Guest blog by Taryn Holowka, SVP of Marketing, Communications & Advocacy, U.S. Green Building Council

When it comes to energy efficiency, homes and buildings provide an enormous opportunity. In fact, buildings account for about 40% of all U.S. energy consumption and a similar proportion of greenhouse gas emissions. Most of these structures will be in use for decades, so reducing their energy use will not only ensure long-term cost savings for homeowners and businesses, but also must be a central component of any meaningful climate strategy.

At the U.S. Green Building Council, we aim to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, to enable an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. We’ll be discussing how best to inform green building strategies that help with real-world issues and exploring the latest in green building technology platforms at our USGBC Live conference on June 9 and 10 in Washington, D.C. Here are five reasons why USGBC Live in should be on your to-do list:

1. Opportunities to earn CE hours.

USGBC Live offers 6.5 in-person continuing education (CE) hours and all registrations include digital access to more than 20 additional on-demand CE hours. LEED AP and LEED Green Associate credential holders need CE hours to maintain their professional credentials.

2. Inspiring keynote speakers.

Climate justice activist, White House climate advisor, and founder of #OneMillionOfUs Jerome Foster II will bring his inspiring message to USGBC Live. Foster has been a leading voice for Black and Indigenous visibility in climate activism.

Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development believes that we have a responsibility to confront housing insecurity and help ensure access to good homes, eliminate all forms of housing discrimination, and build our nation’s housing infrastructure in a way that expands equitable access to housing for all people.

Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm is leading the U.S. Department of Energy in helping America achieve President Biden’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 by advancing cutting-edge clean energy technologies, creating millions of good-paying union clean energy jobs, and building an equitable clean energy future.

3. Flexible format: Choose to connect in-person or online.

USGBC Live is offered both in person and in a hybrid format. The digital pass includes live-streamed mainstage events, select education sessions, and prerecorded content from June 7-8. All livestreamed and prerecorded content will be available on-demand for a limited time after the event.

Attend in person June 9-10 in Washington, D.C., and access the in-person main event content, Leadership Awards luncheon and celebration, and an all-access digital pass. The safety and well-being of our community are our top priority, and USGBC has several preventative measures in place for your health.

4. In-person networking. (It’s been a while!)

USGBC Live in Washington, D.C. includes two days of networking opportunities at the kickoff breakfast and during USGBC’s Leadership Luncheon and Awards Celebration.

5. Top green building sessions for real-world issues.

Despite the pandemic, green building activity has not stalled and now, with offices opening up, it’s a critical time to learn more about green building practices and strategies. USGBC Live also offers a special LEED Insights track, just for those implementing LEED. View some USGBC Live educational session highlights including:

• Four Critical Trends in Greening Affordable Housing: This session will outline the four critical themes of carbon, resilience, health, and "beyond the building" and show examples of how affordable housing developers across the country are using green building strategies to make better buildings – better for the environment, better for the residents, and better for the community.
• LEED Insights: The Future of LEED: The future of LEED must encourage and equip project teams to embrace strategies for decarbonization, health, equity, and resilience. While LEED has brought much-needed attention and progress on building materials, occupant health, carbon mitigation, and more, we cannot rest on that history alone. This session is about what’s next for the green building community and LEED.
• LEED Insights: LEED Tips from Reviewers: The LEED certification process can be rigorous, but it can also be valuable, rewarding, and game-changing for those who commit to and engage in the process. Join us for a discussion with practitioners who have leveraged the process to deliver successful results for their clients.
• LEED Insights: New Tools and Partnerships Accelerate Market Transformation for Existing Buildings. LEED, Arc, and our partners provide tools that allow every project team to see where they stand today, improve over time, and receive recognition for their leadership. This session discusses how we work together to address sustainability for the existing building market by using a “score everyone and certify the best” approach.
• LEED for Cities and Communities Showcase: Hear how cities and communities use LEED to advance resilience, sustainability, and social equity goals using the certification program and process. Join this program to learn the rating system basics, see how projects are taking action, and brainstorm how best to scale the work regionally.

Join the U.S. Green Building Council online or in Washington, D.C. for USGBC Live.