March 19, 2009 | GBI Insight Home

President's Message

In the last GBI Insight, I talked about tough economic times being all the more reason to adopt green building practices—because green building is efficient building, which reduces operational costs while providing other necessary benefits, such as wise resource use and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

This is something the new administration clearly believes in as well. Energy efficiency in buildings was an important part of President Obama's pre-election platform, and the president has since confirmed his intent to invest in green jobs, green infrastructure and green buildings.

His pre-election platform also included support for the Green Globes® environmental assessment and rating system, which is noteworthy. When GBI brought Green Globes to the US market at the start of 2005, it was revolutionary. Not only was it the country's first interactive, web-based green building rating system—it was also affordable, practical and user-friendly enough for mainstream designers and projects of any size or budget. These same characteristics have propelled Green Globes from a useful tool for people interested in pursuing the green building trend to the system best positioned to support the nationwide adoption of green building practices in commercial buildings.

Like everyone else, the GBI is tightening its belt this year. You'll see us at fewer trade shows and we'll be streamlining our educational program to maximize efficiencies, through things like webinars and the online Learning Management System that allows HBA partners to offer virtual training via their Web sites. However, we'll be increasing our efforts to reach out to building owners, architects, engineers, builders and others who can benefit from affordable green building certification. This includes Green Globes as well as the residential program offered by the National Association of Home Builders, NAHB Green.

Never has the need been greater for efficient buildings designed to minimize their environmental impacts, but design and building professionals also need tools that help to achieve these goals without adding unreasonably to the cost. This is our mission and we hope that you will take the time to explore our tools, through a free 30-day trial of Green Globes for example, to see how they can work for you.

Sincerely,

Ward Hubbell