Usgbc Charlotte: Educate Builders And Contractors

Green building Charlotte is being promoted by the Charlotte chapter of the USGBC. Newer master planned communities contain parts such as a mixed-use downtown, denser residential areas as well as a relative closeness to the central business district.

More than a dozen organizations across the city and county are collaborating to launch the first annual Charlotte Clean and Green, an annual community-wide event designed to inspire, educate, and help you practice living more Green in your everyday life. This unprecedented event will be more than passive education; it will provide an entertaining and attractive setting for you and your family to gain specific knowledge on making life changes to help the environment that are easy and economically smart.

Communities across the country are taking notice and creating initiatives that engage individuals to be a part of environmental social change. As a leading city and county in the US, Charlotte, Mecklenburg strives to be at the forefront of this change.

A Hands-On Green experience is being presented through a partnership between Appalachian State University’s Energy Center and Department of Technology and Charlotte Clean and Green. The experience is a collection of exhibits by experts in the field of green energy and building technologies. Visitors will be allowed to view and interact with green technologies including Energy Star homes and appliances, lighting kits, and energy saving or renewable construction materials.

Central Piedmont Community College and its Center for Sustainability are committing thousands of dollars in-kind through the use of their campus and facilities. CPCC faculty and staff will be important contributors with the participation of their Center for Sustainability, Culinary Institute, and the Construction Institute, as well as participation from science, engineering and IT departments. CPCC’s Marketing Team, Student Life and the staff of the Futures Institute are all part of the Charlotte Clean & Green Team.

USGBC Charlotte Region Chapter has recently been added as a major partner in the event. They will be conducting LEED Charlotte workshops for building professionals to grow residential green building awareness and “how to” in the region. In addition, USGBC Charlotte Region Chapter will help publicize CC&G through its members and professional contacts. USGBC Charlotte Region qualifies to receive funds supporting the Charlotte Clean & Green event.

Charlotte has some new master planned communities on the board with mixed residential styles planned. The green building Charlotte initiative is being pushed by the regional chapter of the USGBC. A significant new partner, the USGBC charlotte region chapter has been a welcome addition to the program. They’re planning to conduct LEED Charlotte workshops for builders in an attempt to increase green home building awareness and strategies for this region. Charlotte and Mecklenburg County are taking a leading role in promoting environmental social change in their community, as so many throughout the United States are doing.

- Bruce Kellby