WEIFANG, China, Jan. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the city of Weifang have signed a strategic agreement to accelerate greater adoption of green buildings while strengthening and encouraging robust green city principles and practices in Weifang.
"It is an honor to work with Mayor Liu and Weifang Housing and Urban Rural Development Director Li Guangdong to advance green buildings in China," said Mahesh Ramanujam, chief operating officer of USGBC. "I am impressed with their leadership and commitment to making Weifang a greener and more successful city. Over the next few years, we at USGBC look forward to helping Weifang become a leader in using the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating system."
Selected by China's Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development (MOHURD) and the U.S. Department of Energy, Weifang, a city of nine million people, is one of seven pilot Eco-Cities in China that will apply Eco-City guidelines in designated districts to demonstrate how cities can become greener, cleaner, healthier and successful. Eco-Cities is initiative of MOHURD.
The new partnership will also focus on efforts to develop a workforce able to design, build and maintain green buildings, provide public and consumer information and education about green buildings, develop green school programs and collaborate around the adoption of LEED, while providing training opportunities related to green buildings and green communities.
"The U.S. Green Building Council is one of the earliest organizations to promote green buildings in the world," said Li Guangdong, director of Weifang Housing and Urban Rural Development. "I consider LEED to be the most influential green building rating system in the world, an internationally recognized benchmark for high-performing, green buildings. The city of Weifang would like to carry out further cooperation with USGBC to implement the necessary related contents in our strategic agreement to make breakthroughs in promoting green building in Weifang and accelerate Eco-city construction."
USGBC and the city of Weifang will continue to develop concrete engagements to further their strategic alliance, and will work closely with partners both in the United States and China to advance the cause of green buildings and green cities.
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org, explore the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
CONTACT: Marisa Long, +1-412-877-7592, Mlong@usgbc.org
