World Green Building Council awards, chairman announced

The founder of the world’s first green building council has been awarded the inaugural World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) Global Green Building Entrepreneurship Award.

David Gottfried was the first president of the US Green Building Council and founded the Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system in the 1990s.

Outgoing chairman of the WorldGBC Tony Arnel presented the award, noting that Gottfried deserved that accolade due to his lifetime achievement and contribution to the development and growth of the global green building industry.

“An author, green building activist and keen entrepreneur, David is an inspirational role model for the global property and construction industry. David has been a passionate crusader of the green building council model, which is driving a worldwide transition to sustainable building practices,” said Arnel.

Seven Chairman’s Awards were also presented to individuals who had made a contribution to the global green building movement, as well as Recognition of Service Awards to retiring board members for their service to the WorldGBC and the green building industry: César Treviño, President of the Mexico GBC; Dr Chilin Cheng, founder and board member of the Chinese-Taipei Green Building Council; and Parasu Raman, founder of the India GBC.

“The WorldGBC was established in 2002 with just eight green building councils—today we have 89, representing around 30,000 companies in the international property and construction industry. We are the largest organisation influencing the global green building agenda,” said Arnel.

“The leaders who have been recognised in the inaugural WorldGBC Chairman’s Awards have made a valuable and measurable contribution to the success of the WorldGBC and their legacy will be a greener, more sustainable built environment.”

Arnel makes way for new chairman Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the US Green Building Council, at the helm of the WorldGBC following the council’s annual general meeting earlier this week.

Fedrizzi accepted the honour and said the future would be created through committment. “The green building movement is a worldwide community, and must be if we are to be successful in achieving meaningful change. Together we are committed to an economically, environmentally and socially prosperous tomorrow achieved through green buildings and communities.”