About Us
What We Do
MISSION
Green Building United advances an equitable transition to a climate- friendly and healthy built environment through education, advocacy, and strategic initiatives.
VISION
A sustainable, healthy, and resilient environment for all.
WHY BUILDINGS MATTER
Buildings shape nearly every part of our lives. They are where we’re born, where we learn, where we work, and where we gather with family and friends. The choices we make about how buildings are designed, built, and cared for directly affect our health, our wallets, and our communities. The spaces between buildings matter too. Parks, transit, and community gathering places all contribute to healthier, more resilient neighborhoods.
As our region faces rising costs, health challenges, and more extreme weather, buildings play a defining role. They are the largest source of climate pollution in our region, but also our greatest opportunity to cut energy waste, lower bills, and protect the next generation.
By making our region’s built environment healthier, safer, and stronger, we can create spaces that support people first — keeping families safe during heat waves, reducing asthma triggers, and helping communities bounce back from storms.
WHAT WE DO
Green Building United promotes the development of buildings that are sustainable, healthy for inhabitants, resilient, and cost-effective. Through education, advocacy, and strategic initiatives Green Building United informs and engages individuals and organizations to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated.
WHO WE ARE and WHO WE SERVE
Green Building United (founded in 2001, as Delaware Valley Green Building Council) is a member-driven, mission-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are a chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, and have active Passive House and Living Future Communities. We serve the greater Philadelphia area, Lehigh Valley, and the State of Delaware (see a map of our region).
Green Building United convenes building industry and sustainability professionals with an interest in, or a commitment to, improving the built environment for the benefit of the entire region. Our work impacts more than 1.5 million Philadelphia residents and 4.5 million in our region.
We achieve our mission through the generous support of sustaining partners, individual members, donors, and funders. With more than 620 members and a dedicated network of volunteers, we are excited to see our impact continue to grow in the region.
Education
We offer a wide range of CEU-approved educational opportunities, including workshops, webinars, professional trainings, and our annual Sustainability Symposium. Our programming helps building professionals, advocates, and community partners stay informed on best practices in energy efficiency, healthy building design, electrification, and climate-ready strategies.
Advocacy
We champion policies that improve health, affordability, and environmental performance in buildings across our region. Through legislative engagement, coalition building, technical expertise, and public education, we support strong building codes, equitable decarbonization strategies, and investments in climate-ready, high-performance buildings. Our advocacy centers people—ensuring that policy solutions benefit the communities most impacted by rising energy costs and climate risks.
Initiatives
We develop and support regional initiatives that accelerate high-performance building practices, expand technical assistance, and drive measurable progress toward climate and equity goals. Our work includes the Philadelphia 2030 District, the Better Buildings Hub, and partnerships that help building owners reduce energy use, improve indoor health, and prepare for extreme weather. These initiatives turn policy into action by empowering stakeholders with data, tools, and guidance.
Organizational History
2024 Board Members
2025 Board Members