(Baton Rouge, La.) As awareness of the importance of sustainable design increases, the LSU School of Architecture is helping to lead the way. Recently, the School co-hosted a meeting of some two dozen local architects, interns, graduate students, and environmental consultants, among others, who are interested in supporting the Louisiana Chapter of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), a national non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices.

LSU School of Architecture and School of Landscape Architecture alumni and LSU students came to the meeting to spearhead a Baton Rouge Committee of Emerging Green Builders (EGB-BR). Many of these EGB groups around the country offer young professionals the opportunity to get involved in green building locally, gain access to USGBC resources, and facilitate local events. The new EGB-Baton Rouge committee joins other national and local committees, including New Orleans, Kansas City, Orange County and New York City.

The Louisiana Chapter of USGBC began in 2007, adding to the growing interest in sustainability at the national, state and local levels. Comprised of volunteers, these chapters represent a substantial segment of professionals in the building trades working towards a sustainable building environment.

“Louisiana is now home to a second LEED certified building and over 35 registered projects, the first step toward earning LEED certification,” says architecture professor Marsha Cuddeback, chair of the USGBC Louisiana Green Schools Committee. “We are at a turning point in our state and I am encouraged by the dedication of our emerging professionals to become and recruit future leaders in the green movement.”