Green Building Alliance is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023! As we reflect on this milestone, we see it as a celebration of YOU – the people who work every day to make this region healthy, just, and vibrant for everyone.
With that in mind, we want to treat our members, our supporters, and our community to loads of fun, learning, and networking throughout our big year. Here is a sneak peek of what we will be offering in 2023.
We’ve got you covered! GBA has nearly 50 events planned for 2023, and most of them will qualify for self-reported CEUs through GBCI. Several of these events can even be reported for LEED-specific hours! If you have a LEED credential to maintain, GBA is your one-stop-shop for professional development and continued learning, and we can even support you if you need assistance with reporting or maintaining your credential.
We sure have! The last time we hosted an in-person Inspire Speakers Series lecture was in January 2020. Under COVID lock-down, we managed to host some amazing online editions of this beloved series, but we have heard from many of you that you are craving that human connection, that buzzing auditorium, and that unparalleled inspiration that comes from experiencing a thought-provoking lecture alongside your community. We are delighted to announce that we’re bringing back the Inspire Speakers Series for a limited run in 2023! Save the date--March 30 is our first lecture! Stay tuned for details soon.
Neither can we! In this anniversary year, we will be celebrating some of our community’s earliest green building leaders (some of these “Green Building Firsts”), for it was their thought leadership and courage that not only set our region on its path to sustainable leadership – but in many cases – inspired entire industries to re-think the way they approached their buildings. In addition to these Original Green Building Tours, we’ll also showcase newer projects that are helping to continue our region’s legacy of leadership.
Our topical events this year will take a look at both the human side and the technical side of green and healthy buildings. We’ll explore trauma-informed green design and the secret to non-profit leadership in green buildings as well as examine how different types of building products are reducing their carbon footprint, and how to make informed decisions around choosing insulation. These and other topics will connect the dots among human health, social equity, climate, and the economy. Offering a variety of both in-person and online events, we’ll have something for everyone!
GBA’s Women+ in Green network is a supportive and celebratory community of women, femmes, and gender minorities who are creating sustainable and healthy communities for us all. Whether you are a woman+ working in sustainable design and construction or a volunteer making your community more sustainable, this community has something to offer you and YOU have special insights to share with the group. While we will not be offering our popular Women+ in Green Breakfast this year, we will have plenty of opportunities for education and connection. Keep an eye on GBA’s event calendar for more details.
If you consider yourself an Emerging Professional – either a younger or newer member of the green building or sustainability industry – we have some special opportunities planned for you! You can either join GBA as an official Emerging Professional (EP) member or simply opt into the group by registering for EP events, and you’ll meet like-minded newer professionals and find opportunities to connect with GBA leadership. This year, we will host a number of tours + happy hours designed especially for Emerging Professionals. Keep an eye on GBA’s event calendar!
GBA’s team is continually working to combine our in-person educational content with other dynamic ways to engage. We will continue to offer our Green Building Bites video series and will introduce some fun new types of content and platforms throughout the year as well. Not only that, but we will be celebrating our anniversary year with green building trivia and fun facts all year long. You won’t want to miss any of these highlights, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!
As in years past, GBA’s 2030 team has curated specific meetings and workshops for Property Partners, Affiliate Partners, and other members of the Pittsburgh and Erie 2030 Districts! Our Partner Meetings will continue to be hosted online throughout the year and are now open to the public. Quarterly Bridge to 2030 workshops will be held in-person and will include networking opportunities while we all explore ways in which we can achieve 2030 goals related to energy, water, and carbon reductions together! These events can be found on GBA’s event calendar.
GBA members will gain tremendous value this year, as we have some special anniversary-edition benefits just for them! These include complimentary attendance at all green building tours, opportunities to attend exclusive member-only events, and more. If you are not a current member, consider joining or renewing today. For those members who are not in Pittsburgh, you will have the chance to request Office Hours with GBA staff on the same day as our member-only events so you can make the most of your trip into town if you choose to attend. GBA staff will also be making trips to Erie throughout the year and will connect with community members there.
If you are unsure of your membership status, reach out to Megan Zeigler. If you would like to become a member but find it cost-prohibitive, please reach out to Leslie Montgomery regarding scholarships. Note that some member benefits are restricted to members at the Professional level or higher; please read all the details carefully before selecting a membership level.
This is just a taste of what is coming your way over the next 12 months! For those GBA members who want to learn more about what we have planned this year – or simply want to connect with old and new friends in the warmth of GBA’s office – come to our 30th Anniversary Member Launch Party on January 26 where we will kick off the year with a casual tour, hear comments from President & CEO Jenna Cramer, and learn more about what can be expected from the GBA team this year… including a sneak peek of the anniversary edition of our Emerald Evening Gala!
Several events are now live and open for registration on GBA’s event calendar, with more coming soon. We invite you to celebrate with us all year long and look forward to a great 2023 with all of you!
