References to "ESG"—or environmental, social and governance factors—are everywhere you look these days. What does ESG mean, and why does it matter? Recent economic, public health and social justice crises have intensified the already surging interest in ESG. Learn more about how green building and ESG work together.

Green Building and ESG: What You Need to Know

Explore what building decarbonization is about, how LEED supports decarbonization and key policies.

Building decarbonization and LEED

Hear from the USGBC and GBCI Boards of Directors chairs to learn how they hope to drive transformation of the global built environment through a new approach to scale. Read the letter from the boards announcing this update: https://www.usgbc.org/articles/letter-usgbc-and-gbci-boards-driving-performance-scale.

Driving performance at scale

Review the Inflation Reduction Act investments to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings, which include tax incentives, rebates, grants, and loans.

The Inflation Reduction Act: Tax credits for existing commercial and multifamily buildings

In this Spring 2023 USGBC+ article by Calvin Hennick, hear how growing diversity, equity and inclusion in the green building community involves many aspects that deserve our attention.

USGBC+ Spring 2023: ­A 360-degree view of DEI in green building

In this summer 2023 article by Kiley Jacques, hear how the SITES-certified Orange Mall adds a flexible, accessible and climate-responsive promenade to the ASU campus.

USGBC+ Summer 2023: ASU brings a sustainable landscape to the student experience

Learn how U.S. federal sustainability finance incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act support green and efficient buildings, cities, and jobs. Also hear about what funding is available now, and where to look for future opportunities.

The Inflation Reduction Act: Green finance like never before and what it means for you

USGBC’s Ben Evans and Deisy Verdinez speak with Ted Toon at the EPA about the agency’s new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The $27 billion program will provide low-cost financing for projects to reduce emissions and will have a particular focus on low-income communities. Learn how what this program is intended to accomplish and how projects can take advantage of this exciting program.

What to know about the Greenhouse Reduction Fund

Learn how Kevin Bates, founder of Sharp Development Company, uses holistic, integrated design to profitably retrofit existing buildings to net zero energy with a strong emphasis on health and wellness for occupants with Liz Beardsley, USGBC Senior Policy Counsel.

How to retrofit existing buildings to net zero energy profitably using integrated design

In this USGBC+ article written and read by Farah Qadeer, hear how three companies in India exemplify the nation’s commitment to emissions reduction.

USGBC+ Fall 2023: India takes the lead in LEED Zero projects

In this USGBC+ article by Calvin Hennick, hear how the developer behind the Hunter’s Point neighborhood hopes to spark a national wave of homes that produce more energy than they consume.

USGBC+ Fall 2023: Hunter’s Point residential community in Florida pursues net positive power

Learn how green bonds and sustainability-linked loans are backing our future in this USGBC+ article from fall 2022.

USGBC+ Fall 2022: Major companies use green financing to build their LEED portfolios

What is green finance? How does it work? Why is it becoming so important to building industry leaders? Those are some of the questions USGBC addresses in this two-part podcast series featuring Chris Pyke and Sarah Welton of GRESB.

What Is Green Finance?

What is green finance? How does it work? Why is it becoming so important to building industry leaders? Those are some of the questions USGBC addresses in this two-part podcast series featuring Chris Pyke and Sarah Welton of GRESB. Part 2 explores how ESG and green finance complement each other and the action of green building, and why their relationship is so important to a financial community looking to lock in returns on its investments.

The Relationship Between Green Finance and ESG

USGBC’s senior manager of state and local advocacy, Jennifer Gunby, shares her top tips on how to advocate for more sustainable buildings and communities.  If you’ve ever wondered how to use your professional expertise to positively impact your community and state, find the ways that work well for you using Gunby’s advice and stories from her thousands of touchpoints in the field. Elizabeth Thompson, USGBC's vice president of growth marketing, interviews Gunby for this podcast.

How to Advocate for Sustainable Buildings and Communities

Heather Clark, who is the Director of Building Emissions at the White House Climate Office, recently spoke with Liz Beardsley from USGBC about the latest announcements regarding building decarbonization that were made by the U.S. Government during COP 28. They also discussed some upcoming developments, including the National Definition of Zero Emission Building.

Key U.S. Announcements at COP 28: a discussion with Heather Clark

In USGBC’s new “Executive’s Corner” podcast series, we speak with a variety of industry leaders about their experience and insights. For our first episode, we converse with Kimberly Dowdell, principal at HOK and 2024 president of the American Institute of Architects.

Executive's Corner: Kimberly Dowdell

With funds from the Infrastructure and Investment Act and Inflation Reduction Act now available, the U.S. is accelerating its strategies to fight climate change. Climate Mayors, a bipartisan organization whose members are dedicated to demonstrating climate leadership through meaningful actions in their communities, is playing a vital, front-line role in this effort. Providing leadership and strategic direction for the organization’s activities is its executive director, Kate Wright. USGBC recently spoke with her about the organization and the work that lies ahead.

Q&A with Kate Wright, executive director of Climate Mayors

In this USGBC+ article by Sumner Byrne, an example in Canada demonstrates how strategic policy and program design, coupled with timely funding, can spur retrofitting at scale.

USGBC+ Feb. 2024: How Canada is decarbonizing through retrofits with IREE certification

Changemakers@USGBC Episode 4: Finding Your Calling and Dream Job

For this episode, we are taking you inside a special TalentFX  session (from Greenbuild 2016) featuring a conversation with Akom; Brendan Owens, Chief of Engineering at USGBC; Tessa Cruz, Program Manager for I-SEED; and Karla Ortiz, Youth Organizer with the East Los Angeles Women's Center. The discussion revealed why it’s important to make sustainability serve everyone, and how we can start doing that today.

Changemakers: Social Justice - featuring Dr. Antwi Akom

Changemakers: Shawn Hunter - Lifecycle Assessment

Built for Health: Air Quality

Built for Health: Biophilia

Built for Health: Fitness and Motion

Season two of Built for Health is made possible by Kaiser Permanente. Together We Thrive.

Built for Health: Climate

Built for Health: Community

Built for Health: Accessibility

Built for Health: Health at Home

Built for Health: Mental Health

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building certification program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities.

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