Tim Cary (accepting for Governor Pataki), Pliny Fisk, Rob Watson, Ray Anderson

USGBC Leadership Award

This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to the USGBC through active leadership and participation in the development and advancement of the Council’s mission and purpose. This recipient will have served the organization in a demonstrated way including roles such as: USGBC Officer, member of the Board of Directors, Committee Chair or made a significant contribution to the development and expansion of the LEED Green Building Rating System™.

Rob Watson, International Energy Project, Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., Steven Winter, Steven Winter Associate, Inc. and David Gottfried, WorldBuild Technologies, Inc.

Rob Watson, Director, International Energy Project, Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (NRDC) was honored as the first recipient of the USGBC Leadership Award. Mr. Watson previously served in the capacity of chair and co-chair of the USGBC LEED™ Committee. Considered the “Father of LEED”, he is responsible for coining the term, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Mr. Watson contributed to the development of the framework for the LEED program and obtained key funding from the Department of Energy for the development of LEED. Currently, Mr. Watson has been working in China to promote green building and develop a foundation inclusive of energy efficiency as the standard for residential and commercial buildings. These standards when implemented will apply to a populated region of over 500 million people. He is also developing municipal green building programs in the cities of Shanghai and Shenzhen. Throughout this process, Mr. Watson continues to promote LEED recently securing an agreement with the Beijing Olympic Committee to make green building and LEED the construction standard for the 2008 Olympics.

Green Public Service Award

Non-Government
This award recognizes an NGO or non-profit organization making a significant contribution to advancing and causing the transformation of green buildings in the public sector. Important qualifications for this award include development of initiatives and programs that contribute to changes in standard regulatory policies, codes and standards.

Pliny Fisk, Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems and Keith Winn, Catalyst Partners

Pliny Fisk was recognized for his more than 25 years pursuing green building technologies and practices before the term “green building” was ever conceived. Most recently, he oversaw the Department of Energy sponsored Solar Decathlon submission for the UT/Austin School of Architecture. Beginning in 1975, Pliny co-founded the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems (CMPBS), a non-profit organization focused on ecological planning, design and appropriate technologies. CMPBS’s earliest vision recognized that buildings represent resource availability and reflect a region’s sustainability. A few of Mr. Fisk’s career highlights include: helping establish the guiding principles and framework for the City of Austin Green Builder Program; supervising the revision of Texas General Services Commission’s Architecture & Engineering Guidelines, incorporating sustainable materials and methods; co-chair of AIA Committee’s Environmental Resource Guide Committee on the Environment; and participation on the “greening” of the White House and Grand Canyon initiatives.

Green Public Service Award

Government
This award recognizes a government official or organization that has made significant changes in standard policies, codes, standards, tax and other incentives, project development requirements and other organizational priorities as well as polices that further the adoption of LEED ™ standards.

Tim Cary (accepting for Governor Pataki) and Rick Fedrizzi, Green-Think

Governor George Pataki of New York was honored for his vision and extraordinary leadership in championing policies that advance green building and support the USGBC LEED™ Rating System. Most notably, he adopted the New York State Green Building Tax Credit program, signing it into law on May 15, 2000. He worked tirelessly to generate legislative support for the effort and secured necessary funding to implement the program. The $25 million program encourages building owners and developers to construct energy-efficient buildings with minimal destruction of environmental resources by offering a state tax deduction of those eligible green building expenses. In furthering green building initiatives statewide, Governor Pataki announced several projects to support research and development of new and existing energy and environmental technologies including a $37 million grant to support construction of the $170 million Center of Excellence in Environmental Systems at Syracuse University. He also promoted and received LEED™ Silver Certification for the construction of the Department of Environmental Conservation Headquarters in Albany. On June 10, 2001, Governor Pataki signed Executive Order 111, directing state agencies to reduce their overall energy consumption 35 percent and procure renewable energy resources by year 2010. The Executive Order also states that standards set by the LEED rating system are to be met and maintained within the construction of all new buildings or existing buildings under renovation.

Green Building Business Award

This award recognizes a private sector company or individual that has demonstrated leadership, risk and innovation by establishing a program, methodology, technique or product that advances the creation of environmentally responsible, healthy and profitable buildings. In addition, the recipient will also have embraced green building advancement and education in their own organization and have taken risks and made commitments demonstrating leadership.

Ray Anderson, Interface, Inc. and Kath Williams, Ed. D., Montana State University

Ray Anderson of Interface, Inc. was honored as a private sector leader whose commitment to environmental efficiency and green building is incorporated in his business philosophy. Interface’s mission statement reads, “…We will honor the places where we do business by endeavoring to become the first name in industrial ecology, a corporation that cherishes nature and restores the environment.” As founder and chairman of the world’s largest manufacturer of carpet and other architectural and interior finishes, Mr. Anderson has not only transformed Interface but inspired countless business and government leaders through nearly 80 speeches given yearly on sustainability. As co-chairman of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development, he forged relationships with government and corporate world leaders helping to shift the mindset and begin transformation of the marketplace to sustainability and green building. Within his organization, he created the Interface Model of Corporate Sustainability, reducing Interface’s environmental footprint by nearly one-third. Through various “greening the supply chain” initiatives, Interface under the steadfast leadership of Ray Anderson, continuously strives to create a society conscious of its responsibility to the environment.