Because the built environment accounts for 40 percent of global carbon emissions, green building is an important part of the global warming solution. On Thursday, our very own Minnesota chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) held its first Day at the Capitol.

The mission of the USGBC is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.  Architects, landscape architects, engineers, planners, builders, and other green building advocates gathered in the Rotunda to listen to Senator John Doll (Bloomington), Representative Jeremy Kalin (North Branch), and Senator Scott Dibble (Minneapolis) speak about the importance of using green buildings to create jobs, lower energy bills, and improve the quality of life for our children through green schools. Studies have shown that beyond an average energy savings of 30-50 percent, green schools improve learning. In fact, a simple view out of a window has been shown to increase student performance by 5-10 percent. Schools with improved indoor air quality show an average of 39.5 percent reduction in asthma rates.

At the Capitol, USGBC members met with some of their local elected officials to invite them to be part of the Minnesota Green Schools Caucus and to show support for legislation that advances green building policy in the state of Minnesota, such as HF 3109 and SF 2720 (also known as the PACE bills). Some members, including Executive Director Sherri Brezinka and Board President Rick Carter, were invited to sit on the floor of the House of Representatives while it was in session.

The event was sponsored by the USGBC Minnesota Advocacy Committee, and was also joined by USGBC National members from Washington, D.C.