PORTLAND, Ore. — The Green Building Initiative (GBI) announced that it has named Jerry Yudelson as its president to accelerate growth of the nonprofit and further leverage its green building assessment tools, including the Green Globes® rating system, as it attempts to bring green building options to a larger audience.

Yudelson is one of the nation’s leading green building and sustainability advocates. Formerly the president of Yudelson Associates, a green building consultancy, he has authored 13 green building books, been recognized as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Fellow, and chaired the steering committee for Greenbuild®, the annual green building show, which he helped grow during its first eight years.

As the GBI’s president, Yudelson will oversee the ongoing development, expansion, and marketing of the Green Globes green building rating system. His role will also include expanding understanding and use of GBI’s additional assessment tools, such as its Guiding Principles Compliance tool, designed specifically to support compliance by federal agencies with President Obama’s green government requirements.

Ray Tonjes, chairman of the GBI board and president of Ray Tonjes Builder in Austin, Texas, said, “We’re delighted to have someone of Jerry’s caliber in the green building industry step up to lead the GBI. With the recent update of Green Globes and recognition by the General Services Administration, as well as growing use by federal agencies and the Fortune 500 sector, the timing couldn’t be better. We are confident that the combination of Jerry’s leadership with GBI’s practical and credible assessment tools will be powerful catalysts for the growth of green building nationwide.”

“After many years promoting the advancement of green building and market transformation in the building industry, I’m pleased to be asked to lead the GBI at this key time in its development,” said Yudelson. “There is a huge audience of building owners, designers, and facility managers who are looking for more cost-effective and practical options to applying green building principles to every building. The GBI has a unique approach with its interactive, web-based Green Globes platform and on-site, independent third-party assessment. I’m excited by the opportunity to build on the GBI’s successes and help bring more focused green building and facility management options to new audiences.

“The GBI provides tools that are simple to understand, easy to use, and cost effective,” Yudelson said. “This is a key differentiator for the GBI, and I look forward to encouraging the building community to actively participate in the ongoing development of the organization and its variety of market-driven programs.”

For more information, visit www.thegbi.org.

Publication date: 2/3/2014

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