The US Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit that strives to transform how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated through the LEED rating system. It advocates for green building that generates both environmental and social benefits for communities. In an effort to expand its message to a broader audience, the USGBC created the Living Standard Toolkit, a straightforward document that explains how to simplify the complex issues of sustainability, green building, and climate risks. The document is intended for LEED professionals, USGBC members, advocates, developers, and teachers to use when speaking to a broader audience.
The Living Standard Toolkit aims to tap into the public’s desire for “better local environments” by connecting concern to action on a local scale and emphasizing impacts on friends and family, rather than to people or the world in general. The toolkit also highlights the importance of green buildings in our communities. These goals are in response to a key finding: most Americans agree environmental problems are important, but lack urgency in trying to solve them since the problem feels overwhelming, abstract, and distant from their personal realities.
The toolkit asks you to talk about local issues with friends, family, and co-workers, making a link between what’s happening locally and the bigger picture. The USGBC hopes to encourage anyone, no matter who they may be, to make small changes to their everyday life that may not seem like much—turning off lights, recycling, conserving water—but when many people do them, can create a more sustainable environment.
Would this toolkit help you spread messaging to your community?
Sol supports LEED certification as a member of the US Green Building Council. The USGBC focuses on buildings, but outdoor lighting is still an important part of a building’s aesthetic and ensures a sense of safety when entering and exiting. In fact, LEED credits may be available for incorporating sustainable outdoor lighting into a building project.
> Learn more about what LEED credits outdoor lighting could contribute to
> Learn more about how solar lighting can benefit your community
