Florida and Indiana added to growing list formally including Green Globes System in legislation

Florida and Indiana recently became the seventeenth and eighteenth states respectively to formally recognize the Green Building Initiative’s (GBI) Green Globes environmental assessment and rating system in legislation.

Two weeks ago, Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed into law a comprehensive new energy and economic development package aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as encouraging investment in alternative and renewable energy technologies. Among it many provisions, the new legislation stipulates that all newly constructed and renovated buildings owned by the state or local government must meet the requirements of the GBI’s Green Globes environmental assessment and rating system, the Florida Green Building Coalition’s green building program, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, or an equivalent nationally recognized certification or rating system.

Last week, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels issued an executive order establishing an energy-efficient state building initiative which calls for all new state buildings to be designed, constructed, operated and maintained to achieve maximum energy efficiency. To comply with the order, efficiency must be demonstrated by achieving a two globe rating under the Green Globes system, a silver rating under the LEED system, or an equivalent rating from a system that has been accredited by the American National Standards Institute. This is the first executive order that has recognized Green Globes.

“We applaud the leadership of Florida and Indiana for taking such aggressive steps to encourage sustainable design and construction through these comprehensive legislative packages,” said Ward Hubbell, president of the GBI. “Clearly, both states recognize that improving our built environment is an immediate priority. By allowing for more than one rating system, they are providing the kind of choice necessary to encourage mainstream design and building professionals to accelerate the adoption of green building practices. We hope these policies will serve as examples for other leaders to follow when determining their own sustainability initiatives.”

Florida and Indiana join Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin as states which have formally recognized Green Globes in legislation. For more information about Green Globes or the GBI, visit www.thegbi.org.