History
The Emerging Green Builders (EGB) started in 2002 with a noticeable need within the design and construction industry to address students and young professionals interested in green building. The U.S. Green Building Council, after suggestions from a number of individuals, agreed to host a forum for students and young professionals at their first annual Greenbuild, in Austin in November 2002. While the USGBC was hoping for 30 attendees at this initial forum, approximately 250 interested individuals showed up. From this gathering was formed the first Emerging Green Builders sub-committee of the U.S. Green Building Council—a group of nine dedicated and enthused students and young professionals scattered around the country. In the years since, the group has evolved quickly and has become an official committee of USGBC, similar to the LEED, Chapter, or Education Committees.
After only a year, it became obvious that nine individuals across time zones, working toward EGB goals on lunch hours, evenings and weekends, could not make the impact that was obviously necessary. Local groups began to form, starting with a committee of the USGBC Northern California Chapter. At Greenbuild in Portland, Oregon, in November 2004 there were approximately five local EGB groups around the country. Only one year later at Greenbuild 2005 in Atlanta, over 45 local groups had formed, with the number of local members or participants ranging from 50 to nearly 300 per group. The next generation of architects, designers and building industry
professionals clearly has the interest, dedication and energy to push the green building movement forward. EGB is also helping to diversify the green building movement and the USGBC.
The national EGB Committee encourages integration with other environmental groups – not just those focused on green building. While we find easy friends in groups such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) we also reach out to business students and graduates, biologists, chemists, natural product industries, and environmental educators, as well as social organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity.
Because our Emerging Green Builders do not fit into a specific member category defined by the USGBC, we are constantly working toward integration with the USGBC national through each of their six Strategic Goals: USGBC as a Community, LEED, Organizational Excellence, Education, Research, and Advocacy and Influence. With newly appointed seats on a number of other USGBC committees including LEED and Education, USGBC staff and the EGB National Committee are continuing to develop opportunities and resources for students and young professionals.