With about 350 people attending both its convention and awards ceremony last week, the Delaware Valley Green Building Council has reached a critical mass of sorts. The non-profit whose mission it is to transform the region through sustainable and environmentally responsible planning, design, construction and operation of buildings, towns and communities, also has a new leader who finds her hands excitedly full.
“At no point has the interest of non-profits, corporations and governments been so closely aligned,” says Janet Milkman, who officiallys tarted as the DVGBC’s executive director a week ago. “If you take a look at our sponsors and partners, we’re kind of in the middle of the nexus.”
Governor Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter were on hand for last Thursday’s celebration at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, which is as much a networking event as it is a brainstorming session. The Leadership Awards were also handed out.
Jim Lutz, the senior VP of development for Liberty Property Trust, earned the John Partridge Leadership Award, named after the former DVGBC stalwart. Lutz works for the $5.4 billion real estate investment trust headquartered in Philadelphia, which has become a leader in sustainable development, particularly its Philadelphia projects like One Crescent Drive (the nation’s first LEED platinum-certified building) and the Comcast Center.
The Association Puertoriquenos en Marcha, a Latino-based health, human services and community development organization, earned the Nonprofit Leadereship Award for its commitment to developing blighted lots and properties throughout eastern North Philadelphia.
PECO earned the Business Leadership Award, primarily for sustainable initiatives like its green rooftop in downtown Philly and the LED overhaul of its Crown Lights program on the side of the utility behemouth’s building.
Milkman is anxious to develop its budding partnership with the City of Philadelphia, focus on building code reform at the municipal and state levels, and expand the DVGBC’s Green Schools Caucus, an educational outreach program, as well as relationships with other similar regional green building organizations throughout PA.
“I think that green building is the issue of the day and is the solution in some ways to many of our most pressing problems,” says Milkman, whose background is in energy/environmental nonprofit work as well as a stint with New York City government. “There’s a huge amount we can do with existing buildings, and that’s where we can be a real leader.”
Source: Janet Milkman, Delaware Valley Green Building Council
Writer: Joe Petrucci