NCR website.
-Provide information to local governments that provides examples from other jurisdictions on public policy, codes, or comprehensive planning processes that can promote Green building guidelines, mandatory adoption, and incentive programs.
- Provide information to local governments that can assist them with sustainable infrastructure planning on transportation, sewer, public site lighting, watershed protections, etc.
- Achieve at least one public LEED-certified building in each county jurisdiction of the NCR: registered within two years; certified within 5 years.
OBJECTIVES FOR SPECIFIC STATES AND WASHINGTON, DC
Objective 3: Develop policy positions, and support legislative and regulatory actions that flow from such positions, for the three respective “state-level” jurisdictions.