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As an active Minnesota Chapter member of the U.S. Green Building Council® -- an organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With 78 local affiliates, 20,000+ member companies and organizations, and more than 140,000 LEED® Professionals™, USGBC® is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. USGBC is the developer of the LEED green building certification program and the convenor of the Greenbuild® International Conference & Expo™ -- we recognize sustainable building practices as not just a trend but a mark of responsibility and permanency. The LEED certification process is becoming an expectation and is no longer just an option for some of our clientele, both in the public and private sectors.
Because the pursuit of LEED certification may not be an option for all projects and clients, we have implemented a number of sustainable job site initiatives that are mandatory for all ORB projects. Through a required job site recycling program implemented in 2010, we have successfully recycled as much as 84% of construction demolition and debris that would’ve otherwise been sent into the waste stream. Managing projects in an industry that’s responsible for 30% of all waste generated and the largest single source contributor to the waste stream, it’s critical that we do our best to reduce the impact we make on the environment and ensure we are setting a standard that future generations will appreciate.
As green building advocates, we continue to do our part by educating our employees, building partners, and community by initiating the Sustainable Building Advisor course at the Alexandria Technical & Community College, hosting seminars at local Eco Fairs, and participating on the Green Schools and Emerging Green Builders committees of the USGBC Minnesota Chapter.
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