WHY BUILDINGS MATTER
We’re born in them, we go to school in them, we work in them, and we go home to them every day. While we mostly take them for granted, the way we design, build, and operate buildings and their sites has a profound impact on environmental quality, on the local economy, and on public health.
Climate change is here. It has indisputably altered our region’s weather in the past decade and will continue to demand more of our built environment in the years to come.
Buildings are the primary driver of climate change in our region, and by far the best opportunity to mitigate and to adapt to future climate impacts.
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.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION
GBU is committed to improving diversity and inclusion across the organization and strives to center equity and racial justice in our work. GBU can only realize its mission and goals effectively by achieving greater diversity - whether of race, gender, sexual orientation, or ability - among the stakeholders who inform and engage with our work. GBU crosses different professional disciplines, many of which are not diverse, but we are committed to being a resource within this community, continuing our anti-racism work.
