USGBC Releases

Washington, DC, February 3, 2006--U.S .Green Building Council (USGBC), announces the release of "The New Orleans Principles: Celebrating the Rich History of New Orleans Through Commitment to a Sustainable Future." The report focuses on best practices for embedding sustainable principles in the planning and rebuilding efforts of the Gulf Coast, with the intent of enhancing environmental, social and economic incomes. The New Orleans Principles provides a course of action in addressing problems that were pre-dated the hurricanes in order to create healthier and stronger communities. The report represents the consensus position of more than 160 people who participated in charrettes on Gulf Cost Reconstruction held Nov. 9-11, 2005 at the USGBC's annual Greenbuild conference. Fully one-fifth of the charrette participants were from the storm ravaged coastal areas; many were there on "scholarships" arranged by the conference organizers. "USGBC's local chapters began organizing immediately," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair of USGBC. "We quickly put in place a grassroots, volunteer-driven structure that could coalesce all that energy into an effort that could make a difference, with the first order of business being to listen to what the local, affected communities needed. The report is the first of a series of publications that capture their thinking." The Greenbuild charrettes were conducted by USGBC in partnership with the Enterprise Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Trust for Public Land and others and included some of the leading voices in sustainable design. Participants represented a broad range of expertise in areas such as urban planning, water management, engineering, and architecture. The four charrettes covered topics including green communities, ecological restoration, affordable housing, and schools. Entergy Corporation has offered the USGBC Hurricane Task Force a grant for further research and recommendations. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. The New Orleans Principles document contains 10 principles, along with more than 50 detailed policy recommendations and actions to chart a course for incorporating a context of sustainability into planning and reconstruction efforts in New Orleans. This report is the first in a series; reports on Schools and Affordable Housing will be available soon. "The Ten Principles guided the creation of the 50+ specific policy recommendations and actions included in the report," said Fedrizzi. "We're now working with a number of other groups, such as AIA's Committee on the Environment and the Urban Land Institute, to be sure this focus on sustainability becomes a cornerstone of the rebuilding efforts for the sake of the people who call the Gulf Coast home." Copies of the full report are available for download at www.usgbc.org. The Ten Principles: 1. Respect the rights of all citizens of New Orleans Displaced citizens who wish to return to New Orleans should be afforded the opportunity to return to healthy, livable, safe, and secure neighborhoods of choice. 2. Restore natural protections of the greater New Orleans region Sustain and restore the coastal and floodplain ecosystems and urban forests that support and protect the environment, economy, communities, and culture of southern Louisiana, and that contribute greatly to the economy and well-being of the nation. 3. Implement an inclusive planning process Build a community-centered planning process that uses local talent and makes sure that the voices of all citizens of New Orleans are heard. This process should be an agent of change and renewal for New Orleans. 4. Value diversity in New Orleans Build on the traditional strength of New Orleans neighborhoods, encourage mixed uses

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