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Heart of Michigan Branch
Mission
To transform the way communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous built environment that improves the quality of life throughout Mid-Michigan.
About Us
The USGBC Heart of Michigan Branch believes that the sustainable development and green building represent a new economic, environmental and social future for the Greater Mid-Michigan Region.
In 2006, a group of Lansing-area developers, related professionals and organizations recognized a growing need for an association of green building practitioners and advocates. The successes of the USGBC West Michigan and Detroit Regional Chapters encouraged the group, which also turned to the chapters for advice about starting a new branch.
USGBC national office and Michigan chapters, along with Michigan State University, Sustainable Solutions, Granger Group, Christman Company, NTH, Bazzani and Associates, among many others, provided important support and direction as this idea coalesced into a reality.
In September 2007, the Heart of Michigan Branch (not yet known as such) held its first founding members meeting, at which the fundamentals of USGBC and LEED were presented. Local professionals, businesses, colleges, and city officials immediately embraced the idea of establishing a branch.
Our Branch Region radiates 80 miles around Lansing and includes a diverse rural and urban membership.
Today, we now have more than 165 supporters drawn from a growing pool of professionals interested in and practicing sustainability principles in their work.
Currently, we are focusing on three major areas:
1) New Construction and Major Renovation (LEED NC),
2) Homes and Neighborhood Development (LEED H, ND), and
3) Advocacy and Incentives.
Leadership
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Tim Schmitt, Community Development Analyst, City of East Lansing Planning & Community, Chair
- Jennifer Allen, LEED AP ID+C, Programs Coordinator at Michigan Energy Options in East Lansing, Vice Chair
- Dave Christian, P.E., President, DC Engineering, P.C., Secretary
- Steve Willobee, Community Development Manager, Soil and Materials Engineers (SME), Inc.
Committees
Executive Steering Committee
LEED NC: New Construction and Major Renovation Interest Circle
LEED H: Homes Interest Circle
Advocacy and Awareness interest Circle
Connect with Us
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Events
News
U.S. Green Building Council Establishes Official Branch in Greater Lansing Area
LANSING, MI—The Heart of Michigan Branch of the U.S. Green Building Council is official.
The Heart of Michigan Branch has signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the West Michigan Chapter of the USGBC, which is located in Grand Rapids. The Heart of Michigan Branch, out of Lansing, has existed since 2007 in an unofficially capacity, bringing the USGBC mission to Mid-Michigan.
USGBC is a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit dedicated to sustainable building design and construction. It is also the developer of the LEED building rating system, which emphasizes development and construction that are energy efficient, have minimal environmental impacts and create healthy workplaces and homes.
Throughout the country and in Michigan, green buildings have become a significant force in the economy and in improving quality of life for communities.
“Professional builders, real estate developers, community developers, government leaders and citizens all want to understand more about what green building can do for them and their stakeholders. Our branch wants to bring sustainability to all these groups through education, demonstrations and our membership,” said HOMB chair Ryan Kincaid, of Kincaid Henry Building Group.
The MOU with the West Michigan Branch, which has been a green building pioneer in the state, solidifies an already strong relationship between the two regions. Together, they will work to foster thriving and diverse memberships, an understanding of green building among specialized and general audiences and influence public policy through education, among other efforts. Given its location in the Capital City, the HOMB especially seeks to contribute to USGBC’s mission in the policy arena.
In addition to the MOU with West Michigan Chapter, the Heart of the Michigan Branch is working on a similar relationship with the Detroit Chapter, which covers southeastern Michigan.
“By our collaborating on education, training, community outreach and other efforts, all three of our groups together will best serve the overall mission of the USGBC in Michigan,” said Kincaid. “We want to invite anyone in the Mid-Michigan area interested in green building, in creating sustainability communities, to reach out to our organization. We want to know who you are and we want you to know us.”
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Mission: To transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, in a way that improves the quality of life in West Michigan.