USGBC - Chicago Chapter Extends Nomination Deadline for Natural Leader Awards

CHICAGO, March 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) – Chicago Chapter has extended the nomination window for its Natural Leaders Awards Program to Friday, March 12, 2010. The Natural Leader Awards seek to recognize local leaders who have incorporated sustainability into their work and the built environment.

Natural Leaders will be recognized in four categories: Intent to Matter (Excellence in Sustainable Design, Construction, or Operations), Re-Generation (Excellence in Environmental Education), SMALL feet/large FEAT (Excellence in Organizational Change), and Environmotion (Excellence in Sustainable Innovation). Individuals and organizations eligible for nomination include, but are not limited to, architects, design engineers, contractors, developers, design teams, non-profit organizations, and beyond.

Nominees must be individuals and organizations currently living or working in Illinois and are not required to be USGBC – Chicago Chapter members. Award winners will be presented at the Chapter's Fifth Emerald Gala on May 22, 2010.

Nomination forms can be found at www.usgbc-chicago.org or requested at [email protected]. Nominations should be sent to [email protected] no later than 12:00 p.m. March 12, 2010.

About the U.S. Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter

The U.S. Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter was formed in 2002 by a group of professionals in the building industry in the region who desired to further the work of the U.S. Green Building Council on a local and personal level. Membership in the chapter continues to grow with over 1,500 members from across the spectrum of the building industry including design professionals, contractors, manufacturers, real estate professionals, and local government officials, among others. The Chapter's mission is to lead the regional transformation of the built environment to ecologically sustainable, profitable, healthy places through education. The principal method of outreach is through education from the expertise within its diverse membership. For more information, please go to the Chapter website: www.usgbc-chicago.org

About USGBC & LEED®

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is the nation's leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, federal and local agencies, and nonprofit organizations working together to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. The USGBC's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary third-party rating system where building projects earn credits for satisfying specified green building criteria. Projects are evaluated within five environmental categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of green building certification are awarded based on the total credits earned. The LEED standard has been adopted nationwide by Federal agencies, state and local governments, and interested private companies as the industry standard of measurement for green building. For more information visit: www.usgbc.org.

SOURCE U.S. Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter