CALMAC, a leader in energy storage systems, announced its CEO, Mark MacCracken, has been selected as Chair-elect of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Board of Directors for the 2010 calendar year. The USGBC Board of Directors is responsible for articulating and upholding the vision, values and mission of USGBC. In 2009, MacCracken was elected to serve a second 3-year term as Director in the Energy Services Seat.
According to the USGBC, buildings in the United States are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent of water consumption and 15 percent of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.
As we continue to move towards a more sustainable environment, the biggest changes we can make are in our buildings. As Al Gore stated in his keynote address at Greenbuild in Phoenix last year, ‘nearly 40 percent of the global warming pollution in our country comes from old, inefficient, leaky buildings that don't have to be that way,' said MacCracken.According to a recent report, the U.S. green building market is set to grow 146 percent by 2013, resulting in drastic energy reductions and improvements for our environment. I've been working with Tim Cole (Chair) and Gail Vittori (Past Chair) for a number of years now, and together with the rest of the USGBC Board, we are excited to see what 2010 brings as we enter a new era of sustainability.
USGBC Board of Directors elections occur annually. Elected directors serve three-year terms (and may serve up to two terms consecutively), and appointed directors serve two-year terms (and may serve up to three terms consecutively). Of the officers, the Chair, Chair-elect and Immediate Past Chair each serve one-year terms that total three years of leadership. The Treasurer and Secretary each serve two-year terms. Officers are elected by members of the Board. For more information on the USGBC, visit http://www.usgbc.org/.
