By Becky Finch,
Growing Green Awards Working Group Chair
Celebrating 15 years of Green And Healthy Spaces!
Nominations are now open for the 2016 Growing Green Awards! The U.S. Green Building Council – Missouri Gateway Chapter is excited to host the Annual Growing Green awards to celebrate and recognize people, organizations, institutions and companies that are transforming our built environment and our community into a healthier, more environmentally friendly and prosperous place to live, work and learn.
2016 is the Chapter’s 15th Anniversary, and we look forward to celebrating the past 15 years of green & healthy spaces at this year’s Growing Green Awards. When volunteers came together to found one of the first six USGBC Chapters in the country, the green building movement was relatively new. Fast forward 15 years, and we have so much to be proud of! We look forward to nominations of both seasoned and new applications to illustrate our community’s ongoing commitment to creating green and healthy spaces for all.
The award categories span a wide range of efforts and are designed to be inclusive of all individuals, groups and organizations that are committed to green buildings and green communities, which includes new and existing buildings, landscapes, objects and systems. 2016 Growing Green Award categories are:
Community Champion: exemplifying leadership in giving back to our community through commitment of time, energy and passion to the built environment.
Education Leader: exemplifying leadership in education pertaining to the built environment. Education occurs in many facets: the classroom; the workplace; in local government; at home; and lots of places in between.
Emerging Leader: recent arrivals to the sustainability movement making great strides in advancing sustainable practices as they relate to our built environment both personally and professionally. These individuals or organizations are likely (but not required) to be young professionals and our green leaders of tomorrow.
Community Innovation: exemplifying leadership in transforming the built environment through the pioneering of new technologies, strategies, and thinking forward to the needs of tomorrow.
Operational Excellence: representing leadership in operating the buildings and landscapes in our community with environmental sensitivity, resource efficiency, and longevity.
Restoration Champion: exemplify leadership in preservation, restoration and redevelopment of our built environment.
Nominations are due electronically by 5 pm on Friday, January 22, 2016. Winners will be announced at the Awards celebration and dinner on Thursday, March 31, 2016.
Do you know of an individual or organization that deserves to be recognized for their role in transforming the built environment? Then please consider submitting a nomination for the 2016 Growing Green Awards!
To learn more or to download the nomination package, please visit online at: www.usgbc-mogateway.org/green-awards/. Questions? E-mail GrowingGreenAwards@gmail.com or call USGBC-Missouri Gateway staff at (314) 577-0854.