The USGBC and its Chapters provide green building educational information and resources to a variety of constituencies.  The South Florida Chapter’s advocacy resources are focused in several key areas -- State and local governments, schools and school districts, and homeowners and residential developers.  The Chapter also works closely with the USGBC National office, as well as with other USGBC Chapters throughout the State of Florida on statewide issues.

In essence, the South Florida Chapter is committed to supporting Federal, State and our local South Florida governments in their pursuit and development of green building programs and initiatives.  Our nonprofit organization's input is
sought on major policies and legislative and regulatory initiatives.  In our advocacy-focused volunteer leadership and other USGBC resources, governments and public-private partnerships have access to best practices, lessons learned and other initiatives already in place across the USA.

Has the USGBC helped make a difference?  You bet!

• Various LEED initiatives including legislation, executive orders, resolutions, ordinances, policies, and initiatives
  are found in 45 states, including 202 localities (138 cities, 36 counties, and 28 towns), 34 state governments (including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico), 14 federal agencies or departments, 17 public school jurisdictions, and 41 institutions of higher education across the United States (statistics through 12/01/09). 
• Government owned or occupied LEED buildings make up 30% of all LEED projects.  The Federal government has
  200 Certified projects and another 3296 pursuing LEED Certification.  State governments have 353 Certified projects and 1,983 pursuing Certification.  Local governments have 520 Certified projects and 3,117 pursuing Certification (statistics through 2/16/10).

Our local USGBC South Florida Chapter is led by a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations
and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, teachers and students, all embracing the reality that LEED strategies improve building performance across all of the metrics that matter most -- energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. 

Indeed, ours is a fact-based constituency, and that's our strength as a resource.  Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent water consumption and 15 percent of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity.  Moreover, greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future US demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

A few noteworthy South Florida advocacy footnotes in recent years include:

• In 2005, the South Florida Chapter worked with the Miami-Dade County government to develop a green building ordinance requiring all county-funded projects to achieve LEED certification, and also worked with the County government to pass ordinances providing incentives for green building in the private sector.  The Chapter has continued to work with various county agencies to provide research, education and training to assist in the implementation of the program.

• In 2006, the South Florida Chapter became active partners with the City of Miami in introducing a range of green-building legislative initiatives and policies as part of the City's visionary Miami 21 code overhaul, hosting two Mayor's Forums on Green Building and providing research and advice on policies and working with the City to establish the Office of Sustainable Initiatives, which is charged with implementing the City's green policies.

• In 2007, the South Florida Chapter assisted the City of Stuart in passing one of the first green-building ordinances for private development in the State of Florida.  We also began working with the green task forces of St. Lucie County and the City of Delray Beach.

• In 2008, South Florida Chapter volunteers joined peers from across the State in providing background and facts
  to Legislators tied to House Bill 7135, legislation focused on increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy throughout Florida, while also adopting a strategy for businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The "Energy Bill" was approved by the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives ... and our focus turned to the agencies that would implement the comprehensive State energy policy.
• Throughout 2009, the Broward Branch of the South Florida Chapter oversaw the development of Broward 2030, an ambitious and comprehensive green blueprint for Broward County's 31 municipalities with an emphasis on buildings and sustainability (see report).  On October 1, 2009, the Miami-Dade and Keys Branch of the South Florida Chapter delivered an educational forum for local government officials titled "Best Practices for Promotion of Green Development by Local Governments."  The forum featured a panel of speakers from the City of Miami, the City of Doral, the South Florida Regional Planning Council and the private sector.
• In March 2010, our Chapter's volunteers teamed with others throughout the State to discuss various initiatives with Legislators in Tallahassee, including the positive implications of the State Energy Management Plan and
  the Florida Life Cycle Cost Analysis Program (see press release).

Representative Adam Hasner (District 87 and Majority Leader) emphasized for USGBC volunteers from across the State of Florida the need for innovative financing mechanisms, pointing to the upcoming EnergyStar rebate program and the Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE) Bond program as examples.  Seated at right is Representative Mary Brandenburg (District 89), who also spoke and co-sponsored the March 9 meeting in Tallahassee.