As we head into the end of the year, it appears things are starting to look up for the construction industry. As reported by the American Institute of Architects, the Architecture Billings Index has recorded positive gains for three months in a row, while the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) ex- panded for the second consecutive quarter. While I was not at Greenbuild last month, the responses that I have been hearing from
attendees and exhibitors all seem very positive. From the energy at the show, to the excite- ment for the future, it looks as if there is confi dence in the future and that things are fi nally starting to turn around. Greenbuild also brought about a lot of exciting news for the U.S. Green Building Council.
At the show, the USGBC announced the launch of its Green Building Information Gateway, or GBIG. (www.gbig.org). The web-based tool is expected to accelerate market transformation by providing greater transparency and understanding of the green dimensions of the built environment. The site will provide a transparent view of places, projects, collections and credits, detailing the actions and activities of LEED building
owners and project teams over time. The tool provides maps, analytics and insights that reveal trends, patterns and processes in green building practice. Users can search and explore green building activity around the world, analyze trends and patterns in green building practice discover connections between projects, people, products and services. The other big announcement at Greenbuild was that Google provided a $3 million grant that will catalyze the transformation of the building
materials industry and accelerate the creation of healthier indoor environments. Expected to be developed over the next two years, the grant will focus on three areas that will spur the creation of healthier indoor environments and encourage market transformation in the building materials indus- try: supporting research on building materials and health, developing new transparency tools and engaging stakeholders from across the industry. According to Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the USGBC: “Healthy, nontoxic building materials are a critical component
in green building. Fostering awareness of the materials we put into our buildings is of paramount importance, since many materials can link to a host of environmental and health issues. Working with Google enables us to broaden our efforts in the materials industry as we prepare for the next version of the LEED green building program, LEED v4. This updated rating system will paint a more complete picture of materials and products, enabling project teams to make more informed decisions.” Let’s take this excitement for a better and stronger future, and wrap up 2012 on a strong note. Here’s to what lies ahead in 2013. See you then.
Marcy Marro Managing Editor
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