Van Ness Feldman is proud to have assisted the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to produce a report entitled, “Using Executive Authority to Achieve Greener Buildings: A Guide for Policymakers to Enhance Sustainability and Efficiency in Multifamily Housing and Commercial Buildings.”  Under current legal authorities, according to the report, there are over 30 existing federal programs across many federal agencies worth $72 billion which can be modified to enhance efficiency and sustainability. 

Tomás Carbonell, Shelley Fidler and Doug Smith staffed the Van Ness Feldman team that researched and drafted the report in collaboration with USGBC and other sponsoring organizations in energy, housing, environment and real estate.  The sponsoring organizations include:  The Real Estate Roundtable, UDR, Johnson Controls, Inc., The Energy Foundation, Building Owners and Managers Association International, The American Institute of Architects, Natural Resources Defense Council, International Facility Management Association, Energy Future Coalition and C3.

The report was released today during a press briefing at which Roger Platt, USGBC Senior Vice President of Global Policy and Law, moderated discussions about the report's findings by government and industry representatives including Kevin Kampschroer, Government Director, Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings; Ted Toon, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Affordable Housing Preservation, Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Jean Lupinacci, director of the ENERGY STAR Commercial and Industrial Branch in the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For the full report, click here.