Leading Illinois Green
DMA’s Jason Westrope serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Green Alliance, a local affiliate of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). A winter retreat to orient new members and set a course for 2019 included discussion of the organization’s Epic Challenge begun last year: to engage the green building community in advancing carbon drawdown strategies that reverse carbon pollution and strengthen the health and livability of neighborhoods.
Illinois Green Alliance is tracking progress toward specific challenge goals and strengthening the city and state’s leadership in sustainability. In 2018:
- Illinois Green served as Chicago host for Greenbuild, the world’s largest international conference and expo dedicated to green building. A “Human X Nature” theme focused on the built environment’s role in furthering health, human rights, and equity.
- Chicago became one of only seven cities in the world to achieve LEED Cities for Platinum certification, the highest level available from the USGBC.
- The Illinois Governor’s Mansion received a LEED Silver designation. Illinois continues to be home to the most LEED certified buildings in the country.